I enjoyed this book a lot! YA thrillers are one of my favorite genres and Dark Academia ... Yes please! It had elements of Pretty Little Liars, which is a guilty pleasure of mine, and only made me like this more!

I saw a lot of buzz about this title so I requested it on NetGalley, not sure if it could live up to the hype. I'm thrilled to say it exceeded my expectations, which is hard to do, especially when a title has been so hyped. The Thrashers is about a group of friends who revolve around Zachary Thrasher and Zach is very friendly and outgoing but doesn't understand how he affects people--or maybe doesn't care--and his friends are left to explain that Zach has moved on to the next person who adores him. Students soon start calling it "being thrashed" and then the latest "thrashing victim" ends up dying by suicide and suddenly there's a spotlight on all of them.

There were SO MANY things I love about this story, but one that will always stand out to me is how nuanced every character is. No character is one-dimensional. No one is innocent. Everyone has a secret, something they shouldn't have done -- even the bystanders, the ones who meant well, the victims, etc. This made it a truly compelling read for me. We watched every single character grapple with their choices--past, present, and future--who they were and who they wanted to be. The characters were flawed but in a realistic way. You watched each of them shift and change and be culpable. There was also romance that I think would appeal to any romance reader--and then there was, what was for me was a surprise, paranormal elements that really intensified the story.

My singular critique of the book is that it doesn't have content warnings at the beginning and I think it should. The very first page includes suicide. There's a strong inclusion of alcoholism and parental neglect and abuse, and domestic violence. There's bullying and harassment. There are mentions of sexual assault, though it is not described. While I think each of these topics is absolutely done well and with care, I do think readers should know what they're getting into.

Otherwise, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time and will be at the top of my list for recommendations when my high schoolers return in the fall. I finished this in three sittings and if life hadn't gotten in the way I happily would've read it in one. Five stars and beyond. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

JULIE SOTO !! I am speechless with this YA mystery thriller HEAVY on the thriller WOW WOW WOW 🤯…

This book took me completely by surprise and I would highly recommend it to anybody who loves a good thriller. It held relevance to today’s society and what teenagers deal with as well as the mystery from the crime to be solved.

The characters were really great and I loved the plot that revolved around “ THRASHER “ I thought that was unique and something that really added to the story line. The 5 friends with one feeling like an outsider and her being the narrator was honest and again made the plot more interesting and leaving you wanting more / investing as a reader !

This book was intense and riveting, I was locked in from the start. The twists kept coming and I never knew exactly what to expect. The epilogue has thoroughly spooked me!

Whoa that ending! This book was great. I was fully into it from the beginning, wondering who they were and what happened and the whole unravelment of how it all went down. Super engaging read and although some things are predictable, I love how Julie Soto interweaved the paranormal elements into it without it taking over the whole thing, the analyzing of each relationship was so good. I was all in!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for this e-arc.

I can't even begin to express how much I loved this. Normally, I don't read thrillers. From beginning to end, The Thrashers was a thrilling adventure. I had no idea where we were going to end up. The Thrashers is primarily a story about kids who made poor choices and are now facing the consequences of their actions. It's full of creepy vibes, poor choices, and high school drama. This book had a great pace, which I truly enjoyed.

4.25 stars.

What an amazing debut into the ya thriller world from Julie Soto!! I am honestly shocked at how much I enjoyed this. I’m not typically a reader of thrillers, as I get too emotionally invested in my books and genuinely get stressed out. But this was such a treat.

13 Reason’s Why type of energy, but with a hefty dose of mystery and suspense a la Veronica Mars. Jodi, our main character, wasn’t the typical “completely innocent” main character that I feel like I constantly read about when I was in my thriller phase when I was around 14ish. She’s kind, and genuinely is trying to do her best to be a good person, but she’s a 17 year old and is inherently a little bit selfish. Some of those selfish decisions have negative effects on others, and she has to learn how to deal with the consequences. I love a three dimensional character!! I wish some of the other characters were a bit more fleshed out, but it’s a YA thriller & any more of the other characters probably would have distracted from the main storyline lol.

The Thrashers was a roller coaster ride from start to finish. At no point did I know where we would end up. I’m holding onto the hope of us getting a sequel so we can get that. (That ending?!?!? My jaw is still on the floor.)

St. Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books deserve first dibs on my firstborn for giving me an eARC of this one. Thank you!!!

At New Helvetia High, everybody wants to be a Thrasher, but they don’t want to be Thrashed. Jodi Dillon, Zack’s childhood best friend, feels like an outsider among the rich, sophisticated, and attention-seeking Julian, Lucy, Paige, and Zack. And when Emily Mills, who was dying to join the Thrashers, dies, rumors spread. As Emily’s journal emerges, detectives close in, forcing Jodi to choose between betraying her friends and protecting herself. Soon, creepy messages and strange occurrences reveal Emily’s lingering presence and cause the Thrashers to questions everything.

This book was such a great thriller/ paranormal read. I could not put it down. I don’t think it was too predictable, but there were also aspects that were. The author did a great job of showing how difficult high school could be for both the in-crowds and the less popular kids, and that really played a role in the story. I loved the paranormal element that appeared throughout the story, as well.

As far as the characters go, I really felt for Jodi throughout the book because it felt like she was in between a rock and a hard place— but I do think she has some really good growth throughout the book. Zack 10000% served his purpose in the book, and that’s all I can say without ruining things. And Julian— I hated him at first, but by the end, I think I started to see his true self, and his character was executed so well. Can we also talk about that ending… because WHAT WAS THAT!? I need a second book, and I highly recommend this one for my young adult thriller readers out there!

(TW: bullying, suicide, abuse, grief)

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 1/5

Tropes:
Friendships gone wrong
Enemies to lovers?
Social Hierarchy
Paranormal elements

Thank you so much NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St Martins Press and Julie Soto for this gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.

** spoiler alert ** 3 Stars (I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review)

While I have loved the author's romance novels, The Thrashers felt a bit like a jumbled mess. I liked the main character and her back story but the storyline seems unsure of whether it wants to lean into the supernatural. Some predictable elements like Jodi finding out the many secrets her friends kept from her and the class divide between. We keep switching (in my opinion) between two love interests and I actually prefer Julian to Zack, though not in the beginning . The supernatural elements felt thrown into the mix every so often and do not get me started on the ending. Really a ghost Emily haunting Julian, who had just wanted to have Jodi all to herself. Complete with fake journals and speaking through Zack's underage girlfriend. Paige going to see a psychic all that mess, she and Lucy were very underdeveloped. The writing style was compelling but I struggled to get back into reading the book whenever I paused.

The Thrashers was a quick and bingeable YA thriller that I enjoyed. I did feel like the pacing was a bit off. It started off strong and then grew a little boring in the middle and the end was kinda abrupt. But overall it was good.

This was an absolute wild ride from start to finish. Very much so gave 13 reasons why vibes with a hint of the supernatural. It kept me guessing the whole time and while I wasn’t shocked at the big reveal there were quite a few things I didn’t guess!

Huge thanks to St Martins Press & Netgalley for the chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

Wanted to give this one a try but I'm finding YA is more hit or miss for me lately! For the right reader, this is probably an excellent book. Will be checking out some of Julie Soto's other books.

Thrashers is one of those books that I enjoyed so much that the review is going to be short and to the point because quite honestly, I will probably be recommending this book to everyone.

The Thrashers are a group of privileged high school friends with one exception, Jodi. The Thrashers though are the IT group; you want to be them and would give anything, including your life to be a part of them. Emily Mills did exactly that, she gave her life. The Thrashers takes place after Emily Mills takes her life, and the lives and relationships of this friend group starts to unravel as Emily's journal comes to light.

Just go grab a copy and read this book. It kept me on my toes and guessing up to the very last page. The ending had me screaming (internally as it was late at night), and I wanted to throw my phone across the room at how perfect it all came to a close. I will have to say that the ending was semi predictable in the way that there had to be something more about the one character and their relationship with Emily (there were just dropped hints all over the place). And Jodi... Jodi, why do have to be so emo? Trauma. Yeah... she has a lot of trauma. But the dynamic of the group is just nuts when actually spelled out to Jodi who only sees it from her very narrow minded view. And LOVE LOVE LOVE the little paranormal inserts. Chills. Literal chills were had.

5 stars. Enough said. Read the ARC, but will be buying a physical copy. Will live eternally rent free in my mind.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting to socials.

Messy rich teens doing super dramatic teen things. It should definitely be a TV show. The twist wasn't surprising but I definitely had a fun time reading this!

Thank you to Julie Soto, Wednesday Books, and NeGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay this is take 2 on writing my review because my browser refreshed 1/2 way through so this will likely be more concise (though who knows). I’m not normally a thriller reader, but if Julie Soto writes it I’m going to read it! And this did not disappoint! I read this book in less than 24 hours as a mom of 2 toddlers with a full time job haha. This is now the third genre I’ve read by her and they have all been 5 star reads! Jodi was a very relatable FMC, which for me at least makes it a lot easier to connect to the story. I thought that the friendship dynamic was really layered and complex and I enjoyed learning about it. It was interesting to hear that a lot of them felt the same way in regards to the group, but they hadn’t really communicated it at all. I really felt for Jodi and the situation with her father, and think that added an interesting layer in the development of her friendship with Julian. I think if there was a way to have a sequel I’d be incredibly interested in it, because this could easily be a standalone, but I think I still have enough questions that a second book could happen.

I typically don't enjoy YA books, but I do love Julie Soto. I found this one intriguing and read it quickly, but ultimately I don't think it will stick with me for long.

Julie Soto's The Thrashers plunges readers into the deceptive glamour of an elite high school clique where loyalty is tested and secrets turn deadly. "Either you're in or you're out," is the unspoken rule of the Thrashers, New Helvetia High's most coveted and envied friend group—Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher.

Jodi Dillon, feeling perpetually out of place among the rich, sophisticated, and attention-loving Thrashers, is only "in" because of her lifelong friendship with Zack. However, their exclusive world shatters when Emily Mills, a girl desperate to join their ranks, dies, igniting whispers and suspicion around the group.

As Emily's journal surfaces and detectives close in, Jodi faces an agonizing dilemma: betray her friends or protect herself from the fallout. But the nightmare is far from over. Eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, making it terrifyingly clear that Emily isn't finished with the Thrashers yet. The Thrashers is a compelling and suspenseful read about toxic friendships, dark secrets, and the haunting consequences when the past refuses to stay buried.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

I've been a fan of Julie Soto's for what feels like forever (from fanfic to her original romance novels, to this absolute masterpiece!), and while I was a bit scared going into Julie's first foray into YA, this was incredible. I loved it. I'm obsessed. I'm dying for a sequel and need to reread it IMMEDIATELY, especially after that epilogue. I flew through this and stayed up way too late to finish it. 15/10 recommend.

This was a fun read! I don’t typically read books in the YA genre, but I love Julie’s writing so I gave it a try. I’m glad that I did! Lots of suspense, coupled with high school dramas and character growth.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the chance to read an advance copy of The Thrashers in exchange for my honest review of the book.

If you like the Pretty Little Liars tv show you’ll like this book. Both have very similar vibes and I love both very much!

The Thrashers is ultimately a novel about teenagers who made bad decisions and are now having to face the consequences. It’s full of high school drama, bad decisions, and spooky vibes.

I really loved how fast paced this novel was. I devoured it in under a day. It was just so good and I hope Julie Soto plans on writing a sequel!