What crack was in this book???!!!
I was up until 3am reading it and had to force myself to put it down and then immediately picked it back up the next day and binged it. My husband did not like the stink eye I gave him everytime he interrupted me while reading.
The dynamics between all of the characters are fantastic and really capture the feelings of high schoolers. The idea of not being wanted in your friend group is something all people face especially while growing up and it was very relatable. This thriller kept me hooked and had some twists that I was not expecting as well. I especially enjoyed that there were excerpt of the journal throughout the book as well which helped break up the story.

While this is a ya thriller, it did not feel to "young" for me and can be read by a wide range of ages. Julie Soto is an autobuy author for me and I am loving her venture into this genre.

I had to DNF this one. I thought that I would love it as I have LOVED all of Julie Soto’s books. But I couldn’t handle the paranormal aspect and I had to DNF! I think this would be a 5 star book for someone looking for a young adult thriller with a paranormal aspect! I will rate it but I didn’t write a review as I DNF. Also, make sure you check the trigger warnings

This reminded me of those 90’s summer movies like “ I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Cruel Intentions” and a little bit of the book “13 Reasons Why” but with ghost / supernatural elements.

The popular friend group falls under scrutiny when a girl who was trying to be part of their group, commits suicide. As secrets start to come to light, Jodi starts to question how well she knows her friends and if she was really a part of the group at all.

I love Julie Soto’s writing, it is always absorbing and propulsive! I started this and could not put it down! I felt like she did a great job with capturing the angst of adolescence, the secret crushes, wanting to belong and find your group, trying to fit in, trying to decide who you are and want to be, and the making really stupid choices with their undeveloped brains.

I really loved it. I could see it being adapted for the screen so easily! I see this being a big summer smash!

High school can be brutual and the Thrashers are the group everyone wants to be in or near. This story follows Jodi, part of the Thrashers but always feels on the outside of the group and that the only reason she is in the group is because of her best friend Zach. When an investigation into the death of one of the students, Emily, is started the 5 friends try to protect each other and find out the truth.

This is a surprisingly good story with some twists and some mild supernatural elements that made the story just creepy enough. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers allowing me to read this advanced copy.

This book was Pretty Little Liars meets Jessica Goodman’s books. I liked it, but I didn’t love it like the comps I listed.

I really didn’t like the Thrashers. I wanted to connect with Jodi, but she was just one of them with a dark backstory.

I did like the plot though. I am interested in reading the author’s adult novels.

LOVED this one! It captured my attention from the very beginning and kept it all the way through. The characters were well developed and had great storylines. Additionally, the plot was entertaining and wasn't super predictable. This definitely didn't read like a YA book. I did feel like the epilogue was unnecessary unless there is going to be a second book.

ARC REVIEW (5/6/25): the thrashers by julie soto 🎀 a twisty thrill-ride of unforgettable drama and suspense that encapsulates the vulnerability of adolescents playing adult games.

🔪 this was my first julie soto and I’m curious about her romances now! I basically binged this entire YA thriller in a single evening and do not regret it. the mysterious storyline was an ideal backdrop to properly shed light on the often brutal realities of high school, the damaging effects of bullying and the sometimes messy nature of friendships.

if you have emetophobia, like me, please prepare yourself before diving in! it’s brutal out here.

the ending?! for my sanity, I wish it had ended a bit differently. a certain character taking the blame for everything (when they absolutely shouldn't have) was maniacal. perhaps there is going to be a sequel? 💭 we deserve our hea but I almost don’t want it with the current dynamic between those characters.

13 reasons why meets a good girl’s guide to murder. thank you wednesday books for the e-arc! 4 stars!

Soto’s YA debut proves that no matter what genre, she will always deliver!

“The Thrashers” follows an elite friend group at New Helvetia High known as The Thrashers after Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies. Their lives are turned upside down when her journal surfaces. As eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.

This book gripped me from the very first page. Every time I sat down to read it, I tore through each chapter like a woman possessed, desperate to find out what would happen next.

The novel is told from the perspective of Jodi Dillon. Jodi is the odd one out who feels like she must always prove her worth to the group to avoid being left behind, something I found entirely too relatable. Her character, much like the secondary characters, is complex and well drawn. Faced with betraying her friends of protecting herself, she gives readers a glimpse into the group’s dynamic. As the story progresses, Jodi uncovers their secrets and the role each person played in what happened to Emily.

I thoroughly enjoyed trying to put the pieces together alongside Jodi, often falling susceptible to Soto’s misdirection tactics. I love how Soto incorporates Emily’s journal entries in conjunction with flashbacks to add intrigue. The paranormal elements kept me guessing to the very end as I tried to discern what was fact and what was fiction.

The romance that is sprinkled throughout is absolutely phenomenal. While not the focus of the story, the stolen glances, verbal sparring matches, and tantalizing tension made my heart pound. A certain disgustingly attractive water-polo player won me over with that paint room scene!

The ending, while satisfying, adds a new twist that had me flipping back in disbelief. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!

where do i even begin?

here is a LOT happening in this book. five main characters, then hella supporting characters intertwined with them all, and then supporting supporting characters on top of that. a lot of the events were confusing at first but there is fair enough continuity in the plot and all its events to stay on track. the fact that this was borderline a ghost story on top of all the other highschool drama was a little much to digest and everything was coming at you fast. sometimes people truly are insane in the ways Emily was, and honestly i liked the portrayal of The Thrashers as this highschool group bc it truly does happen in some schools and from the outside looking in, teens can be so easily influenced when one who's hurt speaks out against those who are vying for a shred of attention. it was very interesting to see how others saw the Thrashers vs how they saw themselves and im sorry but Zach was NOT the king they thought he was but damn to have that many people at your feet must've been truly the power trip that got them in this mess in the first place. would i consider anybody in that group to be "friends"? absolutely not, but they were certainly closer to each other by the end of the book than they every considered themselves to be.

This was a bingeable page turner! I did both audio and ebook and could not put this one down. This is my first Julie Soto but she definitely did the genre justice. For fans of Karen McManus One of Us is Lying, Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why, or Pretty Little Liars, you will love this take on the haves and have nots. While the storyline focuses on a group of high school teens, the character development is strong and the writing doesn’t come across as juvenile or immature. At one point, the angst actually had me getting teary eyed. None of the characters are all that likable and yet I found myself captivated by what would happen to each of them. Feeling conflicted as to whether I should be rooting for them or not.

This is definitely a fast paced read that has plenty of twists, some predictable and some not. So many moments where my jaw dropped and thought what else could possibly happen and although that seemed far fetched, it just had me hanging on for one more chapter until I read the book in one day because I had to know what would happen next. There are lots of trigger warnings to pay attention to which just added to the raw feel and authenticity of the storyline.

All that glitters is not gold…what happens when someone on the outside will do just about anything to make their way into the circle?

I could not put this book down - absolutely loved it. The Thrashers is a fantastic YA thriller - it was dark and addictive and kept me hooked from start to finish. After their classmate, Emily, who had tried desperately to become part of their friend group, commits suicide on prom night - a group of popular students, The Thrashers, are left with a lot of people pointing fingers at them for bullying her. And as more information comes to light - it is clear that none of these characters are perfect or truly innocent. Most of The Thrashers come from privileged and wealthy families - Jodi is the odd one out and has a lot that she keeps hidden from her so-called best friends. Jodi was a fantastic character to center this around - devoted to her friends but always having the feeling that she doesn't quite fit in and still waiting to be left behind. All of the other Thrashers were great characters - Julian, Zack, Paige and Lucy - all well developed and morally grey in their own ways. I wanted more with Julian - the banter and love/hate nature of his relationship with Jodi was fantastic - and the epilogue left me wanting more. This was a fast-paced YA thriller that I highly recommend! Would love to read another thriller from Julie Soto too!

I mean this as a compliment through and through, I was so incredibly stressed reading The Thrashers. I was so immersed in the book it was like I was there with Jodi and The Thrashers—Julie Soto’s writing style is perfect for bringing readers into the world. And the ending? Chills.

I am floored at how much I loved this book! YA/thrillers have never been my genre so I was a little nervous going into this read being a Julie Soto fan but this book truly had me hooked from the first chapter and kept me guessing all the way through. Not once did I think “there wouldn’t be a book if these people weren’t so dumb” which is usually my thoughts when reading a thriller. All of the characters are so individually developed and complicated in their own ways. I’m on my hands and knees PRAYING for more of the thrashers. How can you just leave us with that epilogue!? Julie Soto has done it again, proving if she writes it, I will read it and rate it 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Thrashers! I loved this book. This isn’t my go-to genre, but I will read anything by Julie Soto. This book was so good. The mysteries were mysterious. The characters were all morally grey and I kept changing my opinion of them and what I thought happened. It had the same feeling as watching a 90s horror a la I Know What You Did Last Summer or Final Destination. As an elder millennial these vibes were immaculate. The epilogue was chilling. There are still things I’m thinking about, things with multiple interpretations I want to talk and hear other people’s hypotheses about, it was just a perfect YA thriller. Buy, read it, side eye flickering lights for the rest of your life.

When awkward teen Emily Mills from New Helvetia High commits a terrible act, all eyes turn on the high school's popular clique, known as The Thrashers, as suspects in instigating her tragic decision. Was the group of beautiful seniors her closest friends, her cruelest bullies, or both?
Author Julie Soto's first foray into the Young Adult and Suspense genres is an addictive page-turner that can't be put down. The realistically drawn characters, constantly shifting relationships within the Thrashers friend group, and the quickly unraveling secrets they try to keep from not just their parents and teachers, but also each other, makes for a novel that grabs hold on the first page and doesn't let go until the final chapter.

This was my first book by this author, and why not jump in head first with her first YA thriller. I really do like YA thrillers, so I was excited about this story line.

Overall, I gave this a 3.5. The story was definitely interesting but I felt like there was A LOT going on. So many side story lines but not a lot of explanation of those said storylines. It felt a little choppy and hard to follow with third person (that’s a me problem I’m a first person POV girl).

It did keep me wanting to read what was going to happen next, and I always felt like one of the friends was on the brink of death every other chapter 🤣

I did guess part of the main plot which I love seeing if I’m right.

The ending made me so upset for that character and I felt like they didn’t get the closure *i wanted* to see

You’ll enjoy this if you like pretty little liar vibes!

Julie you wicked woman. This book was so addictive I could not put it down. I went into it relatively blind only to find that it is final destination meets I know what you did last summer meets Casper? Idk but I loved it. The ending was so awesome. Made me want to instantly keep reading. As soon as the romance sizzled I was like Ope there’s that Julie Soto romance. Loved this book so much.

Not gonna lie, I went into "The Thrashers" with a bit of hesitation. Thrillers and mysteries aren't usually my go to genres, but the fact that Julie Soto wrote this one had me hitting that “read now" button without a second thought. And you know what? Soto's foray into the thriller realm is a total win! I really enjoyed the ride this book took me on.

"The Thrashers" unfolds as a slow burn thriller, gradually building suspense with some truly jaw dropping situations sprinkled throughout, not to mention some genuinely chilling moments that sent shivers down my spine. I thought Soto masterfully wove together a provocative and mysterious story, offering a starkly realistic peek into the often brutal realities of high school hierarchies, the damaging effects of bullying, and the intricate, sometimes messy, nature of friendships. I found myself completely engrossed in the narrative, constantly questioning who I could trust as the layers of secrets began to unravel.

However, I will say that the last 5% of the book left me a little perplexed. I wasn't entirely sure where the story was headed after the final page, and this lingering confusion did detract slightly from the overall impact of the story, which I was thoroughly enjoying up until that point.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend "The Thrashers" if you're a fan of YA thrillers that delve into the darker side of adolescence. If you enjoy stories featuring young adults behaving badly, subtle supernatural elements that add an extra layer of intrigue, plenty of drama, a he said/she said narrative that keeps you guessing, and if you've enjoyed the vibes of shows like "Pretty Little Liars" and "Thirteen Reasons Why," then this book is right up your alley. It's a suspenseful read that will definitely keep you turning the pages.

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25) I’d never read a Julie Soto book prior to this one, and let me say, I’ve been missing out! Her writing style scratched my brain just right, and I was hanging on to her every word. There was never once a boring moment for me while reading this—I was truly hooked the entire time. If I didn’t have silly adult responsibilities, I would’ve read it in one sitting. In addition to all the twists and turns, the paranormal elements sprinkled throughout had me itching for more. Also, the romance subplot…OBSESSED!!!

If you’re a Pretty Little Liars fan, I think you’ll absolutely love this book. I honestly don’t read a lot of YA thrillers, but this one was done SO well!

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts!

4.5/5!! I ate this up -- it was such a hard book to put down. I could barely guess where things were going which I loved. I want more of Jodi and Julian (and am hoping for more given the epilogue too!!)