This YA thriller kept me at the edge of my seat from start to finish! I liked how it had plenty of relatable high school elements, from feeling insecure and wanting to fit in to navigating friendships and crushes, and the focus on the popular clique made it really interesting too. I was definitely creeped out by some of the supernatural incidents and the way freak accidents kept happening. I loved how every question I had was answered by the ending, and it was all so surprising and satisfying. Definitely recommend!

What was that epilogue?!? I’m so confused. There were a lot of really interesting and good things I liked and then there were some unnecessary parts in my opinion. But as always Julie Soto’s writing is fantastic.

2.75 stars.

I didn’t love this. I feel like Julie Soto should stick to romances. I’m sorry, I said what I said.

There was absolutely nothing thrilling about this “thriller”. I felt no suspense or need to keep flipping pages to find out what happens next. I hated all the characters, they were just so bland and one-dimensional and I just didn’t care what happened to them honestly.
I am partly to blame for the reason why I didn’t like this book. I really dislike the presence of supernatural in a crime/ thriller. It’s a “cheap” way to write a thriller. The ending was predictable and I’m just disappointed because I have really liked Soto’s books in the past.

Will I read another Julie Soto book? Absolutely, I loved her romance novels but thrillers, no.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/ Wednesday books for this e-arc in exchange for a review

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is a young adult thriller following a group of friends, who are the most popular group at school, and how that group falls apart when a character adjacent to the group dies.

I think this book will be an easy pick up for fans of Holly Jackson & 13 Reasons Why. This is Julie’s first young adult & thriller novel, so it’s definitely a left turn if you’re expecting another sweet romance from her.

As a fan of Julie Soto, she continues to deliver characters that are easy to love and are extremely relatable. I was such a fan of the main character, Jodi, throughout the book. I think she was a great vessel to tell this story.

One thing I struggled with throughout the book was the point of view, sometimes the specification of “she” instead of just using I was confusing for me. I am a regular with a third person books but for some reason this was challenging at points.

While I enjoyed reading the book, it got to a point where I just feel like the plot was so messy and not in a way I liked. I find it hard to put to words other than just saying “messy” honestly. This book has so many twists and turns that it will keep you turning the page though.

Overall, I liked reading the book. I would absolutely read another thriller or young adult book from Julie Soto, but this book didn’t hit my expectations for that genre.

Thanks so much to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is simply astounding. Julia Soto has crafted so much more than a YA thriller here (although what a thrilling YA novel it is!). At it's core, The Thrashers depicts the toxicity that is seemingly only possible when you are in a teenage friend group. As a school counselor, I found this book uncomfortably relatable (and loved every minute of it).

Told through the perspective of Jodi, a high school student in a friend group of popular students known as "the Thrashers" as they are all friends with, and in love with, Jodi's childhood best friend Zack Thrasher. The group made up of 2 boys and 3 girls, including Jodi, seems absolutely impossible to penetrate. Think "NO NEW FRIENDS" vibes. When a new student, Emily, dies by suicide. the Thrashers find themselves in the spotlight of a bullying investigation. Did Emily kill herself because she could not join this exclusive crew?

This book will resonate with readers of all ages, and is probably one of the most perfect YA novels I have ever read in the way that it depicts teenage relationships, teenage cruelty, and the nuance that covers everything around teenage lives that revolve around social status and social media. This is a timely novel that you will NOT put down until you finish. It is so intensely thrilling and mysterious, while also relatable (who hasn't had some toxic friends?). Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Soto for the ARC!

Thank you for the arc!

Was not a fan of this book or any of the characters. I just couldn’t get into it but also wanted to finish it just in case there were some redeeming qualities at the end but no. I can get into YA but this one just hard miss.

I usually love Julie Soto books but this one fell short.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this ARC!

The Thrashers follows this group of friends called "The Thrashers" after wanna-be member Emily Miller dies on prom night. Everyone says its the Thrashers who killed her...

Jodi is the outlier of the group she's quiet, doesn't drink and isn't rich unlike Julian, Lucy, Paige and Zach. But they are THE clique of the high school and everyone wants to be friends with them, including Emily. But after a tragic prom night the Thrashers are under scrutiny for what happened or what didn't happen. Not only is this a mystery with some high stakes but also it has some paranormal vibes.

I LOVED THIS. I'm normally not a big mystery reader, and especially YA, but this was great. Julie Soto knows how to build suspense and throw plot twists that you can't see coming. Every character has their flaws, but that is what kept me interesting. There is a small subplot of romance which was very unexpected and it was giving Gossip Girl vibes. The ending was definitely a twist and the epilogue was jaw dropping. I'm hoping we get a sequel...

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s publishing group for the ARC.

The Thrashers is a part high school drama part supernatural thriller, and it’s EVERYTHING I love in a book. The characters are all likable and flawed in their own unique ways. The mystery of it played a central role but was by no means the only storyline worth following. The side relationships between Jodi and her dad, the relationships between her and each individual Thrasher, and her blossoming relationships with new (and old) friends all kept me wanting to know more.

Julie does an incredible job portraying the vulnerability of youth and how much the need to belong somewhere drives our lives and motivates our choices. Her portrayal of the lengths Emily, Jodi and the other Thrashers will go to in order to fit in and feel accepted and loved, along with the way the little voice in our heads telling us we don’t belong, was both powerful and chilling.

I read this because I love Julie Soto’s Rights and Wrongs series. I will admit that the first few chapters took a little while to hook me, but once they did there was no putting this book down. I honestly couldn’t predict the ending, and I truly don’t have a bad thing to say about this book.

I hope there is a sequel from a different POV, maybe Julian or Emily. Thank you, Julie, for introducing us to The Thrashers!!

A HUGE thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read this novel.

Wow.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Julie FREAKING Soto, you are my hero. The Thrashers is the BEST book I've read this year, and I'm not sure any will top it. The suspense, the paranormal touches, the story line, the characters. Pure perfection.

I need to discuss this with someone. I can't wait until it comes out so I can discuss with the bookish community!

30847638975432097593/5 stars. Unfortunately rounded down to 5 stars.

It’s official, I have loved everything I’ve ever read by Miss Soto (fanfic included). While this was SO different from her adult works, it kept me HOOKED just as her writing always does!

The Thrashers is quick, easy to read, and constantly had me guessing what was really going on. The only real reason I docked a star was for the prose itself - this book stuck out to me as a less-sophisticated writing style than her other works (see an example above).

I applaud Soto for trying something new with a mystery/thriller vibe and for diving into YA. I definitely prefer her adult romance novels, but DAMN will I continue to read anything she writes in the future 🫶🏻

⚠️ PLEASE note content warnings before reading: discussion of child abuse, suicide, overdose, and more.

Huge thanks to Julie Soto, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not expect to love this YA thriller as much as I did!!

This was dark and spooky and twisted and I loved it! It was feeling a little 13 Reasons Why and also Final Destination in a way. I also always enjoy some rich people problems lol.

This was my first Julie Soto book and I really enjoyed her bingeable writing and the suspense of it all!! Definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book!

Jodi Dillon isn't like the rest of her friends: Julian, Lucy, Paige, and Zack Thrasher. They're all rich and beloved, but no one is more loved than Zack, the namesake of the clique and the ultimate golden boy. When Emily Mills, a desperate girl obsessed with being one of them, dies, the Thrasher find themselves at the center of the investigation. Did they cause Emily's death? Do they ruin people's lives? As detectives gather evidence against the Thrashers, Jodi is left wondering whether she and her friends are the good people they think they are. All Jodi knows for sure is that even from beyond the grave, Emily will not leave the Thrashers alone.

The Thrashers is not what I expected. Julie Soto does such a good job of making you fall in love with these characters. You read about how much they care about each other, so you do care about them (well, one you know is more fake I think right away). But they are all being haunted by the death of Emily Mills, whose death casts them in a negative light for what feels like the first time. Unable to escape the situation with their money and connections, the Thrashers have nowhere to turn. But this isn't a cut and dry bullying case. Emily isn't the likable victim. She has done things herself. Reading the close third person POV of Jodi, you understand the internal struggle and eventual realization that everyone in the situation may have been wrong to some degree.

Please, please, please don't sleep on this book! Incredible ending (I need a sequel to dive deeper into the story). Nuanced characters. No one is black and white. Every one of them lives in the gray in some way. If you liked Summer's Edge by Dana Mele or We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, you'll love Julie Soto's writing. Don't waste time. Be one of the first to pick up The Thrashers on May 6.

Um, hello?? This was my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it! This story was so captivating and fast paced, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the plot was super intriguing. I totally recommend it, and now I need to read more of her books!

3/5 ⭐️, 0/5 🌶️, 0/5💧

🛀 YA Thriller / Mystery
🛀 High School - In Crowd
🛀 Insecurities of Belonging
🛀 Bullying?
🛀 Third Person

I love Julie Soto and her writing, so I wanted to give this book a read. Unfortunately, it was too juvenile and repetitive for me to buy in and get hooked. Perhaps if this is a genre that you enjoy, it may be a better fit for you.

Although I enjoy thrillers and YA, there are some young adult books that are too young for me to be able to relate to and enjoy - this happened to all into that category. I could not buy into the rationale behind the decisions or care. I also thought the ending was grossly unfair and was very unsatisfied with it - I guess such is life.

What I did love: the insecurities of belonging was very well done, and the secondary thread of a love story was actually what kept me going with this book when nothing else really interested me.

If you like hierarchies in high school, with strong internal struggles, this would be a good fit for you.

i’m in love. julie knocked it out the park. this is my newest personality trait. her writing style is just to easy to read. it’s always so incredibly hard to put down her books. i’m obsessed. i will read anything she writes.

Absolutely addictive. I NEED THE SEQUEL. EVERYONE PREORDER THE THRASHERS and give me peace with the publisher supporting a sequel. Highly recommend if you like the Heathers, Breakfast Club, Clueless etc, it’s very 90s high school thriller mixed with high school coming of age YA, I think the characters had more depth than what was in the movies I mentioned and there’s a paranormal spin to it! I was surprised that they were actually friends. Yes, they were the popular kids and they were mean to others. But they genuinely did care about one another and actively spent time together even when it was detrimental for them to.

Consider me the #1 Julian Hollister apologist. I know he's a bad guy and Jodi is definitely the best of that group but he's the best version of himself with her! Honestly, I think they all are. Zack wasn't their glue, Jodi was.

I absolutely love Julie Soto. Her romance books are absolutely fantastic (I still think about Not Another Love Song since i’ve read it). Due to my love for her other stories, I have to say I was so excited to read her new thriller, The Thrashers, and it did not disappoint. Usually thrillers are hit or miss for me. I rarely find myself loving them, however this one surpassed all expectations.

The thrashers is a popular group of high schoolers who are not known for being welcoming to others. Even within their own group tension is thick. I honestly really enjoyed their dynamic. It was interesting to see how everyone interacted with each other as a group and how they interacted with outsiders like Emily. This story had it all. I was not planning on finishing this in one sitting however I absolutely could not put this down. The paranormal aspects were honestly very suspenseful and added so much to the story. I say that as someone who doesn’t normally enjoy paranormal books. Of course the hopeless romantic in my absolutely loved the small pieces of developing romance that I saw in this. I was giddy as heck during some of these chapters despite the intense situations these friends found themselves in.

So yeah, this book made me laugh, it made me sad, it made me giddy, it gave me anxiety, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions. That to me is telling to how good this story is. Overall, I absolutely adore this book and based on the ending, it opens up the door for more stories, and I just absolutely cannot wait to read those. I think this solidifies Julie Soto as one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read what else she puts out.

Blurb:
The Thrashers are New Helvetia High’s elite—and everyone wants a place in their orbit. And Jodi Dillon? She’s in. Kind of. Jodi’s not like Julian, Lucy, Paige, or Zack Thrasher, her longtime best friend and the school’s golden boy. They’re rich, sophisticated, and live for the spotlight. Jodi doesn’t fit, but thanks to Zack, she’s part of the circle.

When Emily Mills, once desperate to be one of them, turns up dead. The whispers begin and the Thrashers’ perfect image starts to splinter. Emily’s journal has resurfaced, and with it, a slow unraveling. The detectives close in and Jodi faces an impossible decision: betray her friends or protect herself. But as eerie, intimate messages and strange occurrences escalate, one thing becomes clear, Emily may be gone but she is not finished.
~~~~~
Julie Soto could write in any genre, and I’d read it without hesitation… so I did—in under 24 hours.

I loved Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song, but Julie’s debut YA psychological thriller completely blew me away. The mystery around Emily’s death kept me constantly second-guessing, and the unexpected paranormal elements added an extra layer of shock.

The pacing is measured in the best way, with tension slowly building and snippets from Emily’s journal woven throughout. Those glimpses into her thoughts and motivations were both chilling and deeply effective. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a plot twist would land hard. More than once, I caught myself thinking, “Um… what just happened?”. I could not put this book down.

The epilogue was absolutely chilling and jaw-dropping. Don’t let the YA label fool you because the story lingers long after the final page. I’m still thinking about it a week later.

I wouldn’t be mad about a sequel (especially after that final twist). There are still threads left to explore based on some lingering questions, eerie undercurrents, and an intriguing romantic subplot. A full-cast, dramatized audiobook would be perfect for this story with the journal entries, the tension, and twists.

Julie handles intense and sensitive topics with care, but I recommend checking content warnings before reading if needed.
⚠️ CWs include teen suicide, domestic violence, bullying, obsession/stalking, body shaming, and teen discussion of sex/statutory rape.

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

DNF at 8%

Interesting premise, and the writing was fine, but I think I'm burned out on the elite, popular kids being investigated because someone died. Accidentally read a spoiler-y review and decided I didn't need to finish this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Loved it - already a huge fan of Julie sotos books so I was psyched to read this.

I loved the mystery surrounding the “Thrashers” and the toxic outcomes of placing people on pedestals, especially around this group of friends that everyone seems to be obsessed with.