This book was gripping! I wasn’t sure how it would go at the start but once the first bizarre events started happening I was hooked. I really enjoyed the end of this book. I liked how things wrapped up and even though it wasn’t happy for everyone I wasn’t unhappy for anyone.

The epilogue left me with so many questions and made me want to do a re-read. Will there be a sequel?

It was an interesting book but very teenagy/high schoolish. It’s YA so I guess that demographic would relate. As an adult I did not. I liked the mystery and the paranormal aspects of it. I still love Julie Soto’s writing

I will officially read anything that Julie Soto writes! This was an intensely bingeable young adult mystery, that was also full of heart. It had the perfect mix of intrigue, heart, and character growth with just a dash of romance. Once I hit the 50% mark, I could not put it down.

“There was a word for it. […] It was called being Thrashed. That’s what the Thrashers did. Get too close, and you’ll get Thrashed.”

Wow! I was extremely surprised with how much I loved The Thrashers by Julie Soto. I don’t read thrillers, they aren’t really my cup of tea, but I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Julie Soto, so I knew I had to get my hands on this one! I also kept seeing so much buzz around it, so when I got my hands on an eARC I dove right in!

This was a total ride, a YA cautionary tale of a group of popular kids who are being accused of bullying a girl into committing suicide. Jodi, Zack, Paige, Lucy, and Julian are the “Thrashers” and everyone has tried to join their group at one point or another, but no one has been able to remain part of their group for long. These kids are tight knit and we slowly get to know them through Jodi’s eyes. Jodi has always felt like an outsider in the group, but she’s known Zack Thrasher since they were in 2nd grade and they’ve been best friends ever since, hence her being part of the group. When the police start investigating the Thrashers for the death of Emily Mills, a girl who wanted to be part of their group, secrets are uncovered and loyalties are tested - Jodi starts to doubt if she really knows who her friends are.

This book had me guessing and doubting my theories a few times, and although I did guess the outcome at one point, I still doubted myself ‘til the very end. And just when I thought everything was somewhat tied up (there are a few unanswered questions and I’m hoping this is an opening for a possible sequel *fingers crossed*) Julie drops a rather revealing epilogue. I need more!

If you enjoy thrillers, somewhat in the lines of Pretty Little Liars (because that’s all I can compare it to :D), a book that will keep you turning pages, and morally grey characters, then I highly recommend you pick up The Thrashers by Julie Soto!

TW/CW: <Please be kind to your mind and heart and take note of the trigger and content warning for this one. This story mentions and deals with suicide, bullying, alcohol and drug use, body dysmorphia, violence, references to rape, among other strong themes. Please check the authors website for a full list of TW/CW.

“I think I could be her if I tried.”


*Thank you St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC for review via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.*

4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💫

The night I died was suppose to be my prom night.

The Thrashers is a YA Thriller standalone following a teenage girl and the fallout of her friend group being accused of harrassment and bullying that led to the suicide of a fellow classmate. Written in third person POV (with two odd chapters breaking away from Jodi), the story takes places months after the death of Emily Gills, a fellow student and a friend-ish of Jodi. Recent information has given new light into her suicide and now the Thrashers are in the spotlight.

See the Thrashers are a tight knit group of cool and aloof teenagers who have a reputation. Jodi has always struggled to feel a part of the Thrashers but being friends with Zack Thrasher since second grade has meant, despite her lack of riches and sophistication, she's been in with them. It becomes clear that her friends have been keeping secrets from her and the detectives are giving Jodi very little choice - she either must betray her friends or protect herself. Add in strange occurrences it appears Emily is far from done with the Thrashers...but what harm can a dead girl really do?

I devoured this book late into the night and had regrets.

Jodi represents a lot of the insecurities I feel teenagers have - Do they really fit it? Are their friends keeping things from them? What does their future have in hold for them? She has been forced to grow up in some ways thanks to her father and mother but in other ways she is vulnerable and I found it incredibly moving to see her having to confront those feelings. She is a good kid who gets caught up in something so much bigger.

Zack, Julien, Lucy, and Paige are a group of kids. They are incredibly flawed but there are these pieces to them that drew me in and made me feel for them. They make mistakes, they say the wrong things, but their actions reveal that despite all the facades they really care for Jodi and each other.

Just noting there is no spice in this book for those curious. There is a glimmer of something akin to romance but it doesn't go anywhere.

The story itself is an investigation as Jodi seeks to find answers for what is going on. She also faces the growing change within her friend group brought on by the stress of the criminal investigations. I liked the reveals and the twists and turns. I felt for Jodi as each new thing shook her core and made her examine everything she knew. I especially loved that despite this distance and questioning I could still see the friendship and love. Emily's character is challenging throughout and I appreciated that she isn't so easy to categorize. Each character challenges this idea of labelling teens and I loved that. There is also a touch of something other but you will have to wait and see. I felt the ending was apropos and also made me wish there would be more.

Overall, if you read and loved One of Us is Lying then The Thrashers is a book you will definitely want to pick up!

Thank you Wednesday Books for this arc!

Emily wants to be a Thrasher, an elite friend group at New Helvetia High. She dies and her journal surfaces... Jodi is one of the Thrashers because she is best friends with Zack. Will Jodi betray her friends or herself?

A terrific suspense. Lots of fun... All the characters are compelling. Great plot and there's no boring parts. The romance is swoony.... And the ending.... wow... what a twist and what surprises.... I feel like the story isn't fully ended... I am hoping for more stories about Jodi... I do like Julien too. He's not a bad character... gray and not as bad as initially thought.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

4.5⭐️ Definitely kept me on my toes wondering if my suspicions were correct. I was not. Lots of suspense and great pacing that kept things moving so you won’t be bored. Very much Pretty Little Liars vibes.

Jodi doesn’t understand. How could her friends be accused of involvement with Emily’s suicide. They didn’t want Emily around but not to that point. But Emily had a journal that is saying all kinds of incriminating things. Too bad they can’t find her phone. Jodi and her friends, The Thrashers, were known to have no openings for new people in their group. So what really happened that cause Emily to do this. And why is everyone having strange accidents that seem like someone what’s them dead.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @juliesotowrites for allowing me to have an advanced reader copy.

This novel started out quite strong, and I can see where teens would find the book interesting, There was a definite creepiness to it, that makes it uncomfortable to read in a really good way.

Julie Soto is officially an auto-read for me. Whatever she writes, I will devour. The Thrashes was such a fun, thriller mystery. I wouldn't say it was predictable because there was just SO much to the story.

It wasn't just wanting to find out what happened between Jodi, her friend group and Emily but also wanting to know what it was like to be among the Thrashers. Soto was great at showing and not telling you what their friendship is like.

I will not be surprised if The Thrashers gets the Hollywood TV Series treatment. I really hope it does. This was such a good read! Had me hooked from the beginning I didn't even try to guess the twists and turns. I just let the story take me where it was going. If there is room for a second book to The Thrashers I WILL be the first in line to get a copy. You will not be disappointed. Thank you, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and Julie Soto for the opportunity to read The Thrashers in advance for an honest review.

Miss Julie Soto what did you put in this book? I will probably not stop thinking about this story for a year. Or more. These characters were literally addicting to read about, and I can only imagine there's so much more depth to their behaviors. The pacing was great, language was strong and heavy topics were written gracefully. I super appreciate and loved Julie's tender approach to topics such as abuse and bullying. THRASHERS FOREVER

This book gives off major 13 Reasons Why vibes to me! The narrators were perfection and made the mysterious vibes of the book so enjoyable. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into going into this book - admittedly I got this book as a read now on NetGalley. However, I found myself so engrossed in it and never wanting to put it down. It was easy to follow the story line and the connections between all of the characters. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a mystery with a touch of supernatural and a friend group dynamics. Thank you to author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted ALC and eARC. All opinions are my own.

this was so good!!!! i love a fun thriller and julie soto killed this. i swear this woman can write bangers in every single genre? i didn’t want to put this book down, i was so captivated. when she marketed this as veronica mars vibes i knew i was going to love it and she 1000000% delivered! please let us have more stories in the world of the thrashers!

i honestly wasn’t sure where this was going at any given point. i kept switching back and forth between thinking emily was crazy and the thrashers were villains (my final opinion is that emily IS crazy + at least zack and paige ARE villains). i loved reading this through jodi’s POV and, like her, feeling pushed and pulled in so many different directions. the guessing game was so fun for me, but i can’t imagine it when it’s your LIFE.

julian hollister?! i’m so sorry yall i LOOOOVE him. that is one fine morally gray man and i am so here for it. i had such a switch up on feelings for him. i hated him so bad at the beginning but by 50% in i was locked in. that man deserves LOVE! and to surely nobody’s surprise, i am a julian+jodi endgame supporter. GIVE US THE HAPPY COUPLE! but yeah i loved that in reality julian cared so much for jodi and repeatedly did everything for her. he just wanted to protect her! free that man!

This book was so good, so much fun and entertaining! I could hardly put it down! It’s incredibly fast-paced and dynamic. I couldn’t stop reading it! 😝 It’s an excellent young adult thriller!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks so much for the gifted ARC!!

Oh. Em. Geeeee. I DEVOURED this. I have loved Soto's romances, so l was so excited to give her debut YA thriller a try. Let's just say I'm convinced Julie Soto could write about anything and it would be amazing
This thriller is very Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why, with a touch of paranormal. An elite friend group/clique called the "thrashers" is under investigation and scrutiny after an incriminating journal of recently deceased Emily Mills (a wannabe thrasher) winds up in the hands of the police. As things unravel and the investigation progresses, strange and eerie things are happening to the thrashers. Was there more to Emily's death? I was questioning everyone and everything the whole time, I couldn't put it down!
Rating: 4.5
This book did contain some heavier topics, check TWs

I just know that early 2010's CW would be salivating over this IP. When I saw that one of my favorite romance authors was going to be dipping her author quill into the YA Thriller genre I was intrigued. This isn't a genre that I've read a ton of, even when I was a teen myself. I had no idea what I was signing up for when I downloaded The Thrashers. This book had me hooked from the very first page. The characters are so distinct and relatable. While 'Teenaged Sarah' had very little in common with the character Jodi Dillon's family life or friend group dynamics, the running theme of 'Is everyone just pretending to like me?' and 'Are my friends hanging out without me?' really resonated with me. This book and me laughing, crying and gasping at every twist and turn.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and Julie Soto for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so surprisingly great! Not surprising that Julie Soto wrote an amazing book, but amazing that I enjoyed it so much when it’s not my usual read. I haven’t read many of these high school thriller types since they became popular several years back, but I have to say I enjoyed it so much more with a supernatural twist!

I was hooked on every word, the characters had so much depth and nuance they seemed real to me. They’re stuck in my head, I want to keep reading and I’m so hoping there will be a sequel to this because I need more Julian!!!

I honestly can’t say enough how much I enjoyed and loved this book!

To say I couldn't put this book down is a huge understatement. This book CONSUMED me from the moment I started it, to a day later when I finished it. I don't even consider myself a fan of YA thrillers...and yet! Julie Soto just has a way with characters that pulls me in. I would liken this book to 13 Reasons Why meets Veronica Mars. Jodi is our main pov character and I immediately latched on to her. She is a member of The Thrashers, the popular clique at school led by the handsome and popular Zack. I really liked Jodi. She felt like a fully realized high school student to me. She has her group of friends but is insecure and constantly wonders why they would be friends with her, are they hanging out without her, what are they really thinking. That feeling permeates this book that deals with bullying and all the most horrifying things you can think of when you think of teenage kids.

Soto does a great job of making this a veritable page turner while making you care about all of the characters while constantly second guessing all of them. And it wouldn't be a Soto book without a bit of romance thrown in. This book is for all the Logan Echolls girlies out there. I think this would be a great book to read when you are in a slump because I can almost guarantee this will have you on the edge of your seat. I would take a look at some of the content warnings and be mindful of the themes because this book does get dark. But in terms of a good story, Soto completely delivers.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Julie Soto, NetGalley, and Wednesday Books for the ARC of The Thrashers! Julie Soto is one of my favorite authors so I was ecstatic to receive a copy of her debut YA book, which is suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book and couldn’t wait for release day so I could get my friends to read it and talk about it with me!
 
The Thrashers, a friend group consisting of our main character Jodi, her best friend and uber-popular Zack Thrasher, and Zack’s other best friends Julian, Lucy and Paige, come under fire from both police and their fellow high schoolers when wannabe Thrasher (and sophomore) Emily unalives herself on prom night of their junior year. Rumors start spreading that Emily had been bullied by the group and “Thrashed,” or kicked out like so many others before her. When the police get involved after Emily’s diary is found containing some concerning information about the group, Jodi starts to wonder who she can trust. Feeling like the outside of the group, who can she turn to with all of these now unanswered questions about what really happened to Emily? And is Emily hanging around to haunt them for what they did to her when she was alive?
 
I finished this incredible book in one setting and the epilogue may have even set up a sequel. If so, I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT. Julie Soto has cemented herself as an auto-buy author. She’s never let me down with her adult books and now her first YA book. I can’t wait to keep reading her books as soon as they release!

“ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ ɪ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ.”

I cannot stop thinking about this book. It is eating me up! ! The twists, the turns, the fact that even though the FMC is the “good” one she’s still an asshole. I mean its everything I would want in a YA book. Don’t give me the perfect teenager. They don’t exist. I really appreciated Jodi’s character arc through this book. She really starts to sort out what she wants from her people pleasing nature. As a people pleaser I love to see it, I also liked that this book showed that you can be a pushover with the people you care about and still be strong to those you don’t or who are outside of your circle. Jodi was the epitome of that, she wouldn’t go against The Thrashers, except for Julian. She did stand up for her friends and she would also stand up TO Julian.

I am stunned at the way Julie Soto wrote these characters. Jodi was a pretty unreliable narrator at first, there were alot of things she didn’t know that color the way she views her friends.

I really really enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed EVERYTHING by @juliesotowrites

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for a copy of this book! I recommend it for anyone who likes thrillers, mysteries, and YA.

When high school sophomore Emily Mills takes her own life on prom night, the investigation as to why turns all eyes towards a group of five teens known as the Thrashers and what role they might have played in her death. The Thrashers claim their innocence and soon the investigation must determine how much truth there is to the claims and how many secrets there are to uncover.

The Thrashers, composed of Lucy, Paige, Jodi, Jullian and Zach is the “it group” in high school. Everyone wants to join but you will never get in and even if you get a taste, you will eventually end up getting thrashed, aka kicked out. As the story progresses you soon realize they are not as tight knit as they appeared to everyone else and as the truths start to come out it becomes apparent that there are fractures within the group.

The narrator, Jodi, was the nicest and most patient thrasher and while she tolerated Emily, she didn’t particularly like her. Emily was intense and a little odd. She would invite herself to things and was really clingy. She also twisted stories to fit her narrative and kept a diary that was not always accurate. So that begs the question if Emily was really all that innocent? Jodi sets out to figure out what’s the truth about these claims and what’s fabricated.

This was a little paranormal, little misdirection, little mystery and a lot of enjoyment and excitement. With a very morally great cast of characters, you never really know who to root for.
Very fast paced and while I didn’t love the ending (are we getting a sequel?), it was overall a very fun YA paranormal mystery.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.