I'm completely obsessed with this book and with Julie Soto.

The Thrashers is Julie's first YA book, and a thriller, totally deviating from her previous steamy adult romances that I've loved. I tend to hesitate reading YA and I don't know why because I always enjoy it!

The Thrashers are a group of high school students who everyone wants to be a part of. Jodi Dillon somehow managed to be part of the group although she's pretty sure it's only because she has been best friends with Zack Thrasher, the group's namesake, since first grade. When classmate and Thrasher-wannabe Emily Mills commits suicide, the Thrashers find themselves in the middle of the investigation and Jodi has to decide whether to protect herself or betray her friends.

This is such a well-written story. The pacing was fantastic and the character development was so well done. This story has a touch of supernatural elements which I really think enhanced the story overall and made things more tense and a little spooky.

There are definitely some triggers for this story, including suicide, physical abuse, substance abuse, underage drinking, and others, so if you are sensitive to any of those, please look up trigger warnings before diving in.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the digital ARC. My review is honest and voluntary.

The drama! The suspense! The twists! I am completely obsessed with this and I promise you will be too. Lots of twisty games and not being sure who to trust made this such a thrilling, fast read.

I am pretty in awe of Julie Soto’s ability to write so many different genres: first romance, now YA thrillers, and I think I saw her fantasy debut in the not-so-distant future as well. She manages to tackle each, finding her niche within them, and I think she deserves kudos for that alone— it’s pretty remarkable.

As for The Thrashers, Soto’s young adult thriller debut, I don’t know why, but I chose to go into this one blind, and I think that helped me to enjoy it even more. I had zero idea that it involved the paranormal, and I really enjoyed that aspect. I must admit that a few times I found myself confused between the ghostly present and the actual past; however, I was able to work past that and just go along for the ride. And what a ride it is! This book is fast-paced and enthralling— I had no idea where it was going or what would happen next. There were fun twists and turns that kept me guessing and also made this story incredibly easy to binge.

Read if you like:
▪️paranormal thrillers
▪️fast paced reads
▪️ensemble casts
▪️friendship gone awry
▪️Kara Thomas

📆 Pubs: May 6, 2025

Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.

This was our April book club pick the moment we saw “read now”. I absolutely loved this book! YA typically isn’t my go to, so I wasn’t overly thrilled, but I have loved everything I’ve read by Julie Soto. And this did not change that. AND THAT EPILOGUE!

Think, Pretty Little Liars meets Thirteen Reasons Why. The writing was so well done and I absolutely loved the excerpts from Emily’s journal. This definitely had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Following a group of Highschool friends, also known as “The Thrashers”, but primarily Jodi who really doesn’t fit in with the rest of her wealthy friends. Tradegy strikes and… you’ll just have to read to find out.

I don’t want to give too much away, as I think this book is best going in blind. But I absolutely recommend.

Welcome to the Thrashers—New Helvetia High’s untouchable friend group. Julie Soto’s YA debut pulls readers into a world of wealth and secrets. Jodi, an outsider by nature, finds herself tangled in a web of obsession, manipulation, and guilt. When Emily, a girl desperate to be one of them, dies, whispers begin, Emily’s journal resurfaces, and eerie events suggest she’s not quite gone.

The book delivers plenty of high school drama, near death experiences, and tension, making for a fast paced read. The mystery and drama kept me intrigued. However, I was a little thrown off by the paranormal elements, which felt unexpected and slightly out of sync with the story’s initial setup. Still, if you’re looking for a twisty, dramatic YA thriller, The Trashers has plenty to offer. 3.5⭐️

In my eyes Julie Soto can do no wrong! Whenever she has a new book out it’s an immediate auto buy for me. I’ve read her other two books and LOVED them so I knew I would love this one too, but THAT ENDING???? JULIE THAT IS FOUL HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME AND WITH MY FAVORITE CHARACTER NO LESS. The amount of times this book has popped into my head for me to analyze has been waaay too many. For my first YA paranormal thriller/mystery I’d say my journey started out with a bang! I was invested the whole time I couldn’t put it down, I went through so many emotions and that ending.. phew..

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(Skipping a little just in case others might view the rest as a spoiler)

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I read this in like a day and a half I couldn’t stop. I expected a gone girl situation type thing from very early on, BUT I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT ENDING! I was expecting some sort of explanation for what had been happening, but never did I truly know what was going on. It’s been 10 days and I still think about it. Wondering and hoping and tbh i might just have to do a re-read to pick up the pieces I didn’t see the first time. Don’t get me wrong almost NONE of these characters are likable, and I mean NONE, but the way Julie writes had me on edge and had me rooting for a few of them (I know I shouldn’t but I couldn’t help swooning and screaming for the bare minimum they gave in this book. THEY ARE JUST A HURT COMPLEX CHARACTER I CAN’T HELP IT). But for me, as someone who doesn’t really read thriller/mystery this was a 10/10. I really enjoyed the journey, the heartbreak, the suspense and tbh I’m still hoping that one character in particular gets their karma, one can only hope (at least in my mind they do).

“Thrashers” starts slow but builds momentum, with enough twists and red herrings to keep things interesting. The reveal was underwhelming, and the final twist felt unnecessary. Still, I couldn’t put it down and would give it a solid five stars. I’ll definitely check out more from this author.

"It was called getting Thrashed. That's what the Thrashers did. Get too close, and you'll get Thrashed."

OMG this is exactly what I love about YA Thrillers. Perfectly paced tension and suspense, a really good mystery that keeps you guessing, and morally gray characters with a strong bond of friendship (sprinkled in with just the perfect amount of romance).

Jodi's group of friends are commonly referred to as The Thrashers, after her best friend Zack. Zack tends to pick up "strays", friends for the moment that he's enthralled by and who he just drops without warning to find another. It's left to his friends to try to help these strays figure out that they aren't a part of their 5 person friend group but just a moment friend for Zack. Many of their classmates are jealous of this group of friends and hate when they are iced out. But when someone Zack brought in only to drop again ends up dead, it's this group of 5 that are suddenly in the spotlight for bullying. But this group of friends don't understand the things the cops are saying they did, the photos that this girl has because - those moments never happened.

This was such a fun read. I loved this group of friends even as much as I found them spoiled and shallow at times. You are in Jodi's POV, the friend in the group that doesn't have the amazing looks and money - who's always felt like a bit of an outsider. I liked how she gave us this rose-colored look at her friends but had also known the dead girl the best.

It was twisty and a good heart-pounding suspense read and I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Such a gripping YA thriller debut! Julie Soto was already an aut0-buy author for me but this absolutely blew me away! I found myself loving the nostalgia that The Thrashers gave - such perfect pretty little liars vibes! I could not put this down!

Holy cow. This one was so fun and kept me on the edge o my seat guessing the entire time- it was thrilling, juicy, and even a little bit thought-provoking and sad? This proves that Julie Soto is queen and can write the heck out of any genre. As someone who LOVES a super unpredictable twist ending, this one filled my cup in the most fun, delicious way. I could not have predicted that ending and am so happy about it. I’m so glad I went into this one 100% blind.

I love a good YA thriller and this did not disappoint! I couldn’t put it down and honestly can’t stop thinking about. If you love a good thriller with the Elite high school drama, dead girl vibes, this book is for you!

The Thrashers is one of my new favorites! I was thrilled to receive an ARC and could not put it down. Jodi has been Zach’s best friend since second grade and has always been a part of his infamous friend group. They’re unofficially known as The Thrashers and getting thrashed means being socially eviscerated. When a girl in their high school takes her own life, it soon becomes clear that there is more to the story. Did Jodi or her friends somehow cause this?

The dynamics between the friends felt so realistic and intriguing. I enjoyed learning about the relationships between the friends and uncovering what really happened to Emily. The touch of the paranormal was delightfully creepy. Jodi’s relationships with the other friends, especially Julian, were compelling and complicated. I love that the characters are morally gray, yet also lovable. The ending was very satisfying and gave me chills. I hope there is either another book in the series or Soto revisists these characters at some point!

Julie Soto’s debut YA is triumphant and unputdownable. Readers who enjoy complex friendship dynamics, Riverdale, and a touch of the paranormal will devour The Thrashers.

Thank you to Julie Soto, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️
wowww Julie you truly ate with this one!!!
I usually find mystery/thrillers, especially YA ones, to be a hit or miss for me personally but dang this one was a for sure hit!

I've always known Julie to write romances/fantasy super well so l was super curious how she'd deviate her writing into a YA thriller. This one had me hooked from start to finish and I didn't want to put it down! I really don't want to give too much away plot wise because I went into it completely blind which i think was the way to go with this one!

I'm not sure if there's going to be any more books in continuation with the thrashers but best believe I will be sat for any new stories Julie decides to write and will be preordering immediately!

Is there ANY genre Julie can’t write?!

Think of the most delicious teen drama you watched growing up. Now imagine it was written by THE Julie Soto, with all the twists and turns, and characters that you can’t help but root for, even if you’re unsure you should.

The Thrashers is a paranormal (or is it?? 👀) thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat, questioning reality to the point that you can’t predict a single thing that happens next. 🤯

The characters shine so bright in this book. Jodi Dillon is my bb girl and I related *so* strongly to so many of her struggles. I want to wrap her in a warm hug and tell her everything’s going to be alright, but since I can’t, I’ll settle for a sequel with her and Julian, please 🥺🙏

Thank you so much Wednesday Books for the eARC!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

This was my first Julie Soto book and it won't be my last. I am a sucker for a YA paranormal book. Tie in the elite friend group and *chefs kiss*. Looking forward to more Julie Soto!

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).