Julie you wickedly brilliant human omg this book?! I stayed up till 2AM reading I was GRIPPED. Oh my gosh. Every little detail was so great, the characters, the mystery, the suspense, the tension, and the THRILLS?! I truly wish I could read this for the first time again. Wow. Just a brilliantly fun mystery! AND THE ENDING?! Say we get another book please please 😭🥹 omg I’m addicted!!

Thank you you Netgalley & Wednesday for the ARC

13 Reasons Why mixed with paranormal activities.

This was way darker than expected. I really took my time with this read to absorb the dark tone and make sure to regularly check in with my mental health.

I went on an absolute rollercoaster, initially the story started off very slow and didn't grip me at first but soon after, with the help of a sprinkle of paranormal activities, I was on the edge of my seat.

This friend group is extremely toxic and showcases the worst of high schoolers in their attempt to stay on top of the social hierarchy. Even the characters who appeared kind at first showed some cruel sides and questionable choices. You could say this entire book is a study of teenage dynamics.

The reveal around the diary was somewhat predictable but then again managed to surprise me on the epilogue which is leaving just the tiniest gap open for a potential sequel, which I cannot wait!

I did feel like the blurb was a little misleading as it referred to a classmate's death without specifying that it was due to suicide which is an important distinction. While a full list of triggers is available on the author's page, it was not included at the start of the book and may be missed by some readers who only read the blurb. I did have to put the book aside to process the suicide mention and resume when I was in a better headspace.

Thank you Wednesday Books for an early review copy.

Themes
-dark themes: bullying, suicide, rape, parental neglect, domestic violence

so i absolutely LOVE julie soto ( even though I've only read not another love song) and I am so happy that she's venturing out into different genres
I absolutely binged this, only taking a break to swim some laps
and the ending???? like what the heck, I need MORE
please can we get more books in the universe, a sequel, and novella, more jodi and juilian??
i have so many questions and maybe I'm just stupid, but I need answers!!!!
it wasn't the most surprising mystery, but I loved the paranormal take, for example the epilogue, ahem, what in the actual world.
anyways, I'm glad I got to read this before it comes out tomorrow, HIGHLY RECOMMEND, oh my gosh, I'm in shock and I love julian and julie soto!!!!

This was so frickin entertaining and good to read, I could not put it down! It completely caught me by surprise in how fast I got sucked in, I read it in one setting.
This proved that Julie Soto is an amazing writer - crossing genres and targeted audiences and I can't wait to see if this story will continue in a series.

The mystery and suspense kept me riveted and entertained. The characters had me all over the place emotionally as we learned more and more about their background, histories and personalities.

Please St. Matrin's Press, let Julie write as much as she wants - I need more Jolian!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I knew I was going to like it but I didn’t think I’d be obsessed. This kept me hooked the whole time. All these twists I didn’t see coming & I wasn’t sure who I could trust. I haven’t read many thrillers but now I want to. This is a YA Thriller giving all the Pretty Little Liars went to Ravenswood with Caleb. Julie Soto has me auto buying all her books! If we could get a bonus epilogue of you know who, I’d love that! I have many theories on that ending!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved everything that Julie Soto has written, but I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical of this one. The whole high school, popular teen, murder 9or in this case, suicide)-mystery has been done so many times that I thought there would be nothing new this book could make me feel but of course, Julie proved me wrong.

I was HOOKED, and I didn’t even realize how fast time was flying by as I sped through this book because I truly did not know what was going to happen next or what was true and what wasn’t. I found myself growing attached to the Trasher’s and hoping that none of them were involved, and also rooting for Jodi and Julian.

I gave this book 4.25 stars because I did really enjoy it, but the ending was not exactly what I hoped for, though I’m not really sure what I was hoping for anyway. I wish that Julian and Jodi had a better ending, but I understand that the ambiguity is intentional. I also liked the more paranormal aspects of this book and was surprised by the ending with Julian and Emily. I hope Julie writes another book in this genre or gives us more regarding the future of the Thrasher!

ARC provided by the publisher - Wednesday books - in exchange for an honest review

i had no idea where the thrashers was going to take me—and i think that’s what made it so fun. i knew it was YA, i knew there was something dark going on, and i’d heard a lot about julie soto from her romance books. but wow. this was such a different vibe, and she pulled it off so well.

the story had me hooked right away. the friend group dynamic, the tension, the mystery—it all worked. it’s not the most shocking thriller i’ve ever read, but i wasn’t reading it just for the twists. the characters were honestly the best part. jodi’s narration felt so real, like messy and insecure and observant in a way that made her so easy to root for. her dynamic with julian was everything. easily one of my favorite parts of the book. i was eating that up. and the way the book handled the whole fallout from emily’s death—grief, guilt, pressure, rumors—was intense but really well done.

i think my only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the ending didn’t fully blow me away. it made sense, it fit, but i kind of wanted just a little more..? still, i couldn’t stop thinking about the characters afterward, and i’d totally read more if this ever turned into a series.

4 stars! a wild, surprisingly emotional read with a cast that kinda sticks with you. and yes, i am officially team julian forever. <3

(thank you to netgalley and wednesday books/st martin’s press for the ARC<3)

What a thrilling, angsty, nostalgic, and unforgettable ride (reading experience). Julie Soto makes another imprint on my heart with "The Thrashers." This time with an exhilarating young adult thriller story rich with heart-wrenching themes and commentary on navigating the perilous, treacherous, and sometimes horrifying road of high school adolescence. We follow "The Thrashers," an exclusive group of five high school friends, through the eyes of member Jodi as their fates following a tragic incident involving an underclassmate unfold. Our five main characters must reckon with the consequences of their behavior, each displaying varying degrees of bravery and integrity to face their fates. It was enlightening and slightly terrifying to realize, after reading "The Thrashers," that the most natural unreliable narrators and morally gray characters (in real life, too) are often the peers you grow up alongside in high school. You could even be raising them now.
Julie Soto continues to perfect her ability to write intriguing, cinematic, thrilling scenes that read like you are watching them successfully unfold on the screen.
I am so grateful that Julie had a chance to expand her writing genre in "The Thrashers" following the critical success of her adult contemporary romance books "Forget Me Not" and "Not Another Love Song."
I cannot wait to read what magic Julie has in store for us next in the *fingers crossed* sequel to "The Thrashers" after that cliffhanger and The Evermore trilogy.
P.S. I was a "JOLIAN" stan from the beginning. Julie Soto absolutely knows how to masterfully weave a romance thread.

4.5 stars

“And she wondered what it was they were doing, and if it was wise to let him crack her chest open a second time, just to see if he fit inside.”

OKAY let’s talk about this book quick. I AM OBSESSED. Julie Soto is batting a thousand for me. I was hooked immediately - and by immediately, I mean THE PROLOGUE HAD ME HOOK LINE AND SINKER. The five stars of this book are morally gray and flawed in the best kind of way. Julie wrote them so excellently that you’re still rooting for (most of) them even though you know they are not great people.

I could not put this book down. I found myself completely enthralled with the character relationships and the group dynamic. I was emotionally invested in the development of not only the plot, but the direction these characters were growing. I don’t know how Julie did it, but the character I hated the most in the beginning was my favorite by the end??? Incredible. Not only were the characters so well-layered, but the story itself was intense and wild. This isn’t just a normal thriller, this was creepy in a way that goes beyond normal thriller suspense. NO SPOILERS, but I found myself keeping the light on while reading this because I got a LITTLE SPOOKED

You’ll love this if you’re a fan of books like Karen McManus’s One of Us is Lying, creepy and suspenseful stories, shocking twists, betrayal and revenge, amateur sleuthing, and toxic secrets and friendships.

And friends - please check out the trigger warnings before reading this. It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s emotional. It may be YA but it addresses some dark themes, so please take care of yourselves!

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

5/5

I have absolutely no notes. If Julie writes it, I am reading it. This book was captivating from start to finish and I want more. Julie if you see this, I am on my knees begging for book 2!

The way this story unravels and the details are revealed to the reader was perfect. It was never too much, but always enough to keep you engaged. I had chills throughout and felt like I was there with them, feeling what they felt through each event, seeing what they saw. The plot twists?! Oh my god, I will never recover.

I expected to be annoyed by the Thrasher’s actions since they’re teenagers, but no. They were well fleshed out and reasonably mature.

this book was actually so amazing. I was hooked after around 25%, hanging onto every single word. the whole atmosphere was so haunting and eerie. jodie's perspective was strange thinking back, like she didn't see herself the way most people perceived her and has a wrapped image around that. I love Julian so much and Zach was the one who deserved to go to prison, like Julian worked so hard and basically gave himself away.

thank you to st martins press for a digital galley through netgalley <3

Julie Soto is the only author who can make me leave my romance comfort zone. I loved this book. Jodi is the main character of the story. She is extremely self-conscious and cares way too much what other people think. These traits would annoy me if she was a FMC in her 20s or 30s but I feel like as a teenager it was so relatable. That being said, I still wanted to shake her sometimes because the "it boy" Zack Thrasher is kind of the worst. The pacing of the book was great and I was at the edge of my seat until the end. I would rate this 4.5 stars just because I am petty and the ending for one of the characters made me a little mad!

This book was certainly interesting but I felt like at times it got confusing between the different cast of characters and keeping their stories straight.

Holy Cow! <Santa vaca!>
This book was a wild ride.

First off, Julie Soto—you are exceptional, brilliant, talented, and such a great author. I couldn’t believe how good this book was. I had so many mixed emotions because I had just come from reading her last book, Not Another Love Song—which is an adult romance—to this YA mystery thriller. I was like, We’ll see…

Okay, the story starts off pretty intense with Emily at the center of it all. She had my head spinning. Jodi is the one trying to solve this whole tangled-up mystery, and the Thrashers were being thrashed—lol.
The thriller side of the story had my heart pounding and made me kind of jumpy. I was so invested and even started getting excited about the tension between Jodi and Julian… but then I remembered it was YA.

The mystery had me sweating and biting my nails—it was just so good.
I loved it, and it got my 5-star rating, especially with that twist in the epilogue. I turned the page hoping for something—anything—and I was speechless. She got me, and I was a goner. It was such a great way to end a mystery thriller.

This gets my standing ovation. She did such an amazing job.

ARC provided by Netgalley. Courtesy of St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books.

An outstanding read from start to finish! With revenge, mystery, hauntings and Final Destination vibes, this story throws you into a friend group everyone wants to be part of, that is until someone ends up dead.
The twisted dynamics amongst the Thrashers, a teenage friend group, feels all too real. At times shifting from loyal to downright toxic. Jodi, the quiet outsider with a conscience, never stands out. But when a new girl Emily forces her way into the group, she soon winds up dead. Will Jodi do the right thing, or protect the group’s dangerous secrets?
I loved how Soto weaves in a chilling possibility that Emily’s ghost may still be out for vengeance. The characters are wonderfully written, each bringing their own energy and drama to the group. The tension, secrets, and dark undercurrents made this story impossible to put down.
⚠️ Trigger warning: suicide, toxic/abusive parenting.

*Thank you to Julie Soto, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

As a Sacramento native, I will read any and all Julie Soto books until the end of time. Us Sacramento ladies have to have each other’s backs! It definitely doesn’t hurt that Julie is continuously keeping me intrigued with all of her books, whether they be romance or this first trek into YA mystery/thriller!

First, let’s get this one out in the open, I absolutely loved how this took place in Sacramento and that Julie was able to pull from her experiences in Sacramento to actually craft the city as it is. There were so many places and streets mentioned that I knew exactly where she was talking about, in specific detail, that it felt like I was actually there! I freaking loved that so much and it’s a point I specifically love about all of Julie’s book’s that take place in Sacramento.

I loved that from the very beginning, by using Jodi as a “Thrasher” who was the one in the group who didn’t fit in, the author already had me suspecting everyone and trusting no one. At no point did I believe anyone, even at times I was questioning if Jodi would be an unreliable narrator. It was wonderfully mysterious but never daunting.

I enjoyed watching the unlikely friendship bloom (I’m not telling you who!). I was hoping from the beginning that this would pan out a little like this, and I’m incredibly happy with where it ended…for now.

Speaking of the ending, holy cow!! I wasn’t expecting THAT!! Not only is this a great ending on its own, but it could speak to future spin-offs or future books in the same world, which I would definitely read! I would kill for a couple chapters of what these characters are doing in 5 years.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Julie Soto for the copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

4.25 stars

This book was amazing!!! I straight up devoured this is one day! It’s a YA Thriller set in high school and we get suspense, a mystery, drama, romance and even some paranormal hauntings!

I loved Pretty Little Liars and don’t make this claim often - but I definitely was getting PLL vibes reading this book and it made me that much more invested in the mystery.

Jodi has always been a bit of an outsider when it comes to The Thrashers, but she has a friend in the group so gets included…and then Emily dies…and that is when questions start being asked….will Jodi betray her friends or protect herself?

The mystery itself was so good! We get this great tension and sense of unease reading this book. The story is fast paced and there are sprinkles of humor and paranormal elements too. These characters are flawed and make questionable choices…but it’s high school after all!!

I really liked the use of Emily’s journal entries to help tell the story. The ending was so wild!! I am telling you nothing about it except WHAT????? I highly recommend going into this one blind!

✨What To Expect:
🔪YA Thriller
🖤High School Drama
🔍Mystery & Suspense
👻Paranormal Vibes
💖Romance
🌪️Twists & Turns
🩶Morally Gray Characters

JULIE SOTO YOU ARE AMAZING! The Thrashers kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through, reminding me of “13 Reasons Why” meets “Mean Girls.” I binged the whole book in a midnight reading mania, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

This YA psychological suspense and thriller follows The Thrashers — a group of high school friends who are rich, popular, and considered “elites” in their class. When a classmate commits suicide, The Thrashers are accused of bullying and harassment in the months leading up to her death. As their lives are investigated, they discover that secrets and lies do exist among friends…

I enjoyed the group dynamic between all of the Thrashers. Jodi being the 5th wheel in the group, and her insecurity about her place in the group and how she had nothing to “offer” the group was just so raw and unsettling that I couldn’t help but feel sad for her at times. I also like the way their group dynamics change and develop throughout the story, and as they discover more about each other.

The supernatural elements caught me off guard and I was just on edge as the characters were. The tension and fear were captured well, especially during the supernatural incidents in the first half of the book.

Maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of Julie Soto’s AO3 works, but Julian was definitely Draco Malfoy-coded and I am HERE for it. His morally grey behavior and balance between cruelty/kindness was just done so well that you can’t help but feel sympathy for him in the end. Seeing Jodi and Julien’s relationship progress throughout the story felt so natural. And with the way the epilogue ended, I NEED to know what happens to him! (Please give us a book 2!)

Thank you so much to Julie Soto, Macmillan Books, and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I wish this has been for me, but sadly it just didn't work for me. I'm not sure if maybe I've reached a point where YA doesn't work for me or if the book wasn't right. But the book just fell flat for me. I found myself wanting to skip which is never what you want when you're reading.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

THE THRASHERS by Julie Soto: A Haunting YA Masterpiece

Julie Soto's YA debut knocked the wind out of me. I devoured this twisted tale of elite high school cliques, deadly secrets, and supernatural vengeance in one breathless sitting.

The Thrashers follows Jodi Dillon, an outsider granted entry to New Helvetia High's most exclusive friend group through her childhood connection to Zack Thrasher. When Emily Mills—a girl desperate to join their ranks—dies, suspicious eyes turn to the Thrashers. As Emily's journal surfaces and eerie occurrences multiply, Jodi realizes the ghost of their past isn't finished with them.

What makes this story exceptional is how Soto transforms familiar YA elements into something profoundly unsettling. The psychological cat-and-mouse game kept me guessing until the final page, and that epilogue—I'm still processing it days later.

Key tropes that make this a must-read:

👑 Outsider trying to fit in
📓 Revealing journal/diary
👻 Supernatural/ghostly elements
🧩 Unreliable narrator
🔪 Psychological suspense
💀 Revenge from beyond
🌑 Dark past revealed
💣 Shocking epilogue

For fans of dark academia with supernatural elements and toxic friendships that cut like glass.