Phenomenal!!! Read this in less than a day! It's definitely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!!!

Such Quiet Girls had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Who doesn't attach their hearts to a busload of innocent kids who are trapped in a hole? The character development was very effective because I HATED the antagonists of the story and rooted whole-heartedly for the heroine. The suspense was off the charts. This was my first book by the author, but definitely not the last! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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

This is told from multiple POVs.

From the first page, I was hooked. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat and maybe a little claustrophobic.

Sage was such a strong character, not only did she take care of her sister, but everyone else that was on the bus, including Jessa, the bus driver.

I liked how, at the beginning of the chapters, it was included how long they had been buried. It allows the reader to see how long the story progressed, you aren't just sitting there reading and trying to guess.

What a captivating read, I was on the edge of my seat and invested from page one.

Noelle W. Ihli has a way of drawing readers in immediately and putting them right in the middle of what is happening. With different perspectives, I found myself relating to several different characters at different times even though some were experiencing this event in vastly different ways.

This was story of courage, resilience and determination. While I find some stories involving children to be traumatic or difficult to read, this book did a fantastic job of sharing the desperate situation, without being anxiety inducing.

I especially loved the way sisters Sage and Bonnie showed that as annoying as siblings may find each other at times, they truly will do whatever possible to help each other in times of need.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Wow! One of my favorite thrillers I've read this year by far! I was glued to the pages and I could feel the emotions and see each scene. My nerves were up the roof on some parts because I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I'd love to see this on a screen. So good!

This is my first psychological thriller by Noelle, I have read her the first book of hers I read was None Left to Tell her historical fiction based off true familial events. This book did not disappoint, and I immediately downloaded Noelle's entire backlog. Run do not walk to get this book as soon as she posted a sneak peek of the cover, I knew I absolutely needed this book. If you are a parent, check your trigger warnings. They are located at the front of the book and be ready to go on a wild, emotional filled ride.

This book is told in MPOV's, we follow four compelling characters, Jessa- the bus driver, Sage and 11-year-old girl, Sheena who is Sage's mom, and lastly, we follow Ted who is a kidnapper and seems more uncertain of himself. I loved how we bounced from each point of view and were able to get the perspective of each of the characters. Sage is a spunky, coming into herself child and I loved her POV.

This book is based off a true story and is a nightmare for anyone who has children, my mommy heart hurt for not only the children but also for the parents. It is traumatizing when your child goes missing and all you hear is we don't know. The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The way this book is atmospherically written, it takes the reader along with the characters and doesnt let you breathe until THE LAST PAGE. THIS BOOK NEEDS A WARNING, NOTHING WILL BE DONE TODAY EXCEPT THE READING OF WHAT FOLLOWS!!!!

Haunting, powerful, and absolutely unforgettable.

Such Quiet Girls pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go. The story centers around a group of young children and their bus driver, Ms. Jessa, who are kidnapped and buried alive in a bunker by two men seeking ransom—and from that terrifying premise unfolds a deeply emotional and gripping survival story.

What stood out to me the most was Sage. Her strength, resilience, and sheer will to survive were incredible. Even in the most terrifying moments, she never stopped fighting—for herself, for the others, for a way out. Watching her navigate the trauma and fear with such fierce determination made the story hit so much deeper.

I also loved the quiet depth of Ms. Jessa’s backstory and how it was woven into the heart of the story. Her personal struggles, grief, and strength added such emotional weight, and it was beautiful to see how those pieces of her past helped guide her as she fought to protect the children.

This book is more than just a thriller—it’s about bravery, survival, and the kind of strength that blooms in silence and darkness. It shook me, broke me, and left me feeling deeply moved.

If you’re looking for something raw, emotional, and full of heart—Such Quiet Girls is a must-read.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 29, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I am the biggest fan of Noelle and her books are always a 5 stars for me. Ihli knows how to get your heart racing, anxiety running and your nerves on edge. This book was INCREDIBLE from start to finish. I am a sucker for books that are inspired by real life events and this book was inspired by exactly that. We follow students on a bus and their bus driver on their way home from school. We have multiple POVs which I enjoy a lot. This book had me in tears by the end probably from a combination of anxiety and the emotions from the story itself that I had to take a few days to put myself back together. If you want a heart pumping read that is written beautifully and will leave you thinking about this book long after you finish and then begging for more books from our author, this book is for you.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Dynamite Books

‘Such Quiet Girls’ starts off slowly, but it’s worth the patience. Once it finds its rhythm, the emotional pull is undeniable. The characters feel so real, their bond powerful and raw. By the end, I felt like I truly knew them. A gripping, character-driven thriller with a lingering impact.

Okay, you have to read Such Quiet Girls. It’s inspired by that real-life case where a bus full of kids was kidnapped and buried—remember that? This book takes that idea and runs with it in the most stressful, can’t-look-away kind of way. I flew through it. It’s fast, tense, and honestly had me holding my breath at points. If you’re into true crime or just love a thriller that grabs you and doesn’t let go, this one’s for you.

This book had me hooked pretty much from the start. As a mom to three kids, I really understood the turmoil that the mom went through trying to decide what to do about her situation. On the flip side, I only hope I raised my kids to be liked her oldest daughter, Sage. The determination to get out and get help- I was really rooting for her! I keep wanting to say things here but I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything. But definitely a good, quick read! Thank you @Dynamite Books and #NetGalley for the chance to read #SuchQuietGirls early.

3.75 stars. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love that the author's two most recent novels have been based off of actual events. I had only just recently learned of the Chowchilla Kidnapping so I was intrigued when I began to read and noticed the differences between the novel and the real-life kidnapping. I appreciated that all of the POVs felt like real people with their own flaws and traumas but I thought having the multiple perspectives slowed the storyline down quite a bit and there were times where the pacing didn't work for me. I had a truly difficult time putting down "None Left to Tell" so although I'm a little disappointed that this book didn't have the same affect on me, Noelle W Ilhi is still an auto read author for me. Thanks to NetGalley, Noelle W Ilhi, and Dynamite Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my third Noelle Ihli book and I am firmly cemented as a fan. Once again, she expertly crafted a novel based off of true events. The writing was excellent and the stress of the situation was palpable. This story, the telling of a bus of children kidnapped, is terrifyingly real but somehow maintains hope.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Can’t wait to see what she writes next and what new piece of history I can learn more about.

Wowza! This book was like driving a race car you were careening along super fast and banking corners going way too fast. I loved every second of it. Each character played a significant role and love them or hate them they were needed. Noelle knocked it out of the park!!

Oh my heart! This book was terrifying to read as a parent! I'm a huge fan of Noelle Ihli's books knowing that this book, like a couple others, is based loosely around a real event. She brings the edge of your seat, disturbing thriller of a book along with the viewpoints of several people in the situation, a mom of 2 of the kidnapped girls (Sheena), the bus driver (Jessa), one of the kidnappers (Ted), and one of the kidnapped children (Sage.) It gives a 360 view of what is happening and how everyone is reacting to it. I was fully engrossed in this book and also, at some points, nervous to read more! Noelle has a way of writing characters that you get attached to and you just hope for the best outcome for them.
A daycare bus is rerouted on the way to drop kids off at the after school program. A new bus driver is skeptical, but decides to take the detour and then she sees she's driven a bus full of kids into a trap. So scary, but so well written!

It was harrowing and gripping. Noelle has a way of making you feel what the character is feeling. Her writing grabs your attention. This story was captivating and beyond crazy that’s it’s based on a true story

Five stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First of all thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the amazing author for letting me arc read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just wow. I love this author and I knew I’d love this one too, but was a little wary with the children theme. Oh, and I’m claustrophobic 😂 but I’m also a mother, and this story had my heart racing and eyes damp at times!

I absolutely loved Jess’s & Sage, and of course Grandpa. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a face paced thriller! Loved it.

so much tension! My heart was racing with the roller coaster of emotions it had me going through. A bus disappears, and Sheena, the mother of two girls on the bus, will do anything to get her girls back. The kidnappers have the bus driver and the kids in a hole underground and won't let them go until they receive their ransom money.

First and foremost, I want to thank Noelle Ihli and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Such Quiet Girls in exchange for my honest review.

I don't often give five stars, but Noelle really earned it with yet another incredible novel. Similar to Gray After Dark (another stellar read by Noelle), Such Quiet Girls is loosely based on true events. Noelle brings to life an already unbelievable story, giving each character so much personality, you can't help but empathize with characters on both sides of the moral divid. Fast paced and told from multiple perspectives, this story hits the ground running and will keep you intrigued until the very last page.

I would highly recommend this thought provoking novel for a wide variety of readers and book clubs.

This book took me by surprise, I have had such a hard time finding a good sit on the edge of your seat mystery/thriller, but I finally found one! I enjoyed the different points of view throughout the book. As confusing as it was at first, it turned around and became less confusing around Chapter 5. The author did a good job describing the different settings that everyone was in, while giving very good character development. I thought Sage's character development was very well written. Jessa's story I felt came together rather slowly, I would have enjoyed if that had been introduced a bit quicker. I am leaving this review voluntary.