My keyword for this review: unnerving. The Thrashers is a perfect blend of supernatural horror with teen drama/thriller. With the untimely death of Emily Mills, a misfit hang-on to our FMC’s friend group, odd and distressing events keep happening to the group known as The Thrashers (named after the core of the group, Zack Thrasher). Accidents, near death experiences, and eye-opening occult visits all plague them as details emerge from the police investigation into Emily’s death. Our FMC, Jodi, leads the story with interspersed chapters, hauntingly detailing Emily’s thoughts, as the investigation into the Thrasher’s alleged bullying of Emily. What reads as misunderstanding to the police and even Emily’s parents, reveals a more sinister underlying plot: Emily had become obsessive; and as the story progresses, her focal point changes within the group.

Amidst the chaos of an investigation, Jodi must come to some truths in regards to her friends. As old friends reappear and stories are reframed from an outsider’s perspective, Jodi begins to fear she is in the same boat as Emily; she is being, what their school body has come to name, Thrashed. Tossed away from the friend group, left reeling and alone. As the group stands accused, Emily’s own journal within the hands of the police becomes a weapon against everything they hold dear.

What I liked most about this book, is Soto’s ability to create dynamic characters, who never seem like they would fit together into the main friend group. As a reader, you’re left doubting the group’s ability to maintain relationships along with feeling the anxiety that Jodi experiences over her own fear of being cast out. Sprinkled with just the right amount of haunting through occult stories and unexplainable circumstances; The Trashers left me feeling unnerved and concerned. Soto’s storytelling from a gritty, mistaken, and confused YA perspective was done so well. And by the end of the novel, although readers will find out the truth, there is still a kernel of doubt, mistrust, or even fear that gets left behind. And I think that any story that stays with you after you’re done creates a compelling argument for its success.

Thank you to Julie Soto and Wednesday Books for providing a review copy.

This is slightly reminiscent of Karen McManus, with a victim seemingly communicating from beyond the grave, but it stands very well on its own two feet. The teenage drama is delicious, and the members of the group are all different enough to not blend into one. Jodi is our main character, and the way she stands out feels real, with her insecurities and doubts about how she fits in and whether her friends actually care about her. This story keeps you turning the pages and then leaves you at the end with your mouth hanging open. This was a successful branch out for Julie Soto.

The Thrashers had me hooked from the very first page, and I desperately need it to be a series because I have to know what happens next. If you want a YA thriller filled with high school drama, bullying, lies, secrets, and manipulation, this is the one for you. It was fast-paced, a little spooky, thrilling, and super stressful. It’s told from the POV of Jodi Dillon, a member of the popular friend group called The Thrashers. She’s always felt like she didn’t belong and is only included because she was Zack Thrasher’s childhood friend. The Thrashers are being investigated for bullying Emily Mills, which resulted in her suicide. As the teens begin to fall apart under the stress of the investigation, media coverage, and the court of public opinion, dangerous supernatural things start to happen to The Thrashers, making them think that Emily is still around and isn’t done with them yet. I devoured this one, and I was living for the little bit of romance that we got. The only thing that could have made it better was if it had been dual POV. I did a tandem read of the ebook and audio, and Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky did such a great job voicing the characters and adding depth to the story. You definitely need to read this one when it comes out!

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, Julie Soto, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔The Thrashers
✏️ Julie Soto
📆 May 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💬 YA thrillers
💬 high school drama
💬 close knit friend group
💬 secrets and lies
💬 fallout from bullying and suicide
💬 supernatural elements and ghosts

This was so bingeable. I couldn't put it down!
This isn't my normal genre- but I am a huge Julie Soto fan so knew I wanted to read and it did not dissappoint.
Julie nailed the YA vibes, the cliques, the teen angst etc. IMO they were all morally grey characters- but also so relatable.
There were supernatural elements to make it a touch spooky. Small snippets of romance (very small)..
It gave me 13 Reasons Why and Pretty Little Liars vibes- which I enjoyed.
Can't wait to read Miss Julie Soto's fantasy next. The girl can really write in any genre.

I was pleasantly surprised by this YA thriller with a side of romance and some paranormal. I was trying to guess the plot the whole time and while I got some of it right, there were still a few things that surprised me.

I liked Jodi and was vouching for her the whole time. You can clearly see how bad she just wants to fit in and my heart broke a few times for this poor teenager, full of self-doubt and regrets. Her growth through this book was amazing. I gotta say that most characters were loveable. Except Zack. Screw Zack. No one is that “nice” lol

This book is like a mix of 13 Reasons Why (season 1), Gossip Girl and Do Revenge. Full of teenage angst and drama, underlying home life but not telling anyone about it, raging hormones… all the fun stuff that I absolutely do not miss lol

All of this to say that I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it if you like YA. If you do know teenagers interested in reading this, I’d recommend checking some trigger warnings or talking to your teen about the heavier subjects in this book (substance use, alcoholism, abuse, sexuality).

The Thrashers was an entertaining YA thriller that delves into toxic friendships, trauma, the reinforcement of social hierarchies and bullying.

This is Mean Girls for the modern day with potential murder thrown into the mix. It is a classic tale of the impact of bullying, ostracisation and peer pressure in a high school bubble that mimics the realities of the larger world. Julie Soto has constructed a layered and complex story where not everything is as it seems. It is very well paced and plotted with some fantastic surprises in store. I love a bit of unreliability in my narratives and you are constantly wondering exactly who is telling the truth and to what extent. It creates a paranoid and claustrophobic atmosphere, right from the initial interrogation scene. The way that is resolved ties in with Soto’s thematic exploration of privilege.

The Thrashers are an incredibly wealthy and privileged group with the exception of Jodi and then Emily. Soto has a lot to say about class in this book with some nuanced conversation about truly being accepted by the elite and how much cushioning can surround certain people. It exacerbates the social status and power this group already wields because, given the nature of their lives, they are likely to emulate that success beyond high school. They simply cannot fail because the system is set up to protect them. That is precisely what this book is interrogating. The whole way through, you’re questioning what really happened. This is such tense reading with the excerpts from Emily’s diary contrasting Jodi’s present-day story.

Soto writes such authentic and believable characters. They’re three-dimensional and full of flaws. None of these people are exactly as they seem on the surface. I loved getting to peel back these layers and get a glimpse of who they really are. In a meta way, it is like the popularity that they thrive on - it is precarious and the crowd is bloodthirstily waiting for them to fall. As a reader, you’re looking for the cracks in the façade and hoping to discover every last secret they have buried. Within this, we focus on Jodi as a protagonist. She is smart, loving and fiercely loyal, having grown up with Zack as childhood best friends and becoming a part of this group by association. Her feelings towards Zach have evolved too, which complicates the dynamics further. However she is also dealing with an abusive and alcoholic father and a constant worry about money hanging over her head. She is not fully part of the group, though it may feel like this at the start. Her position in life is just that further away from the gilded spires of their palaces. That may be why Emily finds a kindred spirit in her and so starts a tragic and destructive spiral. Jodi’s guilt and some other factors make her start this quest for the truth, however upsetting it may be for her to confront.

I also want to touch on the way this book plays with genre. There is another interplay that you are questioning throughout that brings elements of another genre into this YA thriller. These are deftly handled with an edge that makes you question precisely what you are reading and how far Soto is willing to go. It is fascinating and ups that sense of compulsive readability that characterises the book. That ambiguity is brilliant. Without spoiling anything, I love how it factors into the denouement and the ending.

The Thrashers is a modern parable about toxic friendships, bullying and the never-ending quest for popularity and an assured social status. As they say, it’s tricky at the top and often extremely precarious.

Thank you Netgalley and Julie Soto for my early copy!!
This was my first myster/thriller book ever and what better person than Julie Soto to be my first! Ahem. I am currently staring at my Kindle full shock on my face.
The whole time i was reading I had to keep going chapter after chapter because it was so addicting, I had to see what craziness was going to happen to The Thrashers. The first two chapters alone were hook line and sinker I'm all in!
Julie Soto I will follow you to the ends of earth no matter what genre you write, absolutely amazing and I'm so excited for the future!!

Talk about a YA thriller that is sure to better than you expect, incredibly addicting. I was immediately hooked from the beginning with this one — full of secrets and lies, THE THRASHERS dives into the toxic and privileged lives of only the most popular kids at New Helvetia High after one student is “thrashed.”

Our characters are flawed, have toxic relationships with each other, and are so well developed throughout the story. I absolutely enjoyed watching how everything played out with twists and turns along the way. This story was such a great blend of mystery, paranormal (but not too much), suspense and drama which made it absolutely unputdownable.

There’s a little part of Jodi that I felt like I resented with and I was rooting for her the whole time, hoping she would get answers she so desperately wanted and to find her happiness and peace. I was really hoping for more of a romantic element with Jodi’s character, but ultimately I am satisfied with the direction it went.

I’ve seen this being compared to Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why and that is totally spot on, but still manages to be its own unique story.

This one is perfect for those who don’t want anything too suspenseful, want to try YA thrillers, or really any thrillers, or who just wants a really entertaining read.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC ✨

OH HECK NAHHHH! IM GOING TO NEED MORE 😭😭😭😭 girl how could you leave us like that!!
I really enjoyed this book!! But girl you left us on a cliff 🤣 anywaysssss 5*

Julie Soto has quickly become one of those authors that I read every book she comes out with! When I attended one of her events she had discussed this book and I was immediately intrigued. When this was available on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it!

The prologue right off the bat throws you into the mystery of a (suicide? murder?) high school student. The Thrashers (aka the popular kids) may be behind the death of a fellow student. This book is giving Pretty Little Liars in the best way.

If you love some high school drama with some thrill, this is the book for you. It definitely feels like a true “young adult” novel (it is appropriately marketed as such). A fun read that keeps you on the edge of your seat! As someone who has frequented Sacramento my entire life, it’s also so fun to see more “local” mentions!

P.S. The ending was great!!

A huge thank you to this book’s publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

So this is not my usual genre, which made me delay picking it up to start, even though I am a massive Julie Soto fan. But wow…this was intense and she blew it out of the park! I read this whole book in one day because I started reading at midnight and was immediately hooked. There are a lot of heavy themes here, obviously around suicide, but also around domestic violence, alcoholism, and drugs.

Told entirely from Jodi’s point of view, this book follows her in the aftermath of her classmate’s suicide. Jodi is part of a friend group that has earned the nickname “The Thrashers” and the reputation as the popular kids. Jodi feels like she’s really only in this group because of her lifelong friendship with its leader. She’s not privileged or rich, and feels like she doesn’t fit in. When a hanger-on commits suicide, suspicions rise that the Thrashers bullied her into taking her own life. But Jodi finds inconsistencies and things keep happening that can’t be explained.

I think Soto did a really good job when it came to dropping hints for the readers to follow along here. As Jodi gradually realizes that she has been prioritizing someone else’s happiness and well-being over her own, her interactions with that person change. And she grows into a better and stronger version of herself.

This was definitely a heavy topic to cover, and it can be hard to get through. There were several times where I was like viscerally sad at the thought of this girl just trying to fit in. But I also had all these doubts about what she was trying to accomplish and why?

Also, there’s a supernatural element that you won’t find in most thrillers but that I loved! It kept me really engaged and reading with my heart in my throat at times, because I had no idea what has going on.

The premise here at the start was reminding me a little bit of 13 reasons why, but then it really differentiated itself. And this is billed as YA, but it’s definitely upper YA. I read 13 reasons why when I was too young, so I’d definitely say this is for an older YA crowd.

I can honestly say, I had zero clue how this would play out. Did I guess that Julian would maybe get closer to Jodi? Sure. Did I guess Hannah was behind the tech stuff? Also yes. But plot-wise with Emily Mills’ death and her previous interactions with the Thrashers…nope. I had no idea.

Idk, this book had me thinking back to high school a lot. It’s such a strange time, where everything feels so overwhelming and life-altering. But people grow and change and mature, and then you can start to look back fondly on high school!

I am legitimately adding another .5 to my rating because the epilogue made me GASP. Julie Soto I genuinely want more of this storyline please!

4.5 stars!

This book is thrilling, riveting, the tragedy you can’t look away from. Julie Soto somehow has transcended genres and has written romance, romantasy, and YA thriller. Bravo! 👏🏼

This book was twisty and twisted, gripping and fast paced. This is really good on audio but I would imagine just as gripping reading with your eyes.

If you’ve ever liked Holly Jackson, Karen McManus, Maureen Jackson, Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars, or 13 reasons why, you’ll love this!

There is drama, lies, secrets, toxic friendships and high school drama. Oh the twisted games kids play to try and find where they belong. These character are complex and you’ll be surprised by who you find yourself rooting for. This would play out perfectly as a movie or show.

I can’t say too much because I want to avoid spoilers but that ending?! UGH!

Thanks to MacMillian and Wednesday books for the advance copies! You can pick this one up on May 6!!

All this was a fun YA thriller. There were a few pacing issues as well as ending was a bit underwhelming, but overall well done and I would try another book by this author

This book was addictive. I was struggling to put it down and kept telling myself “one more chapter.”

I honestly did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I’m here for more thrillers by Julie Soto please!

I thought the characters were perfectly flawed and loved learning about their past, their motives, and their secrets. I had a great time piecing everything together alongside Jodi. The plot twists really hit.

The epilogue was my favorite part of this whole book. It’s what made me give this 4 stars. My jaw was on the floor. It had me questioning everything, to be honest. 10/10 ending, in my opinion.

Highly recommend once this is released next month!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

So. I liked this. Especially since it said it would be like kara Thomas. But I didn’t like the supernatural aspect. That’s not something I like in my YA thrillers, making this book less amazing for me. Still, this was a good read and I did want to know how it was all going to play out. I think the only character I did not hate was Julian. Everyone else was just ugh. Definitely be warned about the suicide element if that’s an issue. I’m unsure if I would read more of this author in this genre if she did more supernatural mysteries.

This book had me absolutely hooked! I was constantly so curious about what was going to happen next. Wish there was a bit more on the legal side and more CW about the heavy talk of suicide, but otherwise, really loved it.

HOLY COW THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this YA thriller by Julie Soto! These are my honest thoughts!

WHAT EVEN WAS THIS STORY?? It was Mean Girls x Gossip Girl x One Tree Hill... set in California, so with The O.C. thrown in there for good measure (these are millennial references, so I'm sure the younger generation will have their own comparisons).

I was enthralled with these characters from the first page, and I kept turning every page waiting to figure out what was truth, what was lies, what was real, what was real but unexplainable, and what in the world happened to Emily Mills?

I hated and loved everyone, and I sometimes like when a book makes me feel that way, but I really liked some characters and I really hated others. Julie Soto did an amazing job of making these kids feel important. They are mostly rich, and they are nice to their friends. But if you're not a friend? You'll be *Thrashed*. And yet, I felt bad for them when their futures and college was on the line. Kids are meant to learn and make mistakes without the world crumbling to the ground, yet when they find out they are being pursued for the death of a classmate, it's hard to go through it with them.

Add in all these really strange incidents where really bad things keep happening to the cast of main characters? The weird texts? The seemingly once-in-a-lifetime occurrences, that KEEP HAPPENING?

I still have so many questions. And I think with the ending, that hints that there is more to come?? Hopefully? It doesn't end with a neatly tied bow, and I have to accept that I am okay with it right now.

Shoutout to Eva Kaminsky, Jesse Vilinsky - narrators who brought this story to life. This is a fast-paced story, and Eva was amazing making the plot jump off the page.

5 stars. Out May 6th.

This book had me in a CHOKEHOLD!

I LOVED THIS! I've been recommending this book to anyone who'll listen. I'm honestly still not over it, and it's definitely going to be a favorite of 2025!

The suspense. The police investigation. The High School drama. The toxic friendships. The paranormal elements. The secrets. FLAWLESS.

Also, I'm a romance girlie at heart, so give me a thriller with a little romance in it and I'm SOLD! The slooooowwww burn, the enemies to lovers vibes, I was OBSESSED.

This book made me go through it all: creeped out, suspicious of everyone, furious, giggling, chilled to the bone, shocked, swooning, kicking my feet, GASPING.

I can't recommend this book enough! I have another ARC from Julie Soto on my shelf (Rose In Chains) and I can't wait to dive in! This author has definitely become a favorite!

Did I listen to this entirely in one day? Yes. Does that mean it was amazing? No. But it is definitely entertaining! I really wanted to see how it all turned out at the end.

Personally, I felt Julian was the best character and deserved to be the one free to live his life after all was said and done. He was the only one besides Jodi that seemed to have remorse for everything. The fact that Zach got off on a technicality made me angry because he was complicit in this whollleee thing. He even admitted to never feeling the same way about Emily but never once spoke up to stop the hatred. And also lied to everyone about their prior history. Would have probably loved it more if Zach ended up in juvie and Julian/Jodi romance went further.

I think I went in expecting a super twisty mystery but I don’t think one twist shocked me in the whole thing. The epilogue was fun but other than that the ending was just whelming. Overall, not mad I read it but won’t be shouting about it from the rooftops either.

This is also coming from the girl (me) who DNFd ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ which everyone seemed to love! I just don’t think I’m the target audience for the YA thriller/mystery books 😅

OMG! Julie Soto can do it all--contemporary romance, romantasy, and now YA thriller with a hint of romance! I'm going to be honest, I'd read Julie's grocery list at this point because she is such a spectacular writer that what she needs at the grocery store will be just as enthralling as her books!

Jodi, Julian, Lucy, Paige, and Zack are an elite group of friends, aptly called "The Thrashers", after Zack Thrasher. Everyone is dying to be a part of their group, but no one more than Emily Mills. The book opens up with the group dealing with the aftermath of Emily's death. Jodi, who feels like an outsider most of the time, is torn between sticking with her friends or protecting herself when secrets come to the surface.

I loved this entire book--the realness of how teenagers act, the supernatural aspect, the little romance storyline that I hope we get more of in book two. I could not put it down once I started; I snuck little chunks here and there at work and definitely stayed up too late to finish it. If you love toxic friendships and a mysterious drama-filled storyline, this is the book for you!

And this review would be incomplete if I did not mention the friendship/situationship/relationship between Julian and Jodi! They had instant chemistry and I loved every time they interacted on the page. There's a certain scene towards the end that had me screaming with joy. Julian and Jodi are definitely Logan/Veronica coded.

Thank you to Wednesday Books (St. Martin's Press) for the e-ARC!