I officially have a new suspense author to read! This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and flipping the pages! It really does a great job of making you feel the emotions the characters are feeling, and the character development was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dynamite Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I recently had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of "Such Quiet Girls," and I can confidently say it is a gripping story that deserves every bit of its five-star rating! From the moment I opened the book, I was drawn into the dark world of abduction, fear, and resilience. A mothers’ worst fear.

The suspense is relentless, making it impossible to put down.

A special thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy!! Your ability to weave such a compelling and emotionally charged story is remarkable.

I cannot recommend this book enough, and I eagerly await its release for others to experience it!

I was at the edge of my seat, moving quickly from page to page, needing to know who was behind all this!!! The book is told in multiple POVs: Jessa (the bus driver), Sage (the oldest kid on the bus, Sheena (Sage and Bonnie’s mom) and one of the kidnappers. I enjoyed how brave Sage was and how determined she was to find a way to save her sister and everyone else on the bus.. She was smart, quick and didn’t give up! This was extremely emotional and terrifying.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a gripping story inspired by true events. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and felt connected to the characters. While there weren’t any major “thrilling twists,” the narrative still had me hooked—I couldn’t put the book down. Noelle has a way of writing that completely draws you in, and I’ll forever pick up anything she writes.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*

Such Quiet Grils,
Noelle Ihli

Noelle does it again! This is another outstanding book, based roughly on a real event, and Noelle brings the startling details to life!
From the first page to the last, the reader is submerged into a chilling story.
When a bus load of school children is highjacked, and the kids are buried below ground, the reader lives the harrowing experience along with the children.
Although very young, the kids become very resourceful, and find ways to cope with the ordeal.
Noelle’s descriptions bring visions to the reader’s eyes, and we suffer along with the kids.
This book can’t be put down, it’s so engaging. Like many other Noelle Ihli books, this one will long remain in the reader’s minds!
My thanks to NetGalley and xpresso books for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review is unbiased.

This book was edge of your seat crazy I loved every moment of reading this book and the fact that it was by a popular author was great too !! I loved every moment how the story was brought together and just had my head spinning a must read yes I will tell all my friends thank you for this read

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my 2nd Noelle Ihli book and I loved it.
What begins as a routine bus ride home from school transforms into every parent's worst nightmare when a pair of amateur kidnappers seize a school bus full of children and their bus driver. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of Jessa (the bus driver), Sheena (the mother), Sage (a kidnapped child), and Ted (one of the kidnappers). These four points of view added depth and emotional connection to the story and I thought it was really well done. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Noelle Ihli can do no wrong. Her thrillers are simply some of the best! I've been looking forward to the release of this book and it did not disappoint. I was holding my breath the entire time. This is based loosely on a true story which makes it even more chilling. The different POVs and short chapters makes this a quick read that you just can't put down. Bonus for those who like locked room thrillers. This is one to absolutely not miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Noelle has such a special way of twisting my stomach into knots with her books and Such Quiet Girls was no exception!

We follow a bizarre disappearance of a school bus full of young children from the POV of the kidnappers, one of the children, her mother, and the questionable narrator bus driver. I didn't realize until reading the authors note at the end that this is based off true events which was even more sickening upon reflection. This book was fast paced, and at times felt a bit too real. Reading the children's perspective and experiences was a bit much for me at times and broke my heart. As the story went on it felt a bit 'extra' at times and outlandish, but I'm here for a good time anyhow!

For fans of Run On Red, this is a must. Need out of a book slump? This is the thriller for you! Want something fast paced with short, bite sized chapters? Check!

Noelle Ihil has done it again with a knock-out book that is "Such Quiet Girls". She has a way of grabbing you from page one and not letting go. Good read.

A big, big thank you to Noelle, the publisher, and NetGalley for this amazing ARC!! I loved everything about this book and could not read it fast enough!! I will obviously be reading all of Noelle’s books because they are just that good!! I flew through this book and loved every minute!! The tension, the drama, the adrenaline, everything was amazing!! I can only imagine the terrifying events the kids went through in the real story that this was inspired by. This book was terrifying and it is a book I won’t ever forget. No matter how many books I read, this one will stay for a long time!! Sage had to be my favorite character because of her courage and strength to get those kids and their teacher out of that hellhole. The villains were also terrifying as well. Noelle really terrified me with this one!!

Wow, what a wild ride! Noelle, this book is amazing! As a mother, it was quite a difficult read, but I was hooked and unable to put it down. Thank you so much for allowing me to have an ARC! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller like they have never read before.

Thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In “Such Quiet Girls,” Noelle W. Ihli delivers a harrowing and emotionally immersive thriller that grabs you by the throat from the very first page and refuses to let go. Loosely inspired by the true events of the Chowchilla kidnapping, this story of ten abducted children and their bus driver weaves a tale of fear, resilience, and the desperate lengths people go to for those they love. Told through multiple perspectives—including the mothers, a kidnapper, and one incredibly brave child—this book is as emotionally raw as it is relentlessly suspenseful.

What begins as a routine bus ride home from school transforms into a waking nightmare when a pair of amateur kidnappers seize a bus full of children and the driver, Jessa. The captives are buried in an underground bunker, with only limited oxygen and dwindling hope. Outside the bunker, Sheena, mother to two of the kidnapped children, is forced into an impossible situation—either follow the kidnappers' demands or risk her children’s lives. Inside, Jessa battles mounting claustrophobia and trauma from a past she's tried to bury, as she fights to keep the terrified kids calm. Meanwhile, young Sage, Sheena’s daughter, emerges as an unexpected hero—courageous, quick-thinking, and willing to risk her life for the others. But as tension rises and one of the unstable kidnappers starts to unravel, it becomes a race against time—against suffocating air, crumbling resolve, and the dangerous unpredictability of people with nothing to lose.

Ihli brilliantly chooses to tell the story through the alternating perspectives of Jessa (the bus driver), Sheena (the mother), Sage (a kidnapped child), and even Ted (one of the kidnappers). This storytelling approach adds rich emotional depth, allowing you to feel the fear, helplessness, and courage from all angles. You get to learn the story from every perspective, including the motivations of all of them, including the villains of the story.

Jessa is a standout character—deeply flawed, quietly resilient, and haunted by her past. Her maternal instinct and protective nature shine through, especially when the children’s lives hang in the balance. Sheena, meanwhile, juggles unbearable emotional strain—trying to save her kids while managing her ailing father with Alzheimer’s, a situation that adds another layer of heartbreak to an already impossible scenario. Sage might just steal your heart. Her bravery and intelligence add a surprising warmth to a chilling plot. She's the kind of character that stays with you. ven Ted, one of the kidnappers, is given dimension—his perspective is disturbing, yes, but not flatly evil. He even gets a minor redemption arc by the end.

At its core, “Such Quiet Girls” is about mothers and daughters—about the fierce love that drives people to fight through terror, grief, and trauma. It’s also a story about second chances, redemption, and finding strength when it seems impossible. Ihli doesn’t shy away from the raw emotions of the situation, and while the action is tense and fast-paced, there’s also room for softer, more heartfelt moments that explore grief, forgiveness, and inner resilience.

The relationships—especially the unbreakable bond between sisters, the complicated layers of motherhood, and the solidarity between women—form the emotional spine of this story. And while the stakes are high, Ihli avoids overly graphic content, creating intensity without crossing into sadism, especially important when writing about children in danger. The book is a fast, breathless read, with each chapter raising the stakes and tightening the emotional grip. The underground bunker is a masterclass in claustrophobic tension—you can practically feel the air thinning as the hours tick by. The ending offers both catharsis and closure. While some plot resolutions feel a little too convenient and perfect, they don’t undercut the emotional power of the final chapters. There's a sense of hope and healing that balances the darkness, making the journey worth it.

"Such Quiet Girls" is a propulsive, character-driven thriller that blends psychological suspense with heartfelt storytelling. It’s as much about surviving trauma as it is about escaping danger, and Noelle W. Ihli handles both with deftness and empathy. This book will tug at your heart, keep you holding your breath, and remind you just how fierce quiet girls can be.

This was one of the BEST books Noelle Ihli wrote. Honestly I felt every single emotion while reading it. I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a quick and easy thriller. I was captivated from page 1

Thank you Noelle W Ihli and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was planning on reading my first Noelle book this month, but then I got this ARC, so this book was my first read by Noelle. I didn't realize that many of her books are inspired by true events until I read the Author's note at the end. I looked up the Chowchilla kidnapping of 1976 and reading about it shocked me to see how much she included in this book, even the smaller details like the air pipes and the list of kids names.
I really enjoyed this read. But also terrified me as I have a 12 year old daughter, which is how old Sage is so all I could think about while reading was her.

This book was suspenseful, heart breaking, and just a great read. I can't wait to read more by Noelle.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, publishers, and Noelle W. Ihli for the ARC copy!

This book is an intense emotional ride. I loved that it not only followed four points of view but that the writing styles reflected each character. The four POVs were the perfect choices to give spot-on depth and emotional connection.

Publication day 4.29.2025

Thank you, Noelle W. Ihli, Dynamite Books, and NetGalley for letting me review this book, in return for an honest review.

5 ⭐️ read! She has done it again! This book was full of twists, suspense, and thrill, centered loosely on a historical event that you can feel and envision, making this book just that much more special!

By having 4 POVs - the bus driver, a child on the bus, a mother of one of the children on the bus, and one of the abductors - helps you experience it from all four people.

This book was so easy to get lost in, with its fast paced filled with tension, making the plot unfold that much easier to get lost in this book for hours.

I highly recommend this book, as all of Noelle’s books have been fantastic, but this one tops them all!

When school bus 316 is hijacked in broad daylight, new driver Jessa and 12 year old Sage find themselves trapped in a buried shilling container with nine terrified children. As panic rises and air runs low, they’re told they’ll be freed once a ransom is paid, but survival might depend on outsmarting their captors before time runs out.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read another one of Noelle’s books!

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have read all but one of Noelle W. Ihli’s books now and every one of them gets better. I love sticking with an author and watching them and their writing progress with each release, and this was definitely one of my favorites of hers. I was already familiar with the Chowchilla kidnapping case, so I was extra excited to read this one.

This is the perfect thriller. Not only is it suspenseful and twisty and paced so well, it makes you feel something. The emotional aspects of this book and the way the characters are developed really make it stand out amongst other contemporary thrillers. The author’s writing makes you feel the same dread and fear that the characters feel, and it makes it almost impossible to put down. I formed such an emotional attachment to both of the mothers’ characters and their stories. She also takes advantage of writing from the perpetrator’s perspectives, which really adds to the whole experience. Every page was entertaining, gripping, and the whole book was just so well written and thoughtfully executed.

Can’t wait to see what this author gives us next!!

This book takes place after the 1976 to Chile California incident where a bus full of kids was abducted in broad daylight. The book itself is fictional and not based tightly on the events that happened, but it’s chilling and a great read.

With multiple point of view, we get to see from three different characters perspective. we see from the bus driver’s point of view. A child on the bus, this point of you, the mom’s point of view of the child and one of the abductors.

Not Noelle’s most gripping thriller but it is a 10/10 none the less. Don’t start the book if you have things to get done because you won’t want to put it down..