I absolutely loved this book! The book starts with the suicide of Emily Mills and how a group called The Thrashers are accused of bulling her. We follow Jodie Dillon, the odd one out of the group as she tries to figure out what actually happened.

I went into this book thinking its a YA thriller and was surprised to see a few paranormal aspects. Once you start reading the book, it's almost impossible to keep the book down until you finish it. So, a word of caution to those who are going to read it, don’t start it if you have other important things to do. The story stays in your mind all the time, when you are half way through the book, and even long after the story is over. The ending was shocking and I hope there is a sequel to this. I simply didn't get enough of Julian & Jodi portions.

This is my first Julie Soto book and with this book she has managed to make me auto buy her books.

Must read for those enjoy YA thrillers that will keep you invested and wont let you stop the flipping pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and St-Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for a review.

Dark, twisty, and absolutely soaked in suspense— The Thrashers is not your soft, feel-good romance. It’s sharp-edged, high-stakes, and emotionally feral in the best possible way.

Julie Soto serves up obsession, power plays, and chemistry so intense it feels dangerous. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the mess—more secrets, more tension, more what is even happening right now energy.

The story keeps you guessing, the emotions hit hard, and by the time it’s over… you’re gonna need a minute.

And whatever you do—DO NOT skip the epilogue.

3.75-4⭐️
As a lover of Julie Soto’s romance novels, I was so excited for this book and see her take on a new demographic and genre! For this being her first YA and thriller, I think she did a fantastic job!! Her storytelling reminded me of so many YA thrillers that I loved like AGGTM series.

The Thrashers is a tension filled, suspenseful YA thriller surrounding the suicide of Emily Mills. The beginning prologue of this books immediately sucks you into the story and sets up the plot for the book. As the mystery surrounding Emily Mills suicide we follow The Thrashers, a group of popular HS kids who run the school but are riddled with secrets of their own.

We follow Jodi Dillon, our main character, as she finds herself trapped between her relationship with the rest of the Thrashers (Zach, Julian, Lucy, and Paige) and finding the truth about Emily Mills. Jodi was my favorite character in this book because she wasn’t like the others. She doesn’t come from money or power and deals with some sensitive issues at home with her father. Despite this, she was so fiercely loyal to her friends and I was rooting for her so hard throughout the whole book.

The plot/pacing did drag a bit in the middle as more details surrounding the case came out but it was still a fun gripping read! The big twist ending/reveal was a bit underwhelming and I guessed It about after halfway through. However, the last chapter and epilogue were absolute shocking and had me wishing there was more to read in the book!! The ending truly gave me goosebumps! I have no idea if Julie Soto is planning on returning to this world but after that ending I truly hope that she does because I want more!!

P.S. I am team Julian all the way and there is no debate!!! I need more Jodi/Julian scenes and interactions immediately!!

Thank you to St.Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of The Thrashers!

The Thrashers is a young adult thriller with some paranormal elements. A group of high school popular kids “the Thrashers” are suspected of pushing a fellow student to commit suicide after her journal is discovered, exposing a mountain of secrets and lies. No one can be trusted as our main character Jodie sorts through the lies to discover what really happened.

Julie Soto is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with a Thriller from her. It is young adult and the main characters are high school students, but the writing felt a little more YA than what I was expecting. Even with some heavier topics like suicide, parent loss, and drug and alcohol use, the writing felt immature at times. The story started off pretty slow as we are introduced to the characters, but about 1/3 of the way through I was pretty invested. Jodie digging into the mystery of what happened and the trail of breadcrumbs she was finding had me hooked. However, the ending fell very flat for me. I was waiting for a huge, mind blowing reveal and I just didn’t get that. I think I definitely would have liked this a lot more if I was closer in age to the characters!

I loved this book! Shows the turmoil, lies, and trust/distrust of high school cliques! 5 stars and honestly really hope there is a sequel. Emily Mills nobody forgets you!

✨ARC Review✨

5⭐ for The Thrashers by Julie Soto

I'll admit I was skeptical going into this one because while I loved Julie Soto's debut, I didn't love her second book so I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one. Well, I ate this up. This kept me turning pages in a frenzy, wondering what was real and what was not, wanting to know what would happen next. And that epilogue?! Wow did that throw me for a loop!

This had some very Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why vibes, and the intrigue surrounding Emily had me in a chokehold; I wanted to know what happened to her, and what the real story was. This was woven in a way that made Jodi an unreliable narrator at times, and I loved it! There were some supernatural vibes too that added to the overall creepy feeling, but not so bad that I couldn't sleep after reading it (I'm a total scaredy cat, so it was right on the edge for me tbh).

Read if you enjoy YA thrillers that will keep you flipping pages to find out how it all ends!

Thank you to Netgalley and St-Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

I loved this! A little long winded at times but I couldnt put it down.

I would liveeee if the author followed up with what happens with Jodie and Julian. I thought the characters were well written and realistic (having teens myself). May these type of friends never find my kids.

Thank you for the chance to read this early, when it releases, I must have the bookshelf trophy!

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley @wednesdaybooks and @macaudio for a copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

WOW. 10/10 no notes. This was un-putdownable! I am SO intrigued by this story. I loved reading this even though I couldn't read it at night because I'm a big scaredy cat. This is One of Us is Lying meets paranormal meets high school mystery. I loved Jodi and hearing the story from her perspective. I love how Soto unwraps the story bit by bit and makes different elements known to you at the right time. Apart from Jodi, my other favorite character was Julien.

Narration: The narrator did an EXCELLENT job portraying all of the suspense and emotions of the characters and I would absolutely listen again,

A sequel is not a want, it's a NEED.

This book was a VIBE!! I quite honestly could not put it down. Julie will forever be an auto buy author for me. Her writing just draws me in every single time and always leaves me wanting more. She could write post it notes and I would buy them.

This book reminded me so much of Pretty Little Liars. The secrets. The deception. The angst and banter. Sooooooo good. I was always suspicious of Ethan. When people are held on pedestals for so long they are bound to collect a few secrets. He was just too good. And the way everyone adored him…shady af. And the way Hannah was always there. Emily gave me such bad vibes. She was so obsessed with Jodi and I don’t understand why people didn’t question certain things more. But Jodi and Julian….ugh I loved them so much and need more.

This book was everything I needed and wanted it to be. The writing was fantastic. The story was engaging and flowed very well. I loved all of the characters and the growth we got to experience. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to read this early.

This was so unexpectedly fun! I really enjoyed it. My only critique is that it felt a bit too long, but otherwise had a blast.

I couldn’t put this book down! The suspense was gripping, and I loved the story and characters. The epilogue was a total shock, and now I’m hoping for more. Julie did an incredible job making every character feel real and complex, constantly keeping me on my toes about who to trust.

The prologue grabbed me right from the start, and I just couldn’t stop reading. The mystery had me hooked, and the mix of supernatural elements with real life drama made the story even more exciting. It was so much fun and kept me guessing the entire time!

4.25 stars!

Thank you for the ARC! I absolutely devoured this book. It consumed my every thought when I wasn’t reading and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time

I am going to keep this review spoiler free!

This was the first thriller I’ve read in a very long time, I typically read fantasy. That being said I had a fantastic time with this one. Julie Soto can truly do no wrong.

I enjoyed all the twists and turns The Thrashers took. It had me hooked from the very first page. I was trying to come up with my own theories in my head the entire time.

Overall, this book is a great time and would love to read a book 2!!

This book had the vibes of Pretty Little Liars, Heathers, and I Know What You Did Last Summer 👀😬🤭

I was sucked into The Thrashers SO FAST. I had a lot of trouble putting it down because I couldn't get enough of the crazy drama. I loved the high school setting and cool kids theme. The way the mystery and the plot escalated throughout the book was completely addictive.

There was definitely a bit of an unreliable narrator trope underlying all the drama and chaos especially at the beginning of the story. This worked really well because throughout the whole story you honestly can't be sure what's real and what's fake.

Even though there was some major angst and tons of secrets and lies, I was so into this friend group. I found all their dynamics to be fascinating and I even felt bad for some of the characters. I think Soto paints a great picture of Emily's character and while a lot of the story is devastating, I think a lot of us have met at least one Emily in our lives (I know I have).

This book is an emotional ride but I'm so glad I was along for it! I think it would be a fun book to discuss with a book club or a group of friends too - there is just so much to disect. I'm already thinking of reading The Thrashers again.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷

Holy crap!!!!’ This book was incredible! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down!

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is an intense story about high school relationships. Jodi is part of a group the school has dubbed The Thrashers after her friend Zach’s last name. Everyone wants to be them. When Emily commits suicide, everyone starts to blame them. Jodi has never felt completely comfortable in the group, as she feels she could be Thrashed, or booted out, at any time. However, as odd things start to happen to the friends, Jodi must confront her insecurities and figure out what really happened, while also confronting the demons in her own life

I felt the characters were very well written and the plot flowed at a perfect place. The story was suspenseful throughout, never stomping on the brakes. I found myself with a few small detail questions at the end of the story that did not impact my enjoyment of the book in any way. Rather, I can’t wait for my friends to read this book so we can discuss! I have loved all of Julie Soto’s books so far, and this is the best one yet!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was honestly a blast to read. I couldn’t stop once I started. The suspense had me hooked, and the supernatural twist added a really cool layer to the whole thing. The plot was gripping right from the prologue, and it just kept building. The writing style made everything flow so well, and the pacing felt just right. It was fast enough to keep me hooked but not overwhelming.

One thing I loved the most was the way high school life and friendship drama were portrayed. It felt super real, and I appreciated how all the characters had that morally gray edge. They kept hiding things from each other, which was frustrating, but in a way that actually made the story even more compelling. One detail that stood out was the use of the term “thrashed”. It hit hard, especially for Jodi’s character, and felt surprisingly relatable. I feel like so many people can relate to that fear of being “thrashed”.

Also, the subtle romance between Jodi and Julian was a nice touch. It didn’t overpower the main story but added just enough emotional depth. I genuinely hope there’s a sequel because that ending left me wanting more. If you’re into fast-paced reads with mystery, supernatural elements, and complex characters, this one’s totally worth checking out.

4.5 stars

I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I will literally read Julie Soto's grocery list because I'm that confident she's gonna write something I will love.

Part thriller/part ghost story/part CW high school drama, The Thrashers kept me riveted! The pacing was perfect, the characters more than their exteriors, and Thrasher turned amateur sleuth, Jodi Dillon, is determined to figure out the mysterious death of Emily Mills and if she and her friends were the cause of it, whether it loses her her friends or not.

I was never bored, always ready to read more, and I have to be honest, some scenes were really kind of creepy as the reader tries to figure out if there is a paranormal aspect at play or just wild coincidence. There is a lot of high school social hierarchy discussions. The Thrashers are the popular kids, everyone wants to be them, but no one wants to get Thrashed, which is the term the school comes up with for the kids who get dropped from the group, used and abused for entertainment. I think the author did well by the story, having important conversations, but also showing that these are kids, kids who maybe are playing by rules with consequences they aren't prepared to deal with. There was some light romance even (which she knows, people are going to jump on and want more of, haha, and I have to agree!)

Overall, really enjoyable. Highly recommend for those fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

Absolutely phenomenal read! Couldn’t put it down…Julie Soto perfectly captures the dynamics of high school friend groups in this YA thriller. She has us alternatively rooting for these teens and then hating them. Kept me guessing until the totally satisfying epilogue..

Now, I need more! Please tell me there’s a sequel coming!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Julie Soto for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this “13 Reasons Why” meets paranormal novel, Soto makes you fall in love with the characters so you cannot put it down! Perspective is everything, and Soto has you questioning until the very end. The main character was extremely relatable and I found myself thinking about my own friend group and some of the same questions that came up. Quick read, great pace, never bored, finished in a day!