Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Gist
As a longtime reader of Seraphina Nova Glass, I’ve come to expect certain things from her thrillers—clever plots, strong pacing, and a knack for throwing in just enough twists to keep me hooked without going off the rails. Nothing Ever Happens Here fits that mold in many ways. It’s another gripping, well-plotted story that proves once again Glass knows how to construct suspense and deliver an engaging narrative. That said, this one left me with mixed feelings, mostly because of the characters.
The Details
Let me start with what worked: the premise and pacing. Glass crafts a tension-filled environment right from the start, creating a sense of unease that builds gradually but relentlessly. The setting—a quiet, seemingly idyllic town—feels lived-in and claustrophobic in the best way, providing the perfect backdrop for secrets to unravel. The story is layered with lies, misdirection, and emotional landmines, and I genuinely wanted to see how it would all come together. Despite my issues with the characters, I couldn’t put the book down. I flew through chapters because the plot kept me invested, and Glass’s writing style remains as fluid and compelling as ever.
However, the characters in Nothing Ever Happens Here were, frankly, difficult for me to enjoy. I don’t mind flawed or messy characters—in fact, I often prefer them—but these felt too overwrought. Almost every emotional moment was dialed up to ten, and I struggled to find any emotional balance or restraint. There was an almost performative level of drama in their reactions, which made it hard to take their pain or fear seriously. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once at certain outbursts or decisions. In short, I couldn’t connect with any of them. Not because they were unlikeable (I’ve rooted for unlikeable characters before), but because they felt too theatrical to be believable.
That said, even though I didn’t like the characters, I have to acknowledge that Glass still wrote them with depth. Their motivations were clear, their actions (while frustrating) made sense within the story, and no one felt like a stock cutout. It’s a strange balance—being annoyed with characters while still recognizing that they are fully realized. I think the emotional intensity will work for a lot of readers, especially those who enjoy character-driven thrillers where personal baggage and trauma are front and center. It just didn’t quite click for me personally.
Despite those frustrations, Nothing Ever Happens Here still stands out as a solid, satisfying thriller. Glass knows how to build a story that pulls you in, and even when I wasn’t enjoying the characters, I was enjoying the book. That’s not an easy trick to pull off. While it may not be my favorite of hers, it still reminds me why I keep coming back to her novels time and time again: her storytelling instincts are spot-on, and she delivers compelling suspense every time.
The Verdict
Overall, if you’re new to Seraphina Nova Glass, this probably isn’t the one I’d recommend starting with—On a Quiet Street or Such a Good Wife might be better entry points. But if you’re already a fan, this is worth picking up. Just prepare yourself for some very dramatic people doing very dramatic things in the midst of a genuinely good mystery.
