Skip to main content

Member Reviews

this is the first book i have read by Julie Soto and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. there were a few confusing parts but other than that, I really enjoyed it.

I do wish the book explored more on the paranormal aspect and why the thrashers were experiencing bad things.

there were many twists and turns that i really enjoyed. the ending was definitely a cliff hanger and I'm wondering if there will be a sequel?

Was this review helpful?

I previously gave feedback on the audiobook version. I love being able to go between reading the text and listening. As mentioned with the audio book, I absolutely loved every second of this.

Was this review helpful?

I'm always iffy about YA mystery but it's Julie Soto so I had to give it a shot. A solid entry into the genre with a gripping and creepy storyline. Definite TW for suicide though, something that I would have preferred been addressed in a foreward so I knew what I was getting into.

Was this review helpful?

This is for all the pretty little liars fans! Gave me that same feeling and kept me turning pages. Nothing groundbreaking but a fun time and would recommend for a summer pool read!

Was this review helpful?

#NetgalleyARC

Wowza! Julie Soto? Sign me up! Hold on, wait a minute - a thriller from Julie Soto? 🤔 I was definitely intrigued! I am glad I took the plunge. This book was creeeepy and suspenseful. A couple of moments in the book, I was a little freaked! I had questions at the end, and even with the epilogue, I still had more questions! The ending was 🤯 and 😱!

📓👗 🎨 🖌 😱

Was this review helpful?

4.5stars!
Wow! I did not expect that ending. This is my 3rd book from this author and I think I am loving Julie Soto more and more!
I kinda knew and hinted of the responsible people as I was figuring out whodunnit, but I like how JS has creatively diverted my attention from putting a target from the truth.Devoured this book in less than a day. It was a fast read and the ride was crazy!

Was this review helpful?

It was fun being back in Sacramento for this! I really enjoyed the first 3/4, but the ending was unsatisfying. I think this was a good entry into the YA thriller genre. Thank you to NetGalley, SMP, and Wednesday for the advance copy!

Was this review helpful?

This book was gripping! I wasn’t sure how it would go at the start but once the first bizarre events started happening I was hooked. I really enjoyed the end of this book. I liked how things wrapped up and even though it wasn’t happy for everyone I wasn’t unhappy for anyone.

The epilogue left me with so many questions and made me want to do a re-read. Will there be a sequel?

Was this review helpful?

It was an interesting book but very teenagy/high schoolish. It’s YA so I guess that demographic would relate. As an adult I did not. I liked the mystery and the paranormal aspects of it. I still love Julie Soto’s writing

Was this review helpful?

I will officially read anything that Julie Soto writes! This was an intensely bingeable young adult mystery, that was also full of heart. It had the perfect mix of intrigue, heart, and character growth with just a dash of romance. Once I hit the 50% mark, I could not put it down.

Was this review helpful?

“There was a word for it. […] It was called being Thrashed. That’s what the Thrashers did. Get too close, and you’ll get Thrashed.”

Wow! I was extremely surprised with how much I loved The Thrashers by Julie Soto. I don’t read thrillers, they aren’t really my cup of tea, but I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Julie Soto, so I knew I had to get my hands on this one! I also kept seeing so much buzz around it, so when I got my hands on an eARC I dove right in!

This was a total ride, a YA cautionary tale of a group of popular kids who are being accused of bullying a girl into committing suicide. Jodi, Zack, Paige, Lucy, and Julian are the “Thrashers” and everyone has tried to join their group at one point or another, but no one has been able to remain part of their group for long. These kids are tight knit and we slowly get to know them through Jodi’s eyes. Jodi has always felt like an outsider in the group, but she’s known Zack Thrasher since they were in 2nd grade and they’ve been best friends ever since, hence her being part of the group. When the police start investigating the Thrashers for the death of Emily Mills, a girl who wanted to be part of their group, secrets are uncovered and loyalties are tested - Jodi starts to doubt if she really knows who her friends are.

This book had me guessing and doubting my theories a few times, and although I did guess the outcome at one point, I still doubted myself ‘til the very end. And just when I thought everything was somewhat tied up (there are a few unanswered questions and I’m hoping this is an opening for a possible sequel *fingers crossed*) Julie drops a rather revealing epilogue. I need more!

If you enjoy thrillers, somewhat in the lines of Pretty Little Liars (because that’s all I can compare it to :D), a book that will keep you turning pages, and morally grey characters, then I highly recommend you pick up The Thrashers by Julie Soto!

TW/CW: <Please be kind to your mind and heart and take note of the trigger and content warning for this one. This story mentions and deals with suicide, bullying, alcohol and drug use, body dysmorphia, violence, references to rape, among other strong themes. Please check the authors website for a full list of TW/CW.

“I think I could be her if I tried.”


*Thank you St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC for review via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.*

Was this review helpful?

4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

The night I died was suppose to be my prom night.

The Thrashers is a YA Thriller standalone following a teenage girl and the fallout of her friend group being accused of harrassment and bullying that led to the suicide of a fellow classmate. Written in third person POV (with two odd chapters breaking away from Jodi), the story takes places months after the death of Emily Gills, a fellow student and a friend-ish of Jodi. Recent information has given new light into her suicide and now the Thrashers are in the spotlight.

See the Thrashers are a tight knit group of cool and aloof teenagers who have a reputation. Jodi has always struggled to feel a part of the Thrashers but being friends with Zack Thrasher since second grade has meant, despite her lack of riches and sophistication, she's been in with them. It becomes clear that her friends have been keeping secrets from her and the detectives are giving Jodi very little choice - she either must betray her friends or protect herself. Add in strange occurrences it appears Emily is far from done with the Thrashers...but what harm can a dead girl really do?

I devoured this book late into the night and had regrets.

Jodi represents a lot of the insecurities I feel teenagers have - Do they really fit it? Are their friends keeping things from them? What does their future have in hold for them? She has been forced to grow up in some ways thanks to her father and mother but in other ways she is vulnerable and I found it incredibly moving to see her having to confront those feelings. She is a good kid who gets caught up in something so much bigger.

Zack, Julien, Lucy, and Paige are a group of kids. They are incredibly flawed but there are these pieces to them that drew me in and made me feel for them. They make mistakes, they say the wrong things, but their actions reveal that despite all the facades they really care for Jodi and each other.

Just noting there is no spice in this book for those curious. There is a glimmer of something akin to romance but it doesn't go anywhere.

The story itself is an investigation as Jodi seeks to find answers for what is going on. She also faces the growing change within her friend group brought on by the stress of the criminal investigations. I liked the reveals and the twists and turns. I felt for Jodi as each new thing shook her core and made her examine everything she knew. I especially loved that despite this distance and questioning I could still see the friendship and love. Emily's character is challenging throughout and I appreciated that she isn't so easy to categorize. Each character challenges this idea of labelling teens and I loved that. There is also a touch of something other but you will have to wait and see. I felt the ending was apropos and also made me wish there would be more.

Overall, if you read and loved One of Us is Lying then The Thrashers is a book you will definitely want to pick up!

Thank you Wednesday Books for this arc!

Was this review helpful?

Emily wants to be a Thrasher, an elite friend group at New Helvetia High. She dies and her journal surfaces... Jodi is one of the Thrashers because she is best friends with Zack. Will Jodi betray her friends or herself?

A terrific suspense. Lots of fun... All the characters are compelling. Great plot and there's no boring parts. The romance is swoony.... And the ending.... wow... what a twist and what surprises.... I feel like the story isn't fully ended... I am hoping for more stories about Jodi... I do like Julien too. He's not a bad character... gray and not as bad as initially thought.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

4.5⭐️ Definitely kept me on my toes wondering if my suspicions were correct. I was not. Lots of suspense and great pacing that kept things moving so you won’t be bored. Very much Pretty Little Liars vibes.

Jodi doesn’t understand. How could her friends be accused of involvement with Emily’s suicide. They didn’t want Emily around but not to that point. But Emily had a journal that is saying all kinds of incriminating things. Too bad they can’t find her phone. Jodi and her friends, The Thrashers, were known to have no openings for new people in their group. So what really happened that cause Emily to do this. And why is everyone having strange accidents that seem like someone what’s them dead.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @juliesotowrites for allowing me to have an advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

This novel started out quite strong, and I can see where teens would find the book interesting, There was a definite creepiness to it, that makes it uncomfortable to read in a really good way.

Was this review helpful?

Julie Soto is officially an auto-read for me. Whatever she writes, I will devour. The Thrashes was such a fun, thriller mystery. I wouldn't say it was predictable because there was just SO much to the story.

It wasn't just wanting to find out what happened between Jodi, her friend group and Emily but also wanting to know what it was like to be among the Thrashers. Soto was great at showing and not telling you what their friendship is like.

I will not be surprised if The Thrashers gets the Hollywood TV Series treatment. I really hope it does. This was such a good read! Had me hooked from the beginning I didn't even try to guess the twists and turns. I just let the story take me where it was going. If there is room for a second book to The Thrashers I WILL be the first in line to get a copy. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and Julie Soto for the opportunity to read The Thrashers in advance for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Miss Julie Soto what did you put in this book? I will probably not stop thinking about this story for a year. Or more. These characters were literally addicting to read about, and I can only imagine there's so much more depth to their behaviors. The pacing was great, language was strong and heavy topics were written gracefully. I super appreciate and loved Julie's tender approach to topics such as abuse and bullying. THRASHERS FOREVER

Was this review helpful?

This book gives off major 13 Reasons Why vibes to me! The narrators were perfection and made the mysterious vibes of the book so enjoyable. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into going into this book - admittedly I got this book as a read now on NetGalley. However, I found myself so engrossed in it and never wanting to put it down. It was easy to follow the story line and the connections between all of the characters. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a mystery with a touch of supernatural and a friend group dynamics. Thank you to author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted ALC and eARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

this was so good!!!! i love a fun thriller and julie soto killed this. i swear this woman can write bangers in every single genre? i didn’t want to put this book down, i was so captivated. when she marketed this as veronica mars vibes i knew i was going to love it and she 1000000% delivered! please let us have more stories in the world of the thrashers!

i honestly wasn’t sure where this was going at any given point. i kept switching back and forth between thinking emily was crazy and the thrashers were villains (my final opinion is that emily IS crazy + at least zack and paige ARE villains). i loved reading this through jodi’s POV and, like her, feeling pushed and pulled in so many different directions. the guessing game was so fun for me, but i can’t imagine it when it’s your LIFE.

julian hollister?! i’m so sorry yall i LOOOOVE him. that is one fine morally gray man and i am so here for it. i had such a switch up on feelings for him. i hated him so bad at the beginning but by 50% in i was locked in. that man deserves LOVE! and to surely nobody’s surprise, i am a julian+jodi endgame supporter. GIVE US THE HAPPY COUPLE! but yeah i loved that in reality julian cared so much for jodi and repeatedly did everything for her. he just wanted to protect her! free that man!

Was this review helpful?

This book was so good, so much fun and entertaining! I could hardly put it down! It’s incredibly fast-paced and dynamic. I couldn’t stop reading it! 😝 It’s an excellent young adult thriller!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks so much for the gifted ARC!!

Was this review helpful?