If you like the Pretty Little Liars tv show you’ll like this book. Both have very similar vibes and I love both very much!

The Thrashers is ultimately a novel about teenagers who made bad decisions and are now having to face the consequences. It’s full of high school drama, bad decisions, and spooky vibes.

I really loved how fast paced this novel was. I devoured it in under a day. It was just so good and I hope Julie Soto plans on writing a sequel!

I read this book in one day, the whole time I was at the edge of my seating wanting to know all the secrets and how the book would end. The twists are amazing and I definitely think the author could easily make a sequel (wishful thinking).

Was perfectly paced, written so well about current high school dynamics and how kids can be mean these days in a more twisted secretive way than in the past.

A group of 5 high school friends are called "The Thrashers", and they are the in-crowd. They are rich and people want to be in their orbit. Their friendship is put under a magnifying glass when another girl in high school, Emily, commits suicide, and left clues that The Thrashers caused her depression. As the teens review what happened leading up to Emily's death. They claim to be haunted by her, having sleep disruptions and strange phenomena appear in their pictures or when doing various things. As Jodi Dillon tries to decipher what happened, she wonders what her friends,Julian, Lucy, Paige, and Zack are hiding.
A tale of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. Surprising.

The Thrashers follows a group of five high school seniors over the course of a year as they navigate not only their senior year, but also an investigation into the death of one of their classmates, the blame being put on them and their behaviour towards not only their classmate, but for their behaviour in general. Known as ‘The Thrashers’, this ‘it’ group has a lot of power at school and is known to ‘thrash’ people with whom they no longer wish to be associated. I enjoyed this book as it was so much deeper than I anticipated at first, and although the plot was fairly predictable for the most part, the ending totally caught me by surprise.

I think the author did a great job creating characters not only with whom I empathized, but ones that were also morally grey and quite complex. So many YA novels depend on tropy type behaviour and often use miscommunication to propel a plot forward, but the author made her characters go through some pretty complex emotional trauma, exploring a lot of topics throughout the book. While it’s been years since I’ve been in high school, I have taught it for years, so I thought the author captured a lot of the complexity of navigating high school life with characters that were definitely not perfect, had to reflect not only on their previous behaviours but also on their relationships and how they treated people, and were dealing with current crises due to some of their choices in the past. Each of the characters had their own distinct voices, and while most of the book was told from Jodi’s POV, the author did not forget about the other characters and worked hard to make them unique and well-developed as well.

The plot itself was quite engaging and the way the mystery was wrapped up within the daily life of the main characters was interesting. With mysterious text messages from a person unknown, to a secret diary, to incidents happening, the MCs had to lean on each other to try to figure out what was happening, but they also had to keep their distance for reasons which will become clear as you read. They were in a difficult position trying to navigate the investigation into Emily’s death as well as navigate daily high school life as a senior and the author did not hold anything back when it came to exploring themes. Suicide, date rape, trauma, depression, alcoholism, physical assault, car accidents, drug use, abuse, culpability, loss of a loved one, bullying (including cyberbullying), and consequences were all explored throughout the pages of this book, to a depth that was quite satisfying. It was not glossed over or avoided, but the author made the characters face the truth of their actions and deal with the consequences, something that made me quite happy.

I wish the author had spent more time exploring Jodi’s behaviour with regards to Zach as that is an area I feel needed more development and was worth discussing. It sounds vague, but I don’t want to give any spoilers from the story. When you read it, you will understand.

The Thrashers was a fascinating look at a group of five teenagers who made poor decisions and had to face the consequences of those decisions. It definitely went a lot deeper than I had anticipated and explored a lot of themes. The ending caught me by surprise, something that surprised me considering a lot of the book was somewhat predictable, and I am really hoping there will be a sequel. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this book if you like well-developed characters and an interesting plot.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Since seeing this book and reading the blurb, I have wanted to read The Thrashers. I got approved and life got away from me over the last month but, FINALLY I was able to read it.
I couldn't put it down.
Every high schooler wants to fill loved and involved and in this case they want to be a part of The Thrashers. When Emily, who desperately wants in commits suicide the whole group is unraveled taking you all over the place and back again. The characters were 'shitty' the plot 'ridiculous' but that is what made the book great.

One complaint. What in the world was that Epilogue. I am so confused. Please Julie if you see this, or anyone sees this and knows the answer to what in the world happened. Was that even from the same book? Please someone give me something. Message me, anything just tell me what in the world really was that 2 page Epilogue?

Oh my goodness, The Thrashers got me out of a deep book slump. It was so addictive, I finished it within a day! It gives the best parts of Heathers and Mean Girls, with a supernatural twist. I really think you should go into this one blind. If you're looking for what I call "girly-pop thriller/horror", I strongly believe you'll make it out with a new favorite book.

This book was very telling by the characters portrayed. Julie Soto is a genius and she can captivate her audience. This YA is filled with emotion turmoil and leaves you wanting more. I couldn’t put my kindle down!

The Thrashers is a suspenseful YA thriller about Jodi, an outsider caught up with a toxic elite group after a peer’s mysterious death. Julie Soto blends high school drama, bullying, class tension, and subtle supernatural elements to create an eerie, fast-paced story.

While the paranormal aspect adds intrigue, it feels a bit underdeveloped, and the ending is somewhat rushed. Overall, it’s a gripping read for fans of dark academia and psychological thrillers.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I had to know what was going to happen. I loved the storyline and thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

This just might be my favorite YA thriller to date.
Julie Soto just doesn’t miss and I wouldn’t even be mad if this book got a sequel.
That epilogue- WOW! Absolutely did not see it coming and I am begging for more. Anything, @juliesotowrites , A N Y T H I N G

This one definitely gives Pretty Little Liars vibes and as someone who was obsessed with that show, it really kept me engaged throughout the whole book.
The paranormal activities intertwined made it nearly impossible to want to put this down.

Each character’s complexity was perfect for the story. They all had their own secrets and it made the drama SO GOOD.
Plus a little slow burn romance mixed in as well? Perfect. I was eating it up.

The characters have layers to make your way through, but not so much that you feel like it drags on. While there’s plenty of toxicity to go around, the found family within this friend circle is quite touching. They don’t MEAN any harm, but they’re also quite comfortable in their own little bubble with one another.

“She looked up at him and saw him frowning. She had the distinct impression that Zack Thrasher hadn’t gotten what he wanted for once in his life. She smiled.”

Jodi Dillon never expected to be a member of the “in crowd” at New Helvetia High School, but her position among the teen elite was cemented by her connection with Zack Thrasher, New Helvetia’s golden boy. The once seemingly perfect lives of Jodi, Zack, Lucy, Paige, and Julian, collectively known as the “Thrashers” by their peers, are upended by the death of fellow high school student Emily Mills on prom night. Emily, who longed to be included in this exclusive group, left a trail of clues that point the blame for her death at Jodi and her friends. As detectives circle the Thrashers and public scrutiny grows, Jodi becomes increasingly uncertain about where her loyalties should lie. To make matters worse, Jodi and her friends seem to be haunted by the ghost of Emily, who even beyond the grave is obsessed with being included in the lives of the Thrashers.

In her YA debut, Soto crafts a captivating mystery thriller whose final pages left me with my jaw on the floor. The beginning immediately drew me in, with the Thrashers dealing with the social and legal consequences of their connection to Emily Mills. While I remained engaged throughout the book, wanting to know just as much as the characters what happened on prom night, the book had so many moving parts that certain storylines and characters were neglected as the narrative progressed. Supernatural elements of the story also dropped in and out throughout the story, leading to confusion about the source of some problems that arise. I didn’t feel like the novel had real closure, which I’m hoping means Soto is considering a continuation of this story; otherwise, I was left unsatisfied with the way each character’s story concluded. I would have liked to see more depth added to the core characters in order to better understand their actions and motives. Zack, Paige, and Lucy were hard to connect to, despite Zack being the ringleader of the group and the center of the Emily Mills conflict. Despite the lack of connection with these characters, Jodi was a compelling protagonist. Her feelings about not belonging to her friend group were incredibly relatable, as were her more pragmatic concerns and moral dilemmas during the novel. The narrative Soto crafts, while at times disjointed or unrelatable, is intensely interesting and tackles complex subjects through the perspectives of a morally grey cast of characters.

Definitely my favorite of Julie Soto’s books!

If you know me you know that I’ve struggled with her romances (FMN particularly gives me rage), but even though I had a couple small complaints with this one, I really enjoyed the experience and the way it was plotted and those things weren’t enough to decrease my interest (and considering this has paranormal vibes without advertising that way, that’s actually saying a lot for me).

It’s pretty well plotted and the one of the reveals in particular at the end was SO interesting and not at all what I expected, so that was pretty fun. Several things I did guess, but I don’t think that’s so bad for a YA book.

I do think a couple of the plot points/twists near the end were a little loose and didn’t get quite tied up in a way that answered all my questions, which was a bit of a bummer. I also didn’t really fully understand the relationship development between two of the characters and how we went from one extreme to heading towards the other. It was kind of odd and I don’t think super well done, but in my opinion relationship development is one of the author’s weakest writing points. Fortunately it wasn’t a huge part of the story so I could mostly look past it.

Personally I think there was great setup for a sequel, and I’d actually be very interested to read it. Even more so if she kind of expounded on those few things I thought were left a little loose (besides the epilogue).

Overall some issues, but nothing that took away from my enjoyment in any truly significant capacity. I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a YA thriller that is somewhat predictable but still fun.

Also, couldn’t help but picture Zach from The Challenge as Zach in this book. I don’t know why but they have the same vibe.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advance copy! All opinions are my own.

If Julie Soto writes it, I will read it. I REPEAT! IF JULIE SOTO WRITES IT, I WILL READ IT. And ultimately love it too…

This book was no exception. Yeah, sure, I was totally skeptical at first because this is a YA mystery/thriller and it’s not what I’d typically read or even be interested in reading for that matter. But make no mistake, this book was goooooood. I was having so much anxiety while reading this because there was a ton of suspense, but I absolutely loved the whole paranormal aspect of this book.

BUT DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THAT ENDING!

Julie! BESTIE! Please tell me there’s going to be a second book? Because how dare you and the book like that AND NOT write a follow up???

I need to hear more about Julian. He was my favorite character, and you did him soooo dirty. Girl, he needs a redemption arc in the second book. BETTER YET, write the next book from his POV because his hair must be so big with all the secrets he’s keeping. I need to know what he knows and I need it NOW.

Suspenseful read, and the narration made it an enjoyable listen. What would you do if you felt like you never fit in, and then had information that could change the course of the lives of those around you? There's the perfect amount of suspense and mystery to keep you interested in the story.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC and ALC!

Julie Soto the woman that you are. What can’t you do honestly?

When I heard Julie was writing a YA mystery, I screamed. I love a good YA mystery novel and I have adored her romance novels.

First I want to say Holy shit that epilogue.
My mouth dropped immediately.

Somewhere in the middle of the book the movie Shutter crossed my mind, and damn I’m good. 😌 ifykyk

The book is fast paced and I found myself not being able to put it down. If you were someone who liked Pretty Little Liars, you’ll love this one. Highly recommend it!

Wish I had listened to the full thing on audiobook. HOLY SHIT that ending. This was really fun and had major PLL book vibes aka my comfort zone

Well, I haven’t stopped thinking about this book. There are certain things about it that rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of the female characters felt distant to me and very surface level for a teenager. Teens are often misrepresented and I felt the author did not spend much time with a teen before writing a YA book.
I did not feel the element of suicide and mental health was addressed appropriately for a book that is marketed towards teenagers. If suicide is brought into a book, I would expect there to be more mental health resources available to its audience and in content warnings.

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers is a pulse-pounding YA thriller with eerie paranormal overtones that will leave you breathless until the very last page. From its explosive opening—Emily, a high school student, tragically taking her own life on prom night—the story rockets forward with unrelenting suspense.

The story follows Jodi, who is part of a tight-knit friend group ominously nicknamed "the Thrashers." Suspicions swirl around her and her friends, when whispers emerge suggesting they were involved in Emily's final moments. Despite their firm denials, Emily’s personal diary casts a damning shadow, with entries hinting at harassment led by the Thrashers. The tension tightens when freak accidents begin to target the group—injuries, near-death experiences—leading Jodi to wonder if Emily’s ghost is exacting revenge from beyond the grave.

You begin to wonder if Emily is really haunting them? The story evolves into a compelling examination of guilt, trauma, and the secrets we bury to protect ourselves—or destroy others.

The story will keep you flipping pages late into the night.

From romance to thriller!!!! I’m amazed and honestly I absolutely love this book especially since I’ve read more ya thrillers than adult thrillers.

Thank you for this book. I have heard amazing things, but I am currently no longer interested in reading it at this time. Should I read it in the future, I will update my review.