The Thrashers follows Jodi Dillon and her elite group of friends after the tragic suicide of one of their classmates, Emily. Jodi’s always felt out of place with her friends, the Thrashers because they’re all rich and sophisticated. But Zack Thrasher has been her best friend since the second grade so she’s stayed in the group. But after Emily’s death—a girl who was desperate to be a Thrasher—police start asking questions about bullying. Jodi is faced with an impossible choice: betraying her friends or saving herself.

I had so much fun reading this!! Truly a twisty mystery with so much drama and intrigue. I was so unsure the entire time who was truly at fault and where everyone stood. The author crafted the relationship between the friends so seamlessly. I loved Jodi’s doubt about her place in the group and how it became this confusing plot about whether she was reading into her friend’s behaviours or if she was truly their friend. Emily was so fascinating and so creepy at times and I felt so bad for her.

It's very thought provoking as the author displays the complexity of friendship and the cost some friendships can have. The hierarchy of high school cliques was really interesting and felt very believable. The plot was very engaging from the beginning and keeps things interesting. I was suspicious of so many people and the ending is really satisfying. Especially the epilogue although I would love a sequel.

Overall, if you like mystery/thrillers about cliques, social hierarchy, and complicated friendships, you should definitely check this out!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the arc!

Oh? The ending? Ok… I mean… I need the next one like now because what??? Also a petition for this to be a show too 🤭

I am not a YA thriller/mystery gal but this one intrigued me because it was written by the Julie Soto. Honestly this had me hooked the whole time. The writing was easy to follow, the drama made you want to continue and the paranormal ness of it had you on the edge of your seat.

The follows a popular teenage friend group coined the “Thrashers”, after the main Zach Thrasher and them being publically scrutinized by their fellow peers at school and the law after Emily Mills commits suicide after being “Thrashed”.

I really enjoyed the archetypes that Julie set up within the group and how it all played into their dynamics. I might not be the target demographic for this at my ripe age lol but the inner thoughts of Jodi & her friend’s actions resonated with my younger self a lot so I liked that element a lot.

Can’t wait to see where this story continues!!

Justice for Julian & FU Zach

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC of The Thrashers by Julie Soto!

In perfect honesty, I don’t think I could even explain with words how much I loved this book. From the character development to the twists and turns of the plot, I cruised through this eager to know what happens next.

Julie’s writing spans genres, fandoms and more, but The Thrashers was the perfect blend that transported me into another world and held me there until I knew what happened next.

For me to finish a book in 48 hours means that it had my undivided attention and BOY did The Thrashers deliver.

5/5 absolutely zero notes, I require a physical copy the minute it is out.

The Thrashers rule the school, and everyone else tries to survive them.

Jodi Dillon was never supposed to be in the inner circle. The Thrashers are rich, dramatic, and always in the spotlight. Jodi is a wallflower, but because Zack Thrasher was her childhood best friend, she was suddenly one of them. When Emily Mills dies, detectives start poking around. Emily wanted nothing more than to be a Thrasher. Jodi starts wondering how well she knows the people she’s been calling friends when a few of them are accused of causing Emily’s death.

This book mixes secrets, lies, and classic mean girls. It’s sharp, twisty, and just a dash of scathing jealousy. Beneath all the drama is a thoughtful look at mental health, peer pressure, and what happens when you’re forced to grow up way too fast.

It’s impossible to put down. The characters are fun to read, and you never know who has alternative motives. I hope to see more YA reads from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Matin’s Press, and Wednesday Books, for allowing me to review the ebook.

This book drew me in with the first line of the prologue. What a start!

The Thrashers was so interesting and different! It was part mystery, part paranormal, part thriller, part romance, part gossip girl crossed with 13 reasons why. I absolutely ate it up - I can't even describe how masterfully Julie weaved in the twists and turns as Jodi and her friends (The Thrashers) navigate the fallout of a classmate's suicide and topics such as bullying, harassment, social hierarchy as well as darker topics such as substance use and child abuse.

I thought I knew what had happened but I couldn't predict some of the twists! What I do know is that I am a Julian Hollister STAN!! The way that man came through for Jodi, more than her best friend ever did made him a favourite in my book. The tension between them was palpable and despite his gruff exterior he was soft for her.

I am frothing at the mouth for book 2. Can't wait to read it!!

Thank you Wednesday books for the advanced review copy.

this is my official request to julie soto for a 400 page romance book with jodi dillon and julian hollister 💕

anyways this book was so good?! i’ve been in a reading slump for a month now and the thrashers has pulled me out of it!! i seriously couldn’t put this book down and read it in two sittings. the suspense? amazing! the story? loved! the characters? so well written!!! THE EPILOGUE? jaw dropped and mad asf bc i need more hello?!

my favorite thing about this book was JULIAN MF HOLLISTER AND MY GIRL JODI DILLON!!!!! i immediately sensed something was going to happen between them at the start and their CHEMISTRY? their BANTER? WHEWWWWWW!!!!! gosh it was too good!!! THE WAY HE SHOWED UP FOR HER TIME AFTER TIME!!!!!! the entire scene with the paint/kisses OHHHH I WAS SCREAMINGGGG!!!!! they had me giggling squealing and kicking my feet. I NEED more.

(julie soto pls give us more jodie and julian im actually begging)

moving on…

this was my first julie soto book and i definitely recommend!!! will for sure be reading her other books now because i was obsessed with this one :) 4.5 stars!

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced readers copy!

I received an advanced copy of this book for review. This is my opinion.

Content warnings: underage drug and alcohol use, abuse, adult drunkenness, violence, statutory rape, manipulation, stalking, dangerous situations, suicide.

Holy Veronica Mars, Batman.

Okay, actually, it kind of feels like a mix of Veronica Mars and Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and maybe Pretty Little Liars (though I’m not super familiar with that one, but the vibe is there) with some ghost ones thrown in. I read most of The Thrashers in one sitting, and it was RIVETING. Riveting is not a word I use lightly, either.

Emily was a sort of tagalong to the friend group The Thrashers. She often inserted herself into their conversations and parties. When she commits suicide, it seems as though she’s been Thrashed, or ostracized by the Thrashers. What follows in the aftermath is a year of weird coincidences and suspicion and secrets.

This really hit me in my nostalgic 2000’s/2010’s teen mystery drama feels, and it almost feels like it was written with that intention? I think this will appeal to a really broad audience, from teens looking for drama and mystery, and those of us who are…a bit older than teens who miss shows like Veronica Mars and Pretty Little Liars.

6/5 stars, definitely recommend. I hope there’s more!

Huge thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the arc!

The Thrashers, led by the popular Zack Thrasher, is the perfect representation of HS cliques - those who want to be on the inside and those who are that kick the others out. Zack has the habit of discarding people once he grows bored of them.

Jodi Dillon is a Thrasher but doesn’t exactly fit into the group. She’s not wealthy, athletic, or stunningly beautiful like the others. But she’s best friends with Zack, so that’s why she hasn’t been “thrashed” or kicked out of the group.

The story starts following the suicide of a classmate, Emily Mills, whose diary points to The Thrashers’ psychological bullying that broke Emily. But did they really do anything that brutal?

This story was quite the ride. Reminiscent of Dear Evan Hansen and Thirteen Reasons Why, this YA thriller kept me wondering until the very end. It was very much a “just one more chapter” at 1am kind of book. It did take a few chapters to get in the swing of this book - so many characters to keep up with right away. But as the pieces of the puzzle were unraveled, the hint of an unreliable narrator, and the drama of an investigation, I was hooked. Oh, and the epilogue… just brilliant, chef’s kiss.

This was my first Julie Soto read, but I’ve heard such love for her romance books, so I was excited to read a thriller by her.

I switched between both the digital read and the audiobook as I experienced this story. The audiobook was very well produced.

3.5 stars !!

julie soto releasing her first ya book this year wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card. i’ve yet to read her other books but on this one we got a group of friends known as “the thrashers” and they had a crazy year. somebody that was constantly in their lives just committed to suicide and weeks later the cops want to talk to the five teenagers.

this was my first julie soto book and i thought i was going to enjoy it more than i did… but it’s probably because of the whole “emily wants us dead” aspect but either way THIS BOOK WAS A ROLLERCOASTER !!!!!! i didn’t know what to believe to be true or not and it was fun to see jodi going on detective mode ! this is a high school settling so you can expect lots of drama.

when they asked jodi if she was afraid of getting thrashed i started wondering how she was still in the group but all i’ve to say is fuck you zack ! what do you mean he gets to walk free from everything that he has done????

i like to believe that paige and lucy learned their lesson and started being better people but… paige should have suffered a bit more… the whole hannah plot, it was a bit predictable but i would never guess about prom night .

JULIAN WHAT HAPPENED??? i was all in for his supremacy im sorry okay this boy on the epilogue my god somebody rescue him !!!!!!

jodi… i like you but you could have told everybody everything…. and that’s my opinion ! the thrashers was a good and fun book to read <3

thank you netgalley, st martin press and julie soto for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

Firstly, I wanted to say THANK YOU for approving me for an advanced reader’s copy. I’ve been a fan of Julie since discovering her fanfiction in early 2020 and watching her transition into publishing has been incredibly inspiring. The Thrashers might be her best novel yet. I’m beyond excited for its release—and even more excited for readers to experience it.

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers is more than just a thriller—it’s an exploration of power, privilege, and the desperate need to belong. From the opening chapter, which details Emily Mills’ tragic suicide on prom night, the novel grips you with its eerie and unsettling atmosphere. But beneath the mystery lies something even more chilling: the toxic dynamics of the Thrashers, the elite social circle that both fascinates and destroys those who get too close.

Told through the eyes of Jodi Dillon, a girl who knows she doesn’t quite fit in with her wealthy, glamorous friends but is terrified of losing her place among them, the novel perfectly captures the suffocating pressure of high school hierarchy. Jodi’s love for Zack Thrasher, the group’s charismatic yet dangerous leader is both painful and painfully real. She wants to believe she’s different—that she’s not just another disposable pawn in his game. But as the investigation into Emily’s death intensifies, Jodi is forced to question everything she thought she knew.

The Thrashers is as thought-provoking as it is haunting. It’s not just about who pushed Emily over the edge—it’s about the systems that let it happen in the first place.

Being in my 30's I'm not a big YA reader but I adore Julie Soto so I took full advantage of this being a 'read now' book. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would! Julie is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me!!

This was a thought provoking YA book that covers the depth of friendship in groups. It was so different from what I expected from other Soto books but I was hooked on the drama. It was just right and the pacing was perfect. Thank you!

Wow! I was blown away by this book. Instantly hooked and finished it almost in one sitting. Absolutely loved all the characters and drama. A 5 star read for me!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Thrashers by Julie Soto
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 6, 2025

High-School Clique
Supernatural Thriller
Obsessive Friendship

This young adult thriller centers on a high school clique accused of driving a fellow student to suicide. The group fights to prove their innocence and dark secrets come to light.

Though The Thrashers is a YA thriller, I think it is a great thriller for readers of all ages! The multiple twists, the nuanced portrayal of flawed characters, and the excellent pacing made this thriller unputdownable. The realistic depiction of media bias and its damaging consequences for those wrongly accused added significant depth.

Thank you so much Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

⚠️: overdose, suicide, alcohol abuse, child abuse

I couldn't put this book down it was so good! A group of friends who the school calls The Thrashers are the IT group. When a classmate who desperately wants to join the group commits suicide they get blamed. And strange things start happening. Is what their classmates are saying true? Is someone to blame and if so who?

Keeps you guessing....

Outside of my normal genre tastes, this read like a suspenseful YA Netflix show. Pretty Little Liars mixed with 13 Reasons Why. I binged it in 12 hours. A true page turner thriller with a side of spooky paranormal.

I need more!

If you're into twisty, turny shows like 13 Reasons Why or Pretty Little Liars, you're gonna eat this book up. It's got that same addictive quality.

Basically, we dive right into a town reeling from the suicide of Emily, a 17 year old who dies on prom night. Right from the get go, you're like, "What happened?" Then, we meet the Thrashers – think super rich, popular kids, the kind everyone's obsessed with. And let me tell you, they're definitely hiding something.

This book grabbed me from page one. It's a real rollercoaster, with all these unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As a YA book, it totally nails that mix of drama, suspense, and teenage angst that the target audience will love.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is about an elite friend group in high school that consists of Jodi, Paige, Lucy, and Julian, who all revolve around their fifth friend, Zach as they get caught up in the death of their classmate Emily.

I binged this entire book and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn’t decide throughout the book who I could trust, or if I could trust any of the characters at all!! I thought the pacing was so well done for a young adult thriller, and it really kept and maintained my attention.

I don’t really know if I liked any of the characters?? But that was kind of interesting because then my loyalties as the reader kept flip flopping. I also liked that the book was in one POV, because we got a little bit of an unreliable narrator and I think it unfolded better getting the pieces of the story along the way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Thrashers is a gripping, drama-filled YA thriller that dives into the toxic glamor of elite high school cliques with a dark, twisty edge. Julie Soto crafts a compelling story with Jodi Dillon at the center—a relatable outsider who gets swept into the whirlwind of the Thrashers, a group as alluring as they are dangerous.

The story kicks into high gear when Emily Mills, an outsider desperate for acceptance, dies under mysterious circumstances, and suddenly Jodi is caught between loyalty, self-preservation, and a haunting truth that refuses to stay buried. The journal clues, creepy messages, and escalating suspense kept me hooked, and the emotional layers added surprising depth.

Soto does a fantastic job showcasing the vulnerability of teens navigating high-stakes social politics while grappling with real danger. The writing is punchy, the characters are morally gray (in the best way), and the pacing makes it hard to put down.

Why not five stars? A few twists were predictable, and at times the drama leaned slightly over the top—but it never took away from the thrill. this is a solid, binge-worthy read that delivers chills and heart in equal measure.

Highly recommended for anyone craving suspense, secrets, and high school intrigue.

The fact that I sat down and devoured this in one sitting says nearly everything. The writing is accessible and pulls you forward through the plot. Even though it's written in third person you feel close to the main character as though you're seeing things through her eyes. The mystery portion was very well executed with interesting twists and turns. And I enjoyed watching the way the layers were peeled back on all of the characters showing us who they really were.

[ The way they handled Emily's mental health through the eyes of the Thrashers was sensitive and balanced. It would have been easy to swing into making her some evil mastermind, or removing the harm that she'd done, but the author found a balance that worked beautifully within the book. And the tiny epilogue really was the cherry on top of the supernatural aspects.