4.5 ⭐️

“Evil isn’t merely a word. It’s a tangible, dimensional thing. It slithers through the air, shifting molecules and displacing energy as it considers various hunting grounds”

I really loved this book. It took me a moment to start it but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy a good psychological thriller, I highly recommend it!

Plot: Tina de la Cruz, a young nanny, tragically plunges to her death from a third story window—landing and splattering on the backyard pavers, not far from where 9-year-old Rose Barclay was picking vegetables in the garden with her grandmother. While the case of Tina’s death is beginning to go cold, Rose’s parents are now divorcing. Enter Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney who represents children in custody battles, appointed to evaluate multiple aspects of a child’s life and determine which parent is best suited for full custody. This case is different, though. Rose suffers from traumatic mutism and hasn’t spoken a single word since the incident, something that Stella herself is all too familiar with. As Stella tries to do her job and investigates further, it becomes clear that danger lurks in this home and questions begin to pile up. Is it Rose who is at risk? Or is she the risk? Why is there no glass in the home and why does Rose collect sharp objects? Everyone in this house is hiding something.

“Do the others not feel the darkness wafting through this house, snaking into the corners and curling around us like smoke?”

Things I liked: The plot is pretty unique and the writing is stunning. Sarah Pekkanen knows how to masterfully write a story, build tension, and keep the reader guessing and frantically turning the pages. Loved the eeriness and the attention to detail. Pacing was on point. The characters were complex and I appreciated the overlapping storylines of the current case and Stella’s past.

Why I rate it 4.5 stars instead of 5: The ending, while suspenseful, still fell a little flat. The last few chapters of epilogue just didn’t land for me and felt like a lazy way to tie up loose ends surrounding the character. The love interest at the end felt abrupt and out of place, distracting from the rest of the book. This is just nitpicking, though, and the rest of the book was brilliant.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Sarah Pekkanen for the chance to read an advanced copy! Will be adding this to my shelf💛

Stella is an attorney that helps the family courts determine who should be given parental custody for difficult divorces. When she is recommended for a case by her mentor, she doesn't know what she is walking into. The family has been in the press due to the unfortunate death of the nanny. Although the death is considered a cold case, there was suspicious circumstances around her death that has led to the bitter divorce of the Barclay parents each wanting sole custody of their nine-year-old daughter, Rose. On the outside, the Barclay's seem like the perfect family but inside the family home, Stella realizes the Barclay's are all hiding secrets. Did one of those secrets lead to the nanny's death?

I really enjoyed this book at the beginning. The narrator does a great job with each of these characters, and I enjoyed learning about the very unlikable characters known as the Barclay family. There were several mysteries in this book to discover such as who was responsible for Tina's death, what secrets is the Barclay family hiding and what happened to Stella's mother when she was a child. However, the story seemed to lose momentum in the middle and the story lagged. I found myself losing interest and skimming through some of the chapters to get to the conclusion. The book seemed to pick up again during the last couple of chapters and I was happy to see how the story concluded. Overall, I wasn't the biggest fan of this book but would be interested in reading other books by this author.

House of Glass is out now!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review House of Glass. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a creepy, suspenseful book for Fall, add this to your TBR list now! In this book we meet Rose, a little girl who has gone mute after the death of her nanny. Stella, a best interest attorney, is there to help decide who should get full custody after Rose’s parent’s divorce is finalized. Stella then becomes involved in the investigation of the death of the nanny, and she is suspicious of everyone, including Rose.

This book was fast paced, creepy, and had me on the edge of my seat once I hit the halfway mark. Once I was at 75%, it was full speed ahead, I could not stop! I sometimes struggle when books are not multiple points of view, but I didn’t even realize until I finished the book! It is very well written and so easy to consume! Highly recommend this one!

Giving this 4.5 stars but rounding up to 5 for NetGalley.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney who serves as counsel for children in custody cases. Recently assigned to 9-year-old Rose Barclay who suffers from traumatic mutism.



Rose's nanny Tina fell to her death at the family home and Rose may have witnessed it. In combination with the traumatic event, her parents are going through a messy and bitter divorce.



When Stella first enters the Barclay home, she realizes the case is so much more than just a custody battle amidst the divorce. As the secrets start to unravel, every single family member becomes a suspect in Tina's death. In a house full of plastic and no glass, can they keep it from crashing down?





What an awesome psychological thriller with a unique concept. Sarah Pekkanen knocked it out of the park with this one. My attention was captured instantly, the atmosphere was so eerie, I couldn't trust anyone, even my own opinion on the events that went down. With so many unreliable and untrustworthy characters, if it wasn't for Stella, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. Overall, it's a must read!



Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young Nanny falls through a window and the little girl no longer is talking. Not only that but all glass is being replaced with plastic or plexiglass.Everyone seems to be guilty of who knows what happened to the nanny and did she fall or was she pushed.
The parents are getting divorced and we find out secrets about them. The grandmother also lives in the house but she walks with a cane and can't get around real well. The little girl is stealing objects that are sharp. Just what is going on this house?
Stella is sent as a child advocate and to see what is going on with her and if she can get the little girl to talk.
I enjoyed this thriller and received it from NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC to read.

If it’s by Sarah Pekkanen I know I’m going to enjoy it! House of Glass was no different. I was immediately hooked on the plot.

House of Glass had me guessing what was going to happen and I was surprised by the final twists!

Sarah writes thrillers in a way that you know what you’re going to get: twists and turns and an addictive plot. I will read anything Sarah writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is the attorney appointed to assist and make sure that the best interest of children are taken into account in child custody situations. When she enters the gates of the Barclay family, she realizes that things are even weirder and more serious than she believed. The first thing she notices is that the house is made of plastic & not a bit of glass. As Stella starts to uncover the secrets of the Barclays, she uncovers more and more danger and fears for her life. Can she live long enough to help Rose?

The House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is one of the best thrillers I've read this year! Stella Hudson is an attorney whose clients are children going through a custody battle. Stella has a rule that she won't take on any clients younger than 13. Stella suffered a terrible tragedy when she was a child and doesn't want to deal with younger children because of this. It brings back too many bad memories for her. Stella's mentor, Charles, reaches out to her and wants her to take the Rose Barclay case. Charles is a judge and has known Stella since she was young. The problem is Rose is 9 years old! Stella tells Charles she'll meet the family and get back to him with her decision.

The Barclay's look like they have everything on the outside. They are wealthy, live in a huge mansion, have a 9 year old daughter, and don't want for anything. Or do they? The Barclay's live-in nanny was recently killed at the house when she fell out of the attic window. Since that happened Rose has been mute from the trauma she endured. Rose saw her nanny's dead body on the patio after the fall. Who could've killed Tina, the nanny? Beth, the mom, was on the phone at the time of Tina's death. Was she really? Ian, the father, was also on the phone with a client at the time of Tina's death. Was he really? Ian and Tina had a fling in the house and Tina was pregnant with his child. Was Ian upset about this? Was Beth upset about this? Beth knew about the fling. Harriet, the grandmother, was in the garden in the backyard at the time of Tina's death. Rose was with her, Harriet said later. Was Rose really with her? Was Harriet really in the garden?

When Stella visits the Barclay family she gets an uneasy, bad feeling inside the huge house. What's going on here? She notices that there is no glass in the house, none at all. The glass has been removed from every picture frame, the glasses they serve drinks in are unbreakable, not glass. Why? Stella has the job of figuring out who Rose would be best living with, her mom or her dad as they're getting a divorce. She tells Charles she will take the case as she can't say no to her mentor. He never asks her for anything and has done so much for her. Will Stella be able to determine who killed the nanny before someone tries to kill her? Will Rose ever speak again? How will Stella determine who Rose should live with when she can't get the girl to speak? This is a fantastic book that you will devour! I absolutely loved House of Glass and rate it 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. House of Glass is available now and should go to the top of your TBR pile! I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of House of Glass in exchange for a fair review. #HouseOfGlass

This was a fairly quick read that had me completely fooled the entire time! It is definitely going to be recommended!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for allowing me to review this twisty mystery. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a book that keeps you guessing from start to finish. There are so many twists and I loved every minute of it. I also loved the two storylines. This is a fantastic mystery/thriller! Thank you again!

Thank you St martins press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Pekkanen and it was fantastic! She weaves so many twists and turns into this story. You will be engaged from the first word to the last.

The characters are intriguing, the story is fantastic and you will have the creeps reading the words.

Such a good story!

When I started this book, I was feeling sad and depressed about everything in my life. The weight of my emotions made it difficult to concentrate on much, but I decided to give this book a try. Initially, it was challenging to immerse myself in the story. The words seemed distant, and the characters felt like mere shadows.

However, as I continued reading, something remarkable happened. Slowly but surely, I began to understand the dynamics of the characters and the unfolding story. Each page turned felt like a small victory, pulling me deeper into the narrative. The author's ability to craft such vivid and relatable characters allowed me to escape my own struggles and become invested in their journeys.

The turning point came when I found myself not just reading the book but living within its world. The story provided me with a sense of connection and understanding that I desperately needed. It was as if the characters' experiences mirrored my own feelings, and their growth gave me hope for my own.

By the time I reached the final chapters, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction and clarity. This book didn't just tell a story; it offered me a new perspective on my own life. It reminded me that even in the midst of sadness, there can be moments of joy and understanding.

In the end, this book was more than just a read; it was a lifeline. It helped me navigate through a tough period and emerged as a source of comfort and inspiration. If you're looking for a story that will resonate deeply and possibly change the way you see your own struggles, I highly recommend giving this book a chance.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc HOUSE OF GLASS
It started off with a good mystery and this one had all the elements that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I enjoyed that Stella's past was in the story, so I could better understand her as a character. I highly recommend this story

Creepy kid stories are just the best. This was another fun read from Pekkanen. I enjoyed the sense of doom throughout and loved seeing the family unravel as the plot moved forward. The ending wrapped everything up nicely. I went back and forth between reading and listening (mostly because I couldn’t put it down) but would highly recommend the audiobook as the narration was strong.

On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

This was a real page turner of a thriller! I was pulled into the story right away and kept flipping pages right up until the end. Anytime there is a child involved in the story in a sinister way, it really ups the creep factor! And then throw in a weird house that's a character in itself and you have a great combo! I really enjoyed this one and really couldn't figure out the real story and who was guilty. Clever twists all throughout. I loved the side plot of the attorney's childhood backstory too. The author really brings it all together for a very satisfying ending. The story was very atmospheric and I could definitely see it coming to the big screen. Overall, a really great thriller perfect for Summer reading.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress and @sarahpekkanen for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Out now!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why I Chose It: I’ve enjoyed the author’s other books cowritten with Greer Hendricks. Also, Stella’s job was one I had interned as, so I was familiar with guardian ad litems (BIA in this story).

Unpopular opinion incoming. The last 20% of this book pushed it up to three stars for me. I thought the last little bit was excellent - thrilling, twisty, and completely engaging.

However, I did not really like the other 80%. I never connected with Stella, and I also thought she lacked professionalism. She came into the situation way too emotionally involved, which made me not trust any of her thoughts. Also, her thoughts were very leading as a reader. I felt like there was a lot of telling and not showing.

As for the other characters and other plots, they felt one-dimensional and stereotypical. Stella’s life story was predictable and didn’t add anything to the overall story for me. I know I’m in the minority here, and perhaps this was a bad time to read it, but it didn’t live up to my expectations.

Fans of stories about unsettling kids, creepy houses, and family drama will enjoy this one.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a fast paced, page turning thriller. The Barclay’s are the perfect family, at least it seems from the outside looking in their plexiglass house. Beth Barclay comes from old money, Ian is a philandering husband, owner of a landscaping company, nine year old Rose is mute, due to a trauma her nanny suffered at their house, and Harriett, Ian’s mother, moved in after a knee surgery and never left. The trauma Rose is dealing with was the death of her nanny, who plunged to her death from a glass window from the third floor attic where she resided in the Barclay mansion. While the police investigation seems to be leaning towards an accident, too many factors point to something more sinister.

Stella Hudson is a ‘best interest attorney’, BIA, assigned to Rose to help decide who should get custody of Rose in the midst of her parent’s bitter divorce. Stella is perfect for this role. She also suffered trauma as a child, dealt with traumatized mutism, and was orphaned at a young age, so no one will be able to understand Rose better. But as Stella tries to infiltrate the Barclay family and Rose’s needs, she realizes this family is far from perfect, and more troubled than anyone could have imagined. There is no glass in the house, no knives, Rose is pulled from school to be homeschooled, she has no friends her own age, she is a prodigy, reads adult books hidden in childhood book jackets, and she has a hidden nook where she hoards weapons. Stella must not only figure out the best placement for Rose between her parents, she also finds herself investigating what really happened to the nanny, and who is responsible, because the more she uncovers, the more she realizes everyone, including Rose, is a suspect.

This book was a slow burn, in a good way. It’s suspenseful, had me guessing to the end, and shocked when the truth is finally revealed. I enjoyed Stella’s character, she was caring, smart and vulnerable, which made her so real. The storyline is dark and sinister, and when you think a nine year old is capable of murdering her nanny, well…it doesn’t get much darker than that. There was a smaller storyline throughout the book, Stella’s past is revisited and she finally gets the answers she wanted, it was an interesting twist, perhaps a little far fetched at the end, but it doesn’t distract from the book at all. I absolutely enjoyed this book!

I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 5 🌟

I didn’t want House of Glass to end. I was captivated by this story. The characters are relatable and kept my attention throughout. Such a great tie in to the title.

Laura Benanti does a fantastic job narrating.

I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with suspense and had a cast of solid characters with plenty of twists. I also enjoyed the LGBTQ representation. This is a solid thriller.

Such a good book! I was hooked from the start, and thought I knew what was going to happen but I was completely wrong. I liked how Stella's own story intertwines with what is happening with Rose, and how much they related to one another.
Sarah Pekkanen is an excellent writer and this one is so good! Highly recommend reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.