I received this book as an ARC from netgalley.
This was a great book. It was heart pounding near the end and then I literally cried the last few chapters. This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read more.

✨ ✨ ✨ INTENSE. HEART-STOPPING. UNSETTLING. RELENTLESS. TOP TIER✨ ✨ ✨

Such Quiet Girls is a book that every single thriller fan MUST read!!

I just recently read Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli (a new to me author) after seeing Freida McFadden give it a rave review and I really enjoyed that one. I knew I had to read more from this author. So I was quite happily surprised to get the chance to read an ARC copy of this one!!

The blurb for Such Quiet Girls caught my attention right away, especially being inspired by true events, and I knew I HAD to read it.

The writing is immaculate, the atmosphere is tense and unsettling, and the plot is relentless and had my pulse racing and my heart-stopping!!! This sure did trigger my claustrophobia too!! I could FEEL it. Spectacular writing and the end made me feel all emotional. I loved it and I have literally no bad things to say about this book at all. It’s a new favorite book for me!

👏 👏 👏

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released April 29, 2025.

If you’re familiar with Ihli’s books you know you’re in for a face-paced and wild ride.
This book is full of moments that had me, quite literally, pacing around my house screaming “RUN!” At my phone. The claustrophobia I felt even just reading this was intense and at one point had me wanting to put the book down out of pure fear of what may be coming next for some of the characters but this is the type of book that’s impossible to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book had me on the edge of my seat. The content was horrifying and the writing put me right there with the characters. And don’t forget to read the author's note, explaining that (while fiction) this is based on actual events. Everything I’ve read from Noelle Ihli has been amazing, and this book definitely follows that trend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Ihli, and Dynamite for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WOWZA! This was a pulse pounding and hard to put down page turner! I loved the tension and dread that jumped from the pages as every parent's worst nightmare happens in Such Quiet Girls: A Thriller. Noelle W. Ihli blew me away with this heart wrenching and riveting book about two mothers and ten abducted children! The author captured the instantly gut gripping reaction of Sheena, one mother learning that her two children have been abducted, and the fear and sense of responsibility of Jessa, the other mother who was driving the bus and was abducted along with the children. Whew! The author put her characters and readers through the ringer and then some!

From the very first page, I was instantly invested and read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put this book down! What began as a normal day ends in a nightmare as a bus driver and the children she is carrying and kidnapped and placed in an underground bunker. Can you even imagine their fear? I had to keep reading to learn what was going to happen next! This book is told through the POV's of Sheena, Jessa, Sage (Sheena's daughter), and one of the kidnappers. I found this to be a very nice touch and helped readers not only get into their heads but feel their emotions.

What an emotional roller coaster of a ride this book became. Both mothers had me feeling for them and what they are going through and experiencing. Sheena fears for her two daughters who had been taken while trying to care for her father with Alzheimer's. Jessa is locked underground with the children trying to keep them calm while battling her own growing anxiety and discomfort. Not to mention the children who try their best to be brave in a horrifying and frightening situation.

What a tense, thrilling, gripping and frightening page turner which was inspired by true events! There were some nice twists and turns along the way which made this book even more enjoyable and riveting.

I can't wait to read what Noelle W. Ihli writes next!

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle Ihli is a suspenseful, heart-stopping, and unforgettable thriller based on the actual events of the Chowchilla kidnappings.

A school bus is on its way to drop some children off at their daycare Bright Beginnings when a couple of men decide to send it on a dangerous detour. The men kidnap the children and bus driver and take them to a buried shipping container in an isolated quarry where they plan to keep them until the ransom money is paid. Told through the perspectives of Sage (the oldest child on the bus whose younger sister Bonnie is on the same bus), Jessa (the new bus driver who is a mama with a past she is trying to forget), Ted (one of the kidnappers), and Sheena (the mother of Sage and Bonnie), Ihli takes the reader on a fast-paced ride filled with tension.

Noelle Ihli has quickly become one of my favorite authors due to her uncanny ability to help me imagine all the terrifying and nerve-wracking emotional turmoil each character feels. There were many times while reading this that my heart was in my stomach and I was left trying to catch my breath, riddled with anxiety, and clinging to hope amidst the terror that was in store. I was struggling to stay calm while racing from page to page, unable to finally breath until the very end.

Ihli has done it again, and I am eagerly anticipating her next one! Needless to say, I will be reading anything this author writes in the future! Fans of thrillers or true-crimes, I highly recommend you grab your copies when they become available on 4/29/25!

I owe a huge thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review!

4.25 stars.

A bus of about a dozen children and their bus driver is hijacked and the occupants kidnapped.

We get multiple POVs from: the (female) bus driver, one of the kidnapped children, one of the parents, and one of the bad guys. (kind of nice that we didn't get a POV of the police trying to investigate the crime). Loved the way the women were depicted here - scared, but strong and courageous.

This didn't blow my mind with a twist I didn't see coming, but the last 20% was intense. I was going to say it's not the most original idea for a thriller (kidnapping), but was well executed. (then I saw it was inspired by true events, so book gets leeway there!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes April 29, 2025

I really enjoyed this i absolutely adored sage what an amazing character she was !!!
This was fast paced intense and a little claustrophobic.
I was literally sitting on the edge of my bed during some parts
I loved the ending had a little cry
This was such a easy read I picked it up and fall straight into it loved it

The way this book gave me anxiety... whew. I was half way through when my daughter was getting on her bus to head to school. It was a fast paced read, that I could not put down. Can't wait to read more from this author.

As a mom of young kids, this book hit so close to home for me, I really appreciated the trigger warnings. This story keeps you engaged the entire time and I really felt like I was sitting next to each person when it was their POV. Noelle is a master when it comes to thrillers.

OMG this book I have been waiting for ever to get and I was so excited to start this one. I knew I would fly through this book like all of her books. She is one of my fav authors she writes thrillers that keep you up all night reading and keeps your pulse pounding. I couldn't stop thinking of this book every time I put it down. Not only is Noelle a fabulous fiction writer but her stuff based on true stories are my favorite. As a mom I was holding my breath for half of this book. I cant wait for her next book because she never disappoints. I am a life long Noelle Ihli fan!!! I recommend her books to everyone I know and all my book groups and on my tik tok reviews.

Noelle Ihli has absolutely knocked this one OUT OF THE PARK!

For Jessa the day is going per usual, driving her school bus picking up kids to bring home. Soon a detour takes her and 10 students down a path that will change everything. Held at gunpoint and forced into a ransom situation, Jessa and her students, Sage, Bonnie, and 8 others, are held captive with no way to call for help. Can Sage and Bonnie's mom get to them in time? Can Jessa and the students fight their way out?

I absolutely devoured every word of this book. So gripping from the first chapter. No "slow" parts in this fast-paced thriller! I found myself staying up late and flipping pages so quickly because I HAD to know how this story was going to end. Ihli's writing style is so well done and captivating. Her characters are so beautifully developed and relatable. Put this one at the top of your TBR, you won't be disappointed!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Noelle Ihli, and Dynamite Books for this ARC and chance to give my honest opinion.

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

This book was really enjoyable - very fast paced with quick punchy chapters . The description of the kids down in the bunker made me feel claustrophobic myself and I was itching for them to be rescued . Another great book by this author . Highly recommend if you want to be on the edge of your seat. 4.25 ⭐️

Simply put - I could not put this book down. Such a gripping thriller, had me literally putting my hand to my forehead, stressed out and holding my breath. I'm really enjoying that Noelle Ihli is basing books off of true events, after reading them I tend to be googling these events and going down a further rabbit hole. Noelle Ihli does not disappoint. The multiple POV's of the events brought so many different perspectives without making it confusing. All the different characters were so well written that I looks forward to each of their POV's. I devoured this book, it was so hard to put down. I highly recommend this book when it releases, 5 star read for sure!

Noelle W Ihli is definitely an auto read author for me, I’ll read everything she publishes.

Let’s talk about “Such Quiet Girls”. If you’re familiar with the authors work you know to expect a fast paced thriller with high stakes tension throughout.

I will say that child kidnapping thrillers aren’t typically my jam, but as mentioned I’ll give anything a go by this author.

The content of this book was a lot more mild and tame, I assume this because of the content of this book surrounding a group of young aged children, and that was fine we don’t want to get sadistic when it comes to kids.. Doing this also left room for a more heart felt, wholesome back story around two mothers living in very different circumstances who would both do anything to protect their kids.

I enjoyed the wholesome aspects, the sisterhood themes (we all argued with our sisters to the death when we were younger but deep down that love and protectiveness always lives there). I liked Jessas opportunity for redemption and Sheena’s opportunity to be humbled in her assumptions. I also loved watching Sheenas family overcome extreme trials and become closer as a result.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Publish date: April 29th

My number one book by Noelle has officially been updated to Such Quiet Girls...just WOW! From page one this book engaged my curiosity, then as it progressed I was hooked. The descriptiveness in this book was outstanding!! I could literally smell vomit from the van, I could hear the dirtbags talking from a pitch black place, I could feel Sheen's despair. My heart was racing, I was near tears, I was raging...all of the feels from this one. I loved this book so much!!

Such an amazing read!!! This story although fictional, is loosely based on true events, the Chowchilla kidnapping. I could not put this one down. It was very fast paced and gripping. The ending was extremely emotional but also heartwarming. Definitely a must read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli.

This thriller is an intense and harrowing read, inspired by true events. The concept of a group of children being buried alive is deeply unsettling, and the novel effectively builds suspense as Jessa and Sage fight for survival. The tension is palpable, and the claustrophobic setting adds to the anxiety-inducing atmosphere.

However, while the premise was gripping, I found some aspects of the execution lacking. The pacing felt uneven, with certain sections dragging, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters. There were moments of genuine fear and urgency, but some plot points felt predictable. Despite this, Such Quiet Girls delivers a chilling survival story that will appeal to fans of high-stakes thrillers. It was an okay read—not one that completely hooked me, but still worth checking out for those who enjoy dark, psychological suspense.

Title: Such Quiet Girls
Author: Noelle West Ihli
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: April 29, 2025

I have read several of Noelle Ihli's books and have never been disappointed. I'm happy to report that after reading Such Quiet Girls, I can 100% confirm that my statement still holds true.

This was such a fast-paced book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally could not turn the pages quickly enough!

This is a definite MUST read!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

This was another piece of perfection from Noelle Ilhi. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt like I was right underground with the kids. I also really enjoyed the alternate POVs, especially from Ted as well. I also enjoyed reading how while it was fiction, it is actually based on a true story.