My rating: (5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! I have to admit, at first, I planned to skip this book (I love watching teen dramas but rarely read them), but when I saw it on NetGalley, I just couldn't resist 😅 And I have no regrets! At first, I thought the book would be in the style of Elite, but it actually reminded me more of Pretty Little Liars and Thirteen Reasons Why. It's got that Before I Fall book/movie vibe.

It's the perfect pick for buddy reads or a book club—I can personally attest to that! (I read it with my friends who also got the ARC.) While it's aimed at a teen audience, I'm sure older readers will find it just as engaging.

The plot blends teenage drama, the intensity of a thrilling mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. I absolutely loved how the story unfolded, with its morally gray characters, unexpected twists, and a reference to Forget Me Not (was it really, or am I imagining things?).

I'm sure this book will stay on my mind for a while, and I can't wait for the next novel from Julie Soto!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

If this book doesn’t top all of the YA bestseller charts upon release I will be shocked.

The Thrashers is about a teen girl, Emily, who dies at her own hand and the popular group of kids are implicated in causing her death. Jodi Dillon, a member of that group that doesn’t exactly fit the mold, tries to find the real story behind the accusations that arise after Emily is gone. This book is a mystery thriller with so many twists and turns and even some paranormal vibes thrown in the mix. It was a fast, fun read and I quickly became invested… there is SO much going on in the book. Not only the current drama with Jodi’s friends, but Jodi also has past and present family drama and a surprising love interest to boot.

Fans of Julie Soto will eat this up, despite it being firmly YA. I will say that I wasn’t a fan of the epilogue although others may love it. Enjoy the ride because this book is a trip!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read an early copy.

I’ll admit that I was a little nervous going into this book, as it’s not my go-to genre. I’m too sensitive for anything too dark. However, Julie Soto is such a great writer that I knew I needed to read it.

The Thrashers did not disappoint! Julie Soto’s ability to tell a story is top notch! I spent the whole book engaged in what was happening, and trying to unravel the mystery with Jodi.

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!

4.25 stars: this is the type or book where I was reading it at every chance I got. Waiting for food to cook, reading while I ate, maybe a little when I shouldn’t have been reading….but this story was so entrancing I couldn’t look away! The writing style made it impossible to not binge this in one or two sittings.

Thrashers is a deeply intriguing, provocative, and thought-provoking YA novel that delves into the complexities of high school hierarchies, the costs of belonging to a friendship group, and the weight of triggering subjects like suicide, stalking, obsession, self-destruction, and body shaming.

The story opens with the tragic suicide of Emily Mills, a 17-year-old girl, on her prom night. She is found drowned in a bathtub, wearing her gown, with her final words etched into the scene. This haunting beginning sets the tone for the rest of the novel.

We are then introduced to the Thrashers, a group of privileged, highly popular students who dominate their school’s social scene. Led by Zack Thrasher, whose last name defines the group, they draw others into their orbit like bees to honey—or, more accurately, like moths to a flame. Zack has a habit of discarding people once he grows bored or finds them no longer useful, often ghosting or humiliating them to the point of erasure.

Jodi Dillon, the protagonist, stands apart from the rest of the Thrashers. Unlike her wealthy, stunning friends Lucy and Paige, Jodi doesn’t come from money, isn’t conventionally beautiful, and lacks the talents that define her peers—be it acting, sports, or academic excellence. She lives with her alcoholic father, who can be cruel when drunk, and has essentially raised herself. Despite her insecurities, Jodi is certain of two things: she has been in love with Zack Thrasher since childhood, and she is terrified of being “trashed” and cast out of the group like so many others before her.

Jodi had a complicated relationship with Emily. While not exactly friends, she tolerated her and even visited Emily’s home to study, enduring her intrusive questions about her personal life. Meanwhile, the rest of the Thrashers relentlessly teased Emily, who was desperate to join their group and obsessed with Zack. Emily’s hopes of sharing a limo with the Thrashers on prom night were shattered when she took her own life.

When Emily’s diary is discovered, it reveals that she was raped by one of the Thrashers and that her suicide was the result of relentless psychological bullying by the group. This revelation sparks a criminal investigation, and the Thrashers—Paige, Lucy, Julian (the group’s bad boy who often targets Jodi), and Zack—find themselves facing the possibility of jail time based on the evidence in Emily’s diary and witness testimonies. Jodi is thrust into the spotlight, forced to testify against her friends.

As the investigation unfolds, Jodi begins to question everything she thought she knew about her friends and their dynamics. Did they go too far in tormenting Emily? Were they hiding secrets from her all along? Was she, too, expendable, destined to be “trashed” like Zack’s other victims? And perhaps most unsettling of all: what if the boy she loves isn’t the person she believed him to be?

Overall, Thrashers is a slow burn, and at times the mystery feels drawn out, with the pacing lagging in the middle. The big twist, while impactful, is somewhat predictable, which initially made me consider rating the book three stars. However, the way the story wraps up—coupled with an award-worthy, chilling, and utterly jaw-dropping epilogue—completely changed my mind. I rounded my rating up to 4 stars (the ending alone is worth five stars and gave me goosebumps). The novel is thought-provoking, realistic, and mysterious, leaving a lasting impression.

I highly recommend Thrashers for its gripping narrative and perfect conclusion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this intriguing YA mystery’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Chills. This book is going to haunt me. FIVE STARS!

Who knew Miss Soto had this up her sleeve? What else is up there? Hand it over! The mystery? The suspense? The paranormal goosebump inducing “I do believe in spooks” energy?

The Thrashers is like Heathers, Final Destination, Pretty Little Liars, 13 Reasons Why and Veronica Mars all got together and threw a party.

Is the Veronica Mars portion that one of the characters IS Logan Echolls? Yes. My mind will not be changed. And I adored it. Cue *Momentary Thing” and someone start writing some more Logan Echolls inspired book boyfriends for my 17 year old crush. Thanks, much appreciated. 🖤

The Story: The Thrashers are the elite group at New Helvetia High. They are everything everyone wants to be. Too bad no one else stands a chance of ever becoming one of them.

When Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies - the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As police investigate, and eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear - Emily isn’t done with them yet…

*Trigger warnings are not provided at the start of the arc at least - hopefully they will be added prior to publishing; suicide, abuse, addiction, death of a parent. None of these are spoilers, we know most by page 5/6. Take care of yourself. ♥️

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Wednesday Books, St.Martin’s Press, Julie Soto and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. The Thrashers comes out May 6, 2025.

Ohh this was an addictive book to read! Twisty, cliquey high school dynamics surrounding a death of a fellow student and the group accused of causing it. I flew through this one in a few hours!

the minute I saw that the arc was available for this book, I requested it. I’m not normally a big fan of thrillers but it was Julie Sotos so of course I needed to read it. I adore her books. It took me about 15% of the book to get super invested but once I was, it was impossible to put this book down.

I am a romance girly through & through so I ate up the romantic subplot. I was extremely invested in the dynamics between “the thrashers”, I loved how everything would unravel and go to shit. It was so fun reading the book & piecing everything together side by side with Jodi.

this book nailed the insecurities that teenagers go through with friends & navigating their way through high school. it definitely shows how everyone has a different perspective on themselves than the people around them.

definitely at this book to your TBR, even if you aren’t really a thriller fan. I don’t think I’ll be able stop thinking about this book.

thank you to netgalley and publishers for the e-arc!!

what a epilogue!!! this book fully takes you on a ride of twists and turns, plus unexpected revelations. i would say it really picked up at the 30% mark for me, most of the beginning was really introducing this giant cast of characters. after 30% or so, it just kept me on edge the entire time. these characters were going THROUGH it, it almost felt final destination-ish!

besides so much of the suspense of trying to figure out what exactly happened to emily, there was so much just about the unraveling of this “tight-knit” group, doubt creeps into the sincerity of their friendship, and you see insecurities and self worth come into play (which i feel is so relevant in a young adult novel).

also there is a little romance subplot which builds up as the intensity of the investigation into the thrashers builds up as well. by the end of it, i was completely hooked and the epilogue had my jaw on the floor!!

be prepared for a little spooky, a little suspense. and a lot of mystery. i need more thrillers by julie, this was such a fun surprise!!

I Found Julie Soto from a dramoine fanfic group. Read a couple of her books, they've been banger after banger so far and this one is no exception! YA, much less thriller is definitely not my go to genre but I was hooked the entire time. At no point in time did I really know what was gonna happen next, and I was so invested I finished this one in around 24 hours! Could not stop! Great palate cleanser if this isn’t your genre too. The ending of the epilogue though ?!?! I NEED MORE!

thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books& Netgalley for the Earc!

YA thriller - I loved every moment of this book - I couldn't put it down. I wanted more!!!! That ending was mind-blowing! I need a sequel I want to know what happens next!!!!! Really great thriller - grabs you right away.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

**Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto**
**3.5 stars**

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Julie Soto for the ARC of *The Thrashers.* While I did enjoy aspects of this book, I don’t think I was the target audience. This is very much a YA murder mystery with a classic friend-group dynamic, which I likely would have loved about 20 years ago.

That said, I did appreciate the supernatural elements woven into the story, which added an intriguing layer to the mystery. While I probably wouldn’t reread this book, I still admire Julie Soto’s writing and will absolutely continue reading her work. Her romances are top-tier, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

I’m not always a huge thriller fan but I am a sucker for a YA thriller/mystery so as soon as I saw Julie was writing one I knew I needed to read this! This book was so good, solidified that I will read anything that she puts out.

I was hooked from the beginning (literally binged it in a day). I really enjoyed the pacing of this and the inclusion of supernatural elements. It had so many twists I didn’t see coming and I really grew to love Jodi as a character.

I loved how it ended and it had me wanting more! I would love to see novellas in other characters' POVs, especially Zack, Paige or Julien! I would also love to see more of Zack and Jodi’s friendship before they became the Thrashers!

If you’re a fan of Veronica Mars or One of Us is Lying, you’ll definitely love this book!

I could not put this book down. I ignored my family, took longer lunch breaks at work so I could read, I devoured this book! And then the epilogue hit. What??? Julie Soto is a master, and I need a sequel! 5 stars

Boy, oh boy, does Julie know how to write a book. I have absolutely DEVOURED every book Julie has written (to my knowledge), and I've been obsessed with every single one. I "one more chapter"ed myself until 1 am reading this book (as a mom of 3 that very rarely happens). I've learned that YA thrillers are my absolute favorite way to read a thriller. I have so many questions, and @willreadfortreats got yelling text messages from me freaking out about this book. There's gonna be another one, right?? Because that ending ANSWERED NONE OF MY QUESTIONS. I loved this book. I've been reading so many great books this year, and I'm OBSESSED with Julie. I'll love her until I die. Forever an autobuy author! I can't wait to read Rose in Chains in July!! Huge shoutout to @netgalley for BLESSING me with this ARC!

I will read anything Julie Soto writes, and The Thrashers is no exception! While this YA thriller is a departure from her usual adult romance, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The story is packed with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t put it down. The ending has been living in my head rent-free—seriously, is there going to be a sequel?! Julie Soto has proven once again that she can master any genre she tackles. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to have an arc copy of this amazing book. Wow. This was so good. I could not put it down. The mystery, the thrill, the ethical dilemmas this brought up, the barely there but soooo good romance, everything. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It made me want to root for everyone and no one at the same time. I need there to be another book so I can get more of these characters! Very well done.

This book had me captivated from start to finish. If I had to describe the story, I would say it’s like a mix between Pretty Little Liars, One of Us is Lying, and Burn for Burn, but it always felt original and fresh instead of being derivative or like a copy of any other book. The writing was excellent and the way the story unfolded was riveting to read, a psychological thriller with so many twists and turns I was left guessing the whole time and I genuinely didn’t know how it was going to end but I was so curious and desperate to find out. The characters were all well written too, with the kind of emotions, problems, and regrets that felt true to life and raw in a way that left me feeling everything along with them. The pains and doubts in their friendships and the slow build of a relationship between two of the characters was so well done I was devouring the pages to find out what would happen next.

Even the inclusion of supernatural elements in the story felt real in a way that never undermined the feeling that this story could be happening right down the street from me, and in fact the way story was clever in how these supernatural parts appeared I was unsure the whole time whether there was actually a haunting happening or if it was just the characters making it all up in their heads up. That is until I got to the twist in the final chapter which I never saw coming but left me shook. Overall this was everything I could've wanted from a psychological thriller and I would say this is easily one of the best YA books I’ve read in a long time.

JULIE SOTO????? I'm going to need another book right now. I'll even take a novella, PLEASE. That ending had my jaw on the floor, I so desperately need more of Julian and Jodi. My heart is genuinely shattered, this was insane. Everything about this book was just perfect to me: the FMC, the found family, the writing style, the mystery, the supernatural elements, the setting, THE CRUMBS OF ROMANCE.... don't even get me started.

"And she wondered what it was they were doing, and if it was wise to let him crack her chest open a second time, just to see if he fit inside.” Julie Soto really just changed the brain chemistry of my brain in a single sentence.

This book hooks you in from the first page and doesn't let you put it down until you are down with and feeling like an empty shell of a person. This is a YA mystery/thriller done right, it had some twists that I didn't see coming and kept me on my toes. I loved the whole cast of characters and the relationship dynamics between one another. One one hand, it was entertaining drama about the rich kids in school, but it also explored other complex feelings about friendships and how when you're a teenager you can drift apart from your friends and it feels like your world is ending. I truly felt that pain deep in my chest. And so in regard, this book does feel more character driven than plot driven, but fear not the plot is there and boy does it get juicy.

Y'all need to go pick this book up as soon as it releases, trust me you're not going to want to miss this gem. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, what a ride! This was excellent! This book is the perfect mystery for fans of Karen McManus and Kara Thomas. The twist at the end was an added bonus.