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.

I am so grateful for the chance to read this ARC. This is not something I would normally pick out for myself.

I couldn't put this book down! It had me sitting at the edge of my seat the whole time.

This is about a tragedy that happened in a highschool and the chance the popular crowd was all to blame. The FMC helped discover the truth no matter what the consequences and discovered secrets that were made to stay buried.

High school is tough. Everyone just wants to be accepted, to fit in and at New Helvetia High that means getting in with and being chosen by infamous Zack Thrasher. Welcome to The Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High. Zack, Jodi, Julian, Lucy, Paige are The Trashers. The cool kids. Not just anyone can play with them. They're an elite clique that everyone wants to be apart of. But are they as perfect as they seem? Is it even possible to make the cut and not end up thrashed and ousted embarrassingly? Is that what happened to Emily Mills who desperately wanted in? The author did a great job of creating a suspenseful, tense, mysterious atmosphere surrounding the death of Emily Mills and The Thrashers. It was interesting to see the dynamics of The Thrashers friend group play out. An important message in the lengths these high schoolers would go to in order to fit in. How far did they go to protect their personas. For such a cast of unlikeable characters I was into it. We get just enough information to keep you flipping through the pages to find out what happens next. Things are definitely not as they seem. If you love a good YA thriller, mystery with so many twists and turns plus paranormal elements that will have you on the edge of your seat then read this book. Omg, the ending definitely did it for me. It left me shook because everything still wasn't what I thought it'd be. There has to be more....?!
The kids are dealing with a lot definitely check trigger warnings. There are some important but heavy topics covered in this book such as bullying, suicide, child abuse, death of a parent, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, MacMillan Audio, NetGalley for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I just finished listening to The Thrashers audiobook and I am not okay. Release day cannot come soon enough! I need my friends to read this book so I can talk to someone about it!

Trigger warnings: teen suicide, bullying, teen drug and alcohol use, child abuse, alcoholic parent, death of sibling, references to loss of a parent

The Thrashers is a YA mystery/thriller about a group of high school friends. What does it feel like to want to belong, but never quite feel like you fit? Teen friendship dynamics can be so messy. They are a tangled web of anxiety, vulnerability, distrust, hope, and questions of loyalty. And, of course, there’s always that one group that everyone wants to be a part of. They are the epitome of perfection. They are all unfairly beautiful, obviously. They have the money and the cars. They have everything. Everything! What if? What if you could be friends with them too? If you could just get them to notice you? To see you? Could you have it all too? Are you dying to be included? Would you die to be included?

Julie Soto masterfully weaves this haunting tale of teenage angst and drama. The book begins with a voice from the grave. Emily Mills is dead. She overdosed on prom night, in her bathtub, still wearing her puffy, pink ball gown. Was it suicide? Was she bullied to the point of no return? She just wanted to be a Thrasher. A member of the most elite friend group at New Helvitia High. Everyone wants to be friends with Zach Thrasher. But, will you be accepted into the group? Or will you get “Thrashed”?

This was a fun read. A spellbinding rollercoaster of suspense and angst. Great performances from narrators Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky. A solid 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free audiobook ARC in exchange for this honest review.

4.5 ⭐

This is one of the best written YA thriller of this nature I think I have read in a while! The characters were sooo well done, the plot was so good, you were constantly questioning things. There's a mild paranormal aspect to it that leaves you second guessing what you're reading and I loved it. It's a pretty fast paced book! Once I started it I wasn't able to put it down till the end. It has drama, so much tension and a mystery that will leave you wanting to know more!

Time to go read her Adult books now cause I just love the way she writes!

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.