Noelle has done it again! An absolutely incredible read, at times there was goosebumps and moments where I was holding my breath. This is a fast, action packed story and the fact that this is inspired by a true story is both heartbreaking and mind blowing.

This story was heartbreaking! It was so dreadful and to think it’s modeled after real events actually gave me pause. Those brave babies. This was fantastically written and the outcome was just what my heart needed.

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, they felt flat and lacked the development needed to make them feel real or compelling. For a thriller, there was surprisingly little thrill. The plot was straightforward, with no real mystery or unexpected twists to keep me on edge.

Told through multiple POVs, I expected a richer, more layered narrative, but the tone remained the same throughout, making the different voices blur together. While the ending was satisfactory and wrapped things up neatly, the journey there lacked the suspense and emotional engagement I was hoping for. Ultimately, it felt like a missed opportunity.

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an ARC of this book.

Such Quiet Girls is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that pulled me in from the very first page. Noelle West Ihli does a fantastic job weaving tension and emotion into a story about friendship, trauma, and the way the past refuses to stay buried.

The dynamic between the two main characters is raw and believable, and the slow unraveling of secrets kept me guessing the whole way through. The pacing is sharp, the writing is clean, and the suspense builds steadily to a satisfying conclusion.

This was my first book by Ihli, and I’m definitely interested in reading more. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that are both intense and emotionally layered, this one’s worth picking up.

I have read several books by this author and always enjoy them. This one wasn’t my favorite, but still kept me interested enough to finish it.

Such a gripping intense sad pager turning read
But in a good way
We follow a group of kids and a school bus driver don’t on a field trip that goes terribly wrong
In the worst way ever
this book based on a true events was a breath holding gasping read
Buckle it and get ready for the journey

I love the suspense in this one though sad at times, I was hoping the girls made it but this novel handled the serious matter well. I hope to read more from this author.

I will read EVERY book that Noelle W Ihli writes, knowing that each one is going to have me on the edge of my seat.
Such Quiet Girls is inspired by true events, which is startling to say the least. This book is every parents nightmare. A bus goes missing with young children on it, along with one big sister, and the driver. Taken as part of a money making scheme, the most horrifying part is where they are kept!!

Absolutely terrifying and gripping, I am now hesitant to go down a rabbit hole of the true events!

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 29 April 2025

In Such Quiet Girls, the kidnapping of multiple children unravels the secrets, motivations, and traumas of three woman and girls—and one perpetrator.

Told from four perspectives, this story drew me in with its emotional depth and layered characters. I really appreciated how the author explored each character’s backstory—what shaped them, what haunted them, and how those histories led them to this moment. Understanding their motivations added real weight to the unfolding mystery.

Sophie stood out as a brave and emotionally rich character. Her attempts to emulate her favorite book character, Harriet the Spy, gave her strength and heart in the face of terrifying circumstances. I loved how the story showed the power of books and their characters to inspire courage and resilience in readers like Sophie.

One of the things I loved most about this novel was how strong the power of the woman and girls is throughout. They are resilient, complex, and determined—fighting through trauma, fear, and guilt in their own ways. There’s also a moving thread about second chances—how healing can happen, even after mistakes and loss.

The audiobook narration was strong and helped bring the characters to life. I even choked up a few times—which is always a sign that a story has landed emotionally. And the scenes involving being buried alive were so viscerally written that I felt genuinely unsettled while listening. That level of intensity speaks volumes about the author’s skill.

While the plot may not have been filled with surprises, I found the emotional storytelling, psychological complexity, and themes of strength and redemption more than enough to keep me hooked.

This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the eARC! Wow! This grabbed your attention right away and held it (along with keeping your heart rate up) throughtout the entire story. Fast paced, terrifying a perfect thriller!
My full review was posted to my bookstagram @bookofthemeg on 7/2!

I liked this book. It had me teary eyed in the end and isn’t that why we read? To feel something. 🥺
The use of multiple POVs added real depth to story for me. Giving insight into the fear, guilt, and determination each character faced. Sage especially stood out with her quiet strength and courage; she was the heart of the story for me.
Knowing this was inspired by a real life event makes it even more chilling. 😱Whether you’re a parent or just imagining being in that situation, it really hits hard. Those poor kids!!!
While not action-packed in the traditional thriller sense, the psychological tension and emotional stakes are there. A haunting reminder of what people are capable of, both the good and the bad. 💔⏳ 🚌
This book might make you question if you want to send your kids to daycare. 🫣

Wow! What a book! This was incredibly intense, suspenseful and impossible to put down! It is similar to a real life event but different enough to keep the audience fully engaged! Highly recommend!

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle West Ihli is a gripping, unsettling thriller that throws readers into a nightmare scenario. Inspired by true events, the story follows Jessa, a bus driver haunted by her past, and Sage, a resilient young girl, as they and eight other children are abducted and buried alive in a shipping container.
Ihli masterfully creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia and desperation. The dwindling oxygen and psychological toll are viscerally conveyed, making it genuinely hard to breathe alongside the characters. Jessa's fierce determination to protect the children, despite her own trauma, anchors the emotional core.
The book's relentless pacing and escalating dread are its greatest strengths. The narrative is propulsive, mirroring the ticking clock for the captives. While the intensity is high, it occasionally leaves little room for deeper character exploration beyond their immediate predicament.
Despite minor quibbles, Such Quiet Girls is a powerful, disturbing read that delivers on its promise: a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled fight for survival. If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is it.

Thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was absolutely unputdownable, I stayed up until 2am finishing it. Very fast paced and great characters. Had me feeling all the feels.
Highly recommend picking this one up.

5 stars!

A bus filled with school children gets hijacked by a couple of thugs; the children, along with the bus driver are held captive underground while the kidnappers wait for their ransom.
This was pretty good, but I wish I would have known at the beginning of the book, instead of the end, that this was based on a true story. I probably would have just read about that instead.
Thanks to #netgalley and #dynamitebooks for this #arc of #suchquietgirls in exchange for an honest review.

Wow- way to take a real life mystery and turn it into a book. I was on the edge of my seat reading the whole thing. I enjoyed the authors writing style- anything she writes is a must read for me- I will continue to buy and read her books without reading the descriptions because they are so good

Great story! Loved the multiple point of views, you could really emerge yourself in story. It was interesting, I wanted to keep reading and find out what would happen.

If you're looking for a book that'll get your heart pumping, Such Quiet Girls by Noelle West Ihli could be a good pick. It's an engaging thriller that definitely keeps you turning pages.
What sets this one apart is how Noelle West Ihli dives into the heads of multiple main characters. You get to see the story unfold from different perspectives, which keeps things interesting and adds layers to the mystery. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, there's often another twist thrown in.
Ihli does a solid job of making the characters feel distinct, and you'll likely find yourself invested in their individual journeys. The tension builds pretty consistently, and the crisscrossing paths of the characters lead to some compelling moments. It's the kind of book you'll want to keep reading to see how everything connects.
So, if you're in the mood for a thriller that delivers a solid dose of suspense and uses multiple viewpoints effectively, Such Quiet Girls is worth checking out. It's a gripping read that will hold your attention.

WOW! This book was really good! Knowing that the story had some “inspiration" from real-life events was heart-breaking. It made the story more “real" as I was flipping the pages. The strength it took Bonnie & Sage to stay positive is something I can not put into words. I was holding my breath, just hoping they would all make it out safely.

I loved the different POVs while reading this book. I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it a hundred more but multi-POV always makes a thriller book even better. I enjoyed the POV from the kidnappers even though they were total scum. And, I loved it. It sounds strange, but I know that my thriller loving friends will understand. I’m excited to purchase this one to add to my Noelle Ihli collection!

Didn’t love. Jess’s annoyed me, she didn’t act like she was the responsible adult, or an adult in general and Sage acted more mature than her. The 12 year old did more to escape than the adult. Also randomly throwing in a grandpa with Alzheimer’s as a storyline seemed unnecessary