Talk about ADRENALINE! This was my second Noelle Ihli book, and it's obvious that fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrillers are her wheelhouse. Both of the books of hers I've read in 24 hours or less.

This book was loosely based on the Chowchilla bus kidnapping in the 1970s, and as a true crime junkie, reading a fictional spin on the story was fascinating. I loved the multi-POVs and how it lets you see the story from multiple angles. I also thought her Sage chapters were well-done in that she altered her writing to sound more juvenile. It gave her a distinct "voice" in comparison with the adult POVs.

Some of the events that happened in this book were quite far-fetched and I found myself thinking "well that's convenient" more than once. I also felt that the author was trying to create character backstories and really flesh out the characters, but it fell flat a little. This is clearly a plot-driven book, so it felt like the character development was forced.

Overall I enjoyed this one! It's the perfect palate cleanser for those between more intricate books, and a pulse-pounding thriller for fans of true crime!

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Noelle for the ARC of this book! I would give this 3.5/5 as always I love Noelle’s writing, I think she writes fast paced books that keep you interested, and the fact that this is based off of a true story is just crazy! I will say I didn’t love how Sage was written, at times she seemed older but then would appear very young so some times it was hard to believe what she was doing. And I do wish the ending had more, it felt a little rushed. But overall I enjoyed it!

This story was exciting but not overdone, keeping me interested the whole time. The short chapters made it hard to stop reading. The pacing is well balanced. The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to (especially as a parent), making their journey engaging. Overall, it's a great read for anyone who wants a suspenseful story. I highly recommend it!

As always, Noelle Ihli kept me captivated through her impressive storytelling, fear inducing situations, and inspiring moments. I liked how once again the story was loosely based on real events, which I will be looking into. Thanks for another homerun book!!

Was lucky enough to get to read @noelleihliauthor newest book early. If you enjoy fast paced, page turning thrillers definitely pick this one up! 4.5 stars for me. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Sage was the best character and I fell in love with her. Im sad it’s already over but excited to re read it eventually!

I liked how the story was told between multiple POVs but it didn’t feel overwhelming since the timelines of those talking followed one after the other.

Honestly, I was super interested in the beginning but than it just fizzled out for me somewhere around the halfway point and just got boring.

Felt like everything got wrapped in a perfect bow which is fine but could’ve had some elaboration on Ms.Jessa and her story which towards the end what even came about that? And I would’ve liked to more of the kids helping.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

From the very first page, I was hooked. Such a shocking, awe inspiring and emotional story made more so by the fact that it is based on real events. Highly recommend.

Such Quiet Girls
by Noelle West Ihli
Pub Date: Apr 29 2025

WOW! From the very first chapter I was hooked on this story, which is actually based on actual events! It is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! I can't say enough how talented this author is, her writing, descriptions of characters, their actions and feelings. I felt like I was right there along with them experiencing their nightmare.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Noelle West Ihli books, especially if they are anything like this one! Truly a must read! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

Synopsis: Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive. Sage and her sister won’t make it home from school today. Neither will the other children on Bus 315. But that’s only the beginning of the nightmare. Trapped in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground, Jessa and the children do their best to stay calm. The kidnappers insist that if everyone behaves, they’ll be freed when the ransom is paid. But Sage isn’t sure they’ll last that long. Neither is Jessa. It’s dark and cramped, and with every passing minute it’s getting harder to breathe.

I can't thank #DynamiteBooks, #NetGalley and #SuchQuietGirls for providing me with an E-Arc of this phenomenal 5 star book!

I squealed when I was approved for this book! And read it in 2 sittings. I was hooked from the very beginning. My heart was beating quickly the whole time, I couldn’t read it fast enough. So good!

Phenomenal! I am a fan of Noelle Ihli, but with Such Quiet Girls, she blew it out of the park! All the emotional, heart-pounding, page-turning feels. Run to read this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Rating: 5 stars Publication Date: April 29, 2025

Another fab thriller from Noelle! I read this in a few days as I just couldn’t put it down.
No hanging around, straight into the storyline and from then on it’s just edge of your seat stuff!
I really loved Ms Jessa’s character and the added storyline behind her

🚍🚍🚍

Breathtaking story about mothers' love, strong will, and impossible choices.

We are given an oppotumity to get fully immersed in the events from all sides as there are four POWs: of the bus driver and one of the kidnapped children along with their kidnapper and a mother.

I didn't feel a connection with anything at first and was just a bit bored, but the narration gained speed and tension further, making me love the characters, worry with them, and almost cry in the end.

Loved how the main characters were given their own semiconnected background or present issues along with the main arc, which added depth to the story. All those case memories from Sheena's father were such an amazing detail.

The book raises questions of priorities and reminds us how insignificant can our problems seem in a situation with lives at stake.

Overall, it's a great book and I need to check other works of Noelle Ihli!

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Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Noelle W. Ihli has been one of my top authors to read for the past year. Yet again, she knocks out a 5 star book with Such Quiet Girls. You can tell the research and care she put into this based on true events read. I felt all the emotions through the POVs of Jessa and Sage. This is one of my favorite books in 2025 so far! I look forward to more from Noelle! Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Publishing for an advanced copy to read! #suchquietgirls #netgalley #netgalleyarc #dynamitepublishing

This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It grabs your heart and doesn’t let go until the very last sentence. It’s intense. I had to pause every few chapters just to process everything, all while constantly fighting the urge to skip ahead and find out what happens. Would Sage escape? Would Bonnie and the other kids survive? And would Ted finally listen to the angel on his shoulder or let the devil win? I needed to know, but at the same time, I didn’t want the book to end. Funny enough, I almost wrote off Noelle Ihli after Run On Red, but this book and that one don’t even exist in the same universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ok first off, thank you so much for allowing me to read this book ahead of publishing.

This was a literal nightmare - in every good way. I read it start to finish in one day & devoured every single word. It was so intense and gripping, that I just needed to keep going so I could know what happened next.

This is a must read if you’re into thrillers!

Arc Review

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle Ihli

5 stars ♾️

Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.

This book that was inspired by actual events was riveting, enthralling, captivating and heart-pounding. I easily devoured Such Quiet Girls in 24 hours. From the multiple points of view, the emotional tale, the heroism, and the hold-your-breath moments that seemed to end each chapter, I literally could not put this book down!

Being a mom of children who ride the school bus to and from school, this book had me in a constant chokehold. Being a kid who used to ride the bus to and from school way back in the day, this book had me in a constant chokehold. The writing itself had me in a constant chokehold.

I am a huge Noelle fan and have loved and devoured every single one of her books, however, this is my first 5 star ♾️ book of hers! Such Quiet Girls has climbed to the top of one of my favorite thriller reads of the year! And I don’t say that lightly.

You need to get your hands on Such Quiet Girls by Noelle Ihli releasing on April 29th!

I am a huge Noelle W. Ihli fan. I have read many of her books, but this one wasn’t one of my favourites. This book is loosely written around the true story of the Chowchilla Kidnapping that happened in 1976, in California.
As a Mother of 4 students that have always travelled on a school bus to get to school, the idea that this really happened is horrifying. A parents worst nightmare.

Ihli doesn’t waste any time to start the book off with the bus going missing, so I was quickly interested to see what happened next. There are multiple POV’s through this book, my favourite being the bus driver Jessa. You get a real glimpse of the trauma she has gone through, before this frightening life or death kidnapping occurs.
As I finished this one, I just felt it was underwhelming. I’m sure lots will love it, but this one just won’t stay with me. It was good, not great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy. This book publishes on April 29th 2025.

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Noelle W. Ihli deserves all the stars for writing such brilliant thrillers.

What an emotional rollercoaster! Such Quiet Girls is based on true events making it all the more gut wrenching. It was told in multiple points of view which I found kept me engaged and connected to each character.

Thank you NetGalley,, Noelle West Ihli, and Dynamite Books for the ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the moment I read the description of this book it stayed in the back of my mind. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Luckily, I was given an ARC!

A peek into every parents worst nightmare. The story was gripping, keeping you on the edge and wanting for more.

I have loved reading Noelle W Ihli’s books since my first read of this authorl! This book had me on the edge with each turning page not wanting to stop reading. I yelled, cheered and shook my head a lot. I always read the acknowledgements and she gives back stories and part of her research into writing – this makes me love her books even more seeing its based on a true story and she wants to give the awareness of it. Thank you for the ARC Net Galley #SuchQuietGirls #NoelleWIhli #NetGalley