After devouring Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Story, Julie Soto became an instant auto-buy author for me. I've adored everything she's written. When I heard about The Thrashers, I was beyond excited. And let me tell you, she did not disappoint.

The story centers on Jodi Dillon, a girl on the fringes of the elite high school clique, the Thrashers. She never truly feels like she belongs, and her outsider status becomes increasingly precarious following the tragic suicide of Emily Mills, a classmate who desperately sought acceptance into the group.

As the investigation into Emily's death unfolds, tension escalates. The discovery of Emily's journal, filled with unsettling accusations, casts suspicion on the Thrashers and thrusts Jodi into the spotlight. Then come the anonymous messages and the eerie coincidences. Is someone messing with them? Is it guilt or paranoia? Or is Emily not as gone as they thought?

The Thrashers is the best YA thriller since A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Soto masterfully blends psychological suspense with the complexities of teenage social dynamics. The uncertainty keeps you on edge, questioning what's real and imagined.

I especially loved Soto's character work. They are deeply flawed and morally ambiguous, and some are deliciously creepy. Soto's skillful writing made me care about them regardless, especially Jodi and Julian. I was invested in their fates even as I questioned their choices.

The audiobook was so good. Eva Kaminsky's and Jesse Vilinsky's narration captures the fear and creepiness perfectly.

I listened to this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. The ending left me in shock; my mouth was agape. I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for gifted copies in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the YA debut novel by Julie Soto, with the audio narrated perfectly by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The Thrashers are the elite friend group at New Helvetia High. Jodi doesn't quite fit in with the others, but because she's been Zach Thrasher's best friend since childhood, she's in. When Emily Mills, who was desperate to be a Thrasher, dies, the whispers about the friends grow loud. When Emily's journal comes to light and the detectives close in, Jodi has an impossible choice to make - protect herself or betray her friends.

There is a lot to unpack in this story, but especially the way many young people treat others, especially in this social media age when it's easy to hide. There are also triggers of suicide, stalking, obsession, classism. Throw in some mystery, twists and turns, and a few supernatural events and you have a gripping story! While no one is a shining example of how to behave in this book, I couldn't help but feel for Jodi who has had a tough life and is trying to do the right things, while keeping her feelings about Zach to herself. The narration was spot on and it will transport you back to your own high school days, when being friends with the right people seemed paramount. Great book!

I was really impressed with this book! I had avoided Julie Soto's previous work as it leaned more into the YA romance genre, but this is mystery/thriller set at a high school is much more my speed. I really like the way Soto creates her characters. The titular Thrashers seem like something that could come out of any high school, and while this book leans into some supernatural elements, it feels mostly connected to the reality of cliques and popularity in schools everywhere.

I love a good YA thriller and this one kept me engaged! Narration was well-done and the story itself was entertaining. I recommend this book for thriller lovers that need an easier-to-digest read!

3.5⭐️
16+
👻Supernatural
🍾Underrage substance/alcohol abuse
‼️Lots of F words

I enjoyed this one a lot more than what I was expecting! It’s very much like 13 reasons why. Emily committed suicide and FMC Jodie was the one who was kind to her out of the group of high school mean kids. An investigation starts up, making everyone curious about what really happened.

The main characters were really developed and I appreciated how fleshed out they truly were!! The book was fast paced and constantly kept me on my toes.

I didn’t love the constant alcohol/drug use, especially with it being teenagers in high school. Because of that, I’m unsure I’d read again and I probably would recommend to people only looking for this type of vibe. But I did really enjoy my reading experience on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review 💖

This was my first Julie Soto read and boy what a ride it was! I went into this with mega high hopes and wasn’t let down for a second, This genre isn’t one I normally read but I wanted to give it a shot based on how great the synopsis was and I am SO glad I did! I absolutely reveled in the intrigue, suspense and tension of it all and found myself unable to put it down because I had to know what happens next. It’s giving dark academia, everyone’s toxic, trust no one and watch your back. This book made me realize I do love suspense and I need to give this genre its fair share of room on my shelf! I loved theorizing and how often I was wrong because this book is the epitome of the the gasp moment I just love to read. Complex characters, a page gripping plot, its vulnerability, all wrapped up with spot on narration that really increased the feeling of suspense I love this as an audiobook. It also made our Jodi seem all that more real and upped the emotional stakes for me. I quite literally could not ask for more here! Color me a new suspense thriller reader after this triumph!

Thank you to Julie Soto, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC

ARC/ALC REVIEW

The Thrashers by Julio Soto

Thank you Wednesday Books St Martin’s Press for the free eARC of this book and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

SYNOPSIS: “Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in. Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself. But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.”

REVIEW: I LOVE Julie Soto’s writing, and I LOVED this book. What a stellar YA debut! The characters, the plot, the ending…it all worked very well. I think I’ve officially entered my “if Julie writes it I’ll read it” era.

I was absolutely hooked from the beginning of this one and barreled through it. While I’m not usually a thriller lover, I enjoyed this book immensely. Overall, it was a great ride!

Audiobook narrators Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky did a tremendous job, and the overall production of the audiobook was great! It was such a great listen!

The Thrashers is provocative, exciting, and perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. This is a fun, fast read, just perfect for summers by the pool or on the beach!

Publisher: Wednesday Books, SMP, Macmillan Audio
Pub date: 5/6/25

Author Julie Soto has crafted a twisty, YA read. Bringing out the traumatic parts of everyone's high school experience, from the cliques, the friendships, the fear, and the fitting in. This read plays on our emotions, our memories and reality.

Sometimes all you need is a good old YA thriller, and this one fits the bill perfectly. This is full of backstabbing, cliquishness and DRAMA. The writing is really well done and there was a twist I did not see coming. I really liked the protagonist, Jodi. She was real, flawed, but ultimately complex and likable.

I listened to the audio and really enjoyed it. There were two narrators and both did an excellent job with pacing and expression.

Jodi is a very ordinary high school student. Due to a childhood friendship, however, she finds herself as one of the Thrashers, an elite group of wealthy high school students. When wannabe Thrasher Emily dies, and her journal resurfaces, members of the Thrashers are under suspicion and Jodi has choices to make.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for giving me an opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

This was an eventful addictive story from start to end. I was screaming, yelling and crying the whole time.

Jodie is apart of a group called “The Thrashers” consisting of Julian, Lucy, Paige and Zach Thrasher. Their senior year goes completely off the rails when they are accused of causing Emily Mills suicide. The story is like if Pretty Little Liars had some weird paranormal activity and I promise it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Jodie is such a strong main character with flaws that are very realistic and relatable. Her interactions with everyone in the story is amazing. Her insecurities and conflicts only add to the story and to how the reader feels about the rest of the group.

The twists at the end are crazy and all I need to say is Jodie and Julian have my WHOLE heart.

This book reminded me of the early 90s YA, i loved it. It has mystery, paranormal, and thrill. I got the chance to listen to this book and the narrator's didn't disappoint. All those twist and turns keep me on my toes and i couldn't stop listening to it. It does fell like the book leaves you on a cliffhanger, great book.

I want to thank @NetGalley, @MacMillan Audio and @JulieSoto for allowing me to listen to this audio and now i feel like i was Thrashed!

I had a lot of fun with this one. I love a good teen mystery. I haven't read any of Soto's adult fiction, but this made me want to pick up her other books. I was invested in the story from start to finish, and I appreciated that nothing was ever black and white with the story. High school cliques are bad, my friends.

My one critique is that I don't think this book needed the supernatural aspect, or I wish that she'd leaned into it even more. It felt out of place with the rest of the book, and I would have been fine if a lot of that had been left to coincidence. I can't tell if the epilogue was setting up another book, but if it were, I would read more Jodi and Julian.

4.5 stars

I can only describe this book as a mix of Pretty Little Liars and 13 Reasons Why with a hint of Final Destination. The amount of times this audiobook stopped me in my tracks to gasp, I tell you! There were some areas in the story that kind of lulled for me, but then something big would happen and I’d be sucked back in. And that epilogue?!?!?! My goodness, I feel like there needs to be a sequel or an epilogue to the epilogue because it actually left me with MORE questions! This book was such a nice change of pace for me. If you love a good YA thriller, I highly recommend checking this out! The narrator on the audiobook was perfection as well.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this book!

The story revolves around a group of friends in a California high school. It's considered an elite group that is centered around their charismatic friend Zack Thrasher.. Many people, mostly girls enthralled with Zack, want to be members of The Thrashers, but things change when they are accused of contributing to the death of another student - a Thrasher wannabe. Backlash and paranormal events seem to take over their lives and puts their own lives at risk as they try to figure out what really happened. Told through the narrative of one of the Thrashers, Jody, who became friends with Zack in the fourth grade, and now shares him with the other members., and her thoughts of not feeling good enough for the group, as , as dealing with a frequently drunk father.

Part paranormal, part mystery, and completely engrossing and entertaining read. Julie Soto has done it again, only this time with an intriguing YA story.

Audiobook had great narration

An absolutely incredible young adult thriller from Julie Soto! She really did put all of her power in this one and it shows

3.5⭐️ | Enjoyed this thrilling young adult story! If I had to compare it something it reminds me of, I would say the series 13 Reasons why. Julie Soto does a great job at building tension as you anticipate what will happen next.. The Thrashers are in the in crowd & every student wants to be amongst their circle. When a fellow student dies, this group of 5 is under a lot of scrutiny, as a journal surfaces that contains some damaging entires that pertain to this group.

Format: Audiobook
Perfect for: fans of YA thrillers
What I loved: narration, the narrator did a great job bringing like to Jodi & these characters. Writing Style
Length: 10 hours 15 minutes

A good read that makes me interested in more from this author. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

So far, I really like Julie Soto as an author. Her romance has worked well for me so far, and this YA thriller was entertaining and fun. Is it something that turns the genre on its head? No. But it's well executed for its intended audience and it's a solid entry into the genre.

The plot was thrilling (though not overly so, like, my mind wasn't blown), it was easy to read, it makes you want to keep turning the pages, the characters acted like teenagers but weren't stupid, and the drama was juicy. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book, and I recommend it if any of the things I've mentioned here are up your alley.

The narration was very well done and the voice worked great for the story.

The Thrashers are a group of friends at the "top" of the high school food chain. All students want to be them or be friends with them.

Enter Emily. Emily wanted to be apart of the Thrashers social circle until she took her own life on prom night.

It appears to be a closed case, right? Until Emily's diary is discovered. Now the police are taking a closer look at what may have happened between the Thrashers and Emily.

The audiobook for this is fantastic. I loved the narrarator. The suspense in figuring out what actually happened to Emily made it extremely difficult to stop listening. This is labeled a YA Thriller, yet as an adult I devoured it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the very first chapter, The Thrashers pulls you in and doesn’t let go. The audiobook narration is outstanding—each character feels like a fully realized person thanks to the distinct voices brought to life by the narrator and the nuanced writing by Julie Soto. 🎭✨

The story centers on a group of high school seniors in their final year, navigating the messy in-between of youth and adulthood. While it’s a coming-of-age story at heart, it’s also layered with mystery, tension, and some sweet, flirtatious moments that add charm without ever feeling forced. 🎓💬🔍

What really stood out was the emotional complexity of the characters. They're flawed—sometimes painfully so—but that’s what makes them compelling. You may not love all of them, but you understand them. And more often than not, you root for them. 💔➡️❤️

As the plot unravels, the tension builds in all the right places. It’s the kind of story that keeps you on edge (yes, cliché—but true!) and makes the ending feel well-earned and satisfying. ✔️📚

If you’re into character-driven YA with suspense, heart, and a little chaos, The Thrashers should be on your radar. A standout debut with voice and depth that lingers. 🎤🔥

This book was a solid paranormal mystery perfect for YA readers. While I struggled a bit, I know I am not the intended audience. I think this book will be great for teens who struggle with friendships, cliques, and how to know when something feels off or not. I really enjoyed the paranormal elements here, and I think it added originality to the story. While I'll stick with her adult novels from now on, I know that Soto will be loved by YA and adult YA readers alike.