This is a YA thriller from an author who is an auto-buy for me. I love all the California references in her books, you really feel like you’re there!

The story is about the popular group in high school and the people who want to fit in. The nickname students gave to Zack Thrasher and his friends was Thrashers and Emily Mills wants to be one. When she dies tragically, the Thrashers are accused of being involved and that’s when things heat up. This is a really unique story that will keep you on your toes!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Thrashers
By Julie Soto

@juliesotowrites has once again proven why she is an auto buy author for me! I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of The Thrashers from @netgalley and when I tell you I DEVOURED this story, I mean I read it in the car in 4 hours! I could not put it down...

The Thrashers is a story about the popular high school group and the people who want to fit in. Emily Mills was that girl who wanted to be the newest Thrasher... The nickname students gave to Zack Thrasher and his friends. When Emily dies tragically and the Thrashers are accused of being involved and strange things start happening, it's up to Jodi, Zack, Lucy, Paige, and Julian to figure out what's going on.

Books that take place in Sacramento are quickly becoming favorites, and Julie's books are at the top of the list. It's always so fun to recognize the names of places and the geography in the stories. It immerses me more into the story. Reading The Thrashers was almost like being there with the group, even though I never would have been a Thrasher in high school. And it was nice to read that in Julie's Soto's version of Sacramento, Burr's is still open and serving its tasty food!

#sacramento #netgalley #juliesoto #thethrashers #books #reader

This was such a fun teenage drama mixed with a supernatural mystery! I also loved the subplot of tension filled romance between two of the characters. I really enjoyed following these characters as their navigating the aftermath of a previous “thrasher’s” suicid. It was an addicting, fast pace read that you want to binge in one sitting!

I love Julie Soto’s writing and the way she tells her stories. Since she has only released romance novels I was a little skeptical about a YA thriller but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The ending I thought could have been more intricate but it was an overall satisfying ending!

4 ⭐️

4.5⭐️!!!

I was hooked throughout the book!! The only thing I struggled with was the ending, I needed more of the epilogue 😭😭

Sign me up for any books written by Julie 🫡 I’m obsessed


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

The Thrashers was a really great YA mystery/thriller book, and I had an absolute blast reading it! I was hooked from the very beginning, and basically read the entire thing in one day because I just couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened next. And honestly, I never truly knew where the story was going to go, right up the very end.

And the ending!! Wow, my jaw DROPPED at the very last page--kudos to Julie Soto for that one!

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an engrossing and engaging mystery, one that leaves you unsure who's version of the story you should actually trust.

Woooow!
First of all if you haven't pre-ordered this book, go do that right now kthanks
Second of all, I will read anything and everything written by Julie Soto

I loved everything about this book! Thriller/mystery books will ALWAYS have my heart. The fact that Julie can just jump into this genre so seamlessly is amazing. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. I got major "I know What You Did Last Summer" and "Final Destination" vibes from this which for a 90's girly is EVERYTHING.

I thought that conclusion was great BUT I would love more haha I NEED MORE

Big thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to experience this world!

The Thrashers is Julie Soto’s YA debut and it was a FUN read that brings the reader to New Helvetia High and into the inner circle of a group of friends known by others as The Thrashers. On the night of Prom, Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to become one of the Thrashers dies and an investigation unfolds, bringing into question how The Thrashers were involved. The book brings the reader on a twisty and mysterious ride, complete with a compelling ending leaving the reader wanting more.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books, NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

TW: Suicide, Bullying

Julie Soto has knocked it out of the park with The Thrashers. This book will make the top reads list of 2025 for YA and Adult audiences alike. This book would be a fantastic read with multi-generations, great for book club, and very topical to the world we live in today! Meet the Thrashers. “Either you’re in or you’re out!” Navigate the halls of New Helvetia High with this group of five friends through the drama, mystery, and suspense as we learn what happened to Emily, a classmate who died on prom night! I could not put this book down and would love to see it as a series on Netflix. I enjoyed previous books by this author and can’t wait for others to read it so we can talk about it!

#netgalley #thethrashers #juliesoto #booktok #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookworm #reading #bookreview #bookaddict #booknerd #readersofinstagram #bookcommunity #romancebooks #bookblogger #romance #bookshelf #bibliophile #reader #bookrecs #kindleunlimited #booksofinstagram #bookclub #bookphotography #booklovers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All the stars, always and forever!

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is nothing short of phenomenal. Suspense? Check. Mystery? Check. Drama, impeccable writing, unforgettable characters? Check, check, and check. Julie Soto is an absolute queen, and at this point, I’d happily read her grocery list because everything she writes is pure magic.

From the first page, she grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go. Every twist, every reveal, every perfectly placed moment of tension had me on edge in the best way possible. The way she weaves heavy themes into the story is nothing short of masterful—delicate yet powerful, raw yet deeply compelling.

The characters transported me straight back to my high school days, bringing out all the emotions of figuring out who we are, where we belong, and how damn hard it is to navigate the chaos of adolescence. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Julie Soto book without the yearning man—utterly devastating in the best way, meeting and exceeding every possible expectation.

And that ending?! Amazing, unsettling, and absolutely nerve-wracking. I need a follow-up because I refuse to accept that this is where the story ends. Julie, if you’re listening—please, for the love of all things good, give us more.

This book was everything, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you love a story that keeps your heart racing and your mind spinning, The Thrashers is an absolute must-read.

This isn't a genre I read too often, but when one of my favorite adult romance writers dips her tow in YA Thriller, I jumped at the chance to read it ahead of publication. I've loved each of Julie Soto's published books (and have been a fan of her fanfic writing even longer), so I was pleased to see that the the knife-edged-wit and brilliant banter translated genre.

This story centers around a group of 5 popular high school students ("The Thrashers" who are named for Zack Thrasher their seemingly kind and gregarious jock leader), and begins several months after the suicide of another student, Emily, who was just outside their orbit. Was Emily really bullied to the point of suicide, or is there more at play under the surface? Who is sending vague but menacing text messages to several of the Thrashers all summer?

What I enjoyed about each of the teens is given a fully realized character instead of relying on thin caricature of "the mean one," "the pretty one," "the smart one," etc., we understand their home lives and anxieties and motivations for the most part which makes it all the more frustrating as you start to realize how nearly every character, including the the posthumous Emily is an unreliable narrator. The pacing is slow burn, but action and tension definitely build throughout the text. Elements of romance sneak up on you when you least expect it, and you're on the edge of your seat right through the ending.

While this has a YA distinction, I would recommend this for older teens and adults due to the darker themes of suicide, mental health, drug and alcohol use, alleged sexual assault etc.

Thank you to Wednesday Books|St. Martins Press, NetGalley and Julie Soto for the opportunity to provide this review. The Thrashers comes out May 6th 2025.

Fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and Riverdale: this is your newest binge-worthy must read with a paranormal twist. I was feeling so many feelings throughout this book. Pity, upset, disgust, anger, sadness, confusion, fury… I wasn’t even sure I liked it in so many moments because had me so messed up. Had to treat a headache from clenching my jaw so bad. It’s that wild!

Julie Soto, hats off to you (bows reverently to the queen) I’ve been a fanfic follower of this writer for years, and this one did not disappoint! She tackled so many relevant social issues like cliques and complicated friendships and bullying and crushes and complex communication. Each characterization and family dynamic remained relevant to the plot development. Chef’s kiss

*DO NOT skip the epilogue*

As usual Julie does not fail me, ever! The Thrashers had me on the edge of my seat. I was pretty much hooked from the get go.

I think Julie did great with blending a culmination of genres mystery, suspense, paranormal, and sprinkled some romance in as well.

A YA book, but one I just couldn’t get enough of. Loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e arc. Be on the lookout for the awesome book PUB Date 05/05/25

I loved this book! I’m not always a horror fan, but this compelling story, more suspenseful and creepy than actually scary, had me hooked from the first line and I just had to know what was going to happen. I devoured it. Soto did a masterful job revealing information slowly, building suspense and raising the stakes, making sure you never quite knew what was real and who you could trust. The character development, psychological depiction of how hard it is to be a teenager, to want to be liked, to have life throw experiences at you that you’re not ready for— these teens are nuanced, fully realized, flawed but loveable characters. Overall, it’s giving coming of age 80s teen movie meets paranormal thriller meets true crime meets 13 reasons why.
I will be recommending this to my students and adding it to our classroom libraries—and hoping for a sequel!!

The five of them are the cool kids on campus - The Thrashers - and everyone wants to be friends with them or hang out with them; however, that all changes when one classmates suicide is linked to possible bullying connected to their group. Focusing mostly on Jodi's POV, The Thrashers explores the toxic culture of high school cliques, bullying, and throws in a bit of a supernatural twist as the group fears that Emily's spirit may be coming back to haunt them for their choices.

Although this book felt slow moving at first and a bit choppy, props to Soto for thinking outside the "expected" is it a book about mean kid clicks, imbalance of power, a mystery to unsolve, or a parnomoral plot? So many moving pieces all fitting together like one of the puzzles Jodi and Grandma put together?

This was a one day read for me, it had me hooked!!!

Jodi is the protagonist of this book and she is part of the group ‘ Thrashers’, which are the popular kids at her school. When one of their so called ‘friends’ ends up dead, there is a finger pointed at the Thrashers. When secrets and alliances come to light, who is Jodi to trust and what really happened to their friend?

Review:
I was not expecting this to be so enthralling! All the secrets and revelations had me desperate to know the ending. I will say, there was some creepy, paranormal happenings, which if you love that, this is for you! ( although personally for me, not the best for reading at midnight 😅)
This book perfectly depicts the struggles of teenagers. Trying to fit in with the popular kids is hard, but maintaining their friendship and staying on their good side is even harder. Also shines on the real life adult consequences of actions.
There were so many unexpected twists throughout the book, my guesses were changing constantly, and the ending, WOW, it gave me chills!! Prepare yourself for a wild unexpected cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Julie Soto for the eARC

Ahh Julie Soto does it again!! It is heavy, emotional, moving, thrilling, stressful and suspenseful! The reveals are *chef’s kiss* and the manipulation is chilling. The way I cried and the way I got chills were phenomenal, it made up for the silly names (New Helvetia and Yaris, and Burns-like-the-Simpons).

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. I have been successfully and wholeheartedly Thrashed.

As Julie Soto's first entry in YA, The Thrashers (set to release on May 6, 2025) is truly a think piece on the complexities and inner working of high school friendships set to the scene of a thriller.

The Thrashers is a group of five teenagers—in their senior year of high school—who have been friends for years. The group is named after Zack Thrasher who is seen as the leader and ultimately the catalyst for most events that take place. To most, he is cocky, arrogant, and—like most eighteen year old boys—he doesn't fully understand how his actions affect others. Julian Hollister is Zack's right hand man and is known for being the mean one. He's all rich kid attitude and no remorse. Lucy Reed and Paige Montgomery are both gorgeous and practically exude popular girl energy at all times.

And then there is Jodi Dillon—the protagonist and the seemingly odd one out. She doesn't exactly fit with the rest of the group. It plays in to her insecurities and how she begins to question her friends when Emily Mills, a girl who The Thrashers only deemed an acquaintance, kills herself on the night of prom. Her journal is entered in as evidence and slowly begins to convict each member of The Thrashers with a crime—except for Jodi.

The story is fast paced and left me on the edge of my seat at all times. As more unravels about Emily, another disaster strikes the group and leaves them haunted—in more ways than one.

I really liked the light supernatural elements that add a fresh layer to an otherwise common thriller. Flickering lights, a seance in a rose garden, visiting a medium. These are all things that elevate the story in a way that made it far more compelling for me.

What really captivated me about The Thrashers was Jodi's relationship with each of the members. Julian has hated her for years, always casting her out, but as they investigate Emily's death, his feelings for Jodi change—almost as if his emotions are intertwined with the case. Zack has been Jodi's best friend since they were kids but his charge in connection with Emily begins to split them apart. Zack has been hiding things from her and when she starts to figure it all out, it becomes evident that she didn't truly know Zack at all. Jodi isn't as pretty as Paige or Lucy and the whole school knows it. Both girls are so focused on themselves that they fail to see how Jodi is thrown into their misdeeds.

There are moments in the story where I began to think a different member of The Thrashers was the problem or the reason behind Emily's death but by the end, I realized the story is more about the dangers of cliques and teenage selfishness than it is about placing the blame on one particular person.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It differs from what I normally read but was a thought-provoking and refreshing take on YA thrillers.

The Thrashers by @juliesotowrites

Either you’re in or you’re out.

The Thrashers was a type of book I don’t normally reach for, but had to check out because Julie Soto duh. It was so good! It kept me up late at night because I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen next. It’s a paranormal thriller featuring a group of high school kids who have their world rocked after a weird, obsessive girl they’d been hanging with but also bullying ends her life. I really enjoyed and recommend this one!

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks for the arc!
Pub date: 5/6/25

I flew through this book due to the suspenseful writing style! Perfect voice and tone for a thriller--every event kept me guessing and kept the suspense building. I was a little put off at first by the epilogue but it kept me thinking afterward. 4 enthusiastic stars and I will be on the lookout for the next title from Julie Soto!