The Thrashers is probably my favorite book so far this year. I've been in such a slump (and busy) so this was much needed. I struggled to put it down.

It's really hard to like anyone from this book. Jodi was probably the best person. I thought this would just be a murder mystery, but it ended up with a lot of haunting/spooky moments. I loved that part because it made it feel more unique compared to the typical ya thriller. The characters were interesting even the ones I didn't like. Julie Soto pulls me into her characters a lot. I wasn't sure if that would happen with her ya, but it did. I found myself caring and wanting good things for them. Please watch for trigger warnings though. Especially talk of statutory rape, bullying, drugs, and suicide.

I gave this book 5 stars. Julie Soto is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for my earc.

I was really excited to read a new book by Julie Soto, especially one that was in a different genre! I absolutely loved both of her romance books so I was really excited to see what she could do with a thriller, and it didn't disappoint! Her writing style sucked me in immediately and I couldn't put it down, very similar to her romances. I did think overall the story was a little young, but that's expected with a YA thriller and I think it was done really well. It kept me guessing and entertained throughout the whole thing, and this just solidified that I'll read anything she writes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this eARC!

Julie Soto’s first YA thriller, and she knocked it out of the park!

This book was such a roller coaster of making you suspect, each person in the friend group, but then still feeling like something is missing. This “suicide” is not all that it seems and the police dig deeper into the group of friends to uncover the real truth.

Definitely worth a read! Team Julian all the way! 😍

Alright, I'm definitely going to need a sequel for this one.

I was hooked by the prologue and ended up reading this book entirely in one sitting! I'd been feeling a little burned out by thrillers and I feel like this one really renewed my interest in them. Julie Soto can apparently just pick any genre she wants and write a great story.

The writing was great and the pacing was fast for the most part. It did start to drag a bit in the middle before picking up steam again at the end. I almost felt like the pacing at the end was a little too quick, which kept me from giving it 5 stars. There were a couple plot points at the end that kind of took me out of the story a bit, but the epilogue really made me want to read more!

I would for sure recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers or wants to try out the genre.

this one was fun!

i did find Jodi a bit insufferable, but she is seventeen and i am twenty seven so...older and wiser i suppose. i also did hate the ending and think with the current state of the world (i picked this specific read as a form of escapism) it would have been better to just skip the last chapter. but alas, sometimes we need books to point out exactly what is wrong with the world and the justice system. i don't think it necessarily did that well, but it was a bit of a plot twist that i think others would find enjoyable and out of left field.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Emily has committed suicide and her group of “friends” are investigated for bullying her. This story follows those friends, particularly Jodi, and what led to Emily’s death. This story gives MAJOR 13 Reasons Why vibes, so if that book wasn’t for you then this won’t be either.

Was Emily bullied? Were the entries in her journal true? Did Emily even really kill herself? There were a lot of questions through the book and the end wraps them all up in a nice bow. It was a good story, but not as memorable as 13RW.

WOW, okay, so I guess Julie Soto can just pick up any genre and be fantastic at writing it? This is her first YA thriller, and it was fantastic, give me 17 more.

Like damn, this book had me in its grip and would not let up (not unlike a certain Emily)!
It was tense and dramatic and thrilling and a little spooky. Not to mention the fact that everyone is kind of terrible, and yet I can't help but love them all the same (not you though, Zack. ew). Julian IS horrible but fantastic and I love him, no notes.

The friend group dynamics were so well done - the constant evaluating and calculating of social standing in the group vs how that reflects on how you're feeling about yourself in the moment; constantly comparing yourself to your friends and feeling like you're always on the outside looking in on the group, scrabbling to find your place. I thought the social/high school aspects were really well done, as was the commentary on class divides and privilege.

I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I started it. and that epilogue????? Julie Soto you madwoman.

A L C / A R C • R E V I E W
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Title: The Thrashers
Author: Julie Soto
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 5/6
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The Thrashers was a great YA thriller following a group of 5 students after the death of a classmate. The death was ruled a suicide however the group is facing implications of bullying which led to the suicide.
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I was immediately drawn into this story. The investigation, the teen drama, the diary, the eerie paranormal occurrences, even the budding romance; all of it just made for such a fun YA thriller. I loved the friend group and how they were doing what they could to protect one another.
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I listened to this while reading my ebook and this was narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky. I loved the two of them, they were great! If you are thinking of picking this one up definitely check out the audiobook.
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Overall, this was a win for me. I am always a fan of good YA thrillers!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, MacMillan Audio and St. Martins Press for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was addicting to read, and I finished it within 24 hours at 1 am. However, I was a little bummed at the ending of this book. I enjoyed reading it, however, I didn't love the paranormal aspect. It just felt like a little bit of a let down after making it to the end.

If you are a fan of Pretty Little Liars I think you will enjoy this one!

4.5⭐, 0.5🌶️

This was so different than Julie's other books and I was HERE for it! Think 13 Reasons Why vibe. This book definitely reads as a teen mystery/ drama. I loved the mystery of what-the-heck happened to Emily Mills and the drama within the Thrasher's group! I enjoyed the dash of teenage love we got within the story and it was rather unexpected. Overall I really liked this book and audiobook and definitely recommend if the TW aren't too heavy for you.

Tis book should definitely have some major Content Warnings as its a HEAVY YA topic (suicide, bullying, parent with substance abuse).

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Macmillian Audio for an eARC/ ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

5 ⭐️!!!!!

Julie ily (clearly because I read this thriller despite the fact that I SHAKE IN MY BOOTS at the slightest sign of creepy) but THAT ENDING??? hello??? Are you trying to end ME by having us wait an unidentified amount of time for this story to continue??? 😭

The depth of this story AND the depth of the characters were written so well that I just kept wanting to know more! In addition to the mystery aspect of the plot keeping me on my toes, I found myself wanting to understand more of these characters, more of their whys (not to Emily’s extent though LOL). They’re all so complex and not at all black-and-white, which I think perfectly represents their ages and where they are in their young lives. While it’s easy to massage one’s temples from frustration at some of the things these teens said and did, it’s also easy to sympathize with them and what they’re all going through—together with the Emily Mills case but also individually. I really liked how maturity was woven into their decisions to reflect what they’d endured, not allowing their ages to speak solely for their actions.

Oh how wonderful it was to be back with Julie’s writing! It’s always so easy to follow along, and her sentences always show more than they tell 🤗 She is one of my favorite authors, which has been proven again with this book!! It was like a breath of fresh air knowing and trusting that she was going to deliver a remarkable story in a remarkable way. And that’s exactly what she did :)

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the early review copy in exchange for my honest review! And of course thanks to Julie for the extra caution I will now walk with whenever I’m in Sactown going forward :)

Yours in Yellow,
T 💛

I devoured this in an afternoon! It was like binge watching a season of Veronica Mars with some ghostly twists, and I was all for it! The Thrashers is definitely an entertaining ride. I needed a break from my typical fantasy, and this hit the spot perfectly!

Trigger warning as the story starts with a character's suicide. A group of friends known as The Thrashers get pulled into a police investigation surrounding her death, and at the same time start getting strange text messages and experiencing some mysterious events. I was right there with Jodi trying to figure it all out.

As someone who grew up in Sacramento, I'm probably a little biased, but I loved that the city and actual places like the Rose Garden and fab 40s were represented :)

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Julie Soto so far, and hope to see more from these characters in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

It’s been months since Emily Mills died by suicide, and nothing at school feels the same. The Thrashers—once the most popular, untouchable friend group—are now under a harsh spotlight. Emily’s journal points to them as the reason she was pushed too far. And Jodi, one of their own, doesn’t know what to believe. As rumors swirl and the case heads to court, Jodi starts seeing her friends—and herself—in a whole new light. Was Emily right about them? About her? And if so… what does that mean now?

I’m going to be so real, I am NOT a thriller girly in any sense but when I saw Julie Soto I had to and she did not fail me! This was such a crazy, wild ride. Took me a minute to get into it but once I did, I couldn’t stop. Finish the greater part of this book in one sitting.

The Epilogue?! If we don’t get another book I’m gonna be livid. I need another book and this one ain’t even out yet.

Also, Julian Hollister!! Idk what fuck shit he was up to but I WANT MORE OF HIM!! And Jodi, together. Please. Please. Please. PUUHHHH-LEASSSEEEE! I’m begging. okay bye <3

absolutely obsessed with Julie’s story telling and she’s done it again and this time with this THRILLER AND YA book ! I was enjoying every single chapter and definitely Team Julian all the way! cannot wait for the second book of this series !

3.5 stars! I have such mixed feelings honestly, but I couldn't put The Thrashers down. I easily could've read it in one sitting. I was so invested because I love when a thriller book, especially a YA thriller, has a complex cast of characters with strong motivations and backstories. Also the morally gray characters made the book extremely intriguing. Very Pretty Little Liars-esque. And this definitely is an older YA book—I think adult audiences will love!

Based on the synopsis, I didn't expect there to be supernatural elements...which is fine. It just seemed like halfway through the story, the genre shifted from crime/mystery to supernatural horror? I do typically avoid paranormal thrillers because I like being able to sleep at night. But The Thrashers, while still unsettling and creepy, wasn't "I have to sleep with the lights on" type of scary. Though in some ways, it seemed like the supernatural elements made the book anticlimactic because those elements easily explained away what was happening to the characters, and I was expecting a much bigger plot twist. Some of the scenes got a bit repetitive as well.

I'd recommend though if you like fast-paced, drama-filled thrillers with supernatural elements! I'm extremely impressed too that this is the author's first thriller—it seemed like she's been writing this genre for years.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for an ARC of The Thrashers. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC of Julie Soto new YA book "The Thrashers". It was amazing and suspenseful. It kept me turning the pages to find out who done it and why. We always want to fit in to the poplar crowd and not get booted out. It brought back my own high school memories. This thriller had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. The main character Emily was so tough and loyal. Excited to see what is Julie Soto next book.

“Emily is very pleased about something.”

I just finished this in one sitting. Julie Soto always gets 5 stars from me and this was no different. This book had elements of mystery, unreliable narrator, and possibly paranormal.
The book starts with Emily’s suicide (not graphic, but be aware that this book is full of discussions of suicide). Jodi and her friends live in the aftermath, but are they responsible? None of the characters were particularly likable and it made it so much more real. Everyone had dimensions and I sort of didn’t root for anyone …
My favorite character became Julian by the end… which was surprising.
The epilogue was 😘

I was instantly hooked by The Thrashers—Julie Soto perfectly captures the pressure, insecurity, and intensity of high school, especially when you're on the outside trying to fit in. Jodi felt like such a real, relatable character. She's suddenly part of this ultra-popular, exclusive group thanks to her childhood best friend, but she never quite feels like she belongs. That tension alone was enough to keep me turning pages, but what really made this book stand out was how layered it was. The friendships are complicated, the social hierarchy is brutal, and every character has something to hide.

The death of Emily Mills adds this dark cloud over everything, and I loved how the book slowly unraveled the truth without rushing. It wasn’t about shocking twists—it was about atmosphere, secrets, and how far people will go to protect their image. The eerie messages and growing sense of paranoia were just the right amount of creepy to keep things tense without overdoing it.

This book seriously nailed the messy, emotional chaos of teenage life, and I could not stop reading. If you love stories about toxic friendships, blurred lines, and the cost of fitting in, The Thrashers is a must-read.

Thank you Julie Soto, St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This one had me hooked from the first chapter! The dynamics and complexities of the group and the characters themselves! What an incredibly well written story about friends, popularity, and the price you pay!

3.5/5
This book took me way longer than needed to read this book. This is for my first Julie Soto book and I thought this book was interesting. It lowkey reminds me of thirteen reasons why in a way. I really did like it in the beginning however in the middle I started to lose interest that’s probably why it took me a bit. Toward the end I really found interest in the book again either because it was almost over or because it got interesting and I wanted to see what happened. Anyways I do recommend this book. Julie Soto is a great author and I enjoyed how everything flowed together. Sometimes in books there are plot holes but everything is wrapped nicely which made it enjoyable to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for sending me and allowing me to read this ARC that comes out on May 6, 2025.