Julie Soto has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors, and her YA debut The Thrashers is equally great! Jodi Dillon is a high school senior who is part of a friend group nickname the Thrashers for their propensity to “thrash” other students when they are tired of their company. Several months before the start of the novel, a girl named Emily Mills took her own life, but now the police are asking questions about bullying and The Thrashers are in their crosshairs. This was such a spooky, unnerving read. The mystery unfolded slowly, and I truly did not know what was going to happen. What else can I say about the Thrashers other than I want more!

4.5 ⭐️ I am quite convinced that Julie Soto can do it all! This YA book of hers drew me in from the beginning and frequently had me wondering how to get out of plans so I could go curl up and read this book on my kindle instead.. I highly recommend and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book!

In this book, we meet The Thrashers - a popular group at New Helvetia High of five friends.. Zack Thrasher is the It Boy, Julian Hollister is the model friend who’s too attractive for his own good, Paige is the girl next door and Lucy is a bit more edgy. Jodi Dillon is the one who feels like she was never meant to be one of them, as she isn’t rich and isn’t as popular or outgoing, but her longstanding friendship with Zack pulled her into the group anyway. But she always feels like she’s the fifth wheel, a bit on the outside of the rest of The Thrashers.

But when Emily Mills, a student the grade below them who desperately wanted to be part of their friend group, dies on prom night… the whole school is talking about The Thrashers and pointing fingers at them. This only intensifies when Emily’s diary is uncovered, detectives have their eyes on The Thrashers, and Jodi is put in a position where she has to decide whether to keep quiet or share what she knows. During this, strange occurrences keep happening, from odd texts from random numbers to weird electrical mishaps. Perhaps Emily isn’t done with The Thrashers just yet, after all…

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this ARC - I enjoyed it so much!! Instagram post will be posted closer to pub date for extra attention :)

I was absolutely enraptured by The Thrashers! Julie Soto’s foray into YA suspense is totally different than anything I usually read (children’s non-fiction in the streets, romantasy in the sheets) but it was well worth stepping out of my usual reading style!
The supernatural elements were so novel, and had me hooked. The characters had depth and were realistic. I stayed up until 4 am to finish the book, and then a while longer to linger on that ending!

Book 2 needed ASAP!

read if you like:
💁🏻‍♀️ high school dramas
👯‍♀️ cliques
💔 obsessions and stalking

summary:
This book was an amazing and surprisingly quick read! It follows Jodi Dillon, a high school senior with a group of friends nicknamed “The Thrashers”. Led by her best friend, Zach Thrasher, it includes her and their friends Julian, Lucy and Paige. They are known for their popularity, but on a darker side, for their ruthless and cutthroat ability to ruin people and “thrash” them out of the group. However, the latest Thrasher wannabe, Emily Mills, was found dead by suicide, and all eyes are on the Thrashers to see what role they played in her death. As detectives find her journal and begin to investigate, Jodi realizes that her friends are the target — and with eerie signs of Emily from beyond the grave, she has to decide — protect herself or protect her friends.

Jodi is a fascinating protagonist in this book. You can picture her as a little emo, a little out of place, but welcomed in this group because of her lifelong friendship with Zack. You feel for her when she has to decide whether to do what’s right and tell the truth, or side with her friends, who are her escape from her otherwise challenging home life. The rest of the characters are far less likable, but I think we can all easily compare them to someone we went to high school with. The plot moves quickly in this, and while some storylines seem a little more unrealistic (especially if you don’t believe in ghosts…), it’s generally a true high school drama. It gets a little dark at times, especially for a YA novel, but the mystery is worth it. I wouldn’t say it’s a jaw dropping thrill at the end, but still a quick and fun read!

Thanks to St Martins Press, Wednesday Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy. Check this book out when it releases on May 6!

As a high school teacher, my biggest question is: where are the adults? Seriously—these kids are out here throwing prom night scandals, getting accused of murder, and possibly being haunted, and yet, not a single guidance counselor is stepping in? Classic YA.

The Thrashers really nailed something I think all educators will appreciate: the way teens make questionable choices. The novel perfectly captures how, despite all the drama, there’s a very real biological reason behind their poor decision-making: their frontal lobes aren't fully developed yet. (Yes, that part of the brain that helps with impulse control, decision-making, and thinking through consequences? Not quite fully functional in teenagers.) So when Jodi, who may as well be a certified crash out, and her friends decide to cover up or ignore the mounting signs that something supernatural is going on? Totally relatable, even if it makes me want to grab them all and give them a "Think it through!" lecture.

The novel perfectly captures the way teenagers balance loyalty, social survival, and questionable decision-making skills—though I’d love to take Jodi aside and remind her that peer pressure is not a legal defense. And then, just when you think this is a classic thriller, things take a supernatural turn. Strange messages, eerie occurrences, and an overwhelming sense that Emily isn’t quite done with them yet. At this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone proposed solving this mystery with a séance instead of, you know, telling an adult.

Julie Soto delivers a thriller that’s part Mean Girls, part Pretty Little Liars, and entirely a lesson in why we should all read the fine print before making new friends. The twists come fast, the suspense is real, and the characters are so deeply flawed that they’d probably fail a group project.
Final verdict? The Thrashers is a binge-worthy, eerie, and darkly entertaining novel.

While the YA genre and books with paranormal elements are not my usual go to, this book still managed to keep me engaged throughout. I feel like the best way to describe this book is a mix between Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale. It follows a friend group through a police investigation after the death of a fellow student. There are many twists and turns throughout and you never quite know what is going on.

This book is a good reminder to be mindful of how we treat people and that you never know how people are perceiving a shared experience.

Please check trigger warnings as this book does include the topic of suicide.

Overall, an engaging book. Since it’s not within my usual genre I am erring on rounding up to 4⭐️since I think people who like this type of book will enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!!!

After a girl named Emily dies by suicide, a friend group called "The Thrashers" become suspects in her case. Did they push her to kill herself? Was Emily bullied? Were they ever friends with Emily?

I am shook!!! This felt like a mix between Mean Girls, Pretty Little Liars and Thirteen Reasons Why, but make it paranormal

This book was trippy. I didn't know who to trust. I couldn't tell if the narrator was reliable. So many secrets! So many twists! So much drama! I was captivated from start to finish and was on the edge of my seat throughout. A highly satisfying YA mystery/thriller. I hope Julie Soto writes more books like this! I love her Adult Romance, but I think I liked her thriller even more!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I finished this book yesterday and I can’t stop thinking about it. The Thrashers has taken over my life.

There characters were interesting and complex and the plot was engaging and kept dragging me back in every time I tried to step away. I really loved the paranormal aspect and being from Sacramento myself, it’s also fun seeing familiar names and places sprinkled in. There were definitely a few “how do you do, fellow kids” moments that were a tad cringe but overall I loved it!

As a big fan of Julie Soto's previous work, I was excited by the news of a new book. The genre is so different from her previous work, so I was a little hesitant at first but as expected, Soto’s masterful storytelling quickly dispelled any reservations. If you enjoyed watching “Pretty Little Liars,” this book is definitely for you! The narrative created PLL-like paranoia, leaving me perpetually questioning the facts of the case and I was constantly at the edge of my seat! I was hooked immediately.

What truly elevates Thrashers beyond a typical YA novel is its incisive but relatable social commentary. Soto delves into the power of unchecked privilege, the pressures of social conformity, and the consequences of individual actions, forcing characters to confront the ethical implications of their choices. I developed so many different theories and found myself feeling gaslighted!

Thrashers is a testament to Soto’s versatility, delivering a gripping and thought-provoking experience that is quite different from her usual genre. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the ever-amazing Julie Soto for an advanced reader copy of this incredible book! All opinions are my own.

I got such big "Heathers" vibes from this book and I am LIVING for it. Julie Soto has delivered every time and she did not skip a beat going into YA. I could not put this down.

Ms. Julie Soto!!! The Amazing Writer You Are!!!

This Novel Was Good From Beginning To End! A Group Of Friends Have A Nickname Called “The Thrashers”. This Group Included Friends By The Names Of: Jodi, Lucy, Page, Julian, and Zack.

Each Character Had Their Own Story And As More Time Has Passed New Shocking Details Were Revealed. Is This Group Capable Of Murder Like Rumored Or Is It Just That? A Rumor?

Follow Along On The Journey Of Each Character As More Details Are Revealed Of A Mystery Death, Mystery Diarty Entries, and Supernatural Events.

This Is A Must Read! Add This To Your 2024 May TBR ASAP!!!

4 1/2 ⭐️
⚠️ triggers: peer pressure, bullying, suicide, obsession, manipulation, drugs, alcohol abuse, paranormal
This narrative is captivating and addresses some profound issues.

It is chilling compellingly.

Jodi Dillion is part of an elite circle called The Trashers, including Lucy, Paige, Julian, and Zack. While her friends are affluent and glamorous, Jodi comes from a different socioeconomic background. She and Zack have been friends since second grade, and although many question her place in their exclusive group, Jodi herself shares those doubts. She harbors a secret anxiety about being "Thrashed," a term that signifies being cast aside by the group once they no longer find her valuable or entertaining.

Emily Mills, who was eager to be accepted by The Trashers, initially had a crush on Zack but eventually became more interested in Jodi. Despite the group's open disdain for Emily, Jodi treated her with kindness. Consequently, when Emily took her own life, her family held The Trashers responsible, but they did not direct the same blame towards Jodi. Following Emily's tragic death, unsettling events begin to unfold. Hannah, Emily’s younger sister, starts to emulate Emily by changing her hair color, wearing her clothes, and attempting to connect with Jodi. Meanwhile, Lucy and Paige experience a growing sensation of being watched. Even Julian and Zack are not spared from the strange occurrences that seem to haunt them. They all feel as though Emily’s spirit is pursuing them.

Will they uncover the truth before they are implicated in Emily’s death? Or will they face the consequences of their actions?

Side note to author: Please consider writing up a follow-up novel. It's that great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

This story had me HOOKED from the very beginning.

I liked that each character had their own struggles and secrets, and despite being such a "close-knit" group, they didn't know everything about each other. The way the mystery of Emily, her death, and diary entries were revealed left you second guessing everything. The plot was twisty and the revelations were perfectly timed. I wasn't expecting this book to have supernatural, ghostly elements but I actually loved them. I think it added an extra layer to the story, but didn't take away from the real-world plot.

I enjoyed Jodi's growth as she realizes truths about her friends and herself, and becomes less dependent upon her friendships with them, and especially Zach.

Jodi and Julian's blossoming relationship was a bit unexpected, but had me rooting for them nonetheless. I really hope there is a second book soon because that epilogue has left me reeling!

Definitely add this to your May TBR!

I am a huge Julie Soto fan and this book is geared to a YA audience and I think they’ll find it very relatable as it encompasses so much in the way of teenage angst, vulnerabilities, hurt and drama.
The Thrashers is the nickname for a privileged friend group which Jodi Dillon is drawn to by way of her childhood friend, Zack. When a new girl enrolls in school and desperately tries to join the group but suddenly dies, secrets and regrets come to light. The book centered on a lot of high school drama including cliques and bullying with a devastating result. While the tone is dark and suspenseful there’s also underlying romance and mystique and quite the ending!
For me personally, I was not the targeted audience but can appreciate that this one will resonate well with a younger adult.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books for this advance reader copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Thrashers is Julie Soto’s first published YA novel and is a thriller centered around the death of Emily, a high school girl, and the possible involvement of the high school’s elite friend group/clique, known as The Thrashers.

This book is definitely a slow burn and I think is not only a thriller (surrounding the details and background behind Emily’s death) but, really a close character study of our main character, Jodi, the friends in the main group of focus here, and Emily. There are a lot of questions and comments raised about the characters’ motivations, secrets, feelings of shame, etc. and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters. As noted before, the book is indeed a slow burn and the tension really slow builds over time. The creepiness and heavy tension of the story is very palpable and I personally enjoyed it. I think some of the comparisons I’ve seen to Pretty Little Liars are accurate and if you enjoyed that show, I think you’d enjoy this book. However, if you are looking for a more fast paced plot with heavy focus on the mystery only, this may not be for you.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and will continue to read anything that Julie Soto puts out! I’ve read all of her published books and loved them all— her focus and ability to narrow in on her characters is just fantastic. I would definitely recommend this book to mystery/thriller fans, who enjoy a deep dive into the characters at hand. I also think this book would be successful with adult audiences and not just YA; I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and can’t wait for more readers to enjoy this when it’s published!

For anyone who loved Pretty Little Liars this book is for you!

I was hesitant at first because I didn't love the idea of a vapid popular exclusive clique that seemed to be guilty. As the book went on and I learned more about them it was just so grey! I wanted to hate them but at the same time Julie humanized them so well that I was also rooting for them and loved them all. I loved the switch that happens between Zach and Julian how one starts off as this seemingly good guy and then his cracks start to show and you realize how broken the facade really is, and then the harsh and seemingly cruel guy who ends up softening and while you don't want to root for him you really really are by the end. I had such an emotionally rollercoaster reading this book, but it was shocking at how viscerally I felt those emotions. It really was a perfect way to give word to what being a high school girl was and is like for so many. The anxiety is tangible and while Emily and Hannah are great "villains" so much of the drama really is from gossip or the potential for hearsay.

This was fine. It reminded me of other bordering school trope mystery/thrillers like the Private series. I don’t think it was anything memorable there was nothing special added to the story.

The Thrashers is an intriguing and thought provoking YA novel. It blends many different topics that are highly relevant to modern day teen struggles and reflect how badly teens want to fit in. I thought the subjects were approached well and felt very realistic. It was definitely a slow burn, but it still managed to hold my attention throughout. I loved the blend of high school drama, toxic friendships, mystery and supernatural twist had me glued to the pages.

The characters were fun to discover and I enjoyed getting to uncover their personality little by little. All of them are flawed and complex, each struggling with their own secrets and pain. They felt real and relatable. There were a few twists and turns, although some were predictable, for me it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, this was a highly entertaining YA mystery/thriller that I really enjoyed reading and kept me flipping those pages until the end.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks, @juliesoto for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I ATE THIS UP. Julie Soto can do no wrong. This was filled with teenage angst and drama, with so many layers of family dynamics and social hierarchies teens deal with. It was cool to see the growth, or lack thereof, within their friend group.

Jodi Dillon is pulled into the glamorous yet dangerous world of the Thrashers, an elite high school friend group, thanks to her childhood best friend, Zack. But when a girl desperate to join them dies and her secrets come to light, Jodi must decide whether to stand by her friends or save herself.

I’m not the target demographic for this and rarely read YA, but I decided to give it a chance since I enjoy Julie Soto’s writing. Unfortunately, The Thrashers was a miss for me. The premise was intriguing and the beginning hooked me, but the execution fell flat. Jodi was such a dull main character. While Emily’s journal entries were somewhat interesting, the supporting characters lacked development and didn’t show much growth. The pacing was uneven throughout the book. Rather than reading like a thriller, it felt more like high school drama which didn’t hold my interest. The suspects at the end were predictable and underwhelming. Overall, I’d recommend skipping this one.