The Thrashers is a mystery/thriller that catches your attention and holds it through the end.

At the center of the story is Jodi, a “regular” girl who is somehow part of the popular group, the so-called Thrashers. The Thrashers are a group of morally grey characters that you kind of hate but understand the intrigue, especially as you get to know them.

Author Julie Soto does an excellent job creating tension. Her settings are dynamic, and she balances creepy with a touch of hope.

Although it’s not the fastest read, The Thrashers is a book that holds interest — you want to know what happens. There are a lot of more mature themes throughout the book, and there’s lots of drinking and drug use. It’s not appropriate for readers under 14.

ARC REVIEW | The Thrashers

I have read and loved Julie Soto’s contemporary romances, so when I saw she was coming out with a book in a different genre I was intrigued. And honestly? This woman can do no wrong. This book was AMAZING. I was hooked from the start and could not put it down! I cannot recommend this one enough! It is a YA thriller that has a lot of depth to it, touching on a lot of important social issues while keeping the pace moving and the reading engaged. I was immediately sucked into the story, and it was so well paced and kept me hooked the whole time.

The story begins with the death of Emily, who makes it clear that she blames her death on the group of other teens called The Thrashers. It then goes into the POV of one of the teens in that group named Jodi. We then experience the rest of the story through Jodi’s POV, with little clips from Emily’s journal throughout that give a little bit of insight into what she may or may not have gone through. If you like books with an unreliable narrator, this one is really intriguing in that aspect that you don’t really know if you can trust the information that is being presented. I don't want to say too much about the actual plot that happens because it really is good to just go in kind of blind but this one was so addicting! There was a ton of angst and tension, along with lots of mystery. I really enjoyed seeing something different from Julie and fully trust her to write any genre at this point!

Julie did such a good job in writing a group of teenagers who are friends and giving us a story about the pressures of being a teenager and the desire to be liked and included. She perfect encapsulated what it is like to be part of a clique and trying so hard to do everything to stay in that clique. Jodi feels like such an outsider with the group, but puts up with a lot of their behaviors as they are her only friends. As I mentioned, Emily is also not the most reliable source and she is also a pretty awful person. The characters in this story were so complex - none of them were really “good” or likeable, but you still found yourself drawn to them. I even found myself rooting for some of the characters, but mostly I wanted to know the truth of what happened.

The story is incredibly compelling and Julie ended it in SUCH a perfect way. It was realistic but infuriating! We also were given an epilogue that had me squealing in its perfection. I don’t think there could have been a better way to end it!

Thank you Wednesday Books for early copy of the book!

I mean, is there anything Julie Soto can't do????

After the hits of Forget Me Not and Just Another Love Song, this was an unexpected surprise. So glad I got the chance to read this because this is everything our readers want. Mystery/Thriller is our most popular genre in the library for the past two years, and I'm always on a lookout for hits to recommend. Happy to highlight this one for our voracious readers. There are trigger warnings (domestic violence, bullying, suicide, etc) so be warned. But this is a definite addition to our collection.

This is an extremely messy, hormone-fueled wild ride as we follow a friend group accused of criminal harassment, ending in the death of a classmate. Partway through, we wonder if they are being literally haunted by her demise. I definitely felt many of these feelings as a teen.

4.5 stars - Julie Soto can do it all!! After absolutely devouring both FORGET ME NOT and NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG, I was both elated and intrigued to see that she was pivoting to a thriller. I had no doubts that I'd love the writing, but with it being such a change of pace I wasn't sure what I'd think of the rest of it - but I realize now I shouldn't have worried, she killed it! (no pun intended)

Jodi Dillon knows in her heart she doesn't really fit in with her friends - they're gorgeous, refined, and loaded - still, ever since second grade she's held a spot at Zack Thrasher's side, and she's determined to stay there. Yet Jodi's plans for senior year start to crumble when the body of Emily Mills is discovered on prom night, sparking whispers blaming the Thrashers for her death. Sure, Jodi remembers being friendly to Emily, but they weren't *friends* like people seem to think, and there's absolutely no way Zack, or any of them, were responsible for Emily's death. None. But when Emily's journal is found, and strange texts start to appear, Jodi realizes her friends might have been keeping secrets after all, and that Emily isn't ready to say goodbye.

Going into this I was convinced it was going to be another CLIQUE / GOSSIP GIRL situation, with the Thrashers as the clear villains and therefore deserving of the criticism and accusations. And while that can certainly be an entertaining concept, especially for a thriller like this, I was delighted to see that wasn't the case! I think what I loved the most was that Emily, Jodi, and the rest of the Thrashers all add something to the story, bringing their own messes and flaws, which I gave the book a delicious level of complexity. Perfectly paced, eerie, and heartwarming in its own way, I highly recommend THE THRASHERS for fans of Julie Soto's other works, but also for those who just love a little mystery and excitement in their reads!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Soto!! This is a freaking banger, amazing job on debut YA thriller!!

This book was a masterpiece being a thriller with a bit of romance that made me absolutely feral for the character like I was with Gossip Girl. lol While also having a very important message about consequences on how we treat people (bullying). Because what lengths would you go to feel you “belong”? By human nature we want to belong and fit in despite your age and is just a relatable topic.

Can we just take a moment for julian hollister. Why did I love him so much?! the way he was such an mean but had moments only for her where he soften. Swoon

I am not usually a big thriller person but the way The Thrashers grabbed me and wouldn't let go. It kept me guessing until the end and even 5 days later I'm still thinking about The Thrashers. Jodi, Lucy Paige, Zach, and Julian have such a dynamic friendship it was fun seeing how everyone was balanced. As for Jodi especially I feel like many high schoolers will be able to relate to her, especially her feeling on the outside at times. I savored every word of Julie's romances and was a little nervous about a YA thriller but now I'm convinced Julie could publish her grocery list and it would be an instant best seller.

The Thrashers was an intriguing, mysterious, and thrilling YA read. I loved the blend of mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements in the story. This is the first book that I’ve read by Julie Soto and I love her writing!

I had a fun time following along with the main character, Jodi, as she investigated the mysterious death of her classmate. I loved the mystery and there were some surprising moments in the book that I enjoyed.

Jodi was a complex and intriguing character. She was both a likable and unlikable character, if that makes sense. I really disliked the main friend group in this story, namely Zack, Julian, Lucy, and Paige. They felt like the snotty, privileged teens from movies like Heathers, who treat others like crap. I was hoping they would all get what they deserve.

Overall, this was a really thrilling read that I would recommend to lovers of YA supernatural mysteries. I can’t wait to read Soto’s next YA book.

WOW this book completely caught me off guard!! I knew it would be good because, well, Julie Soto (!!!), but I didn’t anticipate being completely consumed by it!! I couldn’t put it down! I’m extremely picky with thrillers but this one really hit all the marks. It was fast-paced and addicting, with just the right amount of creepiness. I’ve had some new fears unlocked, like flickering lights and drive-in theaters. It gave me that eerie feeling but not enough to be too scared to turn the lights off LOL.

As expected for Julie Soto, The Thrashers was very well-written! It was heavy at times, dealing with topics of bullying, suicide, and domestic violence (see triggers warnings before you read this!), but I think it was handled well considering the high school setting. The characters were perfectly flawed and complex. I loved our FMC Jodi and her POV felt soooo realistic- the hard truth of taking off rose-colored lenses and seeing your friends aren’t perfect was portrayed soooo well!! Also, JULIAN. I shouldn’t have underestimated him. I need to hear more about his story please I'm begging!! ALSO that epilogue!!! JULIE HOW DARE YOU! I did not predict that ending or where the twist was going at all and it SHOOK me. The book was predictable at times but in the best way, and unpredictable where it mattered most. Which is vague, but it makes sense after reading I promise.

I don’t want to say too much because I think it’s best to go into this one blind, but just know that Julie Soto can do no wrong and can handle any genre like a PRO!! So grateful for the chance to read this one before release day, thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books!!

My favorite genre is the school clique that gets into trouble, and this book did it perfectly.
I don’t want to spoil any details, surprises, or "Aha!" moments, but this story has it all.
In fact, I loved all the members of this clique more than the students trying to get them in trouble.

I absolutely loved this one! I’ve adored Julie’s contemporary romances and didn’t know what to expect with the genre change, but it’s flawlessly executed!

Twisty and secret-filled, The Thrashers kept me hooked until the very end. Jodi is a great main character and I enjoyed her POV!

I’ll be recommending this to everyone!

This book is one that keeps you guessing from start to finish. You start out with the supposed suicide of a teen. But then as you keep reading where they’re a group of friends who are also involved comes up. The teens have crazy things happening, and you don’t know where the story is going, but you are involved from start to finish. The ending of this book is one of the best in a thriller that I’ve read in a long time and I really hoped that there’s a second book.

Jodi has been best friends with Zach Thrasher since 2nd grade. Over the years their group has expanded to include Lucy, Paige, and Julian. And that’s it, everyone tries to get into their group, but eventually, they are shunned or “Thrashed”.

Jodi is starting to feel like she is on the outskirts of their group. The others are all rich and she is not. Julian clearly hates her. All the girls have a crush on Zach, but he seems to like Paige and Lucy more. What does she even contribute to the group?

Emily tried to join their group last year, but was “Thashed”. She couldn’t handle it and committed suicide. Now events in her journal have contributed to each of them being charged with “bullying her to death”, and then some.

Oh, and there’s also a chance that Emily is haunting them from beyond.
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Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is absolutely perfection.

The teenage drama. The pining for someone who is out of your reach. The annoying friend who inserts themselves even when they are not wanted.

Julie Soto said in an instagram reel that this is for anyone who has felt like they were possibly on the outside of their friend group, not sure if they fit in.
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If you liked One of Us is Lying or Thirteen Reasons Why, you will love this one.
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Really, can I give this 10⭐️?!
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Julie Soto has hinted at a sequel, but it depends on how well this book is received.

This is me begging Wednesday Books for the sequel. PLEASE 🙏

I absolutely tore through this book. As a Pretty Little Liars / Thirteen Reasons Why fan, this story hit every sweet spot. The characters were likable and easy to root for despite continually proving themselves to be morally grey. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading something new would jump out from the page. It allows room for you to make your own judgement and decisions, but also has you constantly questioning if you are right about who to trust.

The ending has been haunting me for days. I’m convinced Julie Soto can truly write anything. Every character was fleshed out, comedic, relatable, and also flawed. Although the book is written in third person, the glimpses of inner monologue we get from our main character touch an innate fear that I think lives in us all. What if we’ve convinced ourselves we belong somewhere only to find we are still on the outside? It taps into that common insecurity and makes you question who is actually on your side.

I will read everything Julie Soto writes. Which definitely includes a follow up to this! More Julian please!! 🙏🏻

4.5⭐️
Soto is making her way into my auto-buy author list book by book.

I’ll say, a group of popular teenagers bullying someone enough to indicate that they’re the reason a suicide was committed is certainly no new plot but it takes a lot to take something done over and over and turn it into a best seller.
The compliment here is not many people can do what Julie did here, which is show her writing skills and imaginative story telling. Twists and turns, secrets, and characters with more depth to them than you would think.

The Thrashers kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, hard to predict what’s to come when i usually do. That alone makes it deserve all the hype.

I appreciate that it was also one pov to add more to the mystery. I’m hoping the end is leading into a future book in this world.

In Julie we trust.

So if you remember and like 13 reasons why? This is what I thought about upon starting the book! I love me some drama, especially in high school. I like to not know if people are good or bad. I like the confusion and the turn of events. And also, I like when people are made to be crazy!

Thank you NetGalley & Julie Soto team for letting have this read! ☺️

WOW. What a ride! I truly did not know who to trust and how this was going to end. I loved it!

I know and love Julie Soto from her contemporary romance books so I read this even though it’s not my usual genre. I’m so glad I did. It’s YA thriller and it will take you back to high school, to when fitting in was everything.

Emily desperately wanted to be part of a friend group nicknamed The Thrashers. After she takes her life, the police suspect that bullying by The Thrashers may have played a role. As the police and lawyers start to get involved, it’s unclear who is telling the truth. And is Emily haunting them or is it their guilt?

Some heavy topics are covered, including suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence, drugs, and bullying. I’d recommend this to high schoolers and older.

If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you question who you can trust, this is the book for you.

Thank you to Saint Martin’s Press, Julie Soto, and NetGalley for the eARC. The Thrashers is out now!

I wasn't sure what to expect going into The Thrashers, but it completely surprised me. The story had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn’t stop reading. The mystery around Emily’s death and the group of popular teens she wanted to be part of was full of tension and drama. I loved how realistic the friendships felt—messy, complicated, and sometimes cruel. Jodi was such a great main character. She felt like an outsider, but she still cared about her friends and had strong morals. I also really liked the mix of thriller and ghostly elements—it gave the story an extra layer of suspense. Julien was definitely one of the most interesting characters too! The ending and especially the epilogue left me speechless. I really hope there’s a sequel!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

DNF at 45%
While I was very interested in this book, the premise and what was happening, I simply couldn't continue due to the triggering content in the book and the absolute lack of trigger warnings in the book. After the first page I went back to make sure I didn't miss a trigger warnings page and there was nothing. I eventually went and looked them up on the authors website myself and noted the amount of triggers that I personally would not have chosen to read has I realised prior.
Trigger warnings are there for the safety of the reader and neglecting to include them is harmful.

3.5 stars. Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for this ARC. Wow, what a whirlwind. For being Julie Soto's debut thriller novel, this was impressively written. The Thrashers was a creepy, mysterious, and crazy story that spotlights a mean high school clique. The things that happened to the characters in this novel were devastating and hard to read at times.

Julie Soto did an amazing job with cultivating a thrilling story that had me on the edge of my seat, wanting to find out what happened to Emily and why she died. The dynamic between high schoolers was written really well, with the bullying taking place seeming so realistic.

I was definitely frustrated with the way the story ended, but all in all, I think it was a great way to end the story. A couple of things in the end were predictable, but I wish we had more answers to why certain things were happening. For example, one of Emily's old schoolmates mentions there was a reason she left her old school, but that was never addressed. I wonder if the ending was left slightly open-ended for a continuation of the story or if it is open to interpretation.

I was not expecting what was revealed in the epilogue. I was also rooting for Jodi and Julian and wished more had come out of that. The way things ended with that was just so tragic to me. Props to Julie Soto on this story, and I can't wait to see what she releases next!