The Thrashers by @juliesotowrites

Thank you to @netgalley Julie @stmartinspress and @macmillanusa for this ARC!

Congratulations to Julie Soto on her first young adult thriller — I ate this up! I just love her writing, it’s so easy and the story was fun to follow along.

For the fans of Pretty Little Liars, 13 Reasons Why, and Good Girls Guide To Murder I think this one’s for you!

I was hooked by the audio right away as I started it while in transit and couldn’t put the book down at night — I legit stayed up until 3am and could hear birds chirping but I NEEDED to know how it ended!

There is a bit of magical/supernatural realism to this which added such a fun layer. I think Julie did an amazing job at making us like these characters but also dislike them and question everything.

This may be a book I need the book trophy for!

If you like:
🔪Young Adult Thrillers
❓Mystery
✨Supernatural realism
💋Popular kid Clique and Social Hierarchy
😬Guilt
⚠️Toxic Friendships
🩶Morally Grey Characters
↔️Dual Timelines

There are definitely triggers about suicide and drowning among others — please check the trigger warnings before reading this book!

The Thrashers is called a YA Thriller in a lot of the promo, and even though I have gobbled up Julie Soto’s writing thus far, as someone who doesn’t read thrillers I was hesitant. Because what if I could no longer say “I’ll read anything Julie Soto writes!” enthusiastically after reading this book. Well, fear not. I still enthusiastically say “I’ll read anything Julie Soto writes!”.

The Thrashers are a group of friends who have been bestowed this name by the people around them at school. They’re (with one exception) rich, popular, smart, and everyone wants to be their friend. Until they get “thrashed”. It’s impossible for others to wedge their way in, and the book starts with the deadly repercussions of one thrashing. And we are along for the ride as the thrashers navigate the aftermath of that deadly thrashing.

This navigation to me didn’t feel like a thriller. It felt like navigating the human experience. We have friendship, secrets, lies, guilt, being let down by a crush, finding something unexpected in someone you made snap judgements of, dealing with consequences of things we do, and it was just a ride that I wasn’t ready to get off of when it ended. I can highly recommend this along with all Julie’s other books.

Julie Soto does it again, truly everything she writes is so so good. I was a little apprehensive and curious starting this book because it contains tropes and themes I wouldn’t usually gravitate towards first but in the end I’m glad I did!! It had so many twist and turns that I didn’t know who to trust or who to root for.

I would LOVE to see a part two of this book where we see them like 10 years later and see how or if their group of friends has changed in any way?? And because I’d love to see Jodi and Julian as a couple , sue me.

Book Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Julie Soto delivers an absolute knockout with The Thrashers—a bold, breathless rollercoaster of a novel that practically hums with intensity and heart. From the very first page, Soto grabs you by the collar and pulls you headfirst into a world that’s raw, real, and pulsing with energy.

Every sentence crackles with her signature wit and emotional depth. The characters are unforgettable—messy, magnetic, and so vividly drawn they practically leap off the page. Soto has a rare gift for making you laugh out loud one moment and clutch your chest the next.

The pacing? Flawless. The chemistry? Off the charts. The stakes? Sky high. And through it all, Soto never loses sight of the soul at the story’s core: resilience, love, and the fight to reclaim yourself.

It’s fierce, it’s fiery, and it’s a total triumph. A must-read for anyone who wants their fiction loud, bold, and unapologetically alive.

I’m speechless, thrillers cause me anxiety, whether it’s a book or a movie, I tend to nawl my nails raw. The Trasher’s is no exception. This novel is well developed, at every turn and each hint, it kept me in suspense. I kept guessing at who caused Emily to kill herself. None of my theories were correct. Julie Soto you’ve out done yourself, I can usually guess at an ending but not here. I love it, even my throbbing nawled fingernails.

If I could give this book 6 stars I would! It had kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time wanting more! I devoured it an other books are paling in comparison. The mystery was so great! The cliqueiness of the group was believable! I loved it! The relationships of the kids in high school was like being in high school myself again and it was a fun read even as an adult!

JULIE SOTO IS MY QUEEN. My GOD. GODDESS WHATEVER! She’s everything and an always must read author. I love her sooooo much! How is she amazing at every genre she tackles?! Snaps girl snaps.

I didn’t go into this blind but the paranormal aspect did surprise me! I really enjoyed that aspect.

I found myself somewhat confused between the ghostly present and past but worked through it! It’s a fast paced read and holy heck did I not put this down!

The twists were twisty and the turns were turning. If you want shocked read this!

Julie Soto did it again! I was invested from the very beginning and couldn't put the book down. Julie's writing style is vivid. I was in the high school hallways with the Thrashers, I was driving around, and at the dance. I loved how we received bits and pieces of the past to help come to our conclusions. I did not see the ending coming!!!!

In between a 4.5-5 ⭐️
~
I don’t really read a ton of YA thrillers, however this one did not disappoint!! From the very beginning I was hooked and wanted to know what happened.
It really was PLL meets with 13 reasons why.

“Either you're in or you're out.
Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.
They’re everything everyone wants to be.”

Jodi Dillion may have been the very first member of “The Thrashers”, but that doesn’t mean she was the last. Even though she doesn’t fit in with the rich, sophisticated group of Zach Thrasher’s friends (Julian, Lucy, and Paige), she and Zach have been best friends since the second grade, so she’s not going anywhere.

Enter Emily Mills who is dying to be a Thrasher…literally. When Emily commit’s suicide each of their lives begin to fall apart piece by piece. Except for Jodi, who now must decide who is more important to protect: her friends or herself.

I’m not going to lie. I requested an ARC of this book solely because it was written by Julie Soto. Everything she has ever written is perfection. And I’m not even a thriller reader, but this book was so good I couldn’t put it down.

I loved how the story unfolded and after each chapter I didn’t want it to end. This story is the epitome of staying up until three am because you just couldn’t put it down. You seemingly never really know who the villain of the story is and begin to both simultaneously root for the redemption and demise of them all. Even that one character you hate the most.

I was lucky enough to score an eARC and an ALC and I traded back and forth between the two. The audio is great as well and it was the first time I ever listened to a single narrator audiobook. I recommend both versions, especially if you are into thrillers and a Pretty Little Liars vibe.
Both are out now and this has definitely made Julie an autobuy author for me. I just need to read Roses and Chains. Have pity on me Forever, Grand Central Publishing! Please!

A special thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and also Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to read a copy of The Thrashers! I've recently discovered Julie Soto's other work and loved it. The Thrashers is fun departure from other titles, with a focus on teen social structures and mystery. As I connected with the characters, I was more invested in the story, and enjoyed where the story ended. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. This was a gripping thriller with just the right touch of the paranormal to keep things extra intriguing. The suspense kept me on edge, and the supernatural elements added a unique twist that really set it apart. I couldn’t stop turning the pages—every chapter pulled me in deeper. If you love thrillers with a little eerie flair, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Julie Soto surprised me with this YA thriller! FMC, Jodi has been friends with Zack Thrasher since the second grade. Throughout the years, Zack has become Mr. Popular, while Jodi followed by his side. Flash forward to high school, Jodi is still sticking to Zack's side, but now their duo has become a quintet. Other high school students call this quintet 'The Thrashers', which stems from the group's reluctance to include new members into their group. If you think you have penetrated the group, you are being fooled.

Emily Mills thought she had become a 'Thrasher', but as a reader, you find out that she has taken her life months after becoming friendly with the group...but why? Throughout this story, you stick with Jodi and this group as they face criminal allegations for bullying that led to Emily's suicide. Soto not only makes you wonder what happened with Emily, but she also adds a paranormal aspect to the story. Some unexplainable events keep happening that result in a "Thrasher" always being injured. Is Emily haunting them?

This YA thriller made me more curious than some adult thrillers I have read lately! Once I dug my heels into the story, I was enthralled. While this is a fiction story, Soto did a great job of balancing the serious topics of bullying, suicide, alcoholism, feeling left out, friendships, etc. As a 25-year-old woman, I found several relatable themes. I would recommend this story if you are comfortable with the above topics!

The Thrashers is a Young Adult Mystery/thriller with some paranormal elements.

It is about 5 high school seniors who are known as The Thrashers. They are a popular group of students.

The book starts with a girl dying. The main mystery in the book is what happened with Emily. The police are involved. And The Thrashers are in trouble.

The main character is Jodi. Jodi along with Zack, Lucy, Paige and Julian make up the friend group/The Thrashers.

The book is darkish. It features serious topics like bullying, abuse and suicide. Also there are a lot of unexplained things that happen to the teens.

Trying to figure out what happened to Emily and who was to blame was okay. But quite a few of the characters were not very likeable. There was a mystery to do with journals and texts. But I wasn’t really on the edge of my seat. However the story did keep my attention.

The relationships between each of the friends was probably the best part of the book. Everyone loved Zack. But the pair that I was most obsessed with was definitely Julian and Jodi.

Overall the story had a few predictable elements, as well as things that I did not understand. The story was interesting. But the epilogue absolutely blew me away. I was not expecting that ending at all. However I definitely need more. Is there a sequel?

Jodi is just making her way through high school one day at a time. She shouldn't be part of the schools "IT" group called The Thrashers, but she is. Julian, Paige, Lucy, and Jodi's childhood best friend Zack are all a part of the group. When an admirer of the group dies suddenly, questions arise on their part in her death after her journal is discovered. And to make it even more complicated, Emily seems to be trying to speak to them from the dead.

Review:
The Thrashers is an unputdownable binge read! I really enjoyed the wild ride that this book took me on. It is full of drama, lies, deceit, and secrets. Morals are definitely in question with this group of friends and who/what set of events can you really believe? Add in a little paranormal activity and you have one really well done and fast paced story. My favorite types of thrillers are those that are full of drama, secrets, lies, and not knowing who I can trust. This was pure entertainment and I ate up every second!
The Thrashers is available now and I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of The Thrashers in exchange for an honest review!

The Thrashers is a gripping YA thriller that had me hooked from the start. The story follows Jodi Dillon, who finds herself entangled with the elite friend group at New Helvetia High. When Emily Mills, an outsider desperate to join their circle, dies under mysterious circumstances, Jodi is thrust into a whirlwind of secrets and suspicions. As eerie events unfold, Jodi must navigate the complexities of friendship, guilt, and the haunting question: is Emily seeking revenge from beyond the grave?

Soto masterfully blends high school drama with supernatural elements, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that kept me turning pages late into the night. The characters are morally complex, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of dark mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, this one's a must-read.

Although this was a bit slow I still did really enjoy it. I still find myself puzzled about what happened 😂
I did finish this in one sitting so it's very bingeable.

I requested this book because I love Julie Soto. I went into it pretty blind so I wasn't prepared for all the high school drama., but for some reason I can't stop thinking about this book. The epilogue really caught me off guard. I hope there's another book after this. I don't think I'm ready to let go of this group of friends.

Jodi Dillon, Julian Hollister, Lucy Reed, Paige Montgomery, and the infamous Zach Thrasher make up the elite friend group, The Thrashers, at New Helvetia High School. Once Emily Mills dies on prom night, the Thrashers are under investigation for her death.

If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, 13 Reasons Why or One Tree Hill this is a book I would recommend to you! You will get mysterious text messages, Emily Mills’ journal and characters that reminded me of Lucas/Nathan.

So this book is not a genre I typically read at all (but honestly I would read Julie Soto’s grocery list so I was happy to have been able to get an ARC) but I actually really liked it! The beginning was a bit slow for my taste and I didn’t find any of the characters likable (although I think that was the point) but I was so invested in the plot, the supernaturals elements, and the friendships/relationships outlined in the book. Also the epilogue was SO good, I hope there will be a sequel! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!