This book was received as an Advanced Readers Copy Audiobook.

This was an amazing read. Felt a like a new telling of "I know what you did last summer" with a twist.

You follow Jodi and her friend group that is called by their school as "The Thrashers". She's the odd duck. why are Julian, Lucy, Paige and Zack Thrasher (who the group is named after since he is the most popular of all) even friends with her. She doesn't have money or looks perse. She's just been friends with Zack since they were little.
Eveything is about to change thanks to Emily. Emily wanted to join their group, but she dies. Whispers are she was "Thrashed". Then an investigation began. Supernatural happenings or is that just them worried with the investigation of bullying to death and more. Everyone of the Thrashers group is being charged... but one. Is everyone being "haunted" by Emily in some way.

This was thrilling and exciting. I loved the way I grew to love Julian character after just hating him. but I don't know if he will stay good. Is it a ploy? I wanted Zack to be good and all the characters to be not be at fault of bullying Emily. The why this has hints of supernatural feel was surprising and unexpected.

Definite a must read. Will definitely recommend.
Thank you netgalley for the chance to listen to this book. Love the narrators as well!

4.5 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

I love Julie Soto’s writing but I’m used to her romance stories so when I saw that she had a new book coming but in fact was a murder mysterious at that I was scheptical at first since I’m not a murder mystery type of girl, so I was not sure if I was going to like this. But I’m glad I picked this up. I did took me a while to get into the story but once I was in there was not stopping me from finishing it.

What I love the most was the paranormal aspect of the story I was not expecting that this made the story more compelling. I love that along the way there was some sprinkling of romance. And the fact that the story was set close to where was a plus I love to see the mention of familiar places.

Now let’s talk about the ending, that is what pushed my rating higher. I’m not usually a fan of open ending but this one I think was appropriate for the story. Now my question is: Is this going to be a series or a stand alone because that ending allured for more ??!!

I love the narrators they did an amazing job keeping my attention in the story specially at the beginning when I was struggling deciding if the story was for me or not.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Soto has once again proven her mastery of exciting storytelling with The Thrashers! I loved her adult romance books, so I was excited to see what she would do with a YA thriller.
She did not disappoint.
I devoured this book in two sittings. I will be honest, the first sitting was two chapters and I wasn’t entirely sure about what I was getting into— was I going to have to root for massively unlikeable characters? However, the second time I started to listen, I could not stop! I was hooked by the intensity of the characters, the slow-burning tension, and the gritty realness of high school dynamics.
Often in a book with a large cast, the characters can feel interchangeable. That was definitely not the case in this novel. Each one is flawed yet fierce, and Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky brought them to life with distinct voices that pulsed with authenticity. My favourite was Julian. He wasn’t particularly likeable, but I was kicking my feet each time he appeared!
The tension— both romantic and mysterious— was suspenseful and high stakes. I was legitimately worried for the characters and didn’t know what would happen next. My only complaint is the ending. I know that often in the real world, the true villains don’t get their comeuppance, but I wanted Zack to be held accountable and I wanted Julian to be free with Jodi! I understand why it ended the way it did, I just think my love for the romance genre had me hoping for a happy ending with no loose ends.
If you’re looking for a freaky, romantic mystery, The Thrashers definitely delivers. This isn’t just a book, it’s a full-on literary experience, and one I will recommend to my students.
I give this 4.5 stars rounded up.

This YA thriller kept me at the edge of my seat from start to finish! I liked how it had plenty of relatable high school elements, from feeling insecure and wanting to fit in to navigating friendships and crushes, and the focus on the popular clique made it really interesting too. I was definitely creeped out by some of the supernatural incidents and the way freak accidents kept happening, and the narrator did such a good job in telling the story in such an eerie way. I loved how every question I had was answered by the ending, and it was all so surprising and satisfying. Definitely recommend!

Surprisingly good! Marketed as YA, I wasn’t sure I would like this but was pleasantly surprised by this twisty novel. Lots of fun, high school relationship drama between a group of friends…with just the right touch of the mysterious.

Lots of unnecessary foul language, but otherwise well-written with interesting characters and good plotting and pacing.

This was a fun high school angsty popcorn thriller. It was easy to just sit back and listen and enjoy your time with it.
The Thrashers are a group of 5 friends known for pulling people into their inner circle only to "Thrash" them - basically kick them out of the group when they get sick of them. When one of the Thrashed students, Emily, dies, secrets come out and all fingers start to point to the Thrashers.
The Thrashers are the stereotypical rich friend group. They party, and they're cruel, but only if you're on the outside. Our main character Jodi is different. She is only included in the group because she has known Zack since she was little. And he's the ring leader. Her father is a mean drunk and her mother died when she was little. After the charges are announced, it is suggested the Thrashers spend less time together. While distancing herself, Jodi is able to see what her group of friends is like from the outside more clearly. I think her character arc is done well. The others in the friend group - Zack, Paige, Lucy and Julian are just typical mean high schoolers. Jodi has been in love with Zack for 10 years and he doesn't give her the time of day unless he needs something. Julian is one that had more of a character arc than the others (but I think this is partly explained in the epilogue). He starts to step up and make Jodi feel wanted in a way Zack never has.
The plot was engaging and intriguing. More clues and secrets are being found, so there is never a boring page (or minute). We get some flashbacks to get to know Emily a little bit and even try to channel her through a medium since the girls think they are being haunted. The secrets go so much deeper than initially thought. The ending was well done. I don't want to spoil anything, but most things made great sense. There were a few things where I wanted a little more clarification, but they might have been left kind of open ended on purpose.
The epilogue came out of left field, but I didn't hate it. It actually kind of made me want a version of the same book through the epilogue narrator's POV.
The audiobook narrator was great. She really had the tone of what I thought Jodi would be like. She brought the story to life and kept it interesting.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto - This book definitely had some YA vibes - but I didn't mind it at all! I felt like I was back in high school! So many twists and turns. I liked the character development. The plot was solid. This book was pretty good.

Um, hello?? This was my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it! This story was so captivating and fast paced, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the plot was super intriguing. I totally recommend it, and now I need to read more of her books! Plus the narrator did and excellent job to bring story to life.

I don’t usually read thrillers but I loved this. The ending didn’t feel stupid, and in the end I couldn’t stop listening. Thank you Netgalley for the early copy!!

This is a new favorite book of mine.

When Emily Mills dies she leaves behind a diary incriminating the most popular kids at school. Except Jodi, who's best friends with the most popular kids. Jodi has known her friends for most of her life. She knows they wouldn't do anything wrong like Emily suggests, but as more "evidence" surfaces she's compelled to investigate.

This book is UNPUTDOWNABLE. I stayed up way too late into the night reading because I just could not stop. It was the PERFECT COMBO of so many things. Thriller, mystery, found family, SECRETS, plus a romance that made me swoon.

Each other the characters felt unique and I'd love to learn more about them. I felt like I was a part of the Thrashers and 100% understood Jodi's conflicted loyalty to her friends. My jaw DROPPED multiple times. The twists were so good. I was properly freaked out. I loved the little hints of supernatural (or were they!?). I had NO IDEA what was going to happen in the end. (Did I trust Emily?! Is Zack a good guy?!)

AND THE END!?!?! I'm still processing it.

This is an intense, atmospheric read that draws you in with its compelling storyline and layered mystery. Fans of 13 Reasons Why or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will feel right at home with its gritty academic vibes and morally gray characters. While the plot follows a somewhat predictable path, it still manages to keep you engaged with steady pacing and drama that doesn’t let up. There’s enough tension and twists to satisfy without straying into overcomplication, making it a solid and entertaining read.

That said, the ending had me side-eyeing the book for a moment. I was initially annoyed at how everything wrapped up—like it was just a little too tidy, too convenient—but then came the epilogue, and it changes everything. It forced me to mentally rewind the whole story, rethinking character motivations and events with a new lens. That final twist didn’t just redeem the ending—it elevated the entire book. Four stars, easily. Maybe even 4.5, if I’m being generous.

ALC 🎧📖 Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had so much fun with this YA thriller! I thought the twist was a tad predictable, but the journey to get there was filled with toxic friendships, lies, and betrayal. What more could you need? Highly recommend checking this one out when it publishes May 6th!

Thank you, @netgalley and @macmillan.audio, for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

📓✏️📝

The Thrashers rule New Helvetia High, and Jodi Dillon doesn’t fit in—except she’s childhood friends with Zack Thrasher. When wannabe member Emily dies, dark secrets surface. As creepy events unfold, Jodi must choose: protect her friends or herself—because Emily may not be gone for good.

#advancedlisteningcopy #audiobookreview #read #audiobooks #booksbooksbooks #reader #bookish #books #booklover #bookworm #netgalley #book

I had the ALC for the The Thrashers by Julie Soto, narrated by Eva Kaminsky; Jesse Vilinsky and I really enjoyed this book. This is Julie Soto's first YA thriller and visually - I could see it. This will make a great film. Five close friends referred to as the Thrashers after the last name of Zack, one of their group. Zack, Julian, Lucy, Paige and Jodi are the Thrashers. Popular, sophisticated and rich, well, everyone except for Jodi. They had just finished their junior year and it was prom. A sophomore that had been trying to hang out with them all year killed herself on prom night and everyone blames the Thrashers. The police are investigating them. Bullying for all the Thrashers and statutory rape for Zack. They are all getting weird text messages and overhead street lights flicker on and off. So, what really happened? Where is Emily's phone? Where is her diary?

This was a fast paced read and I gobbled it up. What is friendship and popularity? We are getting this story from Jodi's pov, and she questions everything. Especially her own self worth. Really well done. The narration by Eva Kaminsky; Jesse Vilinsky is excellent. Teen-agers, adults all voiced to perfection and really kept the story hurtling to its conclusion.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC. This book releases April 29, 2025.

This was such a good bingeable read. It gave Pretty Little Liars meets I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes, and I was into it from the start. I love when thrillers include journal entries, and the drama within the friend group was wild. The paranormal twist was unexpected but done really well. If you’re into fast-paced YA thrillers with secrets, this is one to check out… it definitely got me out of my reading slump!

This book was so fun and easy to binge. I think YA thrillers are my favorite kind of thrillers. I just love the teenage drama, the easy yet twisty stories, the characters, the mystery. I liked that no character seemed all good or all bad, and I really liked the supernatural element. I have been thinking about the epilogue since I finished!

I listened to most of it and the audiobook is superb.

This was good!! I love YA thriller/mysteries like AGGGTM and this really delivered on that end. I wanted something engaging and mindless because I felt a slump coming on. This book kept me hooked and I truly didn't know how things would turn out! All of the characters were so unique and frustrating but I ate up the drama. Could also relate so much to the FMC feeling like the overlooked, afterthought friend!! Ouch!! Everyone was connected somehow and the relationships were so complex that I couldn't look away. I listened to about half of this on audio and REALLY enjoyed the audio! Highly recommend when this releases. Julie Soto can basically write any genre she wants and I admire her so much for that. This was twisty, engaging, and filled with drama. At times it maybe felt a bit long but I enjoyed my time!! Thank you to the publisher for the eARC and ALC <3

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

I have heard so much about Julie Soto's romances and was really intrigued when I saw this YA thriller from her. Her writing and this story did not disappoint. Her writing is addictive and hard to put down.

This story gets started right away and we are thrust into a dark and mysterious high school story about friendship and obsession. There are a lot of highly sensitive topics discussed in this story (including the opening!!) so please look up trigger warnings before diving into this.

I don’t read many thrillers, but if Julie Soto writes it, you know I’m picking it up—and this one completely delivered. It’s a YA thriller that grabs you from the very first page and keeps you guessing the entire way through.

At its core, this story is a sharp and thoughtful look at friendship—especially the kind that forms in high school and the complicated, sometimes painful, cost that can come with it. Jodi has been best friends with Zack Thrasher since second grade, but she's always felt like she’s hovering on the edge of his inner circle, a tight-knit group known as The Thrashers.

Things take a chilling turn when Emily Mills—who is desperate to be part of that friend group—dies under mysterious circumstances. Her journal, filled with unsettling entries, hints at secrets and events that may have led to her death… and once it surfaces, strange things start to happen. Emily might be gone, but she’s definitely not finished.

The story weaves in subtle paranormal elements that give it an eerie edge, and I loved how the tension slowly built as more secrets came to light. You’re never quite sure who to trust, or what’s really going on—and that’s part of what makes it so gripping.

The audiobook narration is fantastic. Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky do such a great job embodying the characters and really bring out the emotional weight and tension of the story. They even weave in Emily’s voice periodically, which adds just the right amount of creepy atmosphere—it gave me chills in the best way.

Julie Soto does such an incredible job capturing the vulnerability of being a teen: the need to belong, the fear of being left out, and how the choices you make—even the ones that seem small—can leave lasting marks.

When Emily Mills dies on prom night, it's ruled a suicide. Her family believes she had been harassed by a popular teen crowd at school, the Thrashers, and they pursue legal action. Meanwhile, the Thrashers believe they are being wrongfully targeted. As if legal troubles aren't a big enough threat to their senior year and college plans, the group begins to receive strange texts from an unknown number that knows too much. Then, mysterious and dangerous accidents begin to follow the teens wherever they go. Are the Thrashers as threatening as they're made out to be, or were things more complicated than they seemed with the alleged victim?

This YA thriller dives deep into the complications of teenage friendship and social hierarchy and there are several heavy topics covered including rape, addiction, obsession, stalking, suicide, and loss of family. I felt Soto handled these topics with respect, and I did not find them overly triggering as presented (and I'm a sensitive soul). Soto does a wonderful job writing from the perspectives of teens with the ups and downs of friendship, love interests, and pressure to build toward a future outside of school.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I downloaded it blindly, and being new to the author and I really enjoyed it! The audio narration was very well done. The narrator highlighted the emotions of each scene and transitioned between voices subtly but effectively. I would recommend this book in print or audio format!

The Thrashers is like a mash-up of One of Us Is Lying with a hint of 13 Reasons Why—equal parts gripping mystery and teenage angst. Julie Soto knows how to reel you in, and this one had me hooked from the first page.

The story follows Jodie, the outsider in a rich, “It kids” friend group known as the Thrashers. She's constantly battling her own insecurities, terrified of being left out, and harboring an obsession with the group’s golden boy, Zach. But when a school outcast, Emily, dies by suicide—and the Thrashers are the only suspects—Jodie starts digging. What follows is a suspenseful unraveling of lies, guilt, and the haunting reality of how cruel teenagers can be.

There's so much delicious drama here—scheming, backstabbing, and tension bubbling under every interaction. Soto doesn’t shy away from dark topics like suicide, rape, and bullying, weaving them into a story that feels disturbingly real. The mystery is layered, and the emotional weight hits hard, especially as Jodie starts to reckon with her own role in the tragedy.

That said, it was frustrating at times to watch Jodie more fixated on her social standing than the gravity of Emily’s death. Her growth feels a bit delayed, and by the end, I was still questioning the choice she makes in the final moments.

Audiobook:
Jesse Vilinsky and Eva Kaminsky elevate this story in a big way. Vilinsky perfectly captures Jodie’s vulnerability, insecurity, and inner conflict, making her voice feel authentic and emotionally raw. Kaminsky brings depth and variation to the secondary perspectives, especially in scenes heavy with tension or moral ambiguity. Their performances added so much texture and intensity—it felt like I was living inside Jodie’s mind and the halls of that high school. If you're an audiobook fan, this one is definitely worth the listen.

Still, this was a wild ride—a fast-paced, intense, and emotionally tangled thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. If you're into messy friendships, morally gray characters, and suspenseful teen dramas, The Thrashers will absolutely pull you in.