From the first page, The Thrashers had me hooked!

Julie Soto takes a jarring opening and creates a thought provoking YA novel that doesn't shy away from exploring the complexities of young adult life.

I felt so drawn to Jodi and her need to belong to a group while also trying to navigate doing the right thing (something I think so many readers and relate and empathize with). The characterization of Jodi and The Thrashers makes me feel like I am watching a teen drama all over again. This gave me the suspense of Pretty Little Liars and the angst of 13 Reasons Why. I also loved that there was a romantic subplot that I could focus on because I am always a sucker for a romance!

Why I do think some of the content may be triggering to readers, I think overall the novel addresses the sensitive content very tastefully, without overwhelming the reader with copious trauma.

Most of the time I was left theorizing and guessing at what could be happening! By the time I reached the ending I was still wondering what could be happening, which I think makes for a fantastic read! By the end there were still some questions left unanswered, but I think that's what will stick with me and make me want to pick this book up again!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review of this book!

I couldn’t put this book down! I needed to know what came next! It was like a mix of 13 reasons why meets Pretty Little Liars and I ate it up. The friendship dynamics, the character development the mystery and thrill of this story kept me on the edge of my seat! I’m a romance girly at heart - so you know I was rooting for some of these characters to kiss…but that’s just me 😉. This story was very different from any of the other published Julie Soto works I’ve read, but I really enjoyed it! In the end I did have a few follow up questions for some things that happened in the book - but I’m never one to look to closely for plot holes. All in all - it was a ride and I need more people to talk to about it!! So read it!

In The Thrashers, Julie Soto drops us in the middle of typical high school drama, with the friend group around Zack Thrasher being the pinnacle of the in-crowd. But in this case, the drama takes a deadly turn. Are Zack and his friends responsible? Are they really even friends? Soto’s first venture into the YA genre proves that whatever the setting, she crafts robust characters that the reader will react to strongly. As the story unfolds, she delivers surprises and emotions that keep you turning the pages, well past bedtime, though the haunting twists and turns may leave you wanting to keep the light on even after you put the book down.

ALL THE STARS. THIS BOOK IS PERFECT. I could NOT put this one down, and I cannot wait to see what Soto decides to explore next in this world!

The Thrashers by Julie Soto had me hooked from the very beginning! It gave me I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes with its mix of suspense, high school politics, and the dark secrets lurking beneath it all. The dynamic between the popular crowd and the outsiders was so compelling, making every twist and turn even more intense. And that epilogue… WHAT?! I need more. If you love a gripping YA thriller with a dose of drama, this one is definitely worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books for the eARC.

Julie has done it again and I need MORE!!
It was such a wild ride, so much mystery!
Characters were relatable, and just as teenagers would be. Jodi's story was personal and her growth was amazing!
The Trashers friendship was perfect; lies, love, forgiveness.
I was blown away by the ending, and I would really hope there is a second part but I doubt it. I want to, no NEED, TO KNOW EVERYTHING julian experienced!

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A review by you!
The Thrashers by Julie Soto
challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25

This book delivers an intense yet gripping mystery centered around a popular group of teenagers known as The Thrashers. The group’s exclusivity and enigmatic nature only amplify their allure, making them the talk of the school. However, beneath their confident façade lies a web of secrets and tension. The story dives deep into the haunting mystery surrounding the sudden and tragic suicide of one of their own, unraveling layers of drama, betrayal, and hidden truths. With sharp writing and compelling twists, this book masterfully captures the complexities of friendship, popularity, and the emotional struggles teenagers often face. It’s a thought-provoking and addictive read that keeps you hooked until the final reveal.

INFINITE STARS!!!! Listen, I went into this almost completely blind, no expectations. This was my very first Julie Soto and I’m a sucker for a YA mystery, so I thought, why not? And am I glad I did. This book was absolutely EVERYTHING. Drama, romance that was perfectly done and just enough for the type of book, mania/obsession, legal aspects, high school drama and real-world problems, this book had everything. Every single player on the board was someone who captivated me and held my interest for varying reasons, and I truly couldn’t put it down. The Thrashers deserves to be read with ZERO spoilers, so I’m going to keep my loving ramblings as vague as possible, but the Breakfast Club vibes were fun too. The golden boy, the bad boy, the queen of the school, the rich girl, the one who will do anything to stay relevant. And that’s just the main cast. Honestly, this book had everything, and the twists kept me going until the very, VERY end. I recommended it at 23% in and I will continue to scream about it from the rooftops now that I’ve finished it. I know this one will stay with me for quite a while, and isn’t that the beauty of a well-written mystery?

4.5⭐️. I have read Julie’s previous books and really loved them. I was very excited to read this book in a different genre. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m an older reader so I’m not naturally drawn to books with high school characters but this one kept me turning the pages despite that. I spent the whole book trying to guess what would happen next and was happy that I never actually figured it out. I was on the edge of my seat and looked forward to reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc of this book.

I devoured this book in one sitting. The story follows a group of 5 teens known as the Thrashers that are seemingly involved in the death of another student. Throughout the book, tensions escalate, secrets are revealed and not everything is as it once seemed. This is a thriller that I think YA audiences will loooove. The prologue had me hooked from the start, and it was truly a page turner.

There were a ton of theories running through my head as I was reading and some were obvious and easy to figure out, while others took me by surprise when revealed! Soto described high school and the challenges a teenager commonly faces in a way I feel readers will be able to relate to.
The relationship between two characters surprised me, but I was ROOTING for it!!! I absolutely loved it and the way it was portrayed and written was perfect. The ending was quite the twist and I have my fingers crossed that we may someday see a sequel to this!

This is a book about horrible people doing horrible things, and it's absolutely incredible. Its filled to the brim with cruelty, but the kind that isn't easily defined or easy to escape, the kind that is so incredibly easy to get sucked into. Yet, there is such a stark clarity to the characters that I couldn't help but care for them even if their decisions were neither smart nor kind. Plus, that only made the moments of growth and kindness that came about all the better.

The biggest compliment that I can give this book is that it's slightly insane. It goes all in in everything that it is trying to do, and I loved it.

The Thrashers was an amazing read that was very hard to put down. The constant plot twists and surprises that popped up kept you glued to it. It I closed relatable information and characters while also being a thrilling mystery to read and follow. Julie Soto did amazing things with this book and I can’t wait for more to come. The ending made me wanting to pick up the next book!

I knew going into this that I wasn't the target demographic, HOWEVER, I can get down with some YA if I vibe with it. Unfortunately, I did not vibe with this one. I love Julie Soto, but I did not love this one. This one was almost a little too YA for me because it was giving Pretty Little Liars/Gossip Girl type drama and characters and not in a good way. I found myself not caring about the characters nor the issues they were facing.

I also found myself exceptionally bored throughout which is a recipe for disaster in a thriller. I just did not care, but I forced myself to persevere because I had seen reviews about a shocking ending. While I wasn't shocked, I was a bit surprised. However, that didn't change the fact that I didn't have a great time with this one.

One final gripe and this one is a personal one. I really really dislike when a book uses so many pop-culture references in a book. That's just a personal pet-peeve that I don't like because I feel it dates the book badly.

One extra star because the writing was great, as per usual with Julie Soto.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Julie Soto did an amazing job folding so many complexities together into a solid plot that is both timely and relatable. The complicated friend group at the center of The Thrashers was largely the force that propelled me through the narrative. I couldn’t get enough of the drama! Add in a dash of speculative and you have this gem of a novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book! Opinions are my own.

This read was so good, at first it gave me heathers vibes! I did enjoy the read, but i was looking for a little drama and angsty. Overall i still want to be apart of the thrasher

The Thrashers has creeped itself to the top of my 2025 favorites list!

I am so glad this book landed in my hands. I couldn’t put the dang thing down. My kindle slept in bed next to me; was my last thought before bed and the first thing I grabbed for!

In true transparency…I was planning on skipping this book. Most YA books are not appealing to me. When I was offered an arc, I knew if skyline writes it, it’s going yo be amazing.

- Such a good mix of suspense/mystery and a heaping sprinkle of paranormal elements.

- The characters: perfect! Love them, hated them, some I rooted for and some I wanted to see thrashed!

While the ending felt a bit faster paced than the majority of the book, it didn’t feel like it was rushed or missed anything.

I’m convinced Julie could write an instruction manual and I’d give it 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Miss Julie Soto for the arc!

Okay WOW, this book took me by surprise in the best way. A high school friend group is being charge with bullying and driving a peer to end her life. It reminded me strongly of Pretty Little Liars. It had the perfect combination of suspense and mystery while also bringing in paranormal elements. The high school feelings of insecurity and friend group dynamics felt so true to what I remember high school being like. I loved this book so much and I will be recommending it to everyone when it comes out on April 30th!

Thank you NetGalley and Julie Soto for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Uhmmm, that epilogue whattt!!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Julie Soto’s writing through her fanfics and enjoy mixing in thrillers here and there so I was excited to give this one a read. I read this is a day I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen and was so invested in the story that kept me guessing the entire way.

This story follows a group of high school friends who are accused of being involved in a fellow students suicide. It explores high school relationships and all the heavy feelings that high school students feel about fitting in and wanting to be included, while adding to that a touch of the paranormal. It pulled me right back into all the feelings of uncertainty that come with being that age and trying to figure out where you fit in. This book was engaging and kept my interest throughout.

I SCREAMED at the epilogue. I need answers.

thank you to netgalley for the arc of this one!

this was a really fun read, it's been ages since i last read a YA novel and i was pleasantly surprised by this one! the concept is one that i always enjoy - a thriller centered around a clique of rich kids basically - but i actually really liked how the mystery was handled in this, for while it was at times predictable (as YA thrillers usually are) that didn't take away from the readability at all.

another pleasant surprise was the supernatural elements, because i went into this fully blind and had no idea that it would lean supernatural at all. there have been other books where i went in blind and wound up HATING when things turned supernatural (cough the house across the lake cough) but it was the perfect amount of creepy in this one that i was actually creeped out reading this at night!

definitely recommend this one if you enjoy the premise, because i had a great time!

This was my first book that wasn't a spicy romance novel and let me tell you - IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I read the book in about 2.5 days (would've been shorter if I didn't have to adult and go to work) but I couldn't put it down. I read it in my ubers to and from work, on my lunch break, on the hour that was way past my bed time. When I wasn't reading The Thrashers, it was all I could think about until I finished it and even now, having finished it, I'll probably think about it for quite some time. To say I was HOOKED is the understatement of the century. I hated, I loved, I hated and I fell back in love with the characters. I was thoroughly haunted for a good portion of this novel in the best way possible. Julie Soto is a GOD TIER writer. I was introduced to her from her fanfics but cannot wait to start reading her other works! And Julie, if you're reading this - please PLEASE tell me there's a part 2 to this book because I cannot with that cliffhanger.