This was more mystery than thriller but I was still hooked. A paranormal activity following 5 friends in high school who are struggling with the death of someone who commuted suicide. It was a wild ride to watch as the reasons fell into Jodi's (fmc) lap. I felt for Jodi. The feeling like you don't belong and others are hanging out without you. Zack, the character every one seems to love, I did not love. I didn't like him at all. Jodi sticking it to him at the end was it for me. Paige and Lucy were interchangeable characters and all I was thinking as an adult woman was "where are these kids parents and why aren't they interacting more". It was a healthy mix of paranormal, ya, mystery. Especially for a debut, well done. She left us with a bit of a cliffy in the epilogue so naturally, I gotta know more.

This was such a fun YA thriller and I can't believe it was her YA debut - such a fast, engaging read. This is perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and One of Us is Lying!

I loved this audiobook!
I always feel a little nervous reading YA when I’m so much older, but I felt like this one was written in such a way that I understood the motivations of the characters even if I can’t relate anymore. The mystery was incredibly compelling.
Emily was found in her tub in her prom dress the night of prom and a group of friends was being blamed for bullying her. And she appeared to be haunting them in a way.
The book was from Jodi’s POV and it was fascinating to see things from that perspective. Was she mean to Emily? Were the rest of her friends?
Nothing was as it seemed in the book and I was on the edge of my seat. I liked Jodi as a character, even when she was being so short sighted, and I was so curious about what life was like before Emily’s death. I definitely recommend this to fans of mystery and YA thrillers. Lots of twists and secrets in this one. The narration was fantastic.

I have read and enjoyed Julie Soto's romance books but was not prepared for how much her YA thriller debut would blow me away. I had such a great time with this book. I really felt for Jodi's situation in this group. The need to belong but also find your own way is something that is very relatable. It would be easy for the characters in this book to be one note but they were all complex and different levels of morally gray. This was a true page turner, I had a hard time putting it down. I was not prepared for some of the twists and turns and that ending!! I don't think there is any intention of this being a series but I need more of two specific characters that I won't reference for spoiler reasons. But if you know you know. I really hope Julie writes another thriller soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When this was first announced, I was skeptical of a non-romance Julie Soto book, but she definitely proved how multi-facet she can be. This book encapsulates the teenage insecurities, sense of worthlessness, and idolization. Emily was a haunting character, and those who have known an Emily will certainly feel like Julie was spying on their life. I do hope we get a second book. I want to see how this crews handles environments outside of the comfort their town and high school provided them.

3.25 🌟

This book did not make me miss HS at all. 😬

Okay, I appear to be the odd man out for this book, but this just wasn't it for me. I didn't love the supernatural element. I don't generally love unkind characters and this book is full of them (which, in all fairness, it needs to me). I didn't think there were enough twists and it just kinda felt meh.

Julie Soto can do no wrong and this book proves that. Never once in this book did expect what would happen next. It just kept getting better and better all the way to the end. I felt the story was played out in that perfect climax and there never was any slow point in the book it just kept on getting better.

The Thrashers was an addicting YA thriller, perfect for readers who love a little mystery and intrigue but nothing too scary. It kept me guessing and engaged the whole book, and I’m very hopeful for a sequel. Even though there were a lot of characters, they didn’t blend together as can be the case with some ensemble casts, which I think speaks to Soto’s writing ability. I’d recommend this book to fans of Karen McManus or 13 Reasons Why.

I really really enjoyed this read! The author nailed this Young Adult thriller, I couldn’t put it down! All the characters were well written and I enjoyed watching their growth, as well as the lack of growth for some! I particularly liked Jodi and Julien as characters. Jodi especially had great development throughout the book with learning to confront her problems.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. Due to be published May 6, 2025.

Julie Soto's The Thrashers isn't just a glimpse into the gilded lives of high school elites; it's a plunge into a vortex of dark secrets, twisted loyalties, and a chilling mystery that will leave you breathless. Soto masterfully crafts a narrative where the line between privilege and peril blurs with every pulse-pounding page.

Welcome to New Helvetia High, where the Thrashers reign supreme. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the magnetic and menacing, Zack Thrasher are the epitome of wealth, beauty, and untouchable power. Jodi Dillon, Zack's childhood best friend, finds herself unexpectedly pulled into their orbit, a world where she's both an insider and an outsider.

But Soto doesn't let us linger in this intoxicating world for long. The sudden death of Emily Mills, a desperate wannabe, cracks the Thrashers' flawless facade. What starts as whispers soon escalates into a full-blown investigation, fueled by the haunting revelations within Emily's journal.

The Thrashers is a symphony of suspense, each note escalating the dread:

Soto expertly weaves a web of interconnected secrets, where every character has something to hide and every relationship is built on a foundation of shifting sands.

As detectives close in, the past refuses to stay buried. The Thrashers' seemingly perfect lives are revealed to be stained by events that have repercussions far beyond the present.

Emily Mills may be gone, but her presence lingers, growing stronger with each eerie message and strange occurrence. Soto infuses the narrative with a chilling supernatural edge that will make your skin crawl.

Torn between loyalty to her friends and the need to protect herself, Jodi is thrust into a moral crucible. Her desperate struggle to navigate this treacherous landscape forms the emotional core of the novel.

Soto's writing is sharp, evocative, and utterly addictive. She captures the intoxicating allure of power and the vulnerability that lies beneath the Thrashers' polished surfaces. The Thrashers is more than just a thriller; it's an exploration of the dark side of adolescence, where the games people play have deadly consequences. This book will keep you up all night, desperate to unravel its mysteries, and leave you reeling long after you've turned the final page.

I don’t usually reach for suspense or thrillers, but The Thrashers completely hooked me. From the first chapter, I was pulled into the tension, the secrets, and the small-town unease that never lets up.

This book gave me major Pretty Little Liars meets Gone Girl vibes, and in the best possible way. It’s twisty, atmospheric, and full of “wait, WHAT?” moments.

And that epilogue? I did not see that coming. It absolutely shook me.

One of the standout elements for me was Jodi. I really liked how her character was written. She’s layered, flawed, and compelling in a way that kept me invested.

Even as someone who doesn’t typically read this genre, I was fully along for the ride. Julie Soto nailed the suspense while still giving us strong character work, and now I need more like this on my shelf.

This was unputdownable! From the very beginning, I was hooked. The story pulled me in with this eerie, small-town vibe that felt like something was always just out of reach. I kept thinking I’d listen to a few chapters and come back to it later. Instead, I finished the whole thing in two sittings because I had to know what was really going on.

Read if you enjoy:
✨ YA mystery / thriller
✨ Paranormal
✨ Highschool drama
✨ Slow burn / low spice
✨ Flashback timeline
✨ Betrayal & Revenge

The story was exceptional. The suspense and atmospheric tension were so well done that they really heightened the whole experience. It gave me all the spooky vibes I was hoping for and made it almost impossible to put down. I devoured this book. The pacing and the suspense were everything I could hope for in a thriller.

My only negative is the ending. I was really hoping for that big shocking twist, and while it wrapped up fine, I was left a little underwhelmed. I had a bunch of wild theories and was waiting for something that would blow me away. That didn’t quite happen, but the buildup and overall vibe of the book were 5 star experience for me.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the chance to read and review this book.

I'm typically not a big fan of YA novels but Julie Soto wrote an exceptional supernatural, dramatic YA thriller with The Thrashers.

The friend group was both fantastic and terrible. There was so much going on and it was absolutely wild but I enjoyed this book so much!

This was very Pretty Little Liars but I was here for it.

Thanks to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for an advance copy!

I loved this! A modern day Pretty Little Liars meets Gone Girl that had me captivated right away and kept me wondering what was going to happen the whole time.

A gripping read that kept me guessing. I didn't want to put it down because there was always something new and intriguing.
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

This book was a wild ride. I was not expecting it to be so dark and twisty. I find most YAs fluffy, not this one, I was on the edge of my seat for most of it. There were so many major things going on. I did have some of the bigger points figured out fairly early on, but that was ok, it was still such an intriguing story. I want to know where it goes from here!
Very Pretty Little Liars esc, in the best way.

This was my first Julie Soto read, and honestly I wish I
would've read her worked sooner! This YA thriller kept me
hooked from start to finish! I loved every second! The twists and turns in this book were perfectly executed and kept me guessing the entire time! Will definitely be recommending this book to everyone!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for approving me for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book really drew me in. I love thrillers and was excited to read a book by this author for the first time. However, the story did not live up to my expectations. The characters were somewhat hollow, and the delivery throughout the book felt very dry. This made it hard for me to focus, and I found myself rereading the same sentences multiple times. I didn't feel any thrill or real suspense while reading this book, which is quite disappointing considering the premise.

The book has supernatural elements and a side romance, all thrown into a thriller plot, but they felt as though they did not complement each other well. And don't get me started on the ending. I saw it coming from a mile away, leaving the story on a lackluster note.

Overall, it's not a bad first thriller book, but it's also not for me.
3.5/5⭐️

The one genre I'm not a fan of is thrillers/mysteries. I've read a couple in my life and am usually underwhelmed. But goddamn did I love this book. It's part thriller, part mystery, part suspense, and MAYBE part paranormal? I devoured this. Could not put it down. I have read Julie Soto's fanfics online but this was my first trad published book of hers. I just love the way she writes. This book constantly had me second guessing every character's intentions. Did they do this horrible thing? Is it all being fabricated? Who can you actually trust? I absolutely recommend this book. Extra bonus: Can be read by a wide range of ages. This is a YA book. I'd feel comfortable with my 12 year old reading it. But as a 41 year old, I loved it as well.

Full disclosure, Julie Soto is my top 5 favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint! Julie can do no wrong, and I’ll read anything she writes.
The plot, characters and writing were all absolutely phenomenal 10/10!!