Such Quiet Girls had my heart pounding from every page and had me on the edge of my seat. This thriller was fast-paced and I loved every second of it. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and I’m not going to lie it had me in tears many times. This will be a book I will remember for a long time.

This line had me feeling all the feels :
Then Bonnie. “ I’m going to watch TV with my sister, Sage, and she gets to pick the show. I won’t say I don’t like it. It can even be Family Guy, and I won’t tell Mom on her.”

Noelle W. Ihli had stated this book is inspired by actual events. It follows a new bus driver who, after a series of unfortunate events, must find a way to outsmart her captors and save ten children who have been abducted and buried alive. 

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC

I’m so glad I stumbled upon Noelle Ihili. She’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Her latest, Such Quiet Girls, was great

4.25 stars

This fictional story based on the chowchilla kidnapping from the 1970s was a psychological mindfield. The terror, anxiety and bravery of the children especially Sage comes through and it is like you are there. She uses descriptive language that you can imagine how terrifying and scary the bunker is, and the terrfying ordeal they are suffering. I appreciated the back story of the mother, and the grandfathers health issues


I found myself racing through to get to the end.

My first book from the author but i will be reading more.

Wow! What a wild ride! This was my second book by Noelle Ihli and probably my fav read so far this year. I could not put this down. It was gripping. It was action packed. The characters were all so well written and developed. I enjoyed the different point of view. Everything built up perfectly to the climax and then the ending answered every detail you could ask for. It wrapped up like a perfect little present. I will be reeling for the book for quite some time. Noelle, well done with this one ❤️
Thank you so much Net Galley & Dynamite Books for this ARC.

Such Quiet Girls is an adrenaline-fueled, race against time thriller that had me on the edge of my seat gasping for air. The intensity was relentless and never let up. Based on the Chowchilla kidnapping of the 1970s, I think Ihli just brought every parent's worst nightmare to life with this fictional retelling of true events. I was completely terrified, panic-stricken, and heartsick for those kids. I felt all of their fear and emotions like they were my own, as a mother and as a scared child. I can't even begin to imagine what I would do if faced with this situation from either perspective. It was truly inspiring to witness the strength and determination those children portrayed while all hope was lost. Especially Sage. Her pure grit and defiance had me smiling and cheering her on. This amazing story captivated me from every angle, and I know that other readers will feel the same. I highly recommend! This is a MUST read!

Thank you to Dynamite Books for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy

Chills. Full body chills. As a mom, this is terrifying. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and praying those kids were going to be okay. The strength and leadership coming from a 12 year old girl? Absolutely amazing. I could not put this book down until the very end.

At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this. But Noelle hooked me into the story per usual! Read this book in my sitting. Kept me wanting to know what would happen next!

One thing to know when you sit down and read a Noelle W. Ihli book is that your experience is not over when the book is.. As a matter of fact if you are a true crime fan, you’ll love the fact that it is just beginning. Despite her stories being fictional they are based off of true events.. Even if you didn’t know of it , just a few clicks into your web browser and down a rabbit hole you go into pages of info, movie recs and more. So she gives us a gift that keeps on giving.

Now for the writing, as always, she does it perfectly. Taking us on a suspenseful journey, keeping you on edge throughout. Heavier on my heart this time around because it involved children. I believe any mom will know and feel my sentiments throughout. .

Fantastic writing once again. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Noelle Ihli, Dynamite Books, and Netgalley for the e-arc of Such Quiet Girls! This is a heart pounding, race against the clock, edge of your seat thriller! Short chapters and grabs your attention from the very beginning! I’ve read almost all of Noelle’s book and loved them all! This book publishes on 4/29/25!

Such Quiet Girls
Noelle West Ihli
April 29, 2025

Bright Beginnings Childcare Center had a new bus driver. Miss Jessa started driving the school bus from school to school picking up students to drop them off at daycare. The center made a rule that no students or driver should have their cell phones out of their labeled cubby. Each child took their assigned seat and were told the rules each day before heading off from school. Sage and Bonnie Halverson, sisters whose mother felt Sage should attend the center with Bonnie. She was older and Sage felt that she would be fine walking home while Bonnie went to daycare.This particular day the eleven students settled in the bus heading to Bright Beginnings. At one point Ms. Jessa had to stop due to signs on the road. She presumed they were construction alerts but she saw no workers on the road. She followed the detour signs although it took the bus through an old cherry orchard. The children were concerned as they had never taken that route. Jessa would have liked to use her phone to call the center but knew the rule and headed enroute.
Such Quiet Girls will be published by Dynamite Books on April 29, 2025. I was able to read and review Ihli´s latest novel via NetGalley. Although the plot was a tad slow in the beginning the suspense began to build as I read. The action came to a head not long into the book with the reader becoming greatly concerned for the students and the driver. A good mystery! Enjoy!

Noelle W. Ihli is one of those writers who is an instant read for me. Since the first of her books I read (Ask for Andrea), I have been hooked on her ability to hook me, to make me hold my breath, to force me to stay up well past my bedtime to find out what is going to happen.

Such Quiet Girls was another relentless thriller in her growing line of books based in some way on real events. Shifting between four different viewpoints, the story starts just before the kidnapping of a bus full of little kids. The overlapping and building storylines make you feel as though you are experiencing the events in real time, and it becomes more and more impossible to break away from reading. You find yourself cheering on brave Sage, urging Sheena to do the right thing, willing Jessa just to do something, and screaming at Ted to “apply himself” to being a good man.

From beginning to end, I raced through the pages of this book, not taking a deep breath until I reached its thrilling conclusion.

Such Quiet Girls is based off the actual events: The Chowchilla kidnapping in 1979 where 3 men hijacked a school bus along with 26 children and their bus driver.
Although Ihli's version is different in many ways it was terrifying connecting this to a real event. In true Noelle Ihli fashion, she hooked me from the very beginning and had my heart racing.
Such Quiet Girls is told through the POV's of one of the children, the bus driver, one of the kidnappers and the mom of 2 of the missing girls. Being connected to all of the different characters throughout created a completely immersive story.
I felt most connected to the mom, being a mom myself. While the mom, Sheena, is trying to get her girls home she is caring for her father who has Alzheimer's.
My mom has Alzheimer's and her story hit so close to my heart.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book when it is
released on April 29th. While you're waiting, you can check out any of her other books. I recommend them all! Thank you to Noelle Ihli , Netgalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC.

📝ARC Book Review📝
Title: Such Quiet Girls
Author: Noelle West Ihli
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars

'Such Quiet Girls' is a work of fiction but draws inspiration based on actual events. The story follows Jessa, a bus driver troubled by her past, and ten students abducted in broad daylight as they race against time to survive in a buried shipping container.

This gripping suspense thriller will keep your heart racing the entire time. The terror, desperation, and human instincts exhibited in the face of such extreme circumstances are beyond my comprehension. I was constantly on the edge of my seat.

I would have preferred more action before the joyful reunion since the resolution seemed to have happened quickly. However, I highly recommend reading this one if you like fast-paced thrillers. Noelle Ihli is undoubtedly skilled in creating heartbreaking and anxiety-inducing stories that will leave readers gasping for air.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC!

My first Noelle West Ihli was Run On Red, only last year, and I was so hooked that I have to buy all her other books and then waited for new releases. When Such Quiet Girls was announced, I was already over the moon. The title, the blurb, the cover.... everything was so promising!

And what can I say - the book did deliver! I was a little worried with the different POVs - it is a well-known secret that I do struggle with too many of them - but it did work out nicely. Each of the characters had a different voice and personality, so it was actually easy to tell who was who, and it surely only increased the tension I felt while reading. I was glued to the story from page one, and I flew through it, even when I had to pause now and then simply to take a breath and progress what was happening.

Noelle West Ihli, you did it again! It is save to say that I will now impatiently wait for your next one!

Ms. Jessa is only a week into her new job as an elementary school bus driver, and she’s already questioning her decision. She’s barely settling into the routine when a text from her sister shatters her focus; updating her on her estranged daughter’s nightmares. . Forcing herself to lock away her phone, Jessa pushes through her shift, unaware that this small decision will soon spiral into a nightmare. What starts as an ordinary day quickly turns into a relentless, heart-pounding ordeal that will remind her of her troubled past and make her wish to reunite with her daughter stronger.

This book covers multiple POV and I found that really enjoyable as each character brought something unique to the story, from a child’s perspective to the antagonists. It is packed with edge-of-your-seat moments and seeing the events play out from different angles added depth and kept me hooked, constantly shifting my emotions and sympathies.

It wasn’t all drama either, the story surprised me with its heart warming moments, I felt myself tearing up at one point as I empathised with Sheena and her worry as a Mother. I also found a favourite character in Grandpa.

I found this a fun and gripping read that I devoured in just a few hours, it took me on a rollercoaster of emotions from anxiety to moments of heart-warming joy. You might find yourself shouting “RUN!” In your head, like I was. My only reasoning for a 3 star instead of a 4 was I felt it dragged a little in the middle and I found myself getting bored, however it did pick up again.

If you love fast-paced thrillers with emotional weight, this one is definitely worth picking up as it is a very quick read in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. This book is so intense and addicting. A bus full of kids disappears on their way to their afterschool program. One mother gets a ransom note. Who is after these kids and why? Will they get free?

There is something so unique and captivating about this author. I became a fan after reading ‘Ask for Andrea’ and ‘Gray after Dark’. Honestly just amazing, the books just stick with you forever more. Thank you for access to this! 100% recommend this and every other book by this author

Such Quiet Girls is such a thrill ride! Every page had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I felt connected to the characters and love how Noelle always has that girl power vibe in her books. Noelle W Ihli is my favorite author and she does not disappoint.

I'm a simple girl, Noelle writes it and I drop everything immediately to read it.

This book was perfect, with all the twists and turns it grips you from the very first page and doesn't let you go.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gripping and Unforgettable!

After reading Asking for Andrea, I had to pick up Such Quiet Girls, and I devoured it in one sitting. Noelle W. Ihli delivers nonstop tension, making this one impossible to put down.

The story follows Jessa, a bus driver haunted by her past, and Sage, a sharp young girl, as they fight to survive in a buried shipping container. The fear, the desperation, and the race against time had my heart pounding the entire time.

Ihli’s writing pulls you in and doesn’t let go. And knowing this was inspired by real events? Absolutely chilling. If you love thrillers that keep you on edge, this one is a must-read!