HOLY CRAP!! That epilogue at the end, my mind is spinning.

I am so happy that I was able to receive this book as a ARC audio. This was my first Julie Soto book and I am a big fan now. I didn't really know what to expect going into it but I am so glad I got to listen to The Thrashers. This YA novel takes place in high school with a group of friends called the Thrashers. To be in the group is all that anyone wants and Zack is the one ever girl wants to be with. A girl named Emily comes into the group but leaves tragically due to suicide. Her death is a mystery trying to be solved the whole book. Was she truly thrashed? Jodie is the main character in this story and she left questioning if her friends are who they say they are, innocent.
The twists, turns and secrets will have you wanting more and I really enjoyed this read.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

📓💡👗🔪🖤⚡️

Publish Date: May 6, 2025

Genre: YA Thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was insanely good! Possibly the best YA thriller I’ve ever read. The twists and intricacies had me hanging on to every word until the very end.

I don’t often gravitate toward paranormal thrillers, and it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA thriller, but I’m a huge fan of Julie Soto’s work, and I was very intrigued by the premise.

Honestly I’m just blown away by the author’s range. The fact that she writes romance, fantasy, AND thrillers, and does it SO WELL is beyond impressive.

Do yourself a favor and add this to your tbr! It was fantastic. Also, the audio was so well done- I highly recommend it on audiobook.

Thank you to @netgalley and @juliesotowrites
for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a ride! I was soooo into this when I was reading! There were so many twists and turns I was not expecting! It’s giving teen drama (think Pretty Little Liars vibes) with a sprinkle of paranormal! Truly gripping and so fun!

3.5 stars. The Thrashers is a gripping YA thriller that kept me guessing until the very end! I thought it was such a fun and twisty read. I was constantly questioning who to trust and where to point the finger! It felt very reminiscent of 13 Reasons Why.

That said, the pacing of the book was a bit off for me. I was immediately intrigued by the premise, but I wasn’t as gripped throughout the middle of the book as I wanted to be. There were a few plot holes and some details that felt either unnecessary or never fully tied back into the story. But once I hit the last 20% of the book, I was completely hooked and couldn’t stop reading!

I did a mix of reading and listening to this one. The story switches between the past and present and is written in third person, which made it harder to follow on audio at times. It was hard to tell when the flashbacks started and ended in the audio.

Overall, this was a fun read that kept me on my toes!

4.25
The concept of this book was fantastically well fleshed out. So many moving pieces that fit together so well.
The Thrashers are a set of 5 friends in high school, named for one of their members, Zack Thrasher. They’re a really close nit group, but Jodi and Zack have been friends since childhood. About as long as Jodi has had feelings for him. Emily was trying to shoehorn her way into the group, and isn’t well received. When Emily ends her own life, the Thrashers are the prime suspects for causing her to make that choice.
I really enjoyed this book. The paranormal aspect gave me chills at time, which I don’t find often. It really creeped me out. There were aspects of bullying in this book that really resonated with my lived experience, and those were difficult to read, but man was it twisted and sometimes a little hard to follow. The narration was great, and really well executed. Definitely enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to see what Julie Soto comes up with next!!

I tore through this in a day. The plot is amazing, the pacing is fantastic. I was so invested in the characters. They were flawed and morally grey and still so perfect . Honestly, I don't know what else to say. I just want to start it over again and reread it immediately. Everything about this book worked for me. I hope we get another book with Julian Hollister as the MC. I need more of him ASAP.

The Thrashers is a fast paced YA thriller that will keep you guessing right up to the prologue! This story follows a group of teens through high school and the death of one of their friends. The narration was well done, voice and pacing worked for the story and made listening enjoyable. Add this to your summer TBR!

Thank you Net Galley, Julie Soto and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Thrashers is expected to be released May 6, 2025.

*Thank you to Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for the ALC! All opinons are my own.*

4.5/5

One thing about me is I will eat up a YA thriller. Another thing about me is that during the first like 30% of a YA thriller I'm asking myself if I even like YA books?? I do. I literally always do. There's just a bit of an adjustment period switching between my usual adult genres and a YA read (and that's okay!!) I'm rambling, though. Any adjustment period aside, this was a lot of fun to read. There wasn't a single reliable character to be had; most of the main cast was unlikable and untrustworthy (this is a compliment coming from me, I assure you); and the ending was an incredible spine-tingling almost-cliff-hanger kinda thing???

My thing with Soto's writing has always been that she writes so cinematically. Each scene is constructed in such a way that I can see if as if I'm watching it in a theater with a giant Coke and a bucket of popcorn in my hand. This was true for her romance novels and it's especially true for this one. I'm always so loathe to say I'll blindly read anything an author writes, because I just don't believe in those kinds of absolutes. But God, Julie Soto is very nearly there for me. What a treasure.

I'm giving it a middle rating as I did not finish the book.

I DNF'd at 17% because this was not for me. I was trying to reach outside my normal comfort genre and with Julie Soto writing amazing romances I wanted to try this. I've came to the conclusion that YA mystery/thriller is not for me.

The narration was amazing and I loved her voice. If you enjoy YA mystery/thriller then I'm sure you will love this. It's about the "popular kids' in high school who are under suspicion of the death of school mate.

This audio was amazing! It was really well done and I was so happy that I listened to it along with the e-book! It added a nice element to the story and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

This quick read is reminiscent of One of Us Was Lying and 13 Reasons Why. The Thrashers is a group of popular high school students, a group everyone wants to be in but no one wants to be let go from, aka “thrashed”. Jodi Dillon and Zack Thrasher have been best friends since they were little, and despite this“in” with the number one Thrasher, she still feels like she doesn’t belong in the group. Enter Emily Mills, who is so exceedingly desperate to join the group, the Thrashers make fun of her, except for Jodi, who doesn’t entirely befriend her, but tries to at least be nice. Then one night Emily commits suicide, leaving behind a diary accusing the Thrasers, except for Jodi, of all kinds of malicious deeds. While they all question the validity of what was written in the diary, Jodi is faced with being called to testify against her friends. This story goes back and forth between past and present, but it isn’t hard to keep up. My only issues were with how much drinking, partying, and drugs were done. This was one of those books for me that has made it hard to pick up another one after finishing. Highly recommended for high school and up readers.

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dark YA thriller!

The Thrashers is an addictive, fast-paced blend of teen drama, suspense, and eerie supernatural tension that had me completely hooked from the first chapter.
Julie Soto absolutely nails the high stakes atmosphere of elite high school life, while weaving in social commentary and emotional depth!
This is One of Us Is Lying meets Pretty Little Liars… with ghosts. 😍

Told from the POV of Jodi Dillon, the outsider-insider of the exclusive “Thrasher” friend group, the story dives into the aftermath of a classmate’s tragic death and the bullying allegations surrounding it. As the group’s facade begins to crack, strange and terrifying things start to happen, hinting that Emily might not be gone after all. The tension is relentless. I especially loved how Soto made the reader question everyone’s guilt, innocence, and motives!!!

Jodi’s insecurities, her place in the group, and her growing awareness of what’s really going on made her a great narrator. Some characters veered toward trope heavy (and one or two felt a bit underdeveloped).

There are definitely some heavy topics like bullying, suicide, identity, and class but they’re handled well and my book club is going to enjoy discussing these things when the book comes out!
The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars was wishing for a second POV and a bit more clarity in some plot threads.

That said, I devoured this book and would hands down recommend it to fans of YA thrillers, especially those who love:

⚡ morally gray drama
⚡ haunted secrets
⚡ slow-burn romance
⚡ high school power plays
⚡ and a little ghostly vengeance

If there’s a sequel, I’m all in!!

Thank you to Julie Soto and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Thrashers had me hooked from the very first page, and I desperately need it to be a series because I have to know what happens next. If you want a YA thriller filled with high school drama, bullying, lies, secrets, and manipulation, this is the one for you. It was fast-paced, a little spooky, thrilling, and super stressful. It’s told from the POV of Jodi Dillon, a member of the popular friend group called The Thrashers. She’s always felt like she didn’t belong and is only included because she was Zack Thrasher’s childhood friend. The Thrashers are being investigated for bullying Emily Mills, which resulted in her suicide. As the teens begin to fall apart under the stress of the investigation, media coverage, and the court of public opinion, dangerous supernatural things start to happen to The Thrashers, making them think that Emily is still around and isn’t done with them yet. I devoured this one, and I was living for the little bit of romance that we got. The only thing that could have made it better was if it had been dual POV. I did a tandem read of the ebook and audio, and Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky did such a great job voicing the characters and adding depth to the story. You definitely need to read this one when it comes out!

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, Julie Soto, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔The Thrashers
✏️ Julie Soto
📆 May 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💬 YA thrillers
💬 high school drama
💬 close knit friend group
💬 secrets and lies
💬 fallout from bullying and suicide
💬 supernatural elements and ghosts

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ALC!
2⭐️
Fans of Thirteen Reasons Why may be drawn to this dark YA thriller, but for readers looking for a grounded, sensitive take on trauma and teen mental health, this may not be the right fit. The premise centers on a girl’s death by suicide, and while the writing is sharp and fast-paced, the reliance on suicide and sexual violence as plot devices felt heavy-handed and, at times, mishandled. At least suicide should be in the blurb, right? At least!!

The book weaves in paranormal elements that are never clearly resolved, which adds confusion rather than clarity. The main character’s development is limited, and many of the supporting characters come across as irredeemable, making it hard to connect or invest emotionally. The final act is overloaded with dramatic reveals, which reduces the impact of each one.

That said, Julie Soto’s writing style is engaging, and the audiobook narration is excellent—especially for single narration, making it an enjoyable listening experience. I’ll definitely be reading more of this authors work.

While this title might appeal to readers who enjoy YA thrillers packed with drama, tropes, and high emotional stakes, those hoping for a more nuanced or original take on difficult topics may want to approach with caution.

4.5 stars!

This book is thrilling, riveting, the tragedy you can’t look away from. Julie Soto somehow has transcended genres and has written romance, romantasy, and YA thriller. Bravo! 👏🏼

This book was twisty and twisted, gripping and fast paced. I could not get through the audiobook fast enough! Recommended listening speed is 1.5-1.75.

If you’ve ever liked Holly Jackson, Karen McManus, Maureen Jackson, Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars, or 13 reasons why, you’ll love this book!

The audio narrator helps the story to unfold in a captivating way. There is drama, lies, secrets, toxic friendships and high school drama. Oh the twisted games kids play to try and find where they belong. These character are complex and you’ll be surprised by who you find yourself rooting for. This would play out perfectly as a movie or show.

I can’t say too much because I want to avoid spoilers but that ending?! UGH!

Thanks to MacMillian and Wednesday books for the advance copies! You can pick this one up on May 6!!

Overall, this was a fun thriller to read. There were some pacing issues, but would definitely try another book by the author as this was my first.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Julie Soto for the alc of The Thrashers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This had me on the edge of my seat for the entire time. I listened to it all in one go; I could not stop once I started. I loved how the paranormal was woven into this thriller so seamlessly. The characters were fleshed out and I felt for every single one of them in some way. Soto’s writing was gripping and thought-provoking and I cannot wait to see if she writes any more thrillers.

The narrators, Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky, did a fantastic job with the narration and keeping up the suspense.

The number of times the main characters get CPR, sheesh.

Dramatic for sure, a good accompaniment to sorting Lego, yes teens are probably going to enjoy this. But it kind of went back and forth between suspense and the ghost story and a crime story - and why are the names of these minors being regularly reported in the media? Why is Jody The Fat Poor One? Why does the only Black Queer character scream token representation? Emily was clearly neurodivergent and obsessive, but I'm not sure if the reader was supposed to treat her with compassion or derision.

The main thing that redeemed the plot at the end is the twist behind Julian's actions, which seemed to be completely incomprehensible for most of the story. That was messed up, yo.

As a whole, a worthwhile listen and I'll be happy to recommend to teens/fans of One of Us Is Lying looking for a summer thriller. But I can't say I loved it.

HOLY COW THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this YA thriller by Julie Soto! These are my honest thoughts!

WHAT EVEN WAS THIS STORY?? It was Mean Girls x Gossip Girl x One Tree Hill... set in California, so with The O.C. thrown in there for good measure (these are millennial references, so I'm sure the younger generation will have their own comparisons).

I was enthralled with these characters from the first page, and I kept turning every page waiting to figure out what was truth, what was lies, what was real, what was real but unexplainable, and what in the world happened to Emily Mills?

I hated and loved everyone, and I sometimes like when a book makes me feel that way, but I really liked some characters and I really hated others. Julie Soto did an amazing job of making these kids feel important. They are mostly rich, and they are nice to their friends. But if you're not a friend? You'll be *Thrashed*. And yet, I felt bad for them when their futures and college was on the line. Kids are meant to learn and make mistakes without the world crumbling to the ground, yet when they find out they are being pursued for the death of a classmate, it's hard to go through it with them.

Add in all these really strange incidents where really bad things keep happening to the cast of main characters? The weird texts? The seemingly once-in-a-lifetime occurrences, that KEEP HAPPENING?

I still have so many questions. And I think with the ending, that hints that there is more to come?? Hopefully? It doesn't end with a neatly tied bow, and I have to accept that I am okay with it right now.

Shoutout to Eva Kaminsky, Jesse Vilinsky - narrators who brought this story to life. This is a fast-paced story, and Eva was amazing making the plot jump off the page.

5 stars. Out May 6th.

FIVE STARS!!!! I loved that this was like mean girls and PLL and had a paranormal element to it! This was so fun and at no point did I know where it was going. I’ve never read a book like this and I can’t wait to have a trophy copy! Highly recommend the audio version!