Who loves Julie Soto?
I do, I do!!!
This was just as amazing as I had hoped for and I encourage everyone to get wrapped up in the drama that is The Trashers!
Drama, mystery, drama, found family, drama, romancey bits, drama, and did I mention it's got drama?
There is so much going on in this book, and yet, Julie manages to keep it all in a nice easy to devour flow.
Much love to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for my ARCs!

So…I started this audiobook at my 5 pm walk and had it finished by 11:30 pm the same day (I listened at 3x speed).

I got so drawn into this story. It’s been a while since I’ve read such a good YA thriller. The story is told from Jodi’s perspective, who is a member of an elite group of high school students called The Thrashers. She’s not sure if she belongs and she was definitely a related high school narrative. Interspersed with Jodi’s narrative are journal entries from Emily, a student who died at the beginning of the book, giving her history with The Thrashers.

Also, there is a paranormal element in this one that I wasn’t expecting. I’m usually not a huge fan when that happens, but this one just worked somehow…and the epilogue was amazing!

The narrators, Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky, did such a great job. As I mentioned, I listed to this one at 3x speed, and everything still sounded smooth and clear.

Highly recommend this one for fans of YA thrillers. This releases on 6 May 2025. A giant thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for a free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5⭐️
THE THRASHERS
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery
📖 352 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🚔 📔😱💬🛁⛓️‍💥🕵🏼‍♀️👻💡🎭🔥💊
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/6/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ single POV
◽️ diary entries
◽️ mediums & seances
◽️ mysterious texts

💜𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💜

Thank you @juliesoto @wednesdaybooks @netgalley @macmillianaudio for the #gifted copy!

I absolutely devoured this!! It was everything I love in a gripping YA mystery. It had the addictive energy of a high school drama series, blending the emotional pull of ONE TREE HILL with the dark, twisty mystery vibes of 13 REASONS WHY. From the very first page, I was hooked & genuinely didn’t want it to end. The teenage angst, tangled friendships, & slow burn romance gave it the perfect mix of heart & suspense.

Told mostly through Jodi’s single POV, with a few diary entries & past memories layered in, the story felt intimate & emotionally charged. Secrets, lies, & hidden motives are scattered throughout, keeping the tension high & the pace snappy. Even though it’s a YA novel, it never felt juvenile—the writing was sharp & the stakes felt real. I will read anything Soto writes!!

⚠️ physical abuse, bullying

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Jodi Dillon finds herself in the elite friend group known as the Thrashers, thanks to her childhood bond with Zack Thrasher. The group—Zack, Lucy, Paige, & Julian—are wealthy, glamorous, & used to getting what they want. When Emily Mills, a girl desperate to join their circle, dies under suspicious circumstances, rumors begin to swirl. As Emily’s journal emerges & creepy messages appear, Jodi must choose between loyalty to her friends & saving herself. With the investigation closing in, it seems Emily’s story—& her revenge—is far from over.

I’ve definitely become a Julie Soto fan, and I really enjoyed The Thrashers! I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was excellent. I wasn’t sure at all about how all the issues would resolve, so it held my interest until the very end, and even then there was a twist!

This story about a “clique“ of five friends in high school (nicknamed after the most popular, most handsome, most desired boy) brought back all kinds of teenage angst from long-past years, and the occurrences and secrets are tightly held. Jodi, the main character, became someone worth knowing, and I wondered if the author might pick some of these characters back up. This was really good, and I enjoyed it a lot.

4.5 stars rounded up!

I received a copy of the digital ALC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I could not stop listening to this book. The story is gripping & the narration is great. I can absolutely see this becoming a tv series. This YA thriller has everything you could want- a twisty mystery with characters you can’t trust but maybe love anyway. I loved Jodi even though I didn’t love all of her choices. She feels like she doesn’t really belong in her privileged friend group- the Thrashers, named for the very popular Zach Thrasher, Jodi’s childhood best friend. Emily Mills also wants to be in the group. No one else wants that though. Emily, seemingly commits suicide because she was kept out & maybe bullied. But nothing is as it seems. Jodi and her friends unravel as they try to save themselves and each other from potential prosecution. While Emily is haunting them from beyond the grave. A very fun read!
Thank you Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the advanced audiobook!

A unique coming of age novel mixed with a thriller/suspense that had me questing everyone's intentions. The Thrashers are an elite group of friends navigating high school when a mysterious death rocks their community and their friendship group. This novel is told from a single POV, Jodi a young female who feels as though she is an outsider looking in to this friend group.

Told with Julie's snarky voice and with well developed characters, this novel captured my attention from the very first chapter. I really enjoyed the mix of drama from the high school friend group and the thriller aspect of "The Thrashers", the pace was quick and the twists and turns were unexpected.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC

A close knit group of friends dubbed “the Thrashers” by classmates are the center of a police investigation involving a sophomore who passed away.

THE THRASHERS is a fast paced, twisty YA thriller filled with unraveling secrets, unreliable narrators, and shifting loyalties. There’s PRETTY LITTLE LIARS vibes: an unseen presence threatening the group and picking at the seams of “the Thrashers” friendships. The pressure builds with every chapter as Jodi is pinned against her friends by the detectives, heightening her long held insecurities of not being enough, of being the one on the outside looking in. It’s a gut punch portrayal of what it feels like to be a teen and to question your place with the people you love most. I binged this book in 24 hours, and just sat in silence processing the epilogue.

I read this book in an immersive way, pairing the ARC with the ALC. The audiobook performance is exceptional. Eva Kaminsky voices Jodi, channeling a blend of teenage vulnerability, confusion, and self doubt. She also captures Jodi’s quiet strength as she learns to stand firmly on her own. Jessie Vilinsky embodies Emily’s journal entries, nailing the immature, tumultuous inner musings of a young teenage girl. Her slightly unhinged tone provides a counterbalance Jodi’s more grounded present day narrative. This dual performance elevates the entire story and I highly recommend the this book in all formats!

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Wednesday Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

******MASSIVE SPOILERS******* DO NOT READ UNLESS YOUVE READ THE BOOK!

I loved this book. I did not want to pause it at any point when i started it today. I was HOOKED. I want to repeat I LOVED it!
I HATED the ending, Not all of it, but 100% ALL charges should have been dropped when they found out she was an actual stalker! Which the police should have already known.
I don't really like Zack, but i do agree he shouldn't have been charged, they were literally a year apart in age...
The fact that Julian is in juvie is absolutely ridiculous to me. Yes, what he said was wrong but she was STALKING his friends.
Emily was total creep from beginning to end, 🙄 & Hannah, idc that youre 15, you should have called your parents when your sister started acting crazy on prom night, K BYE.

Description
Either you're in or you're out.
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.
A twisty thrill-ride of unforgettable drama and suspense that "encapsulates the vulnerability of adolescents playing adult games" (Ali Hazelwood) from USA Today bestselling author Julie Soto, The Thrashers will keep you up at night desperate to read just one more page.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

The Thrashers
A Novel
by Julie Soto
Narrated by Eva Kaminsky; Jesse Vilinsky
Pub Date May 06 2025
Publisher Macmillan Audio

4.5 ⭐️

Is there nothing that Julie Soto can’t write??
Woah, I’m so impressed by this story. Getting into the first 25% of this story took me some time. But the rest of the 75%?? I’ve literally been listening to this audiobook all day. At the grocery store? Listening to this. At the dentist's? Listening to this. Having a conversation with my roommate? Oops, I was still listening to this. 😆 This became addicting!!

The story is told mostly from Jodi’s POV. Jodi is childhood best friends with New Helvetia High’s greatest Heartthrob, Zack Thrasher. With the name Thrasher, it’s no surprise he’s the coolest person to ever exist. Everyone wants to be his friend or have a chance to date him. If he feigns to look your way, you’re considered a “Thrasher”. Everyone wants to be a Thrasher until…. they are blamed for bullying Emily Mills, and she ends up dead. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this teenage subject matter, but this one was gripping without being completely disturbing. I will say as a warning that there were paranormal aspects that I personally was not a fan of (I’m a scaredy cat).

I really came to sympathize with each of the Thrashers, despite being suspicious of their motives the entire time. I kept questioning if I was justifying a possible murdahhhhrer 😅 Jodi is different from the rest of her friend group in that she ain’t spoiled and she morals (🤷🏼‍♀️ it’s true). I found her to be a great main character.

The ending had me in shivers!! I had to stop cutting my carrots and go hide in my room to process the last few pages 😆

Thank you Net Galley for giving me a readers arc of this! I found the audiobook to be super engaging! I did get confused a few times with what timeline we were in since some chapters were excerpts from Emily’s journal. I think if I had a physical copy, I wouldn’t be as confused.

I wasn’t sure I’d like this one (teen books are hit or miss for me), but… I did! Super fast-paced, creepy, and a touch of teenage angst. Could do without the mean girl energy.

That ending though??? There has to be a sequel, right??? I’m so conflicted!!!!

(Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley, for the ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Thrillers aren’t my typical genre but I really liked Julie Soto’s Not Another Love Song so I wanted to read her YA debut. It was really good. I listened to the audio and found myself listening to it long after I normally would (in the car, working out, etc.), so that’s the sign of a really good book. The ending didn’t work out exactly as I’d hoped and there was a bit of paranormal element I didn’t love, but realistic characters mean I don’t always get the exact ending I want for everyone. I hope Julie Soto gives us lots more YA!

At New Helvetia High, Jodi Dillon finds herself in the elite friend group known as the Thrashers, thanks to her childhood bond with Zack Thrasher. But when outsider Emily Mills, who longed to be one of them, dies, secrets begin to surface. As Emily’s journal is found and investigators circle, Jodi must choose between loyalty and self-preservation. Strange messages and unsettling events suggest that Emily might not be entirely gone and the past isn’t ready to stay buried.

The book keeps the pace brisk and the drama steady—never boring, but don’t expect any massive plot twists. It’s more “ooh, messy” than “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” Still, you’ll be turning pages like it’s gossip you’re not supposed to hear.


<i>As always, shout-out to my homies at Netgally and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

I finished The Thrashers weeks ago, but due to a family emergency, I’m just now writing my review — and honestly, this story has stuck with me ever since.

I thoroughly devoured this book! The narration by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky was absolutely fantastic — they brought the characters to life with so much emotion and distinction that it made the entire story even more immersive. Their performances kept me hooked from beginning to end.

The plot was a refreshing twist on familiar ideas, giving me a 13 Reasons Why vibe but with a fresh, original take that felt new and thrilling. The story perfectly captured the toxicity of elite teen social circles, secrets, and consequences. I loved the slow build of suspense and the unraveling of betrayals.

My only wish was that certain characters who deserved harsher consequences had been held more accountable — but at the same time, I admire that Julie Soto stayed true to the often frustrating reality that justice isn’t always served.

The ending was incredible — haunting, bittersweet, and left me dying to know what happens next. I genuinely hope the author writes a sequel because I would absolutely love to see the fallout and aftermath play out.

If you’re looking for a dark, binge-worthy YA thriller full of morally gray characters, messy friendships, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, The Thrashers is a must-read.

Thank you to Julie Soto, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the chance to experience this unforgettable audiobook!

Rating: 4/5 stars

🎙️ Narration: Dual
🎧 Audio Score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Book Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book started off so strong—I was hooked from the first few chapters. But the ending completely unraveled the story for me. It’s one of the most disappointing endings I’ve ever read, which dropped my rating significantly. That said, the narration was excellent.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I want to start this review by sayin that I don’t typically read to many YA books but the premise of this YA thriller by Julie Soto intrigued me. I have been wanting to read her romance novels but when I saw she had a thriller coming out I was beyond excited to read it. For a thriller had your classical dark academia vibes and a very interesting set up. It flashes between present chapters and diary entries throughout the book. We follow a good pup of high school students that’s popularity is unmatched and while they are a close friend group there are others dying to join the circle. Zach is the leader of the thrashers and also part of this group is Julian, Jodie, Paige and Lucy. Emily is desperate to be a part of the thrashers but there is more to this group that meets the eyes and Emily will soon find out for herself. The book was quite a fun read but for the pacing I will say it was slow at times. I was going to rate this about 3.5 however the ending is what made this a solid 4 star read for me. Especially the epilogue that was by far the best epilogue to conclude this book! If you enjoy a good thriller especially a good YA dark academia type of book I think you will definitely enjoy this one. I will be on the lookout for any more thrillers this author has in store for us for the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listeners copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

🌟 4.5/5

Five friends called the Thrashers are at the center of it all when a suspected suicide of one of the members occurs. Friendships are put to the test when secrets come to light and will have you questioning what really happened. All I can say is you will be on a WILD ride trying to piece together the pieces.

Fans of “Pretty Little Liars” and “A Good Girls Guide to Murder” will love this.

This book was fast paced and ADDICTIVE!! This was my first Julie Soto novel and it had me hooked from the very first chapter. There was a good balance of thrill, mystery, subtle romance, action and UNFORGETTABLE drama. The ending left me wanting more.

I had opportunity to listen to the ARC of the audiobook. Thank McMillan Audio & NetGalley. I thought the narrator was engaging all throughout. Her portrayal of the characters let me really visualize each one and their personalities.

I appreciated the way the author dealt with the heavy subjects of substance use, Suicide, complicated family issues and mental health. I felt that Julie
Soto did an excellent job capturing how difficult and complicated the subjects are, allowing you to really sympathize with the characters effected.

All in all, I recommend you read this book!!

This was so good! I’m always hesitant going into books that may be angled towards YA readers or focussed on high schoolers, but I was definitely invested from the beginning.

The opening chapter sets the tone for the book and I was curious to see how certain events came to be and all the drama that would lead up to it.

The audio narrator did a great job of holding my interest and was enjoyable to listen to!

Thank you for the gifted copy

Publish date - May 6th

HOLY SHIT 😱 I’m not usually a huge mystery/thriller person because hi, anxiety 😅 But this book had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and I was totally hooked. I feel like books like this can often be a little predictable but this was most definitely not. Wow. Holy shit.

The book starts out with high schooler Emily, committing suicide the night of prom. Trying to figure out what’s real, who’s telling the truth, and what actually happened was a TRIP.

The relationship dynamics between the main friend group was really interesting to see and I couldn’t figure out who to trust or even if Jodi was completely innocent in all of it.

This book has it all: high school clique, a lil will they/won’t they fling, drama, suspense, who did it, and a surprising ending 😱 I’m still reeling after all the revelations of what happened in this book.

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook ARC of this book!

4.5 rounded up!

I loved this audiobook!
I always feel a little nervous reading YA when I’m so much older, but I felt like this one was written in such a way that I understood the motivations of the characters even if I can’t relate anymore. The mystery was incredibly compelling.
Emily was found in her tub in her prom dress the night of prom and a group of friends was being blamed for bullying her. And she appeared to be haunting them in a way.
The book was from Jodi’s POV and it was fascinating to see things from that perspective. Was she mean to Emily? Were the rest of her friends?
Nothing was as it seemed in the book and I was on the edge of my seat. I liked Jodi as a character, even when she was being so short sighted, and I was so curious about what life was like before Emily’s death. I definitely recommend this to fans of mystery and YA thrillers. Lots of twists and secrets in this one. The narration was fantastic.

I have read and enjoyed Julie Soto's romance books but was not prepared for how much her YA thriller debut would blow me away. I had such a great time with this book. I really felt for Jodi's situation in this group. The need to belong but also find your own way is something that is very relatable. It would be easy for the characters in this book to be one note but they were all complex and different levels of morally gray. This was a true page turner, I had a hard time putting it down. I was not prepared for some of the twists and turns and that ending!! I don't think there is any intention of this being a series but I need more of two specific characters that I won't reference for spoiler reasons. But if you know you know. I really hope Julie writes another thriller soon. I started this on ebook but finished on the audio and highly recommend the audiobook. Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.