This book was okay. The story was good but I found myself bored with the writing. It took me months to actually finish the book

⭐️⭐️ – Just couldn’t get into it
I really wanted to like Such Quiet Girls, but it just moved way too slowly for me. I kept hoping it would pick up, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stay engaged. The premise had potential, but the pacing made it a struggle to get through. Just not the right fit for me.

This was archived before I was able to read it, and I only recently saw that I am still able to provide feedback. This was one of my first approvals on Netgalley (I am new to it), and I have learned to download as soon as I get approved. :) This book is high on my TBR, and I will post a review to Goodreads upon finishing it. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity to review!

3.5⭐️

Noelle W. Ihli stresses me out! I was so worried during this whole book. Lots of tension and nerve wracking moments. Some characters I loved, like little Sage, and others were soso, like Jess. Overall a good thriller that was hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Such Quiet Girls is a gripping thriller that held my attention with its compelling storytelling and fast-paced plot. I had no idea it was inspired by real events from 1976—once I found that out, I went straight down the rabbit hole.

The story follows a harrowing school bus hijacking carried out by two men. Told through multiple points of view—Jess, the bus driver; Sage, a child on the bus; Sheena, Sage’s mother; and Ted, one of the kidnappers—the narrative remains engaging and immersive. Each perspective added depth and urgency, making me feel as though I were right there with each character.

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

Not one of my favorite Noelle books, but definitely a roller-coaster! So hard to believe this is also based on true events -- those poor babies.

I love Noelle but this one dragged a bit for me. It was still good and kept my attention but it wasn’t her best. Thank you for an arc of this

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc! I absolutely love Noelle West Ihli novels. I don’t think I have read any of hers that I didn’t like. Such a great thriller. Would recommend for a good beach read!

My third novel by Noelle Ihli has blown me away again. Reading a book based on true events is hard. Reading a book based on tragic, true events is even harder. Somehow Noelle managed to make that easier to handle with her strong attention to detail and heartwarming imagery. Told in alternating and overlapping POVs, the story of a school bus full of children being highjacked, kidnapped, and held for ransom in a bunker unfolds keeping you on the edge of your seat. I found myself feeling emotional for both the victims and the perpetrators. The story is told so well that I kept forgetting this was based on a true story, so when I would reach a twist that excitedly shocked me I was quickly reminded that it could be real. Thank you to Netgalley, Noelle Ihli, and Dynamite books for early access to this wonderful book!

unfortunately this book lost me midway through. It started off good but started to fall off at about 50% of the book.

This book started off good. It had a lot of build up, but I didn't think very much character development. It would have been nice to hear more about what happened to Jessa after her daughter visited her. The author did an ok job of building suspense over what crime she committed but it left me wanting more on that storyline.

This book was absolutely phenomenally written. A twist on a true story that had me captivated from the first few chapters. Noelle did an amazing job expressing the emotions of the characters while paying appropriate tribute to the people who experienced the real thing.

While this book is a fictionalized account, it’s rooted in true events and it reads very much like true crime. That’s not usually my go-to genre, but Noelle’s writing pulled me in immediately. Her style is so easy to follow, and the pacing kept the tension high from start to finish.

This was an emotional gut punch in the best way. The fear, the desperation, and the fight for survival are all written with raw intensity.

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am absolutely blown away by this book. It is somewhat based on the true story of Chowchilla. Noelle definitely made it her own, though. What an inspiring story of survival,bravery, and hope. I love how it's told from different points of view. What a truly amazing story that only Noelle could bring to life. I absolutely look forward to whatever she comes out with next!!

A very special thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book

This was an interesting, but slow read. It started out strong, but was slow moving and I felt like the story dragged until the very end. Not my favorite read, but you have to respect the girls sheer will to survive.

I tried so hard to finish this book. It took me two months to get to 40%, so I just had to stop. The characters are insufferable. I wanted to shake the bus driver and the older student was written horribly.

Suspenseful and absolutely gripping! I was on the edge my of my seat the entire time. I love Noelle Ihili, I love that her books are based on an actual event, while still being fiction.

Several children and their bus driver are kidnapped and held for ransom underground.

If you like suspense, action and thrillers- this is a good bet.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this little thriller. Good pacing that kept me intrigued and I liked how all the POVs interconnected. Sometimes with 3+ POVs you can easily get lost or confused but this worked really well. Each character we get a POV from - the bus driver, a student on the bus, a student’s mom, and a kidnapper - has depth and you find yourself empathizing with every “villian”. This felt like a realistic kidnapping which is weird to say but the motivations are very human. If I had to pick a favorite POV it would be the kidnapper for that reason it’s interesting to get that perspective and round them out. I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for a shorter thriller that keeps you entertained throughout.

Thanks to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for the advanced reader copy!

WOW! Noelle W. Ihli really knows how to send you on a roller coaster of a ride! This book had my mind racing! When a bus of kids and their bus driver are kidnapped and buried underground who knows what could happen?! That's just it, you have no idea what you're in for! That's one of the things I enjoy about Noelle W. Ihli's books, you have no clue what is to come! I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this book. I'll admit there were several times this really pulled at my heart strings because of the children involved. Ihli knows how to write in a way that keeps you coming back for more without guessing what is going to happen!

Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Ihli and Dynamite Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good! It wasn’t as much action as I expected, but I loved the characters and the action we did as well as the unexpected twists. It’s definitely a quick and intriguing read.