“Get too close, and you’ll get Thrashed.”
I had so much trouble putting this book down, it was that good! This was such a great YA thriller, with a little bit extra surprise in there.
The Thrashers follows Jodi Dillon, who’s about to start her senior year at New Helvetia High, and her friend group, the “Thrashers”. After the death of Emily Mills, suspicions about the friends’ relationships with her start to be questioned.
Jodi was a character that I really related to. She questions her place in the group a lot, especially after secrets begin to come to light. All while trying to navigate school and future college/career decisions.
And that epilogue? I need more ASAP!

whoa.

Julie Soto has been an Insta-buy author since I got my grubby hands on her first published book and I will never look back. This book though is not romance and I am first and foremost a romance reader, BUT...BUT...I could not put it down. I think once I hit the 50-60% mark it was game over - I stayed up until 1:00 am to finish it and then proceeded to re-think and dream about the book the rest of the night.

This book is YA, paranormal, thriller/mystery and I devoured it. I reread the end 3 times and now want to force this book on all my friends so we can gab about it perpetually.

Thanks, NetGalley + St. Martin's press for the ARC.

my first julie soto book and it was amazing. she needs to keep on writing these types of books because she literally killed it with this one. the pacing, storyline and characters were incredible and it was easy to follow through. 5 well deserving stars.

This was such a fun, unexpected book. I went in expecting a mystery, and it definitely fits that bill, but what will stick with me about this book are the small nuances and social commentary that Soto is able to weave into a teenage mystery. There are moments in this book where Soto brilliantly (and sometimes brutally) captures what it feels like to always be the person who put others first but who no one else thinks of first. That feeling of being an afterthought is so tragically portrayed through Jodi’s relationship and journey in this group. But what is so haunting about this book is how even the people who feel like an afterthought in their own lives can unknowingly treat others the same way. It’s a hard and real look at what it means to really know and care for people in the modern world where so much is curated and focused on appearance. What is most realistic in this story is there is very little black and white. The victims are not always completely innocent and the villains are not always completely guilty. No one is all Good or all Bad… as in the real world, everyone is a little of both. And I absolutely adore the splashes (and flickers…iykyk) of the supernatural. The epilogue was especially spooky and fun! This is one of my favorite YA books I have read in a while!

I genuinely don’t know how I feel about this book. I think I’ll be staring at the wall for weeks.

The ending of the book made me so mad but Julie Soto did take me by surprise. I’m not happy about it but she did.

The entire book I was tense, on the edge of my seat, trying to put the pieces together to figure out what was a lie and what was true. I connected with the characters, then they switched up on me. And by the end, the character I hated, then loved, ended up in the worst possible position and I’m so mad about it. What may be shocking is that I don’t feel bad for the girl that died. But once you read it, you’ll understand.

If you feel like reading a book that will have you tense, on the edge of your seat, and give you a newfound fear of ghosts, while simultaneously leaving you so mad at the end of it, I highly recommend this one. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this one, that made me feel the way this did.

February 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Julie Soto is a force to be reckoned with. To be fair I will read anything she writes, but The Thrashers proves that she really has the chops to write for any genre 👑 First of all, thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley! I completely devoured this YA thriller that drops you right back into high school. If I had to describe the premise in one sentence, it would be ‘a modern take on The OC and the fallout after a classmate’s suicide’. Let’s be real—who doesn’t want to read about wealthy teens behaving badly? The plot gripped me from the start and has so many twists and turns as the mystery is unraveled. Julie Soto always writes tension so well and this book is no exception. She also is able to strike a balance between writing an entertaining story and likable main character while also writing some very haunting and disturbing scenes. She really transports the reader back into the headspace of being a teenager while exploring themes like popularity, bullying, and identity. Also, I know this is a thriller but can we please take a moment for the way Julie Soto writes yearning men? Phewww. 😅 Lastly the ending packs a punch that leaves you so unsettled 💀 Overall, for her first foray into the thriller genre this is masterfully done! I do recommended checking trigger warnings because there are several very heavy issues explored in this story (e.g. suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence, statutory rape, underage drinking/drug use just to name a few).

This YA thriller about a popular group in high school that faces scrutiny after the suicide of a classmate might sound like a story you've heard before, but this book takes you to entirely new places. Julie Soto perfectly captures the desire to belong, to be included, as well as the idiocy of teenagers, while still humanizing many of their mistakes. It's a fun ride, despite some unevenness in the storytelling, with a shock ending that is worth every minute of read time.

I’m gonna be completely honest that I don’t even know where to begin with my review of this book. I spent some majority of the book trying to figure out what was going on and what was happening, but that same confusion is what kept me turning the pages and determined to figure it out. So in that sense, the book was completely engaging. The story about a young girl who has taken her own life because she is bullied by the group of popular kids is a tale as old as time. What makes this different is that one of the members of the popular group has a conscience and finally has her eyes opened to what the rest of the world already sees. It has an interesting supernatural element that you’re never really sure if it is real or not and as the true colors of the various characters, come out, you realize that not any of them are people you’d want to be friends with or would want your child to be friends with. As someone who teaches high school students the meanness of teenagers is never far out of my world and this book really drives home how mean kids can be to others. I definitely felt like the book was a little too long, but that seems to be the standard with YA books these days, it seems that there has been a recent trend of adults, reading these books, and so I think the authors have changed their writing to do that, and I wish that they would not, because my students who are reluctant readers who might really enjoy this book are not going to sit down to read a 400 page book. I definitely will be buying this one for my classroom if only because I want some students to read it so I can talk to them about it.

I’m sure this book will be for others, but it was not for me.

What I liked:

It was a quick read

What didn’t work for me:

To be honest, I was so bored for this entire book. I didn’t care about the characters, the mystery, the plot - all of it was not for me.

I was not shocked at all by the ending, which is odd for me. I never see twists coming, but I saw this one from a mile away.

The pacing felt a bit off at times

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

First, Julie Soto, the author that you are…once again, another fantastic read!!

This is pretty different from my normal reads and I almost wasn’t sure if I would even enjoy it before I picked it up. I was promptly proven wrong and all preconceived notions of this book went out the window. I was incredibly addicted to this and I finished it within 24 hours!

The writing flowed very well and the dialogue felt incredibly natural. It truly felt like a real group of friends interacting and incredibly well-written in the perspective of teenagers in high school. The dynamics were perfect and the drama felt incredibly realistic. Some parts of the relationships felt frustrating and annoying to read but, this honestly added to the plot as it felt true to how a teenager would reason through things if in a similar situation.

There was about 1% of a romantic subplot and I am already banging my head against a wall for there not having any more. I needed more of the chemistry and relationship than I got and I’m pretty sad about there only being that tiny part of it within the book.

Also, the ending is superb. I was not expecting it and I felt I just got whiplash reading it. I think there absolutely needs a sequel because I have so many questions I need answers to.

Conclusion: everyone should run and preorder this so we can get a sequel!

Another 5 star read!

I consider this book an absolute must read. Once the plot got going it had me feeling all kinds of ways and wanting to know what would happen next. Think Veronica Mars level of teen drama and mystery. The best part - you won't be able to predict the ending! I still have chills thinking about it. My only wish now is that there is a sequel. Enjoy!

Thank you St Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Net Galley for this ARC.
Very high 4 stars for this read! It was so spooky and reminded me of Pretty Little Liars in all the best ways. I truly did not know where it was going and the supernatural elements kept me guessing.

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers is a rollercoaster of twists and turns that kept me on my toes from start to finish. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going, the story would shift in an entirely unexpected direction. The way she plays with the “is it or is it not paranormal activity” element is masterful—just enough eerie moments to make you question everything, but never so much that it feels over-the-top. And the characters! Jodi, Emily, and Julian are all so well-developed, each with their own complexities and emotional arcs that made them feel completely real. Their relationships, struggles, and growth had me fully invested. This may be a hot take, but I could NOT stand Zack. I found him childish and emotionally immature.

That being said, I’ll admit the first twenty pages were a bit slow for me, but once the story found its rhythm, I was hooked. And that ending? I had to close the book and take a moment to process. Without spoiling anything, let’s say my jaw was on the floor. I would love to see a bonus epilogue someday to know what happens next after THAT EPILOGUE. Julie Soto delivers an unforgettable reading experience that blends suspense, character depth, and a touch of the supernatural in a way that feels fresh and unpredictable. If you love a book that keeps you guessing until the very last page, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I could not put this down-just kept turning pages faster and faster to see what happened until way too early in the morning. The characters held my attention with their actions because they read like real young adults, slang and poor decisions included. I would recommend this to multiple ages. Teens and adults will enjoy working through the events of the evening in question.

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers is a rollercoaster of twists and turns that kept me on my toes from start to finish. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going, the story would shift in an entirely unexpected direction. The way she plays with the “is it or is it not paranormal activity” element is masterful—just enough eerie moments to make you question everything, but never so much that it feels over-the-top. And the characters! Jodi, Emily, and Julian are all so well-developed, each with their own complexities and emotional arcs that made them feel completely real. Their relationships, struggles, and growth had me fully invested. This may be a hot take, but I could NOT stand Zack. I found him childish and emotionally immature.

That being said, I’ll admit the first twenty pages were a bit slow for me, but once the story found its rhythm, I was hooked. And that ending? I literally had to close the book and take a moment to process. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say my jaw was on the floor. Julie Soto delivers an unforgettable reading experience that blends suspense, character depth, and a touch of the supernatural in a way that feels fresh and unpredictable. If you love a book that keeps you guessing until the very last page, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I LOVED this book! It’s giving I know what you did last summer but PG and I’m obsessed. I loved all the vibes and characters. They all felt real which doesn’t always happen for me with YA books. But they felt like teens just trying to get through the shit you know?

First thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Julie Soto fan, so when I heard she was dipping her toe in the thriller genre I was really excited. I'm not sure if it was because this is a YA, but this book didn't hit for me the way I wanted it to. I enjoyed the story overall, but the pacing and characters were a little all over the place for me.

We follow a group of friends through summer break and their senior year, after an acquaintance of theirs has taken her own life. There are lots of small twists and turns, but no major GOTCHA moments for me.

Overall, if you're a fan of Julie and a fan of thrillers, I would recommend this for a quick fun read.

Julie Soto always delivers, and the Thrashers proves it. She can get me to read absolutely anything because she will always give you incredible character dynamics and vibrating tension.

This keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Jodi and her friends, The “Thrashers”, are best friends, but have a reputation. When Emily dies on prom night, the Thrashers face their own demons while being accused of causing Emily’s death. Themes people-pleasing, insecurity, hard home lives and friendship make you want to keep reading and reading until the end.

I finished this book in an unhealthy amount of time 😅, but I absolutely could not put it down. The Thrashers is about a popular group of teens and a girl who wanted to be one of them and subsequently dies. Her journal is recovered by the police and secrets are revealed. I absolutely love Juli’s writing style. The stakes were high, the plot was twisty, and the characters were neither “good” nor “bad”. The romance subplot was unexpected, but I really enjoyed the dynamic. Also the epilogue left my jaw on the floor and I absolutely need a sequel. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC.