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.

📝ARC Book Review📝
Title: Such Quiet Girls
Author: Noelle West Ihli
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars

'Such Quiet Girls' is a work of fiction but draws inspiration based on actual events. The story follows Jessa, a bus driver troubled by her past, and ten students abducted in broad daylight as they race against time to survive in a buried shipping container.

This gripping suspense thriller will keep your heart racing the entire time. The terror, desperation, and human instincts exhibited in the face of such extreme circumstances are beyond my comprehension. I was constantly on the edge of my seat.

I would have preferred more action before the joyful reunion since the resolution seemed to have happened quickly. However, I highly recommend reading this one if you like fast-paced thrillers. Noelle Ihli is undoubtedly skilled in creating heartbreaking and anxiety-inducing stories that will leave readers gasping for air.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, thank you Netgalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC!

My first Noelle West Ihli was Run On Red, only last year, and I was so hooked that I have to buy all her other books and then waited for new releases. When Such Quiet Girls was announced, I was already over the moon. The title, the blurb, the cover.... everything was so promising!

And what can I say - the book did deliver! I was a little worried with the different POVs - it is a well-known secret that I do struggle with too many of them - but it did work out nicely. Each of the characters had a different voice and personality, so it was actually easy to tell who was who, and it surely only increased the tension I felt while reading. I was glued to the story from page one, and I flew through it, even when I had to pause now and then simply to take a breath and progress what was happening.

Noelle West Ihli, you did it again! It is save to say that I will now impatiently wait for your next one!

Ms. Jessa is only a week into her new job as an elementary school bus driver, and she’s already questioning her decision. She’s barely settling into the routine when a text from her sister shatters her focus; updating her on her estranged daughter’s nightmares. . Forcing herself to lock away her phone, Jessa pushes through her shift, unaware that this small decision will soon spiral into a nightmare. What starts as an ordinary day quickly turns into a relentless, heart-pounding ordeal that will remind her of her troubled past and make her wish to reunite with her daughter stronger.

This book covers multiple POV and I found that really enjoyable as each character brought something unique to the story, from a child’s perspective to the antagonists. It is packed with edge-of-your-seat moments and seeing the events play out from different angles added depth and kept me hooked, constantly shifting my emotions and sympathies.

It wasn’t all drama either, the story surprised me with its heart warming moments, I felt myself tearing up at one point as I empathised with Sheena and her worry as a Mother. I also found a favourite character in Grandpa.

I found this a fun and gripping read that I devoured in just a few hours, it took me on a rollercoaster of emotions from anxiety to moments of heart-warming joy. You might find yourself shouting “RUN!” In your head, like I was. My only reasoning for a 3 star instead of a 4 was I felt it dragged a little in the middle and I found myself getting bored, however it did pick up again.

If you love fast-paced thrillers with emotional weight, this one is definitely worth picking up as it is a very quick read in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. This book is so intense and addicting. A bus full of kids disappears on their way to their afterschool program. One mother gets a ransom note. Who is after these kids and why? Will they get free?

There is something so unique and captivating about this author. I became a fan after reading ‘Ask for Andrea’ and ‘Gray after Dark’. Honestly just amazing, the books just stick with you forever more. Thank you for access to this! 100% recommend this and every other book by this author

Such Quiet Girls is such a thrill ride! Every page had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I felt connected to the characters and love how Noelle always has that girl power vibe in her books. Noelle W Ihli is my favorite author and she does not disappoint.

I'm a simple girl, Noelle writes it and I drop everything immediately to read it.

This book was perfect, with all the twists and turns it grips you from the very first page and doesn't let you go.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gripping and Unforgettable!

After reading Asking for Andrea, I had to pick up Such Quiet Girls, and I devoured it in one sitting. Noelle W. Ihli delivers nonstop tension, making this one impossible to put down.

The story follows Jessa, a bus driver haunted by her past, and Sage, a sharp young girl, as they fight to survive in a buried shipping container. The fear, the desperation, and the race against time had my heart pounding the entire time.

Ihli’s writing pulls you in and doesn’t let go. And knowing this was inspired by real events? Absolutely chilling. If you love thrillers that keep you on edge, this one is a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book held my attention for the entire time that I read it; I was dying to know what happened and with all the POVs, it really gave me a lot of insight based on the different angles. I was left wanting to know how it ended, I felt super engaged the entire time. It felt as though it started to drag a little bit in the middle but once it picked back up, everything made sense.

Honestly, could see myself reading more books by this author.

This is one of the few books I wish I could read again, for the very first time. I was hooked as soon I started reading the book, and became lost in the story. It felt like I was there. So many emotions from feeling scared, helpless, mad, joy, bawling my eyes out to jaw drop. Told by different character's point of view, the story was fast paced with side stories. This is my favorite Noelle book (I don't say that lightly because I have enjoyed all her books that I've read so far).

If you were only going to read one book this month, possibly even this year, Such Quiet Girls is the book to read.

Oh my goodness. I. Cannot. Even.
So good.
Every book Noelle writes always captures me so fast. My Mama heart was clinched the entire time during this heart stopping thriller. Immediately had to read it as soon as I was approved. And spent all day racing through it because I couldn't get enough.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I actually ended up really enjoying this and devouring it in one sitting. It’s a pretty fast paced, quick read which I really enjoyed. And it kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s told through numerous POVs — one being from the kidnapper, one being the bus driver, one being one of the students and another being one of the student’s mothers. Normally I find a lot of POVs confusing but I loved that aspect of this one. It kept me really engaged. This book is actually based on a true story which is what initially pulled me towards it. I’m a true crime junkie and my jaw was dropping thinking about these events actually occurring.

Thank you to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours, and the Author Noelle West Ihli for this amazing ARC.

Anyone about to read this is in for a treat!

I read it all in one day, one sitting- kept me hooked throughout the whole story!!!

The author details each of the characters beautifully and delves into their relationships, whether family, friends, or teachers/bus drivers. The characters are all relatable, and you genuinely are on the edge of your seat hoping that the kids will all be returned safely. Story brings up a lot of emotions as you read that I haven’t experienced in a long time.

To top it all off, IT WAS BASED ON A TRUE STORY!!!!

Beyond incredible, I love Noelle’s books but this probably is top list for me. 5 ⭐️

Wow this book was so addicting. I powered through it, ignoring everything else all day. How scary to be one of these mothers. A bus full of kids disappears and only one mother gets a ransom. One girl kind of takes charge as the bus driver is kind of frozen. One of the kidnappers starts to have second thoughts. Will these kids get out? Must read!!!

I expected this to be a mystery thriller but it was a true mystery through and through. Such an intense, gripping read! This is the third book by the author I’ve read and my favorite by far.

As we follow four different perspectives in real time as this kidnapping plays out, it completely drops readers into the action. This made me read with such a growing sense of unease for the first half and an edge of my seat tension in the latter half. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting.

Noelle!!!!! Such Quiet Girls is a work of fiction, but it is inspired by true events of 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire day... Yes, I read this beauty in 1 day because I literally could not stop! It was too good. I needed to know what was going to happen. I listened to the audio version gifted to me by Simon Maverick Audio and loved the production of characters.

The story follows 4 POVs. The Bus Driver, One of the Kidnappers, One of the Students, and One of the Students Moms.

2 things I am taking away from this book... I will read literally anything Noelle writes and I am never following a detour sign in the middle of nowhere!!

Such Quiet Girls is perfect for those looking for a quick, suspenseful read. I really enjoyed the multiple view points throughout the book, especially that of Sage. While I did find things wrapped up quite quickly and conveniently at the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This was mostly fun, I enjoyed the beginning and how, similarly to the author's previous books, the action started right away. The story was pretty solid and I liked the claustrophobic feel of the setting, but during the middle it dragged and started to get boring. I would have liked to see more action there. But it was a short book and a quick read so I didn't mind to much. It picked up again at the end and became more suspenseful, although I expected a little more tension, everything ended a little too fast and very conveniently. However if you enjoyed her books in the past you will like this one too, it's quite similar to her previous works.