🕵️‍♀️ Just finished The Thrashers by Julie Soto and WOW. Obsession, secrets, lies—and a twist I did not see coming 🔥. Think One of Us Is Lying meets Pretty Little Liars but darker 🖤. Bingeable, addictive, and that epilogue?? Don’t. Skip. It. ⚠️

Content warnings: suicide, bullying, drug use, alcoholic parent — take care of you first ❤️‍🩹

Picture yourself curled up on a rainy night, a fire flickering, a warm beverage and a thrilling book. This is that book you read,

I simply have no words on how perfect this book was for me. A six star read, no questions asked.

First up, we meet the Trashers. A group of popular teens thrust into a world of lies, deceit, and peril post the suicide of fellow classmate Emily Mills. As the story progresses, our storyteller and fellow Thrasher, Jodi Dillon, slowly begins to realize her friends, fellow students, family, and even Emily’s death is not what is exactly on the surface (even on the surface of life and death)

Something I love about Julie Soto’s writing is how complex each character is. For example, start out believing that Zack is a lovable and charismatic kid just swept up in false accusations. Then the story shifts that makes you question everything, including the entire history of the Thrasher group. Every person has flaws that can change everything you thought was right.

I have to say, the ending was possibly the best part of me. That dang epilogue will consume my thoughts for weeks, I can just feel it.

If you are a lover of YA, thrillers, semi-supernatural and even dark academia, please pick up this book when it released. It is thought provoking and honestly, even with the supernatural aspect, very realistic to me. Also, audio book readers, I was gifted the audio book and Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky do a completely fabulous job.

I do want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Wednesday Books for the audio book. All these thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Julie Soto book, and I picked it out solely from the title and vibes. I don't think I even read what it was about. I like to go into books blindly... and I'm glad I did! It took me a few minutes to get into the story, and at times the pacing felt a little off to me but I never wanted to stop.

If you liked 13 Reasons Why, PLL, Elite, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder -- this might be a book that interests you.

The death of Emily Mills is being investigated, what at first was thought to be a suicide is now being treated as a murder case. What does this have to do with New Helvetia Highschool's most powerful clique 'The Thrashers'?

I guess that's the question everyone has.

Emily's found diary puts the group under a microscope, making them the main suspects - Will 'The Thrashers' survive the scrutiny or will they unravel under the accusations?

Drama, mystery, secrets, lies and.... the paranormal?!?

You're in for a wild ride, with one of the best epilogues that will have you wishing for a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I will probably listen to this book multiple times. Praying we hear more from these characters. So good, but also so creepy. I know I really liked a book if I still loved it even with paranormal aspects--because those are not my fave. If Julie Soto writes it, I will read it....multiple times.

5/5 ⭐️ ! Omg, I had a great time reading this book! I honestly didn’t want it to end! It’s been a while since I’ve read something that had be obsessed! I loved it! I can’t wait to read another book by this author! I really liked all the characters and the plot! There were so many times where it was intense and suspenseful! I am definitely buying a physical copy when this book releases!

Whoa that ending, I usually don’t read Ya thriller but this one had me glued to the seat. Did not expect to see all the twists! Netflix go ahead and make this a movie. The narrator did an amazing job

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for an eARC and @macmillan.audio for an ALC.

Julie Soto is the queen of… ya thrillers?? And romance?? And also fantasy?? Like queen what can’t you do!!?

I ended up listening to this one and I’m so glad I did. The narrators did a fantastic job and it felt like a movie in my brain!

I’m not going to try and say this is the most inventive or mind-boggling thriller but it was incredibly entertaining and I was pretty invested from the very beginning. I enjoyed the characters and unraveling the web of what happened. The epilogue was honestly kind of insane?

Truly, I will read anything Julie writes from now on and forevermore!!! 🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC!
As someone who reads a TON of thrillers this was pretty good for a YA thriller!
I've never read a book by Julie Soto and I fully enjoyed this one. A narrator can make or break a book and this one was super well done.
If you watched the first season of 13 Reasons Why, you will get the feel of this book but WAY less graphic.
The Thrashers are a tight knit group pf friends. Emily wants in, she's been obsessed with Zach since she saw him. The group has been doing everything they can to keep her away. On prom night she ends up dead and now the group is being questioned after her diary pops up incriminating them. This was full of twists and turns and I did not want to stop listening to it for a sec!

The epilogue had me gasping. Very well done!

The audio was phenomenal I loved the narrator she was fantastic and so easy to follow along. Clear and understandable.

Thrashers is a darkly compelling dive into the seductive and sinister world of high school popularity, privilege, and secrets. Set against the backdrop of New Helvetia High, the story is about the Thrashers, a glittering, toxic clique of power players who are as feared as they are admired. Jodi Dillon, an outsider on the inside, tethered to the group only by her childhood bond with Zack Thrasher, the golden boy with a shadowy edge.

The story captures the anxiety and thrill of teetering on the edge of belonging, especially when belonging comes with a cost. Emily Mills’ death becomes a chilling catalyst that peels back the shiny exterior of the Thrashers, exposing a darker truth beneath their curated image.

Part Gossip Girl, part Pretty Little Liars, and tinged with thriller background , Thrashers is a biting commentary on power, complicity, and the haunting consequences of silence. It’s not just about who did it, it’s about who allowed it, and why.

4.5 read for me. Thank you NetGalley and Julie for the early access to read and review this story

Are you an adult who likes Young Adult books especially one with drama, mystery, and surprises?! The Thrashers has it all. And the audiobook was amazing to listen to. I couldn’t stop listening - while I cleaned, drove, cooked, all the time. The Thrashers are a group of high school rich kids who everyone wants to be friends with. Jodi is the only odd person to be included. I guess when the leader is your best friend, then you’re automatically in the popular group. Then there’s Emily - wants to be in the group so bad but no one wants her there. Well maybe Jodi does. Sadly, Emily dies and there are so many questions around it. Did the Thrashers have something to do with it? Did Emily’s journal give the police answers? Jodi wants to know, especially if one of her supposed friends is involved. Check it out on May 6th! Thank you MacMillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

🎧I enjoyed this audiobook. Reminded of a mix of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. {Mostly} rich popular teens called the Thrashers, centered around Zack Thrasher, whom everyone wants to befriend. Emily is obsessed with Zack and will do anything to become part of this elusive group. But she ends up dead in her bathtub on prom night.

We get an inside look into these friends, their secrets and how they are each responding to Emily’s death. And some feel they are being haunted by her. From bad dreams, flickering lights and even seances leading to possession. What really happened to Emily and who is telling the truth?

The epilogue was so revealing!

The narrators is a great job bringing each character to life and engaging the whole audible experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook copy.

4.5⭐️

Lots of teen drama. Great narration. I couldn't put thus fiwn. Ghankd to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

this book was really fun but I hated all the characters! I was eating it up and then they started to show their true colors... which I suppose was the point of the book and I started to dislike it! the book really does intrigue and suck in the reader to continue reading it. the ending left it open to continue to be in this world... would definitely read any sequel!

I know I am the outlier here, but I couldn't get into this. It didn't feel like anything new. I just thought it was ok.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Emily has committed suicide and her group of “friends” are investigated for bullying her. This story follows those friends, particularly Jodi, and what led to Emily’s death. This story gives MAJOR 13 Reasons Why vibes, so if that book wasn’t for you then this won’t be either.

Was Emily bullied? Were the entries in her journal true? Did Emily even really kill herself? There were a lot of questions through the book and the end wraps them all up in a nice bow. It was a good story, but not as memorable as 13RW.

Thank you to Julie Soto, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the listening review copy!

This one made my tummy hurt my anxiety was so bad 🤣 so so good though! Very twisty turny and had plenty of “no f-ing way” moments! The narrators really did a fantastic job

Fun page turning
A group with teens a elite friend group hiding secrets and one girl Emily committed sucide on prom night
But why? Is she hunting them ? Or who
her journal was found and it unravels did she do it or was she murdered and why
What happened to Emily

Wanting to fit in is something everyone goes through but when someone takes it to a whole new level people can become mean or threatened. And when your friends are accused of bullying you also start to question your friendship and how do you fit in the group, secrets start to uncover.
I enjoyed reading the Trashers, one moment I thought I knew who was behind the accidents but there was more to it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

In case anyone is wondering, I will read anything Julie Soto writes. This is also a fantastic audiobook that will hold your attention and keep you driving, doing chores, or whatever hobby you choose to keep your hands busy. It’s fantastic, thrilling, juicy, and a little bit heartbreaking.

Synopsis:

“Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.They’re everything everyone wants to be.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.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Stakes—As someone who was in high school during the height of the OG Gossip Girl mania, I will forever be attracted to books about elitism in high school, friend group dynamics, and adolescents facing real world consequences for the first time.

The Mystery/Thriller elements—I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t see the twist coming at the end.

What Didn’t Work:

I think this was due to me listening to the audiobook vs reading with my eyes, but some of the flashbacks were hard for me to follow and I needed to backtrack. Like I said, mainly a me problem but something to be aware of!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

suicide, alcoholism, bullying, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, toxic parent, grief

I am used to reading Julie's romance books and was excited to see her release a YA thriller. This felt like an homage to 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and '13 Reasons Why' with some supernatural elements, which I enjoyed. This is a great release for the summer as its a quick read and very compelling right from the start.