My Thoughts: This book was addictive. I could have devoured this book in one sitting if real life didn't get in the way. I quickly became invested in figuring out the truth behind the lies and secrets. But it was the paranormal touch that often gave me chills and had me occasionally glancing over my shoulder too. Jodi and her friends took different approaches to find themselves outside their identity in the "Thrashers" group, and it was interesting to see how that affected them as friends. Such a fun and thrilling read, and I am so excited to know there's a second one. Whether you loved high school or hated it, you're not going to want to put this one down!


What you will find:
📔Drama, Drama, Drama
📔YA Thriller
📔Paranormal Activity
📔One of Us is Lying Vibes

3.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this YA novel about a group of friends being blamed for a classmate's apparent suicide. I liked the characters and the relationships between them. There were not one-dimensional evil stereotypes (as is often the case in these kind of YA books), rather believably insecure and flawed although the envy of their classmates. As always, I enjoyed Soto's writing.

I was hooked from page one! This was so well written and kept me engaged the whole time. I was getting Pretty Little Liars vibes, and loved it.

From goodreads -
-Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.

But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.-

I think the characters were very well written, and the plot flowed well. It was easy to digest and see where the story line was going. I did half way guess how it would end, but the last paragraph and epilogue THREW ME THROUGH A WALL. My jaw was on the floor with how this book ended.

It's a who-dun-it that leaves you on a bit of a cliffhanger. All the loose ends are tied up except for the will they won't romance and the supernatural element. If you want a book that finishes with a nice little bow, maybe this one isn't for you. It's a decent book; the writing and the main character is likable, but the other characters don't have many redeeming qualities. It's still an entertaining read, and I finished it in a few days, 3.25 stars!

This is a fantastic YA thriller that consumed in one day. The story is engaging it keeps you turning the page to the end and this is a must add to your library catalog.

I like young adult fiction and I like Julie Soto, but this book did not work for me. I did not find any of the characters very likable and therefore I struggled to get through the story. Still, Julie Soto is a talented writer and this may just be a me problem.

Wow what a fun ride this book was! Literally could not put it down! Julie Soto has become an favorite author of mine and I am so grateful for the early copy to enjoy!

Pretty little liars meets 13 reasons why. But with a twist.

This book was INSANE. The ending? I literally had to reread the last 2 chapters to full take in what I just read. I am awestruck, confused, surprised, and also need to know more because WHAT.

The characters in this book felt SO real. I felt like I was living through this with them. Completely invested and submurged myself into this book. I will be thinking about this for so long.

🪦 ┊ “ the night i died was supposed to be my prom night. ”

The Thrashers is about a group of popular and (mostly) rich friends dubbed the Thrashers, named after Zack Thrasher, the so-called leader of their super exclusive circle. The other members, Paige, Lucy, Julian, and Jodi orbit around him, and fiercely guard the group from newcomers. After Emily Mills, a girl that desperately wanted to be a part of the group, kills herself, strange (possibly supernatural) events begin to unfold around them.

One thing this book does a really good job of is holding your attention until the very end. I read it all in one sitting because I was so interested in finding out just what was going on behind Emily's death. Everything with the detectives, the unsettling texts from an unknown number, and all the near death experiences, made me all the more interested.

The Thrashers were all pretty distinct and felt multi-faceted; they made both kind and cruel choices that made them feel all the more human. I kept going back and forth on whether I liked a character or not because they were just so unpredictable. The side characters were all right, though we didn't get as close to them as we did the Thrashers. I think we were supposed to like Oliver and Nikita but they didn't really feel like good friends. ALSO, the main detective was such an asshole. She spent pretty much all of her screen time trying to get Jodi to crack by insulting her and telling her that she's the obvious outlier of the group.

Okay, I think I can officially say that Julie Soto can do no wrong. She writes Kylo Ren inspired love stories, YA thrillers and even has a highly sought after Romantasy I am about to devour?! She’s just flexing at this point 😆😍 (I haven’t read Rose in Chains yet but I’ll be back with that review soonish)

Expect 👉🏼 YA thriller, Cliques/Cool Kids/High School Bullies, Ghosts, Who is Guilty, Friendship

Jodi is only cool by association. Her best friend Zach Thrasher is rich, popular and the one every girl wants. She exists on the outskirts of her cool-kids, friend group. But she’s a Thrasher. Everyone wants to be a Thrasher. When Emily—a girl who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher—dies, things start to change. Weird things start to happen and a journal surfaces. Jodi will have to figure out who is lying and where her loyalty belong.

This book was so much fun. Ask me if I turned it off once while I was listening… I didn’t 😆😍 I loved figuring out what was going on. I didn’t trust anyone!

I thought Jodi could have picked up on things a little quicker but if I were 17 and in her shoes, I probably would have been a little clueless too 😆

The whole friend group was such a fun dynamic. Add in some possible super natural elements and it just ups the ante.

My only complaint is that I would have loved a little more romance *hint hint* *cough cough* 👀🙏 because I think it would be sooooo good. I am hoping we get more of this world in the future.

4.5/5

This was a GOOD TIME! Julie Soto proved she can be a versatile author and I am here for it. The Thrashers felt like a thriller with lots of teenage drama and some other elements and it really is addicting. These characters are so morally gray (we love) and there is a lil romance that I found myself routing for. Definitely recommend this one — so much fun. I predicted some of the twists but it didn’t make it any less enjoyable.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!

Ok, here me out. I absolutely loved this book. Like, could not put it down. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong. I thought I knew things, but I was wrong. I did not want this to end. When it did end, I was so sad. I do wish there had been a little more... "closure" but I suppose that's how she wanted us to feel in the end. Overall, I highly recommend. It was my first book by her, and I can not wait to read more. READ THIS!! Read it NOW!

I was so excited to get this ARC because I love Julie Soto’s contemporary romances, and this book was a fun change of pace from my usual reading! It took me until about 30% to really get hooked, but after that the story really took off. I would have gobbled up this YA book in high school, and even as a *ahem* 30-something adult, I still found it unputdownable. This book captured a lot of nostalgic and relatable elements of the high school experience. The thriller storyline was compelling and at times genuinely creepy. And what even was that ending?!?

4 ⭐️

TW: suicide, abuse, alcoholism

Thank you to St Martin’s press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital reader’s copy of The Thrashers!

This was just okay. It’s very YA (which makes sense, given that is the genre), but the plot was just all over the place. There are snippets of jealousy between the group of five friends, hints of romantic connections, and lots of melodrama (alcoholic parents, parents’ death, etc) and all of that distracts from the mysterious death of Emily Mills. The book started out fast-paced but lulled in the middle and it became a bit of a chore to pick it up. The story did finally pick back up in the last 70-80% though. Gossip Girl/Cruel Intentions/PLL vibes throughout. Easy read overall.

This was one of the best books I have read in 2025. I was hooked from the first moment and it kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would come next. Jodi was an excellent protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her character growth. I also thought that the rest of the Thrashers had great character development and I liked seeing each layer be peeled back and reveal just a little bit more. This book was twisty, mysterious, and a little spooky and I enjoyed the supernatural elements like the medium and Ouija board. This book is perfect for teen readers looking for a good mystery and I can't wait to recommend it to my patrons when it comes out.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is a sizzling, fast-paced romance that crackles with tension and undeniable chemistry. Set in the high-energy world of professional hockey, it delivers the perfect mix of sports, passion, and emotional depth. Soto’s characters are vibrant and complex, making every interaction feel electric. If you love a sports romance with heart, heat, and just the right amount of angst, this one’s a winner.

This was a good little YA thriller.

It deals with some tough themes and handles them very well.

The story is highly suspenseful and I really needed our MC to make different friends. I was worried for her!

Expect some real heartbreak, a little sweetness, and some great thrills.

Excellent read!

* ARC via Publisher

One of those "i can't sleep i must know what happens" kinda books.

We follow Jodie and her group of friends, the thrashers, popular kids, ofc. & them reeling from the loss of a classmate, Emily. She committed suicide and the thrashers are at the middle of the investigation.
I don't want to say too much bc you must read it for yourself but it's giving 13 reasons why/paranormal vibes, and that's all I'll say! I also wanna note that while it's YA, you kinda forget about that as you're reading! Bc you are legit so hooked.

I loved the way it ended, like praying there's a 2nd book to this series bc it left it open with so many questions!!

Thank you Julie Soto and Netgalley for this ARC, all thoughts are my own. <3

INCREDIBLE! Also very spooky. I absolutely could not put this down and was thrilled to get the eARC. I was on the edge of my seat so many times and couldn't believe how things turned out. Don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers! I'd recommend to mature readers in my class & adults too!

Julie Soto's YA thriller debut, The Thrashers, delivers a blend of Pretty Little Liars intrigue and 13 Reasons Why gravity, seasoned with a hint of the paranormal. This high school drama is an exploration of social dynamics that illustrates the power of hidden secrets.

Plot -

We're dropped into the world of Jodi Dillon, a member of the coveted "Thrashers," a five-person clique orbiting around Zack Thrasher, the undisputed king of Helvetia High. When the tragic suicide of Emily Mills casts a dark shadow over the school, the Thrashers find themselves under the microscope; accusations of bullying swirl, forcing Jodi to question her loyalty and confront the unsettling truths within her own circle.

Themes -

Soto deftly navigates the treacherous terrain of adolescence, tackling weighty themes like suicide, bullying, and the relentless pressure to conform.

Thoughts -

As an adult reader, The Thrashers evoked a powerful sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of series that I read as a teen, like The Clique (oh the good ol’ days). Jodi's relatable struggles—balancing academic pressure, navigating family complexities, confronting body image issues, and grappling with her place within the social hierarchy—resonate deeply.

Some of the character actions occasionally stretch the bounds of believability, which did pull me out of the story a bit, however, this is true for my experience with most teen-centric dramas.

This first installment lays a solid groundwork for the sequel – I’m looking forward to more time in this world with these characters.

Thank you to the team at St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing me an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.