I first discovered Sarah when I read books she co-authored with Greer Hendricks. They had a magic in writing these page turning thrillers. When I saw that she had her own book, I knew I had to read it. It was a fantastic book filled with twists and turns. Thankful to have received an advanced copy!

The premise of the novel was intriguing but I found there was too much detailed description and a lack of characterization with the characters. I would have liked more scenes with Rose I feel like Stella’s character fell flat at times.

I love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing and was so excited to get to read this one and it did not disappoint! It kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn’t put it down!

This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. What a wild ride! This book kept me guessing at everyone's motives and who really had Rose's best interests at heart. The book embodies the saying "You never really know anyone ever"

First off, big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC of this book, sorry it took so long to get to it. While I enjoy suspense/thriller books I don’t usually read them much. This one did start off strong and I was intrigued as to what would happen. About a 1/3 of the way through I thought Rose did it for sure. Then everything seemed to point the way and the story felt at a standstill. I honestly got bored by 70% and skimmed the rest.

I definitely did not see Harriet as being behind everything the reveal would have been good if the story didn’t lose me before the big reveal.

All of the stuff with Charles felt unnecessary and Stella’s backstory really did not play a big enough role in the story for me to have it be relevant.

I always forget how much I love all that Sarah writes. House of Glass is no different.

This story is suspenseful and the characters are well draway out. She weaves a story that kept me on edge and there were a ton of unexpected twists. Her writing style creates a immersive experience that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
This book dives into themes of trust, secrets and the complexity of basic human relationships. One of the things I've always loved about her book is her ability to craft believable dialogue and rich, immersive environments to add depth to the reading experience.

Great Book!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass is a gripping exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and the complex web of relationships that define our lives. Set against the backdrop of an opulent, yet enigmatic glass house, the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, revealing the intertwined fates of its characters.

Pekkanen masterfully crafts tension, as the protagonist grapples with her troubled past while attempting to navigate her present. The author’s keen eye for detail brings the setting to life, making the house almost a character in its own right—reflective, transparent, yet hiding dark truths. The emotional depth of the characters is compelling, as they confront their vulnerabilities and the weight of their choices.

The pacing is well-balanced, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Pekkanen’s writing is both poignant and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to ponder the nature of trust and betrayal within families.

Overall, House of Glass is a captivating read that combines psychological intrigue with rich character development, making it a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers.

The pacing of this book was a bit slow for me. It did pick up as towards the end . I found the twist a bit predictable.

I received House of Glass as an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, and it was published on 8/8/24.

In House of Glass, lawyer Stella Hudson takes on a troubling custody case involving nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who stopped speaking after witnessing her nanny’s possible murder. As Stella digs into the Barclays’ twisted family dynamics, she uncovers dark secrets in their gilded DC mansion—a house oddly devoid of glass. With danger lurking and everyone a suspect, Stella must navigate the lies surrounding the nanny’s death while confronting her own traumatic past.

Rating: 4/5

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. It was fast-paced and kept me guessing who the real killer was. The middle section dragged a bit as it tried too hard to convince readers that a red herring was the culprit. Had this been tightened up, it would’ve been a five-star read for me. That said, Pekkanen’s writing was sharp and engaging, with spot-on descriptions and realistic characters. If you’re looking for a good thriller for spooky season, this is definitely one to try!

I have loved this author since I read the few books she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks. I love her writing style and enjoyed House of Glass. I am absolutely planning to go back and try out her other backlist books. This book was such a quick read for me and I am so thankful to have received an advance copy to read!

House of Glass is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and I devoured it! This was written well, creepy, dark, and well paced from the twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out who done it? I read this book in "Spooky Season" and with the creepy kid and psychological aspect of the book, it definitely delivered.
I liked the back and forth from the Barclays and Charles, where Stella is trying to figure out the history of her parents death.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you like dark psychological thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for my advanced copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opprtunity to reada complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Stella Hudson is a what is known as a best interest lawyer, she works for children at risk to determine what is the best decision for thri care and comfort in situations like divorce, etc. Stella's new case is a little girl named Rose who witnessed the death of her nanny Tina and hasn;'t spoke a word since, and to make matters worse, Rose's parents are in the midst of a bitter divorce. Stella feels that this case is one she must take, as she remembers finding her mother deceased when she was a young girl and being mute with fear. But when Stella first sees Rose, she sees something that disturbs her and makes her wonder if the little girl is scared od someone or someone to be scared of. As Stella delves into the case, and meets with the parents and the paternal grandmother whom lives in the home inher own granny-suite, she wonders if everyone is who they seem to be. Is Rose dangerous or in danger.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting plot and the characters were well written. I will defintely be on the lookout for more books by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ House of Glass

I originally received House of Glass as a pre-read through NetGalley and was hooked from the very beginning. It had everything I look for in a psychological thriller, especially one for spooky season! I recently revisited it by picking up the audiobook from my library, and it was just as captivating on the second read. This story is a twisting maze of lies, suspense, and chilling characters, and it kept me guessing until the very end.

The plot centers around Rose Barclay, a haunting nine-year-old who’s stopped speaking since she witnessed her nanny’s death—an event shrouded in mystery. Rose collects sharp objects and moves with an eerie silence, leaving you questioning whether she’s a victim or something more sinister. Stella Hudson, a lawyer with a traumatic past, is reluctantly assigned to Rose’s case, setting off a chain of dark revelations.

Sarah Pekkanen crafts each character to feel unsettlingly real, layering family secrets, betrayal, and buried trauma within the walls of the Barclays’ grand DC home. And speaking of the house, its bizarre lack of glass only adds to the creepy atmosphere, hinting that nothing is what it seems behind its gilded doors.

The book balances chilling twists with deep psychological insights, keeping you suspicious of everyone—from the mother to the father, grandmother, even Rose herself. The mystery runs so deep that I found myself constantly changing theories. Each family member is hiding something, and House of Glass reveals just enough to keep you on edge without giving everything away.

Overall, House of Glass has secured a spot as one of my top reads of the year. It’s a suspenseful, atmospheric thriller that’s perfect for anyone craving a gripping, eerie mystery. Highly recommend! #thriller #spookyseasonreads #bookstagrammer #bookreview

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC!

This book was so, so good! I love that this is told through the perspective of a BIA (Best Interest Attorney). It was such a fresh and new take on just an average police detective or investigator.

I think Pekannen does a really great job of having the reader second guess what they think they know all the way until the final reveal. I kept going back and forth thinking I knew who did it, and I was wrong.

I also think Pekkanen does an amazing job of ending pretty much every single chapter on a cliff hanger. It makes the reader want to just devour this book in one sitting. “Just one more chapter” often turned into reading about 5 or 6 more. The chapters in House of Glass are pretty short in my opinion as well which I actually prefer in a thriller because I think it helps keep a good reading pace and helps the readers not experience a lull in the book.

In the ending, every single storyline is tied up in a bow so that the reader feels like this book truly comes to the conclusion and feels like our main character (Stella) can begin to start moving on in her life.

One of the best books I have read this year and I 100% recommend this to others.

This is a twisty thriller that had me captivated from the first page! Sometimes I find thrillers to be poorly written however this one was very well written and the character development was great. This wasn't a predictable story, it was completely original and captivating. The surprises were believable, and made me more interested in the story as it went on.

I enjoyed the perspective that this story took, including some of the mixed media that came in towards the second half, such as the reports. The writing really pulled me in at the beginning, and I read this novel in very few sittings and could have easily read it in one. I think the pacing, while a bit slower and more akin to a suspense novel, was good overall. Suspense can only lead so far for me, and as the second half of the book came about, I was anticipating a much quicker pace to ensue.

Sadly where this story fell flat was in its reliance on telling rather than showing. I also think that the premise at times seemed too simple or predictable, and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, which it did not. I think this story could have incorporated multiple perspectives, such as Rose's to amp up some of the suspense and thrill, and it would have perfectly hit the spot.

In general, I think that this is a very accessible mystery/thriller that many just getting into the genre alongside long-time readers could pick up, be sucked into, and thoroughly enjoy, so I will certainly be recommending it to my friends and family.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an early copy of this title in exchange for a honest review.

This book has a bit of that gothic thriller vibe that I love so much. A creepy kid living in a seemingly haunted house, who is obsessed with serial killers and collects sharp objects, is the focus of a child custody lawyer, who is tasked with observing her and making a recommendation as to her custody. I couldn't help but think of Ashley Audrain's evil little girl in The Push. The main incident in this story begins when the child's nanny falls from the upper floor window of their house. After it happens, the little girl stops talking. When the lawyer comes to get to know the family, she suspects that the fall was not an accident, and maybe the little girl pushed her. I thought Pekkanen did a great job building the tension as she slowly revealed little details of the mystery; however, I felt that she got a little off track by trying to connect the lawyer's own childhood trauma to her case. I think she could've gotten away with writing a straight psychological thriller without adding the details of the lawyer's personal life. I still liked it overall and I would recommend it if you are into character-based thrillers.

Sarah has become one of my auto buys. Her books just instantly draw you in! I really enjoyed the short chapters and trying to figure out if she was pushed or murdered. The love story at the end was a bit different but I still really enjoyed the book.

House of glass is an exciting thriller. The backstory is great and it leaves you constantly wondering what happened. I would highly suggest this book if you like thriller. I love Sarah pekkanens other books so I was super excited for this one. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Stella is a best interest attorney appointed to helping children who’ve experienced life altering situations because she witnessed something unfathomable when she was younger and has dedicated her life to helping those in need.

Stella is appointed to help Rose, a nine year old girl who witnessed her Nanny fall from the attic window and plunge to her death feet away from where her and her grandmother were picking tomatoes. As a result of witnessing the horrific accident, Rose has gone completely mute and it’s Stella’s job to comfort Rose and to figure out what happened.

Rose’s parents are getting a divorce; it’s up to Stella to decide who gets custody of Rose, but their house gives off an eerie vibe, and someone is taunting Stella. Is it Rose, or someone else entirely?

This was an addictive family drama that kept me guessing until the very end. I’ve enjoyed Pekkanen’s books the last two years and can’t wait to see what she writes next!