My jaw is ON THE FLOOR. Ms Julie Soto does it again. I really mean this with my FULL CHEST. SHE. NEVER. MISSES.

I never read mystery / thriller. I mean NEVER. I typically don’t love the genre, but if Julie writes it, I’m reading it. And man oh man am I glad I did. This story had me glued to my kindle all day until I finished the whole thing.

How Julie wrote this story kept you just enough on the edge. Yes, I was able to guess some things, but there were definitely things I did NOT see coming. The twists and turns were written so beautifully in a way that kept you intrigued but not so exhausted from going back and forth. The story hooks you on an intellectual and emotional level, and even though high school is so far in my rear view, this book had me relating to these kids and was fully invested in getting to the bottom of it all.

I don’t want to get into the details in case I slip on any spoilers, but even if you’re not typically a mystery / thriller lover (or if you are!), pick this baby up. 10/10 recommend.

What a wild ride!

Short Synopsis:
When Emily Mills starts attending New Helvetia High, all she wants to do is be part of “The Thrashers” - the group of five popular kids named after Zack Thrasher - who basically started the group. But unfortunately for her, things don’t go her way and she commits suicide on prom night.

My Thoughts:
The DRAMA. I don’t read a lot of YA Thrillers, but can I just say I’m glad to be out of high school? 😆

This was such a bingeable read with all the drama that made you want to keep going to find out the truth. I almost always prefer thrillers on audio, and this was such a good one. It really elevates the suspense level.

If you’re a fan of A Girl’s Guide to Murder or Pretty Little Liars, you’ll gobble this one up.

What You’ll Find:
Mean girls
Pretty Little Liars vibes
Paranormal
YA Thriller
Bullying

This is not your regular Julie Soto book. This is YA to the core with mystery and spirits. It opened up like a murder mystery and as the book unfolds Jo wanted to find out the truth and protect her friends. Only to realized, the very people whom she wanted to protect may not reciprocate her feelings for their friendship as she thought.

By all accounts, Jodi should not have been one of the popular kids, but by default and her wanting to be ‘special’ to Zach so much that she held on. Little did she know, the entire group all felt the same, that they too are holding on, they too are all insecure about their standing in the group.

First off, love-love the pacing. Not too much lingering, details to help move things along. Though I would’ve love the details come together sooner and more instead of little morsels still dripping in at the end. Mystery typically not my genre, but this one hit just right.

The audiobook was interesting, it had one narrate as Emily, and the rest from Jodi’s pov. Both are well known and did an outstanding performance. I would’ve love more of a duet situation since there’s quite a bit of Emily in the book. But this turned out well.

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin Press for the ARC

WOWOWOW. 5 stars, I need 10 more of these right now. What a way to enter the YA genre.

The story begins with Jodi in the summer going into her senior year, hanging out with her friend group nicknamed The Thrashers after Zack Thrasher. The golden boy, the one every girl is hopelessly in love with - including Jodi. Jodi has been best friends with Zack since she was younger, and there are definitely times where she feels like an outsider among her own friends. Though they're trying to enjoy their summer, something dark looms over their head: a girl who had inserted herself into their friend group, Emily, committed suicide the night of prom. While the Thrashers are taken aback by her suicide, they chalk it up to being just a tragedy...until weird things start to happen, like mysterious texts from unknown numbers. Then Thrashers are charged with harassment, except Jodi. As Jodi works to uncover why she was the only one spared the charges, she finds herself with more and more questions about the people she thought she knew best, all while danger lurks around every streetlight.

Me 🤝 being scared more by YA thrillers than adult thrillers (for some reason). I genuinely enjoyed this so much and couldn't stop reading it. I think there was a perfect blend of knowing what was going to happen and the story being twisted on us. The story pulled me in and held me the entire time because I NEEDED to know what happened. It plays into the spirit of being in high school - having friends, but sometimes feeling like an outcast, the high school rumor mill going a million miles a minute, secret crushes and hurt feelings. I loved that Julie Soto branched out into YA and I hope she writes more stories like this. Also THAT EPILOGUE!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley!

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this arc!

This is my first Julie Soto book and I don’t regret it. I don’t usually dip too much into the YA genre but sometimes for thrillers I don’t mind and Julie did not disappoint. This was super well done!!!!

Feeling like the odd one out in a friend group is typically a universal feeling. Adding a dead body to the mix doesn’t help.

Julie Soto knocks it out of the park with her YA debut about a group of high school seniors known as The Thrashers to their student body. When one of their classmates ends up dead on prom night, the group are thrown into the middle of a police investigation and everyone is hiding something.

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I genuinely couldn’t put this one down, so definitely sit down with a drink and some snacks for a one sitting read.

I loved so much about our main characters and their dynamics. I wasn’t a “cool kid” in high school so it’s always so intriguing to read about kids drinking, partying, and doing drugs like it’s a normal occurrence. But even though I couldn’t relate to their choice of entertainment, I could absolutely relate to feeling like I wasn’t good enough for my friends. Soto takes that concept and really channels what it means to be loyal to your friends versus yourself versus the truth.

I also loved the mildly supernatural spin on this as well I felt like it was done really well and didn’t necessarily go overboard.

I still have questions! The ending seems almost like there’s more to the story?! Julie!!!

Definitely pick this one up if you like YA thrillers!

4.75/5 stars!

4.5 ⭐️

Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars & Euphoria-- a high school girl, Emily, commits suicide and all eyes are on "The Trashers" as being the group of students responsible. Plenty of secrets will be revealed as The Trashers are investigated. In fact, the police aren't the only ones who seem to have eyes on The Trashers. There's a feeling that someone else may be watching them. Is it Emily haunting them or something/someown more sinister?

This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. Story is full of suspense and secrets. A major page turner with twists coming out in the e second half of the book. The ending rocked me! Like whoa! The supernatural elements gave the story some horror elements which is always a plus for me. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jodi is Zack Thrasher's best friend, the person she always put above herself and the rest of their friend group. But after Emily Mills, the girl who wanted in on the group, ends up dead, the group must come to terms with what they do to outsiders.

This book was amazing! Here's what I loved:

Jodi: I really liked her characters. She's conflicted for so much of this book. Her thoughts on being left out really hit hard at times. I also liked the little romance-ish story that she had. I wanted her to make the right decisions and rooted for her.

The thriller of it: There were so many heart-pounding scenes that kept me wanting to read! It's not really a mystery per se, but there were some things that kept you guessing to what kind of secrets the characters were telling.


All in all, this is a really good YA thriller!
A top read for the year for sure.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

This was so good! Just what I was looking for in a "teenagers-solving-murder-mysteries" story. I've really enjoyed Julie Soto's adult novels, and this YA was great! I saw a review that said it was a mix of Thirteen Reasons Why x Pretty Little Liars vibes, which I think is spot on. I couldn't put it down until I finished it!

First, I want to give a huge thank you to NetGalley and Julie for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was absolutely incredible! I devoured it in one sitting as I simply couldn't put it down.

The story centers around a group of five friends, the "Thrashers," who are suspected of bullying a fellow student to death. It's a thrilling, suspenseful ride with a touch of the paranormal. The book is full of secrets - some kept, some revealed. I found myself constantly second-guessing what was true and who could be trusted.

Julie has done an amazing job at crafting both the setting and the characters in this book. I felt as if I were walking alongside Jodi and her friends and caught up in their world. I’m 28 but felt like I too should be worrying about college applications and the implications of trial. The sense of uncertainty was palpable, making it all the more exciting. The pacing was spot on, and there were no unnecessary filler pages. Every single page kept me hooked, and I couldn’t stop reading.

Overall, a fantastic read and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone!

I read this in 24 hours, I literally could not put it down. There is not a dull moment in this book- it is constant action and secrets and so scary I absolute loved this! If you are a thriller girly- this is a must read!
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Julie Soto for making this ARC Read Now on
Net Galley!!

A reader theorizes and Julie laughs.

I’m not usually a YA or thriller reader, and I’ve never wanted to reread any that I have read, but wow I need more of this. Ended up reading the last half in one sitting because I could not put it down. I needed answers *insert meme of Sheldon Cooper*

The complexity in the story telling is something to be studied. I’m just in awe of her character building, her deep understanding of humanity and the ability to use that to write such complex and fully dimensional characters. And use the complexity of the characters to drive the mystery. And I know this is a contemporary so the world building isn’t that heavy but I’m still fully in the Sacramento she wrote. All the little details, like having a character put empty grocery bags into the empty bag that holds all the other bags lol she’s so good at making everything feel real.

If Julie has a million fans, I am one of them.
If Julie has one fan, it is me.
If Julie has no fans, I am dead.

So. Read this book. Even if this isn’t your usual genre. You will not regret it.

To whoever approved my NetGalley request, may the other side of your pillow always be cold and may all your Tupperware containers always have their corresponding lids.

This was fun for a YA mystery. The story was layered and written well.. Great blend of mystery, character development, and suspense.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars

I definitely enjoyed myself with this book, as Y.A. mystery/thriller is my fav niche genre, BUT I am so confused by the ending LOL.

This book comes out in about a month and everyone should preorder it now. It was so good. It was one where I really just wanted to grab my popcorn for the ride. I enjoyed the characters and pacing. Lot.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

This book! Julie Soto is such an incredible storyteller. I saw that this ARC was available through NetGalley and I just had to grab it because Soto has become an auto-read for me.

While this YA book is categorized as mystery and thriller, Soto’s undeniably perfect romance writing shines through in an epic slow burn that Veronica Mars fans would die for. She gifts us with a Logan Echolls-coded lovable asshole, leaving me giggling with anticipation at every sarcastic, banter-filled interaction our MC has with him.

The beginning 50 pages or so of the book were slow-going, but once the excitement picked up, it was a roller coaster ride to the finish. I must admit, I read this book in one sitting, staying up until 3 am because I just HAD to know what happened next.

Unfortunately, the book did leave a lot of unanswered questions for me, which is why I wouldn’t consider it a perfect 5 stars. I thought the paranormal aspects of the story were intriguing but I found the epilogue of the book to truly shift our genre off its axis, and it honestly felt more like a cop-out than a good explanation for everything that occurred. I understand that the twist we learn in the epilogue deliberately creates a level of uncertainty, doubt, and paranoia about all that transpired in the book, but the choice felt a little lazy. The only caveat I have for this opinion would be if the epilogue was written in such a way to allow for a sequel that would delve more into the possibilities of what such an ending means for our characters and the events that we saw play out. Otherwise, it left me unsatisfied because there were too many holes that are now just able to be “explained away” by the twist.

All in all, this book was so much fun and felt reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars with the exciting way that all of the flawed characters’ truths are revealed. If you love thrillers and teen dramas, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I was super excited to read this early and it definitely lived up to my expectations! All of the twists and turns were so fun and I never knew who I could trust! Julie Soto is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me. 5 stars

Julie Soto’s ability to write across genres is DIABOLICAL. This impressed me beyond belief. I was in a massive reading slump, and upon starting this, I could not put it down. I was reading it at work, in my car, in bed, desperate to find out what happened. YA mystery is not always my thing, but this just w o r k e d. I love Julie’s writing and her ability to write such genuine, complex characters and relationships, and this was no different. Also, Julian Hollister? Is she kidding? I LOVE HIM, YOUR HONOR. More of this, please please please.

An elite friend group become the people of interest after a classmate suddenly dies. Secrets come to light and Jodi has to decide will she betray her friends or protect herself.

The perfect YA thriller. I was sucked in, submerged, consumed and riveted with the character arcs, plot and whole premise of the book. This has just enough to make your heart race and enough thrill to make you reconsider why your lamp just flickered.

This will be another top book of the year for me. Thrillers, FaRo and Romance: is there anything Julie can’t do?! (no.)