Inspired by true events from the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, Such Quiet Girls is a multi-pov gripping thriller that follows Jessa and her young school bus passengers as they're kidnapped and buried alive. With oxygen running out and a ransom deadline looming, Jessa and the children must summon all their strength to survive. This one hit a soft spot as someone who works with young kids. It's not only suspenseful and twisty but also emotionally resonant. Noelle did such an amazing job of developing the characters & making it easy to form connections with them. It felt impossible to put the book down. Noelle is an auto read for me for a reason, she never disappoints!

Thank you to Netgalley, Noelle Ihli, & Dynamite Books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book really gripped me at the start but lost me a little bit in the middle and towards the end.

Multiple POVs always enhances a thriller in my opinion and I especially enjoyed the perspectives of Sage (oldest child kidnapped) and Sheena (her mother) as they both showed strong determination. I also loved the grandpa! (Perhaps because he reminded me a bit of my own grandpa and father who both also happen to be named Ron.)

Towards the end I was hoping for another twist to really make me think but didn’t get that. There were a few twists throughout but all relatively mild.

The author is no doubt talented and I enjoyed this as my first book read of hers. Will try another one sometime soon!

I was so excited to get this book. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. So intense, I was on the edge of my seat. It may be my favorite book for April. I cannot wait for the audio so I can listen to it. Loved all of the characters except of course Andy and Jeepers creepers lol. As long as Noelle keeps on writing, I’ll keep on reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Ihli, and her publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Such Quiet Girls centers around kids and their bus driver being kidnapped and the fallout. While the book did start off a bit slow, the story really picked up around the 60% mark. The story is told from multiple POVs. The oldest child Sage was a particular standout in this book and I looked forward to her chapters. Overall, while I did enjoy the story, I do wish it was more fast paced in the beginning and pulled me in a bit more than it did. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted ARC of this novel!

I am a huge fan of this author’s writing, and this book is no exception. Familiar with true crime myself, I was able to link this plot with the case that the author references at this end. However, I will say that the author did a fabulous job at humanizing all of the victims in this story. Told from multiple POVs, readers were able to be in the shoes of several different people who were impacted by one event. I felt all characters, likable or not, were well developed overall as well. As is the case with this author, the book for me went by at a lightening quick pace and I couldn’t put it down. Another highly recommended book by this author for me!

I received this as an ARC! I absolutely love Noelle’s writing! This story is about 10 children who get kidnapped on a bus and are held captive by two people. The book will keep you gripped the entire time and sometimes make you feel a little claustrophobic. I loved the multiple POVs from one of the children, the mother of two of the children, the bus driver, and one of the kidnappers. I think the POV from one of the kidnappers put a really interesting twist on the overall story. If you like a fast paced thriller, then this book is for you! It is available to purchase or on Kindle Unlimited April 29th, 2025!

This was so good, and very fast paced. I personally struggle with kidnapping themes in books, so it took me longer to get through than it probably would have had it been another topic. But I cannot resist anything written by Noelle Ihli, so I pushed through and I’m so glad I did!

Eh… not really sure what I was expecting with this one… I read that this book was heart stopping and the twists were good but I thought it was just “eh”. I know it was a bit off of actual events but the book was basically the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping but fictionalized.

Short Synopsis:
Inspired by true events, Jessa, a new bus driver is haunted by her past. It’s been three years since losing custody of her daughter, when the bus she’s driving, carrying ten children—including sisters Sage and Bonnie — is taken by abductors in broad daylight to be buried alive in a shipping container 20 feet below. This is a story of bravery, survival, and family at its core.

My Thoughts:
I loved this one! However, I gave it 4.5 stars because it felt a little slow in the beginning. Once things started to happen — THEY HAPPENED — and maybe the ending felt a tad bit rushed? But over all, it was a great page turner.
The relationship between Sage and Bonnie kind of reminded me of my sister and I; me being Bonnie as I am younger — and what a comfort it is to have someone you’re so close with to go through some of life’s hard things with (not that we’ve ever been kidnapped and buried alive…knock on wood). But I just loved seeing how brave Sage was for her sister and how their relationship ship evolved from beginning to end. I tried to imagine what I would have done if I was the mother in this one (I only have fur children 🐱🐶) and honestly - what a hard decision to make! I really don’t know what I would have done! & just the last bit - as a great grandchild of someone who had Alzheimer’s, what a crazy disease - I really loved that part of this book and felt that it was portrayed in a real yet dignified way. Needless to say, I recommend this book! Go preorder it now!!

Thank you @netgalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC for my honest review! I’d say it was a good one for sure.

Thank you @noelleihliauthor for writing such great books! I can’t wait to read another!!

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Fast paced and action packed, but I didn't find any of the adult characters particularly interesting to read about. The only POV I enjoyed was the kid's.

This was an intense mystery that had me biting my nails while reading.
I felt like I was right there I the hole with those poor kids.
Solid 4⭐️ read!

As a teacher of small children man this book hurt my soul. But it was very good! It was very fast paced for sure. The multiple point perspectives weren’t to much to follow and offered the insight into the bad guys. I will definitely recommend as a high paced quick read.

I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! WHAT A PAGE TURNER🙌🏻 THIS RACE AGAINST TIME THRILLER KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT FROM START TO FINISH!
LOVED THE MULTIPLE POV’S!
EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE AND BASED ON TRUE EVENTS😳
AS ALWAYS, ANOTHER MASTERPIECE BY THE AUTHOR ♥️

Inspired by real events, ten children and their bus driver are abducted in broad daylight and buried alive in a shipping container.

Unfortunately, this was average for me. I didn’t find it to be thrilling at all. My favorite character was the oldest child Sage. I did enjoy the multiple POV’s.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

📚ARC REVIEW 📚

Such Quiet Girls⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jessa has started her new job as a bus driver for an after school care program. However, she shouldn’t be on that bus with children, considering she has a past. Neither should 12 yr old Sage who is determined that she is too old for after school care, but has to be with her younger sister, Bonnie, to watch out for her. When Ms. Jessa takes a detour they both, along with 8 other children, fall victim to a hijacking of the bus. The kidnappers take them plus the others and bury them alive in an underground bunker. Time is ticking as the oxygen levels drop. Will they be able to escape or will they be set free once the ransom money comes in?

I was immediately hooked within the first page of this book. I had a rollercoaster ride of emotions while reading this one. I loved how it was written through the point of view of multiple people. The storyline was one of determination and grit and I loved seeing all those strong female characters. I love how a lot of Noelle’s books are based off true events. If you like mystery/thrillers, true crime, you’ll love her books!

This book will publish on April 29th. Be sure to add it to your TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

A bus of young kids are kidnapped and buried underground. Told from multiple POVs--kids, driver, kidnapper, and a mom of two of the students.

I didn't understand the title as there were boys kidnapped too.

One of the best thrillers I have read so far! It had me at the edge of my seat, gnawing at my nails from the suspense and thrills.
The best part was the multiple POVs and the way the witting and dialogue changed to each corresponding character. It was beautifully done.
Will definitely be buying it once it comes out!

OH MY GOSH! Once again, Noelle Ihli has knocked it out of the park with this one! As I read this one, I found heart hurting for the kids, cheering for the underdog, and yelling at the main character! Then, all of a sudden, TWIST! Just when I felt like I knew how it was going, Noelle threw a curve ball! Great read, great character descriptions, love the multiple POV

I LOVED THIS BOOK! First off Noelle Ihli is an auto buy author. I was so excited to get an ARC of this book. It was suspenseful, had me on the edge the entire time. And the descriptive writing had me right there in the van.

3.5 stars 🌟
My first book by Noelle Ihli having heard nothing but fantastic things I decided to give her newest one a go.
The book is about the kidnapping of a bus full of children and is told from the point of view of Ted (one of the kidnappers), Sage (one of the kidnapped children) and Sheena (mother of Sage and Bonnie, both kidnapped). The story pretty much takes place in just over 24 hours so there is a lot to unpack except it just felt very slow to me. There is a lot of description about the surroundings, feelings, thoughts etc and not that much action or progress in the story and so it felt a bit dragged on for my liking.
Although the story is tense in nature as anything involving children usually is, that is pretty much it though. Do not expect a mystery or a twist because there are none.
A straightforward story with a satisfactory ending which can be read pretty quickly but I didn't think it was anything special myself.

Many thanks to Dynamite books who provided me with a copy of the book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.