When i had an email to say I had been approved from Netgalley for this book I was so excited. Noelle W. Ihli is an author that I will read without reading the blurb she is amazing. Story starts with a bunch of kids on for bright beginnings like an after school club. Then they get diverted in the bus then the story kicks off missing kids, two kidnappers and two determined mothers. This book was so good like all her other books. It keeps you hooked engrossed and she can tell one hell of a story. I had tears at the end. So many times I was on the edge of my seat screaming surely this can't go that way. Add it to your tbr list immediately.

Five amazing stars

Will definitely be recommending this to the members of the plot thickens book club.

Noelle West Ihli has once again created a story that stays with you long after the last page is turned. This was a race against time that grips its reader so intensely. It was nerve-wracking, emotional, and vivid in its descriptions. When you can feel the characters' fear through the pages as the events are unfolding , that's when you realize the pure talent this author has. Each character was created meticulously with their own distinct personalities, backstories, and voice. Told from multiple perspectives between the kidnapper, bus driver, child, and mother of two of the children, this is a fast-paced roller coaster of a read that leaves its mark. Four and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Dynamite Books for this ARC.

This was a heart pounding suspense, with a few sweet surprises. I love the cover of this book. I did feel it was a little surface level and I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

Wow! This one gave me all the feels. So emotional, both terrifying and uplifting all at once. I loved the detail of the characters and the journey that each is going through as you progress through their stories. No spoilers but this is a must read based on actual events. I feel so honored to have been a part of the early release to review this. Get yourself a copy and be prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions! Definitely recommend!!

Noelle W. Ihli has a way of writing that keeps you hooked from the first page and keeps you from wanting to put the book down until the last page and then leaves you thinking about the story she wove for a long time after, and this book was no exception. I stayed up late into the night reading this book so I could finish it because I couldn’t sleep not knowing what the resolution to the story was. This fast paced thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. With the way the multiple POVs are written, the story is easy to follow and really gives you insight into each individual’s motivations and thoughts. The character growth throughout the story felt so realistic and all of the emotions I felt throughout will keep me thinking about this book for a long time into the future.

This was such a great suspenseful page turner. Had me turning the pages so fast. I laughed and cried with each page turn. It was a true suspense. As a mother with young children and working in a school, this story had me in a death grip.
I really enjoyed the multiple POV's and being able to get into each person head. I was so sad with Jessa's story. How her case went was devastating. Seeing how brave Sage was throughout the story was so heart wrenching. Getting first hand view of Ted's inner battle, was a little twist I didn't anticipate.
I think the author did a great job making this her own, but inspired by true events. I would love to read more from her.

Such Quiet Girls starts out quickly like so many of Noelle Ihili's books, so it grabbed my attention right away. It then took a step back and set the scene and developed the characters of the four POVs. Normally i do not like so many POVs , however she did a good job not making it too confusing and each characters played an important role to the story. The ending was very tense and climactic. Another great book by this author, definitely would recommend for a fast read.

this book has me STRESSING. start to finish anxiety. incredibly well-paced, quick read. easy visuals and felt realistic - I love when authors dive deep into the explanations of how a low probability event is successfully pulled off, not leaving room to poke holes in the plot. also felt very human, not everyone is just a hero or a villain, the characters are complex

Such Quiet Girls had my heart pounding from every page and had me on the edge of my seat. This thriller was fast-paced and I loved every second of it. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and I’m not going to lie it had me in tears many times. This will be a book I will remember for a long time.

This line had me feeling all the feels :
Then Bonnie. “ I’m going to watch TV with my sister, Sage, and she gets to pick the show. I won’t say I don’t like it. It can even be Family Guy, and I won’t tell Mom on her.”

Noelle W. Ihli had stated this book is inspired by actual events. It follows a new bus driver who, after a series of unfortunate events, must find a way to outsmart her captors and save ten children who have been abducted and buried alive. 

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC

I’m so glad I stumbled upon Noelle Ihili. She’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Her latest, Such Quiet Girls, was great

4.25 stars

This fictional story based on the chowchilla kidnapping from the 1970s was a psychological mindfield. The terror, anxiety and bravery of the children especially Sage comes through and it is like you are there. She uses descriptive language that you can imagine how terrifying and scary the bunker is, and the terrfying ordeal they are suffering. I appreciated the back story of the mother, and the grandfathers health issues


I found myself racing through to get to the end.

My first book from the author but i will be reading more.

Wow! What a wild ride! This was my second book by Noelle Ihli and probably my fav read so far this year. I could not put this down. It was gripping. It was action packed. The characters were all so well written and developed. I enjoyed the different point of view. Everything built up perfectly to the climax and then the ending answered every detail you could ask for. It wrapped up like a perfect little present. I will be reeling for the book for quite some time. Noelle, well done with this one ❤️
Thank you so much Net Galley & Dynamite Books for this ARC.

Such Quiet Girls is an adrenaline-fueled, race against time thriller that had me on the edge of my seat gasping for air. The intensity was relentless and never let up. Based on the Chowchilla kidnapping of the 1970s, I think Ihli just brought every parent's worst nightmare to life with this fictional retelling of true events. I was completely terrified, panic-stricken, and heartsick for those kids. I felt all of their fear and emotions like they were my own, as a mother and as a scared child. I can't even begin to imagine what I would do if faced with this situation from either perspective. It was truly inspiring to witness the strength and determination those children portrayed while all hope was lost. Especially Sage. Her pure grit and defiance had me smiling and cheering her on. This amazing story captivated me from every angle, and I know that other readers will feel the same. I highly recommend! This is a MUST read!

Thank you to Dynamite Books for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy

Chills. Full body chills. As a mom, this is terrifying. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and praying those kids were going to be okay. The strength and leadership coming from a 12 year old girl? Absolutely amazing. I could not put this book down until the very end.

At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this. But Noelle hooked me into the story per usual! Read this book in my sitting. Kept me wanting to know what would happen next!

One thing to know when you sit down and read a Noelle W. Ihli book is that your experience is not over when the book is.. As a matter of fact if you are a true crime fan, you’ll love the fact that it is just beginning. Despite her stories being fictional they are based off of true events.. Even if you didn’t know of it , just a few clicks into your web browser and down a rabbit hole you go into pages of info, movie recs and more. So she gives us a gift that keeps on giving.

Now for the writing, as always, she does it perfectly. Taking us on a suspenseful journey, keeping you on edge throughout. Heavier on my heart this time around because it involved children. I believe any mom will know and feel my sentiments throughout. .

Fantastic writing once again. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Noelle Ihli, Dynamite Books, and Netgalley for the e-arc of Such Quiet Girls! This is a heart pounding, race against the clock, edge of your seat thriller! Short chapters and grabs your attention from the very beginning! I’ve read almost all of Noelle’s book and loved them all! This book publishes on 4/29/25!

Such Quiet Girls
Noelle West Ihli
April 29, 2025

Bright Beginnings Childcare Center had a new bus driver. Miss Jessa started driving the school bus from school to school picking up students to drop them off at daycare. The center made a rule that no students or driver should have their cell phones out of their labeled cubby. Each child took their assigned seat and were told the rules each day before heading off from school. Sage and Bonnie Halverson, sisters whose mother felt Sage should attend the center with Bonnie. She was older and Sage felt that she would be fine walking home while Bonnie went to daycare.This particular day the eleven students settled in the bus heading to Bright Beginnings. At one point Ms. Jessa had to stop due to signs on the road. She presumed they were construction alerts but she saw no workers on the road. She followed the detour signs although it took the bus through an old cherry orchard. The children were concerned as they had never taken that route. Jessa would have liked to use her phone to call the center but knew the rule and headed enroute.
Such Quiet Girls will be published by Dynamite Books on April 29, 2025. I was able to read and review Ihli´s latest novel via NetGalley. Although the plot was a tad slow in the beginning the suspense began to build as I read. The action came to a head not long into the book with the reader becoming greatly concerned for the students and the driver. A good mystery! Enjoy!

Noelle W. Ihli is one of those writers who is an instant read for me. Since the first of her books I read (Ask for Andrea), I have been hooked on her ability to hook me, to make me hold my breath, to force me to stay up well past my bedtime to find out what is going to happen.

Such Quiet Girls was another relentless thriller in her growing line of books based in some way on real events. Shifting between four different viewpoints, the story starts just before the kidnapping of a bus full of little kids. The overlapping and building storylines make you feel as though you are experiencing the events in real time, and it becomes more and more impossible to break away from reading. You find yourself cheering on brave Sage, urging Sheena to do the right thing, willing Jessa just to do something, and screaming at Ted to “apply himself” to being a good man.

From beginning to end, I raced through the pages of this book, not taking a deep breath until I reached its thrilling conclusion.

Such Quiet Girls is based off the actual events: The Chowchilla kidnapping in 1979 where 3 men hijacked a school bus along with 26 children and their bus driver.
Although Ihli's version is different in many ways it was terrifying connecting this to a real event. In true Noelle Ihli fashion, she hooked me from the very beginning and had my heart racing.
Such Quiet Girls is told through the POV's of one of the children, the bus driver, one of the kidnappers and the mom of 2 of the missing girls. Being connected to all of the different characters throughout created a completely immersive story.
I felt most connected to the mom, being a mom myself. While the mom, Sheena, is trying to get her girls home she is caring for her father who has Alzheimer's.
My mom has Alzheimer's and her story hit so close to my heart.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book when it is
released on April 29th. While you're waiting, you can check out any of her other books. I recommend them all! Thank you to Noelle Ihli , Netgalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC.