Emily Mills takes her own life on prom night but her family and the police seem to think there was foul play involved. Jodi and her friends, whom everyone in the school calls The Thrashers, quickly become the focal point of the police investigation. Weird things start to happen and Jodi is trying to come to terms with her role as the person in the middle of it all while trying to figure out what actually happened.

The story was so well crafted I found myself connecting emotionally with it at multiple points. I finished the audiobook in nearly one sitting, the narrative had me in its grip from start to finish (and the only reason I took a break was that it was way past midnight and I was falling asleep). The characters felt like actual teenagers, and the dynamics in the group were interesting to follow. After finishing the book I have so many thoughts about the story, and the ending left me feeling quite sad for everyone involved.

The narration was engaging and the characters each had a distinct voice, so it was easy to follow.

Are you ready to get Thrashed?!?

Follow the Thrashers and get an inside glimpse of being in the popular crowd. This is basically the story of the aftermath of what happens after bullying. The Thrashers are dealing with the consequences of how it will affect their future and relationship with each other.

I loved this book because it brought me back to high school and how everyone had a clique they belonged to. You could find these characters at any high school from the popular kids that everyone wanted to be and hang out with to the least popular kids who were Thrashed. This book was a reminder of how words can be deadly and you never know how your words can affect someone. So be kind to everyone.

I had no expectations going into this and didn't even read the blurb. It was written by a favorite author so I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed and boy was I right. While this book ended with no cliffhanger, I wanted to know more. There's potential for a sequel if the author would give it to us. *fingers crossed

Also, while I normally prefer dual/duet style audiobooks, the narrator did a great job at differentiating the character voices so I could enjoy the audiobook.

Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Villinsky keep the listener on their toes just waiting to see what happens next in this high school thriller/murder mystery. I was sucked into the story from the very beginning and thought the narrators matched the characters perfectly. Emotional and captivating, you will not regret this listen!

Was I just Thrashed? It definitely feels like it! When I finished The Thrashers earlier today I was actually sad to be done with it because I had such a great time and wasn’t ready to be done with it. Pretty Little Liars was one of my favorite shows while it was on (at least the first few seasons…) and reading The Thrashers brought me all the way back.

The Thrashers follows a group of five friends all connected by their love of Zack Thrasher. Everyone knows who Zack Thrasher is and even if you don’t want to hook up with him you at least want to be in his orbit. Jodi has known Zack the longest, but she lives outside the rich kid world of the rest of her friend group. She’s weary of outsiders and wants to protect Zack as much as she can. When Emily Mills dies by suicide on Prom night it’s a tragedy. When police begin looking into The Trashers as possible bullies who drove her to it, Jodi knows that can’t be right. She knows her friends and she knows the girl who died. But then strange things begin happening when all five Thrashers are together and it looks like they might be the next to end up dead.

This audiobook sucked me in. I loved the mystery and the pacing was great. The story never lagged and I managed to tear through this in less than two days. There’s an added paranormal element which I thought was an interesting spin to add to this story. I can’t stop thinking about the epilogue and how I ended up rooting for characters I definitely shouldn’t be. Except Zack. He can kick rocks.

Thank you to Macmillan Audiobooks and NetGalley for a review copy. I love Julie Soto’s romances and now her YA thriller - I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

All I can say is wow! This is like Pretty Little Liars, but with paranormal elements. I couldn’t put it down! I now NEED to read more of Julie Soto’s books!

I enjoyed pretty much every aspect of this book. The characters were very well done, the pace kept me engaged the whole time and the story was so entertaining. I loved that it did have some interesting paranormal activity.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This one was just not for me. I wanted a Heathers vibe but it felt more childish. Also was really hard to root for any of the characters. Maybe if I was in high school I could relate more but I think I’m too far removed. I still want to read more Julie Soto to get full opinion on her writing style. I think I might like a more adult book from her.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my arc in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This YA thriller has been getting a lot of great buzz but honestly I found it a little underwhelming. The audio narration by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Villinksy was great (they are two of my fav narrators) but the story itself felt like something that's been done before and wasn't all that original to be honest. Just an okay read for me but I may be in the minority with that opinion. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Whenever I read a good young adult thriller I feel like I ascend to a different astral plane. The genre is just so fast-paced, dramatic, and captivating, and The Thrashers is such a gripping addition to the genre.

It reads like a blend of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl with a dash of Final Destination. The narrative has a perfect amount of tension and drama that will have readers flipping through the pages as fast as they possibly can in order to unravel the mystery.

There was also a romance subplot that I had such an incredible time reading. The main characters are all morally grey, but the chemistry of the friendship group and the slightly romantic partnership is impossible to resist.

Listening to the audiobook of this novel was a great experience, and I highly recommend it. The production is crisp and clear and the two narrators add an appropriate amount of drama and tension to the story. This was perfect to listen to while doing boring tasks like laundry or the dishes because it completely swept me up and into another world!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and the author for providing me with an alc in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads 5/5/25.

Review to be posted to Instagram 5/6/25 and also in my monthly reading wrap up at the end of May.

I am speechless. I am pretty sure I am going to stare at a wall for the next 30 minutes after finishing this just to process everything. I don't love a lot of teen drama so I was hesitant to read this but oh my goodness I loved the twists, the turns and the paranormal vibe this book had. I really just have no words. I really, really, really want another book. I need another fix. Julie, give me more.
Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan and Julie Soto for an early copy.

wow. what an epilogue are you kidding. i was not expecting that. this is my first julie soto read and i can say i was not disappointed. these characters were going THROUGH it. it was kind of giving final destination, i loved it.

Did I finish The Thrashersor did The Thrashers finish me?

Any one who knows me knows that if Julie Soto is writing it, I'm reading it, so The Thrashers was high on my list of releases this year. While I shouldn't be surprised, I was completely blown away by this debut. I've been a fan of Julie's writing since AO3 and watching her move to trad pub and now break into a new genre has been outstanding. Her ability to write so elegantly across multiple genres should be applauded!

The Thrashers deals with many complex topics including high school hierarchy, suicide, alcoholism, assault, bullying, and more. The perfect blend of drama, mystery, suspense, and haunting. It was equal parts terrifyingly creepy and somehow heart wrenching. In all honesty, I lost sleep over this book. Both because I couldn't stop turning the page and because Emily haunted my nightmares. In my defense, I haven't thrillered in a while, but she's also terrifying.

This was a wild ride with many layers and twists to it, but I think the thing that got me the most was that epilogue. Julie, you've outdone yourself and I can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you Julie, St. Martin's Press, & Wednesday Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

UPDATED: I was *blessed* by the folks at Macmillan Audio with an ALC, as well. FANTASTIC! 10/10 I was already obsessed with the story, but Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky really brought the story to life. Whether you eye ball read it or earball read it, YOU MUST READ THE THRASHERS!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to get access to the audiobook.

In The Thrashers, we follow a group of teenagers in a California high school. This group of students consisting of Jodi, Lucy, Paige, Julian, and their namesake Zack Thrasher. The dynamic of this friend group and how they exist in the high school sphere is akin to the plastics in Mean Girls, or the Heathers in Heathers; they’re who everyone wants to be and be friends with.

In this book we follow the teens after a classmate dies, and were thrown head first into the chaos and investigation surrounding it. This book was like of a true crime documentary or a lifetime movie had the real backstory of a crime. Our main characters know what they did, and the rest of us are left wondering how everything will work out for them. The way the story unfolds reminded me in many ways of The Secret History, with the characters all being bonded by a secret they must keep.

While listening, this book really had the feel of I Know What You Did Last Summer and Final Destination, with our crew being tormented by what they believe is a paranormal force.

I feel that Julie Soto did a really good job in capturing what it’s like to be the outcast in high school, while still giving us a spooky thrilling book with so many twists and turns. The plot twists were twisty without being convoluted, and the character development was unbelievable. I really loved Julian and the complexity of his story arc.

This was a fabulous book, I would absolutely recommend it.

The Thrashers is an instant rec from me - I flew through this YA thriller and loved every second of it. It’s my first Julie Soto book (and her first thriller!), and let me just say: I sincerely hope she keeps writing in this genre because she nailed it.

This story had me in a chokehold from page one. I was hooked by the mystery, the voice, tone - and while the ending wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped for, it still felt grounded, raw, and chilling.

One of my favorite surprises? The subtle paranormal elements. I wasn’t expecting them, but they added so much atmosphere and intrigue - I devoured this book. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

Now, let’s talk romance. There’s a subplot between two characters that had me straight-up pacing the room, giggling, kicking my feet, the whole nine yards. The chemistry was off the charts - and when things finally happened? I ate it up. Cleared the plate. My only complaint: I needed more!

Narratively, the story alternates between two perspectives: Jodi Dillon, who’s tangled up in the infamous Thrashers friend group, and Emily, whose journal entries - written before her death - spark a storm of accusations. Jodi’s childhood friendship with Zach (the magnetic, possibly toxic leader of the Thrashers) keeps her tethered to a group she’s not even sure she wants to be part of. Emily, on the other hand, tried desperately to get in. After her death, her journals imply that the Thrashers bullied her - hard. But as Jodi digs deeper, she begins to question what’s real, what’s rewritten, and who’s telling the truth.

By the time I got to the epilogue, I was fully emotionally invested and demanding justice for a certain character. It gave me chills. Soto really stuck the landing - and left me craving more.

If you’re into twisty thrillers with a supernatural edge, complex teen dynamics, and a dash of romance that’ll ruin your life in the best way: The Thrashers belongs at the top of your TBR.

I was not really sure what to expect going into this but boy was I impressed! Julie Soto's first YA, there was the perfect amount of suspense for the YA genre. Not too childish, not too spooky, just right.

Jodi Dillon was a perfectly described high school girl Struggling to fit it, trying to keep up with her popular (rich) friends. I love that in the story you never really know if the paranormal is real or if someone is behind all of the things happening.

No spoilers but screw Zack.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) The Thrashers by Julie Soto

This was so interesting! I loved the dark vibes, rollercoaster, and interesting friendship dynamic.

There are so many twists, turns, and toxic friendships. Also, the paranormal elements totally caught me off guard. I truly could not stop listening to the audiobook.

This book is like a dark twist of mean girls. But instead of the plastics, you have the thrashers. Everyone wants to be them. But after a girl commits suicide, the thrashers are blamed for bullying her. As the story unravels, you learn more and more about the friendship and betrayal.

I listened to this audiobook in one day before I absolutely could not stop!!!! I was so hooked into this story and the narrators were perfect I’m actually thinking about rereading it already 🤣 I need a book two ASAP because I need to know what’s going to happen next. So PLEASE Julie we need a book two!!!!!!

When you think you have things all figured out guess again because you’re more than likely wrong 😂 I was on my toes the whole time trying to figure out who did it and what was gonna happen next!!!

If Julie writes it, I’m gonna read it!!!!! Everytime!!! Thank you thank you for this ALC! I enjoyed every bit of it!!!

The Thrashers by Julie Soto
Contemporary mystery, thriller. YA cast.
An elite group of friends known as the Thrashers rule the school. Dates and wanna be friends may temporarily think they are part of the group, but none last long term. They end up being thrashed from the group. Now, a girl is dead after not being picked up for prom. Her diary reads as a drama and cruel intentions by the Thrashers. The police don’t believe it’s all innocent and they want someone to pay for her death.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook of this book narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Jessie Vilinsky. The performance is compelling, absorbing and absolutely riveting as the story proceeds.
I listened at a speed above 1.5 to more closely match my reading and conversation speed.

OMG. I won’t spoil it, but that epilogue gave me chills.
Yes, I was hooked the entire story with the twists and story changes and was satisfied with the result although sad about parts. I was not prepared for the ending. There were hints.

Gripping first non-romance book by this author. Utterly chilling.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/cf68f300-e84e-4e96-83c4-adf45f0eea96

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/435142485

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7117444433

The Thrashers is a darkly addictive ride that was surprisingly adult (not in a salacious way, just maturity-wise) for a novel about high school cliques. Julie Soto captures the seductive pull of popularity and what it's like to never quite know where you stand among your friends.

Jodi is the perfect outsider-insider: close enough to touch the Thrashers' privileged world, but never truly one of them. When a wannabe Thrasher turns up dead and her diary surfaces, things unravel fast—friendships, lies, and possibly reality itself. Soto weaves in just the right amount of eerie tension to keep the stakes high and the pages turning. I never quite knew where it was going or what I should think, but I fully enjoyed the entire ride.

It’s Mean Girls meets Pretty Little Liars, but with something even more sinister watching from the shadows. The ending threw me in the best possible way. What a pleasant surprise this one was!

This book really caught me off guard in the best way. I enjoy a YA thriller every now and then. They always make me feel nostalgic. I wasn’t sure if this one would grab me at first. Initially the characters felt very high school (because, well, they are), and I wondered if I’d feel too far removed. But it didn’t take long before I was fully hooked.

Jodi Dillon, our main narrator, doesn’t exactly follow the crowd. She doesn’t drink or party, and she doesn’t always feel like she fits in, even though her longtime best friend is Zack Thrasher, the guy everyone seems to obsess over. The group she finds herself surrounded by is full of high-profile popular kids, including the brooding Julian Hollister, bubbly Paige, and smart, striking Lucy. Tension and secrets run deep with “the Thrashers,” and the pressure only builds when things at school take a tragic turn.

I think this might be one of those books that’s best enjoyed going in blind. I went in blind, and I really think that enhanced my experience. Just know that it has mystery, paranormal moments, emotional twists, and characters that aren’t always what they seem. I especially liked how Soto slowly peeled back the layers of each character and made me question what I thought I knew.

Julie Soto really knows how to keep the pace moving and the suspense simmering. I flew through this one. The ending felt satisfying and I loved that wicked epilogue.

This was my first book by Julie Soto, and I already have another one I purchased waiting on my shelf. It is her wildly popular romance, and after this, I’m interested to see what she did with it.

I have to believe this book will make it to the small screen. I can already picture some of the characters in my head after listening to the audiobook. The narrators did a bang up job and I really enjoyed the audiobook. If you’re in the mood for a twisty YA mystery that flirts with the paranormal, this is a great one to pick up. Just a heads-up that there are some trigger warnings, so if you have any, it’s worth looking into those before you dive in blind.

Thank you Macmillan audio, Net Galley and Julie Soto for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me! 🖤

DeAnn @deannsreadingriot

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARL!

The Thrashers absolutely delivered. This book had me hooked from the first page and didn’t let up for a second. The friend group dynamic was everything—messy, complicated, and full of secrets. No one is entirely innocent, and yet I found myself rooting for every single one of them while constantly second-guessing their motives.

The pacing is razor-sharp, keeping the tension high and the twists unpredictable. I tore through it in less than a day, and then couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks. The love interest surprised me at first, but the development totally won me over. And the main character’s arc? Easily one of my favorite parts—watching them grow, fall apart, and rebuild was so satisfying.

If you love dark secrets, intense friendships, and unrelenting suspense, don’t read too much ahead—just dive in and let The Thrashers pull you under.