Devoured this! Loved it. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Enjoyed Jodi's character growth throughout the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. In this addictive YA thriller, we meet the Trashers, a group of friends who find themselves thrown into chaos after the death of a high school friend. Julie Soto's writing is addictive; it keeps you on the edge of your seat with every page, and you can't put the book down until the end. I must say I'm used to her romance books, but this one was very entertaining.

In all honesty, it’s hard for me to find many thrillers that I consider 5 stars because of predictability, lack of the wow factor, etc but I thought this was fantastic! Mind you everything Julie writes is, so this was no surprise.
Secrets, drama, deception and more keep you invested throughout and wondering just who is hiding the darkest secrets. The pacing was perfect and the Thrashers perfectly fit that high and mighty group you love to hate. As a high school teacher, some of the drama and secretiveness along with the clique-y feeling sure did hit close to home 😅 fantastic portrayal of high school drama and secrets combined with “murder” mystery.

4.5 Stars

The Thrashers are an exclusive group of five friends at New Helvetia High School, and Zack Thrasher is the one that everyone wants to be or be with. Jodi Dillon has been Zack’s friend since second grade, and when their circle eventually grew to include Paige, Lucy, and Julian, she felt out of place in their world of wealth. But when a new girl, Emily, starts at New Helvetia, she is determined to find her place with The Thrashers. When she is found dead, accusations about The Thrashers treatment of her start to surface. Now Jodi is faced with loyalty to her fellow Thrashers or revealing what she knows about Emily’s time with them.

WOW! This was my first Julie Soto book and I absolutely loved it!! The Thrashers is an all consuming YA thriller that I did not want to put down. Soto does an amazing job of writing each of the characters and bringing those high school stereotypes to the page. It’s been over thirty years since I was in high school, but I definitely recognized that popular boy, the party girls, friend on the outskirts, and that questionable, morally grey friend.

I really connected with Jodi’s character as the narrator. She deals with a lot of doubts about her place in the friend group, and she has problems at home too. All of the characters are flawed, and I liked the way that Soto revealed their characters and secrets to build suspense in the story. The story does a great job of showing the complexities of high school life, how friend relationships change, and the effects of cliques.

There is a great paranormal element in the story, and I am so glad Soto really leaned into it at the end of the book. The epilogue was perfect, and it made my gothic little heart so happy!! It is a satisfying, goose-bumpy reveal that I will not forget!

The Thrashers is an unputdownable thriller with a wide range of characters from the good girl to the frighteningly obsessive, and everyone in between! If you love YA books with suspense, secrets, and complicated relationships, then I would highly recommend The Thrashers.

A slow burn mystery that focuses on the complexities of high school hierarchies. While the story seemed drawn out at times, the ending & epilogue were jaw dropping. Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.

The Thrashers is a hit! While YA and mystery/thrillers are not my preferred genres, I will always read anything Julie Soto writes. She never disappoints, and that holds true for The Thrashers. Soto has perfected the art of writing compelling storylines full of flawed characters you can help but like, and plot twists that provide truly satisfying endings. I’ve been chasing the nostalgic feeling of watching Veronica Mars for over 15 years, and reading The Thrashers did just that. Highly recommend for any who enjoys suspense, teenage angst, and character development.

Emily mills commits suicide and it seems like it all stemmed from one place, the thrashers. But Jodi is certain that her friend group had nothing to do with her death, but can she be sure?

This book was amazingly paced, never felt slow or stalled. Julie soto’s writing had me from the beginning! The twists and turns had me reeling. Definitely recommend

This book hooked me in from the start. I was eager to see what was going to happen. Some of the plot twists were predictable but others had me on the edge of my seat. Overall, a good young adult thriller.

3.5 ⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

This was so fun!! This was my first Julie Soto book and it didn’t disappoint! It gave me the Pretty Little Liars vibe that I love so much,

I finished this book in 24-hours because it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It was completely addicting and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes YA thriller-type novels.

Thank you to Julie, her team and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

This was my first mystery thriller book, and it was so good! I have only ever read Julie Soto’s romance books, but I can confidently say now that I would read any genre of book she writes!

This book had me hooked until the very end, and I binged the last half of it in a night because I just could not put it down. There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming, which just kept me vibrating with anticipation at what was going to happen! The vibes personally reminded me of pretty little liars and thirteen reasons why, and I was here for it!

Overall, this book is such a gem! I definitely recommend it if you are looking for the DRAMA. I will be purchasing a physical copy ✨ FOR SURE ✨

Thank you to Julie Soto, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!!

This was so much fun!! Very Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why with a bit of a paranormal twist and I absolutely devoured it. Some of it is a little predictable, but I feel like it's not enough to not keep you on your toes the whole time. Loved this group of main characters (with the exception of one... you know who you are), and honestly I think Jodi was a bit hard on them at times. Obviously her insecurities played a big part in her relationships, but for the most part her friends were good to her and I wish we'd gotten to see her figure that out. I also did not go into this expecting anything other than a little YA mystery and I was rewarded with a fun little enemies to lovers (kind of) treat that honestly kind of made the back half of this book for me. I would honestly read 20 more of these if Julie Soto decided to go all PLL on us.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Julie Soto for this ARC!!

I don’t always love YA, but The Thrashers completely won me over. From the very first page, Julie Soto’s storytelling had me hooked, delivering a perfect balance of heart, tension, and irresistible characters. The world felt vivid and lived-in, the emotions were raw and real, and the stakes kept me turning pages late into the night. It’s rare for a YA book to completely pull me in, but this one did—and I loved every second of it. If you’re looking for a story that’s electric with emotion and impossible to put down, The Thrashers is it.

How far is too far? The Thrashers is a spooky and emotional story of high school friends, bullies, and maybe a ghost. Prepare to be transported back to high school. Between the tension, secrets, lies, and betrayal— who, if anyone, can you trust?

Needing to know the truth of what happened, I was immediately sucked right into this plot. Nothing was mind blowing or insanely original, but it was so well written that I just loved every second of the ride. The characters (once I was able to remember all their names) were very well written and well-rounded.

I say this a lot, but I mean it extra here: a well done screen adaptation of this book would be incredible.

Julie Soto is the queen of my heart. I cannot wait to read the other book she has coming out this year and anything else she decides to bless us with. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars

Julie Soto is an Auto buy author! Whatever she writes I will absolutely read it! This book was no different! This was the perfect thriller & I was immediately hooked by the first chapter. Julie has a way of writing that hooks you in immediately! She’s truly so talented! This was definitely my favorite read of the month. Can’t wait to read more from Julie!

Thrashers is a YA novel that unravels the darkest side of high school social dynamics and the cost of exclusion. It all begins with the suicide of Emily Mills on prom night, an event that shakes the school and exposes secrets no one wanted to face.

At the heart of the story are the Thrashers, the school’s elite, led by Zack Thrasher—a charismatic boy with the power to elevate or destroy anyone at will. Jodi Dillon, the protagonist, is part of the group but has always felt like she’s walking a tightrope. She lacks the wealth and glamour of her friends, but what she does have is a paralyzing fear of being discarded, just like so many before her. And above all, she has been in love with Zack for as long as she can remember.

With a slow-burning yet unsettling pace, Thrashers weaves a story of obsession, complicity, and quiet cruelty, where every character plays a role in the unfolding tragedy. The mystery unfolds with precision, leading to a shocking climax and a chilling epilogue that leaves a lasting impression.


Thank you NetGalley : )


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7354767897

What would this world do without Julie Soto if she hadn't taken up writing? It wasn't enough for her to be phenomenal at writing romance, but she had to be able to navigate the YA/suspense world so masterfully, too?

I was absolutely enthralled by The Thrashers and couldn't wait to see how it was going to end. It took me about 15% to get hooked but once I was, I truly could not put it down. This story was full of plot twists and it was such a satisfying ending that left me wanting more!

I don't want to say more because I don't want to give anything away but definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 6, 2025
Mean Girls meets “Pretty Little Liars” in Julie Soto’s new YA novel, “The Thrashers”.
At New Helvetia High, “The Thrashers”, Zack, Julian, Lucy, Paige and Jodi, are not just in the popular group- they are the popular group. During their senior year, a junior named Emily Mills dies of an apparent suicide, but rumours soon start to fly that “The Thrashers” constant bullying and torment led to Emily’s death. Police investigate and all five members of the group have their entire future in jeopardy until Jodi finds a clue that could blow the case wide open. But revealing the clue means that Jodi must turn against her friends and she feels without “The Thrashers”, she’s nothing. Is the truth more important than friendship?
Julie Soto, author of “Forget Me Not” and “Not Another Love Song”, has created a unique suspense novel that fans of Karen McManus will love.
Jodi is the protagonist, and the outcast. She comes from an entirely different part of town then her friends and, with an alcoholic father and a dead mother, she knows she’s only in The Thrashers because she has known Zack, the leader, the longest. This sets the stage for Jodi to take the desperate measures she does in order to stay in the group. As the outsider trying to find her place, she is relatable and her childhood trauma builds an emotional connection with readers, making it easy to root for Jodi. A few chapters feature narration by other characters, so readers can understand their mindsets, but none of the other privileged prom King and Queens in her friend group are as likable as Jodi, so it only makes sense that she takes centre stage.
At the beginning, it is clear that Emily died by suicide, so it isn’t exactly a murder-mystery. But the choices that led up to Emily’s death are the focus of this book and there are a lot of potentials that provide the plot with suspenseful twists and turns. Was Emily as unstable as she appeared? Did The Thrashers really bully her to death? These questions remain unanswered until the final chapters, where Soto’s ending truly delivers the satisfying ending I was hoping for.
Soto adds a paranormal component to this novel that was intriguing, and added yet another layer of mystery to the storyline. It, too, comes to light (no pun intended) in the final pages.
Julie Soto is a new author for me, but “The Thrashers” was modern, emotional and suspenseful and I enjoyed the ride!

Wow. Is all I can say. This book was such a fun read. A little bit of mystery and just an edge of paranormal to make the hair on your arms stand. The character development was great. The last final plot twist was mind blowing.

The Thrashers are THE friend group in high school. Try to get too close and you’ll get thrashed. When an apparent thrashing leads to the suicide of another student, an investigation is launched. As secrets start to come out, will the friend group survive?

I picked this up expecting another Julie Soto romance, but was pleasantly surprised by the shift to YA mystery. This book will transport you back to high school and have you consistently wondering who, if anyone, can be trusted.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I’m a fan of Julie Soto and this is no exception. This was a departure from her usual books. She writes romance books typically. This is her first thriller. This book pulled me in immediately and I finished it in one day. It is a darker subject matter that includes domestic violence, substance abuse, suicide and bullying. The book follows the aftermath of a suicide. A group of kids names the Thrashers are investigated by the police for bullying. Strange things start to happen to them while they are waiting to go to court. There is no one to really root for in this book. All the characters are morally gray and unlikable. I keep thinking about the rating because I loved it til I came to the end. I had to lower my rating but still feel like most people will love this book. It’s definitely worth reading. I’d love to see more thrillers from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.