This is not your regular Julie Soto book. This is YA to the core with mystery and spirits. It opened up like a murder mystery and as the book unfolds Jo wanted to find out the truth and protect her friends. Only to realized, the very people whom she wanted to protect may not reciprocate her feelings for their friendship as she thought.

By all accounts, Jodi should not have been one of the popular kids, but by default and her wanting to be ‘special’ to Zach so much that she held on. Little did she know, the entire group all felt the same, that they too are holding on, they too are all insecure about their standing in the group.

First off, love-love the pacing. Not too much lingering, details to help move things along. Though I would’ve love the details come together sooner and more instead of little morsels still dripping in at the end. Mystery typically not my genre, but this one hit just right.

The audiobook was interesting, it had one narrate as Emily, and the rest from Jodi’s pov. Both are well known and did an outstanding performance. I would’ve love more of a duet situation since there’s quite a bit of Emily in the book. But this turned out well.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ARC

Forget Me Not is one of my all time favourite romances. And while its sequel had a synopsis that didn't really suit me, I've been itching to pick up Julie Soto again.

Even though this is a YA Thriller, it still honestly kinda rocked?

The characters were very realistic in my experience-- they didn't seem overly adult, but nor did they seem too childish. The mystery and information was perfectly paced to build a constant intrigue without feeling overly manipulated or landing flat. And in some really positive ways, it reminded me of some of my favourite Veronica Mars episodes.

I'd very easily recommend to YA Thriller fans, and would optimistically recommend even to people who don't usually love the genre. (But if you're very sure YA Thrillers aren't for you, I don't think this one will be suddenly unconventional enough to change your mind.)

Audiobook Notes:
I like the narrator and the way she subtly conveyed the characters so that they were recognizable, but the narration never took center stage.

4.5 ⭐️

Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars & Euphoria-- a high school girl, Emily, commits suicide and all eyes are on "The Trashers" as being the group of students responsible. Plenty of secrets will be revealed as The Trashers are investigated. In fact, the police aren't the only ones who seem to have eyes on The Trashers. There's a feeling that someone else may be watching them. Is it Emily haunting them or something/someone more sinister? Makes for a great listen on audio!

Jodi is Zack Thrasher's best friend, the person she always put above herself and the rest of their friend group. But after Emily Mills, the girl who wanted in on the group, ends up dead, the group must come to terms with what they do to outsiders.

This book was amazing! Here's what I loved:

Jodi: I really liked her characters. She's conflicted for so much of this book. Her thoughts on being left out really hit hard at times. I also liked the little romance-ish story that she had. I wanted her to make the right decisions and rooted for her.

The thriller of it: There were so many heart-pounding scenes that kept me wanting to read! It's not really a mystery per se, but there were some things that kept you guessing to what kind of secrets the characters were telling.

The narration: Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky do great jobs with this. Their voices fit the characters and made the audio even better.

All in all, this is a really good YA thriller!
A top read for the year for sure.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Julie Soto is really out here releasing two banger books within the just a few months. Simply insane. I wasn't initially planning on reading The Thrashers because I don't typically read YA Thrillers, but after how much I loved Rose in Chains, I decided I needed more from Julie Soto immediately.

The Thrashers ended up being an INSANE read! Like these kids could not catch a break!! I swear one of them was on the brink of death every 20 minutes! (My angst loving heart was eating it up though. Especially when it came to Jodi and Julian 👀). At no point, did I predict what was going to happen, but I feel like that's the mark of a truly good mystery.

I will say that I listened to the audiobook and I don't think I would recommend it. I honesty think that was the reason this wasn't a 5-star read. I'm not sure if this was a Netgalley issue, but the quality was not great and I had a hard time understanding what was being said during the first 20% of the book until I got into the swing of things. This is a book I wish I had read with my eyes and will probably end up rereading with my eyes as soon as the physical book is released.

I'm so glad that Julie Soto is branching out genre wise. I will 100% read more mysteries from her because The Thrashers was a great time!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my ALC.

The Thrashers is a book about a high school clique and the power of words. It's a mystery and a bit of a coming of age story. I couldn't put it down and didn't see the ending coming! It's completely unlike the other books I've read by Julie Soto but just as excellent!

This YA book was a nice change of pace for me. It’s a contemporary thriller with mystery and a little romance. It delves into the complexities of high school, friendship and social hierarchy.

The story starts with a student (Emily) that tragically committed suicide on prom night. Then we are introduced to the high school royalty, a group of 5 kids called The Thrashers. Up until her death, Emily is desperate to be part of the Thrashers. Upon her demise, the police find a journal which can implicate the Thrashers as bullies which led to her alleged suicide. The FMC, Jodi, is one of the Thrashers who also feels she may only be in this group because of her childhood friendship with Zack Thrasher, as the other kids come from affluent backgrounds. Jodi struggles with her own family life and sees how her friends can be cruel. She grapples with the dilemma of protecting her friends or uncovering the truth.

The Thrashers was thrilling with all its twists and turns. It is a compelling read that combines suspense, emotion and mystery.

Both narrators were great. There is one voice I recognized, but she played a minor role. The main narrator was great as well and I was engaged all the way through. Great novel!!!

This is the first book that I've read/listened to by Julie Soto and I LOVED it. It was so good and I moved through it very quickly. I really enjoyed the layers to this novel and the supernatural component with an otherwise realistic narrative. I will definitely be reading more from this author! Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to read/listen to an advanced copy!

The Thrashers, written by Julie Soto and narrated by Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky, was an absolutely amazing young adult drama and mystery that I could not put down!
Our main character Jodi Dillon, is a student at New Helvetia High where she is a member of the Thrashers, a group of friends that everyone wishes they were a part of. When a fellow student passes away after completing suicide, the police begin an investigation into the group of friends. But the questions Jodi is being asked cause her to start questioning her friendships, and the intentions of her friends.
I loved this book! I really enjoyed the different themes, the mystery, and the way it was mostly told from one of the characters. I also enjoyed the character development seen throughout the book, and that the ending did keep you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, narrators, and publisher of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Anyone who had to endure cliques in junior or high school can relate to this twisty and dark young adult thriller. Even though I’m definitely not the target demographic, I still enjoyed this book. I’m not going to rehash the plot points above other than to say that there are enough twists and turns that even this old reading pro had a hard time keeping things straight, but it was in a good way. Any book that keeps you on your toes, guessing the outcome, is a Bonafide hit in my book! Soto really knew how to organize her plot points and kept me guessing, which is all I ask for in a thriller.

This book was narrated by Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky. There characterizations were on-point, and I enjoyed listening to the story. I would definitely listen to something narrated by these two performers again.

I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I listened to the whole thing in one sitting. The Thrashers is perfect for anyone craving something in the vein of Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why, but with a touch of the paranormal.

This was my first book by Julie Soto, and after hearing so many great things about her writing, I can confidently say she lived up to the hype. The story is packed with betrayals and twists that kept me hooked until the very end. I especially loved how the plot was structured, with sections introduced via court docket numbers—it added a unique touch to the storytelling.

One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its morally gray characters. It’s tough to fully root for anyone when each layer of deceit is peeled back, but that complexity made the story even more engaging.

I initially chose The Thrashers because MacMillan Audio produced the audiobook, and they never disappoint. Narrators Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky did a phenomenal job bringing each character to life, making the experience even more immersive.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. I’m now even more excited to explore Julie Soto’s other works and listen to more audiobooks narrated by Eva and Jesse!

ahhhh Julie Soto. I have a deep love for Julie’s writing style. It’s SOOO bingeable. No matter what genre she’s writing, you want to sit and devour the book in one sitting.

I wasn’t sure if this would be for me because while i like thrillers, YA thrillers are a hit or miss for me because they can sometimes just be toooo immature for my taste, but this one didn’t hit badly.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was eager to turn the page and figure out what happened. I did kind of see what was coming so it wasn’t unpredictable but i don’t feel like overall it took away from the plot.

It’s not my favorite book by Julie, but if you’re a thriller girl and/or a Julie girl def don’t skip it! 😊

PS - The audio was very well done. The narrators did an outstanding job and delivering the emotions of the characters and keeping the listener engaged.

Thank you so much Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the advanced ALC of this title.
I was so lucky to get to read this book early and I thought I couldn't love it more until this audiobook came out. I thought the narrators did a fantastic job narrating this book. The dual cast added to the suspense, the angst, and the emotions of the book. The best part of a good audiobook is feeling like the story comes alive and that was absolutely the case with this one.

This book is brilliant and haunting! I couldn't take a break and needed to know all the secrets and confessions. The last few chapters are so emotional and truly make you question your own morals. I was rooting for each character in different ways and equally hated them all. Julie Soto captured what it's like to be a teenager dealing with all the toxic environments including friendships and home life. I'm going to be processing this one for a long time.

The Thrashers is a gripping young adult novel that follows the saga of a group of highly popular high school students: Jodi, Zack, Paige, Lucy and Julian. When one of their classmates, Emily Mills, who desperately tries to become one of the clique, ends up dead on prom night, "The Thrashers'" lives are under a microscope. The Thrashers are notorious for inviting people into their circle just to "thrash" them, making their intentions lethal and their acceptance immeasurable to anyone who dares penetrate their bubble. What does it take to be accepted? And and what cost?

Jodi isn't a rich or a beautiful at the other Thrashers, but as Zack's best friend since 2nd grade, she becomes an integral part of the group throughout the years. Told from her point of view, this story allows readers to revisit the nostalgia of high school, first heartbreaks, intense jealousy and the uncertainty of the future as Jodi comes to grips with her differences amongst her friends and the very real possibility of life beyond high school without them. Before Emily's death, her and Jodi were friendly, though Emily's left-over diary paints a more intricate picture of her relationships with each of the Thrashers. Now, it seems Emily is taunting them from beyond the grave as freak accidents occur and unknown text message haunt them. Jodi becomes determined to defend her friends when they are accused as catalysts in Emily's death and find out the truth about what happened on the fateful prom night.

This audiobook was completely enrapturing. For some reason, a good young adult novel once in a while hits the main themes of life in a meaningful and powerful way. This was one of those books that you finish, and you need a day or so to digest before starting a new one because you're still thinking about it. I'd love to see a sequel to this book and see what the future holds for the Thrashers.

I haven't been captivated by a YA thriller since A Good Girls Guide to Murder a few years ago. I am happy to say, I think this one was even better. I ate up every morsel of this story! I was so enthralled by the writing; I wanted to call out of work to finish it! Imagine a more sinister mean girls with secrets, despair and the unfortunate death of a classmate, pending charges and a little paranormal -- and you have The Thrashers. Wow, I wish I could read this again for the first time. I KNOW this is going to be a sensation already.

The narration blew my expectations out of the water!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio version of Julie Soto's newest book The Thrashers. Forget Me Not was one of my favorite reads. Her covers are also beautiful. This is a YA thriller, but it was very enjoyable on audio and highly recommend giving it a listen.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto
First, thanks to @juliesotowrites, @macmillan.audio, and @netgalley for the advanced audio copy for my honest review.

Mean Girl meets 90210. The Thrashers don't even realize they are The Thrashers. When Emily Mills passes, a diary leads to many questions about death, reality and friendship.

Jodi Dillon and Zack Thrasher have been friends since elementary school. Along the way, they add to their friends group and in high school are dubbed The Thrashers. But Jodi has never quite fits in with the ultra-wealthy Thrashers and sometimes feels she’s just included by default. Enter Emily Mills, who becomes obsessed with the Thrashers and is desperate to become one. Soon Emily is dead and every single Thrasher is a suspect.

Generally, I find YA mysteries to be really good or really bad. The Thrashers is definitely on the really good side. I liked Jodi a lot as a character. You can’t help but root for her. As the story unfolds and you learn more about her, your heart kind of breaks for this middle class girl who always seems to be the odd one out. The story is compelling and will keep you guessing all the way to the twisty end. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky were great narrators.

I'm not sure how to feel about this overall. The beginning was really good! I enjoyed that it felt like a fun summer young adult book. I liked the idea of The Thrashers and the mysterious texts gave it a pretty little liars vibe which I'm always wanting for in a YA mystery! Towards the middle, I started to get a bit lost and felt my mind drifting from listening to the audio. I kept seeing reviews saying that the epilogue was shocking, but to me, I just sort of scratched my head and thought okay then... there was also a reveal that was very similar to another Young Adult mystery reveal so because of that I wasn't much of a fan of who the texts ended up being from. I did really enjoy the narration for this one too! I felt it was fitting for this book. I think for this being Julie Soto's first young adult that it was a pretty good start! I've just read a lot of better young adult books that have really shocked me and been super twisty.