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.

✨ ALC Review ✨

I could not stop listening to this book and it made me mad that I had to work. How rude!

We begin with a teenage girl’s perspective. She killed herself on prom night and people are talking, whispering about The Thrashers. Who are The Thrashers? So glad you asked.

Zack Thrasher is handsome, genial, a talented athlete and he’s always surrounded by his four besties: Jodi (his friend since second grade, Julian, Lucy, and Paige. Together, the school calls them The Thrashers. They all chafe a bit at the name, but they can’t deny Zack is the glue who holds their group together.

When Emily Mills dies and the police launch an investigation into whether bullying contributed to her decision to end her life, these friendships are put to the test. And strange life-threatening events keep happening. Is Emily haunting them from beyond the grave?

We get insight with bits from Emily’s journal and Jodi’s memories as current events are taking place. The web is nicely intricate, but still easy to follow. Jodi is a main character with flaws and you know she’s young, but you want her to make better choices.

This book is about friendship bonds, secrets kept, the constant fear of not being good enough, and the love we have for those we’re closest to. It’s a mystery to the very end and I devoured it.

I already knew I enjoyed @juliesotowrites’s work, but it was a wonderful surprise to discover this darker talent for a good mystery with her liberal dab of romance. Well, romance-adjacent anyway. 😉

Highly recommended! Especially if you love YA mysteries like One of Us Is Lying or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

I received this eARC via #netgalley and @macmillan.audio. All thoughts are mine alone.

#booksbooksbooks #yabooks #yamystery #youngadult #youngadultbooks #mystery #audiobooks #bookreview #bookrecs #thethrashers #juliesoto

4.5 ⭐️ bc this was one hell of a thriller and the audiobook for this one was 10/10. I was locked in early on with the concept of this friend group and the roles they played to create The Thrashers. I tried guessing throughout the book and I was wrong every single time 😂 this plot vaguely reminded me of that show Thirteen Reasons Why, but insanely better. I also watched like two episodes of that show so pls take my previous statement with a grain of salt lol Anyone interested in a YA psychological thriller should absolutely pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this 🎧 ARC.

This was unputdownable! From the very beginning, I was hooked. The story pulled me in with this eerie, small-town vibe that felt like something was always just out of reach. I kept thinking I’d listen to a few chapters and come back to it later. Instead, I finished the whole thing in two sittings because I had to know what was really going on.

Read if you enjoy:
✨ YA mystery / thriller
✨ Paranormal
✨ Highschool drama
✨ Slow burn / low spice
✨ Flashback timeline
✨ Betrayal & Revenge

The audiobook was incredible. The narrators brought so much suspense and atmospheric tension to the story that it really heightened the experience. It gave me all the spooky vibes I was hoping for and made it almost impossible to stop listening. I devoured this book. The pacing and the suspense was everything I could hope for in a thriller.

My only negative is the ending. I was really hoping for that big shocking twist, and while it wrapped up fine, I was left a little underwhelmed. I had a bunch of wild theories and was waiting for something that would blow me away. That didn’t quite happen, but the buildup and overall vibe of the book were 5 star experience for me.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook. If you’re into suspenseful mysteries with a side of slow burn romance, definitely give this one a listen.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto was straight-up addictive. I started the audiobook and couldn’t stop—it pulls you in fast with creepy vibes, mystery, and a dose of teen drama that keeps everything feeling real. There’s even a little romance to sweeten the chaos.

I feel like I’ve been thrashed 😵‍💫 I had a really good time with this one. I was hooked pretty quick and kept getting pulled in all different directions trying to figure out what actually happened to Emily. The audiobook was super well done too! 🎧📖

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a time.

I mean this in the best way. It kept you on the edge of your seat the entire time. From the texts to the hauntings and the near deaths. OMG. Who is it?? What is it?? What is happening??

This group of friends went through it and hopefully learned some lessons. Like seriously Zack, looking at you.

I have the biggest love/hate for Julian because yes everything he did was awful BUT I feel like of everyone he grew the most from it. His future has the most potential to have change and make better for himself.

BUT THE ENDING! WHAT?! I need follow up 😭😭😭

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

I don’t know what came over me when I accepted this arc. I did not care for her other two books, they weren’t bad by any means but they just weren’t for me. But something told me to give this a chance. And I am so glad I did.

The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat but the supernatural elements are really what pulled me in. It reminded me of the Christopher Pike & Fear Street books I grew up reading.

This book disappointed me so much, especially at the end! I was entertained for the most part but towards the end it started to loose me. I know this isn’t a romance but I was eating up all of Julian and Jodi’s interactions. I wish there was a bit more. I understand Jodi’s infatuation with Zack and pleasing the Thrashers but I felt like she needed more of a backbone, or at least her starting to get one. The one time she blew up to her friends felt like she needed more because she immediately turned back into her submissive self. The ENDING!!!! Like come one everyone got off free except Julian ?!!?!? It would have been a bit better if at least both Zack and Julian but Zack got free. Jodi pissed me off with her “I won’t lie under oath” but was tight lipped to find out everything that Hannah and Emily did! -_- I was completely shocked at the epilogue. I really hope that a sequel gets made out of this because I NEED MORE.

Thank you to Julie Soto, St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this e-ARC and audiobook

Julie Soto can’t write a bad story. ’m 100% convinced. It’s been a week since I finished this book and I am STILL thinking about that final chapter. Normally, I’m pretty good at guessing what’s going to happen or how a book will wrap up, but this one kept me on my toes. I was second-guessing myself the entire time.

This book really dives into that fine line between bullying and not even realizing you're being mean. It reminded me a lot of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: the tone and emotional weight feel very similar. I’d definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings, though, since the subject matter can get pretty dark.

The main character, Jody, has so much to navigate—trying to figure out if her friends are who she thought they were, dealing with her home life, and figuring out where she stands in the aftermath of Emily’s suicide. I loved how she basically becomes a detective, digging for information to try and exonerate the Thrashers. It was also great to see her bias shift as she starts to see her friends in a new light and gains more perspective.

There’s also this really fun thread running through the story: is it a supernatural haunting, or just the psychological fallout from everything that’s happened? It’s grounded enough in reality to make you doubt the paranormal element, but there are just enough eerie moments to make you question it. That blend of supernatural or madness was so well done and, honestly, it’s something I want to seek out in future reads.

The audio book version was super well paced. The voiced the narrator used were easy to follow as she changed characters. I listen around 1.5-2x speed and had no problems with weird skipping or they voice being too fast and getting distorted.

I have loved Julie Soto's romances but I think this might just top them. This YA suspenseful thriller/mystery is one that I'll be thinking about for a while. It's definitely reminiscent of 13 Reasons Why & Pretty Little Liars but with a supernatural twist. The story hooks you in from the jump & the unraveling of each character from Jodi's, our FMC, POV had me holding my breath until the end.

This story revolves around a high school clique called The Thrashers and the case being made against them in the suspicious death of a girl, Emily, who was desperate to join their friend group. As Jodi & her friends start to be confronted by elements of the case, Jodi must face the fact that her best friends might not be telling the whole truth about what really happened between them & Emily.

This story is gripping & will keep you guessing. I love the morally grey elements to each character, including Jodi at times. It really is a story about manipulation, insecurity & complicated relationships especially when you're a teenager. Personally, I don't usually like supernatural elements but it works so well (just wait until that epilogue!).

The topics & issues explored here captivated me & I really appreciated the way that both friendships & family dynamics are portrayed. There is also an element of division of wealth that I think added another layer to Jodi's character (she is the girl who, unlike her Thrasher friends, doesn't have a financial cushion).

Listening to this audiobook narrated by Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Villinsky brought this story to life & really captured the emotions & angst of this story.

Julie Soto just stepped into a whole new era & I am absolutely here for it!

🖤 Dark YA Thriller
🕵️ Mystery & Secrets
💖 High School Popular Clique
❣️ Truths & Lies
💋 Unrequited Love
👻 Paranormal Activities
☝🏻 Single FMC POV

The Thrasers by Julie Soto was a fun roller coaster ride. It follows Jodi Dillion who is apart of the infamous Thrashers inner circle. The problem is, she knows she doesn't belong. She is an outcast compared to the richer, skinner, and more popular members of the group. Then, they find themselves in trouble when a girl, Emily Mills, commits suicide and says the Thrashers are to blame. Not only are they facing real legal charges, but weird things keep happening when all five of them are together. Is it just a coincidence or is Emily Mills haunting them from beyond the grave?


I really enjoyed the look into the high school friend dynamics that this book shows us. There is nothing like being a teenage girl and not feeling hot enough, rich enough or popular enough. The character development that Jodi goes through is such an accurate description and is captured so well. I wouldn't really say this book was much of a thriller, as we kind of had an idea the whole time at what was going on. The underlying themes were the main takeaway from the book.

Normally I really enjoy YA thrillers, but this one was not so heavy on the thriller-esque part that I typically enjoy. Overall, it was an okay book for me, but I would give more Julie Soto books a chance.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is a gripping and atmospheric YA debut that masterfully blends mystery, teen drama, and psychological tension. Set in the cutthroat social hierarchy of New Helvetia High, the story follows Jodi Dillon as she navigates the glittering but toxic world of the elite friend group known as the Thrashers. With sharp prose and a slow-burning suspense that keeps readers hooked, Soto explores themes of loyalty, privilege, and the dark consequences of fitting in. The unraveling mystery surrounding Emily Mills' death adds a chilling layer, and Soto’s knack for capturing teenage complexity shines throughout. A great YA novel from the author—moody, addictive, and impossible to put down.

Julie Soto is an auto buy author in my book.
This book kinda reminded me of “13 reasons why” bc a girl that has committed suicide starts off the story. And the reading of her journals BUT it has a thriller/ghost element that completely sets it apart.
The Thrashers are a group of friends in HS. They seem to be the cool kids, the rich and pretty kids. Other kids want to be apart of their group but they all end up getting “Thrashed”. But maybe things aren’t quite what they seem, maybe some of them are worse than others and maybe someone just needs to speak up and set the record straight.
This story gave me goosebumps at the very end and at one point it made me a little teary eyed. Overall it was great.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, when I realized this was Soto's first YA thriller I was even more impressed with the execution of it, she absolutely nailed it with this one

I found a lot of this book painfully relatable, as someone who has experienced being on the outside looking in. When you finally make your way to the cool kids table and you'd do anything to stay in the good graces of the ring leader.

I absolutely loved this, and am dying for more of Julians story. The most loyal friend who was ultimately held responsible for his actions meanwhile fucking Zach gets off Scott free (aghhhhhh)

loved it, would definitely recommend

This book was creepier than I expected. It was very Thirteen Reasons Why mixed with a hefty dose of chills.

When an author makes you feel something you have to give them credit. Julie Soto made me feel mad. The injustice in this book is realistic, the bad guy doesn't always get their due. And sometimes, it's hard to see who the real bad guy is, especially in a high school clique setting.

This is a book I will be thinking about for awhile, I don't know how I feel overall, only that that epilogue hurt.

I'm happy I got to listen to this ALC from NetGalley, the audio had me looking over my shoulder and will stay with me.

4.5 ( would have been a 5 but I have so many questions left.. I def won’t stop thinking about this one )
Wow. I really didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. I am so glad I chose audio for this ARC because it was perfectly paced to keep me hooked. The narrator was perfectly chosen to tell the story.

I normally prefer dual POV in a story but with the addition of diary exerts placed perfectly throughout this one was perfectly crafted to tell the addictively thrilling story.
The characters were perfectly crafted to be a little unlikeable but complex and flawed. I know the girls in the book loved Zach but I truly think Julian should have gotten more attention. He wins would be my choice for #mcm… His relationship with Jody grew on me as the story developed even with the way it ended.

This one starts off as a thriller but totally turns into more of a supernatural horror which I normally am not a fan of but it totally worked in this book.
It was the perfect mix of ‘13 Reasons Why’, ‘Pretty Little Liars’ with some ‘Riverdale’ vibes.

AND OH MY GOD THE EPILOGUE?!?!?. I cant believe the story is over- I need to know more.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advance reader copy!

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers was great. The pacing was spot-on, and I might buy her books autopilot. I listened to the whole thing in one sitting! Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky bring the story to life, making you feel like you’re in the action. It’s giving Pretty Little Liars the best paranormal twist.

It’s been a few days since I have finished this book and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. A teen thriller that is familiar enough to pull you in yet unique enough to keep you guessing and fully invested page after page.

The Thrashers are a friend group of their school’s most popular students who have earned a reputation of ghosting and destroying many individuals who dare to try and be their friends. Dubbed “Thrashing” this public and brutal ritual might not be intentional, but when a recently classmate has been found dead (by suicide) after being Thrashed, the school and community turn on these promising students.

Told through journal flashbacks and through an unreliable narrator, The Thrashers is teen drama with a new twist and a pretty satisfying conclusion. Also, I will go down for the ship of Jodi and *ahem* well….read it and find out.

This book was everything YA thrillers are trying to grasp right now. A perfect combination of suspense, a tiny dash of possible paranormal, and a great cast of characters that leave you guessing.

I really felt invested in what happened with these characters. I felt like it captured teenage feelings really well. Nothing was overly sensationalized which meant I found it more believable, and the drama was gritty.

I recommend this book! And I will be for a long time. I will be looking out for this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.