2.75/5 stars
0/5 spice

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC of The Thrashers by Julie Soto in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start off by saying I was SO excited and grateful when I got this eARC. Julie Soto has cemented herself as a favorite author and I love when authors genre-jump and try new things. I also enjoy a good YA Mystery/Thriller. So I was pumped. And I am so glad it seems as though others are loving this. Unfortunately, I did not love this book. I want to make it known that I absolutely respect that this book is YA and therefore I am not the intended audience. But YA also doesn’t mean that adults can’t enjoy the book. Especially with book like this, that are very much so upper YA. And my problems didn’t lie with the writing style or the youth of the characters (17-18 year olds). It, sadly, was with the story itself.

The Thrashers, as far as I know, doesn’t have any comp titles listed anywhere. I definitely think they need to say that it’s Pretty Little Liars-esque with a hint of a Paranormal atmosphere. And if anything, that would have made me want to read this book more.

I think I was frustrated that the summary and genre categorizations don’t include any mention of this book having paranormal themes. And I love paranormal themes, but when you think you’re reading a contemporary and there are a bunch of paranormal things happening that simply don’t make sense, and you can’t figure out how they’ll spin them as human-caused, it just frustrates you. <spoiler>And then to finish the book and realize that it was truly paranormal was simply annoying.</spoiler> I think maybe I just missed the “point” of riding the line between “is it truly paranormal or is someone messing with them?” and it was probably very intentional, but I was so incredibly annoyed with it.

This is also very much so a character study on teenagers. Privileged teens, teens struggling with their home life, teens that are exclusive and bully others, etc. And they definitely were not likeable. I did not like a single character we encounter in this book. I felt for a lot of them and their situations, sure. But they were certainly not likeable.

I guess I was hoping more for a Mystery vibe than a Thriller vibe and that’s on me for having incorrect expectations. But I found almost everyone insufferable, didn’t enjoy the various plotlines, and was annoyed with the whole “is this paranormal?” question throughout.

The reason I still gave it 2.75 out of 5 stars is because it was overall well-written, and still very engaging. It was a very easy, quick read. I was thoroughly sucked in, despite being frustrated. I still love Julie Soto and will of course devour her other new genre-jump to Romantasy with Rose in Chains, but I may be wary of any other YA novels she may write in the future.

wow, i don’t know what expectations i had for this book, but i was very pleased by the end of it! i had such a good time with this, it was unputdownable by the 20% mark and all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. julie captured the essence of what a YA thriller should be and nailed it in one book. so glad it didn’t end on a cliffhanger, though i could see this getting extended and more books set in this universe.

Julie Soto continues to NEVER MISS for me!!! I love seeing her not only blow up as an author, but also branching out into other genres/demographics too. This was a solid YA debut from her in my opinion, filled with tension, [plennnnttty of] drama, intrigue, and a well-developed ensemble cast of morally-grey characters for us to all love, hate, and ultimately root for. I mean it when I say I flew right through this book and, while I obviously prefer her New Adult/General Fiction works more (I "blame" my age? haha), this was definitely still a fun ride! Highly recommend checking this one out when it releases in May of 2025!

This was a very addicting read, lots of questions that are slowly answered over the course of the story. This is a YA thriller, but there's a touch of paranormal/ghosts involved. I feel like the ending was very unresolved, and I don't get the sense of justice I was expecting. I'm happy with where things ended for Jodi, though I don't think she got enough blame for her part in it all.

I finished this a few days ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it, I'M OBSESSED!!
OH my god we need more!!! That ending was insane and I will RIOT if we don't get a sequel!! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I absolutely devoured The Thrashers, this is Julie's best book yet and I've read and loved everything by her so far!
This book was giving so many different things and yet I can't say that it was like one thing or another fully but if you love movies and TV shows like Pretty little liars, Gossip Girl, Final Destination and Heathers then you should check this out.

JS perfectly captured the essence of being a teenager and the different social classes.
There was so much drama, angst and secrets I couldn't read fast enough.

I loved Jodi so much, I wasn't expecting I'll relate to her as much as I did, but she was beautifully layered and surprised me a lot. Each of the MCs had a distinct voice and the mysteries surrounding them made me wanna unravel the plot until everything is revealed.
And I just want to say that I suspected Julian!!! and who he was into!!! 30 pages in. That whole mean and nasty attitude was contradictory to some of his actions and definitely raised questions very early on if you know where to look. But that ending I totally wasn't expecting!!! I'm still reeling!! I was hoping and expecting a nice, happy fluffy epilogue with Jolian and instead we got that?!??????!!!! I'M STILL SCREAMING!!! I need to know they are gonna be okay, I beg, we need more!!

I really don't want to give away too much since this is an excellent thriller that will have you guessing till the very end so just read the book and thank me later.

Eternal gratitude to Wednesday Books, St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc

Julie Soto, queen of all genres, does not miss. Everything about this was exciting - the characters, the mystery, the supernatural aspects, the romance. The Thrashers are the popular kids in high school that everyone loves to hate, and they become entangled in an investigation into the death of one of their classmates. I loved how it wasn’t super clear throughout the story whether the spooky occurrences were actually supernatural or not, but I’ll leave that for you to find out.

My favorite part was definitely the romance even if it was barely there. I need another book with more of it or I might riot. This is definitely the kind of book that you won’t want to put down until you know how it ends, and the epilogue will leave you in shock all over again.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Julie Soto can do no wrong. If she writes it, I will read it.

The Veronica Mars obsession? Absolutely here for it. I have nothing bad to say about The Thrashers and I can't wait until pub date to talk about it with everyone!!!

OMG??? I DONT EVEN READ THRILLERS BUT WHAT I DO READ IS ANYTHING JULIE SOTO WRITES, SO OF COURSE I HAD TO READ THIS!! This story captured me from the first page, it had tension, likable and unlikable characters, and it kept me on the edge of my seat through every single page, it even had a little romance (Oliver ily). THAT EPILOGUE? ILL BE HAUNTED BY IT FOREVER HONESTLY. Thank you thank you thank you Wednesday books for sending this my way, its now one of my favorite books of the year! Ill write a longer review closer to release day!

**5/5 Stars**
The Thrashers had me hooked! This YA mystery with a splash of paranormal delivered everything I didn’t know I needed. The storyline? So good. The mystery surrounding Emily’s death? Deliciously twisty. I side-eyed everyone—but WOW, I did NOT see that ending coming!

This book had me laughing, tearing up, and flipping pages like a maniac. It’s fast-paced, easy to devour, and honestly, just a great time. If you’re in the mood for a gripping mystery that keeps you guessing, *The Thrashers* should definitely be on your TBR!

*The Thrashers* by Julie Soto is a gripping, suspense-filled YA novel that will have readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story centers around Jodi Dillon, who, despite feeling out of place, finds herself tangled in the web of New Helvetia High’s elite friend group, the Thrashers. They're everything Jodi isn’t: rich, popular, and seemingly untouchable. But her lifelong connection with Zack Thrasher, the group's charismatic leader, keeps her in their orbit.

When a tragic death occurs—the mysterious passing of Emily Mills, an outsider who longed to be part of the Thrashers—the group's carefully constructed façade begins to crack. As Emily’s journal resurfaces and the investigation heats up, Jodi finds herself torn between loyalty to her friends and protecting her own secrets. But the line between ally and enemy blurs as eerie events unfold, and it becomes clear that Emily’s death may not have been the end of the story.

Soto’s debut is expertly crafted, weaving together a web of suspense, drama, and moral ambiguity. The characters are complex, flawed, and utterly compelling, with motivations that keep readers guessing. The palpable tension between Jodi and the Thrashers, especially Zack, adds a layer of intrigue to the already intense narrative. The mystery behind Emily’s death and the subsequent supernatural events keeps you turning pages, desperate to uncover the truth.

Fans of *Karen McManus* and *Kara Thomas* will find themselves hooked on this twisted tale of betrayal, secrets, and the dark side of high school hierarchy. The book’s pacing is relentless, and just when you think you’ve figured out the truth, Soto throws in a twist that will leave you gasping. With its mix of emotional depth and thrilling suspense, *The Thrashers* is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery wrapped in teenage drama.

The Thrashers gripped me from the start, twisting and turning in all the right ways. The unraveling mystery kept me questioning everyone. I loved how the tension ramped up with every page and how Jodi’s internal struggle mirrored the choices we all face when loyalty is tested. The writing is sharp, the suspense is palpable, and it never lets up. What stood out most to me was how the story captures the vulnerabilities of these high school characters, showing the pressure of playing adult games and the sometimes devastating fallout. It’s a total page-turner, one that you’ll want to finish in one sitting. I couldn’t put this down.

This was overall a good time for me. I am no longer the intended audience for this book but I love Julie Soto so much. I felt like I kept getting the characters confused and I didn’t really understand the epilogue.

4.75 stars - rounded up!!!

A thriller YA from one of my fave authors? I kneeeeew I’d love this, I just didn’t know how much!

Following the suicide of a classmate, Jodi and her friends are closely watched as they are assumed to be the reason for her untimely death. While trying to find out the truth, weird things start happening to the different members of The Trashers, the worst things happening when they were all together.

The Thrashers was thrilling, suspenseful and kept me to the edge of my seat. I genuinely felt like I couldn’t tell where the book was going and where it did go was so great. Even though this book is told from a single POV (Jodi’s), I really felt like each other the characters were really fleshed out. Sometimes I feel like in an ensemble cast, there is always 1 or 2 characters I forget about or they merge together, but everyone in this definitely deserved attention. Each character was frustrating and clearly holding secrets, and once they were revealed, the story really rounds out. I also loved the paranormal element that was included. It was just spooky enough that you’d want to look over your shoulder, but not too much that it takes away from the overall mystery you’re unraveling. Also, the romance, I’m here for it. That’s all.

This book does have a pretty solid ending, but I really hope it gets picked up as a series because it really has potential to grow!


Truly such a fun read and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to devour this.


Thank you so much to Netgalley, Julie Soto and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One thing about me is that I love a Julie Soto book. That woman writes banger after banger after banger, and I devour each word greedily!

The Thrashers is no exception - it's fast-paced and addicting. I was instantly intrigued by the Thrashers, the mystery surrounding Emily's death, and the ghostly elements in the plot. I had some general suspicions but did not anticipate twists and turns. The epilogue is haunting me; I cannot wait for other readers to get to the ending, so I have someone to discuss it with!

The characters were well-rounded. Julie captured the common high-school theme of being liked and included well. Just like Emily, all I wanted to do was to protect Jodi.

Easy five-stars. I will definitely recommend this book on my social media!

5 stars. Julie Soto is becoming something of an auto-buy author for me. I loved her adult contemporary romances (that she published with Forever), so I was intrigued to see what she would do with YA murder mystery. If you've followed my reviews for any amount of time, you'll know that I am a complete sucker for YA murder mystery, and I'm so excited to say that The Thrashers is up there with my all time favorites. This is such an incredible addition to the genre. Soto does such a good job writing teens, and she really captures the angst and insecurity of a high school friendships.

I'm reluctant to say too much, because I really enjoyed going into this one blind. But basically, Jodi is one of 5 members of high school royalty known as The Thrashers. Everything for The Thrashers comes crashing down when a fellow student commits suicide after trying, but failing, to penetrate the group. Accusations of bullying abound against all of The Thrashers... except Jodi. This causes Jodi to dig deeper into exactly what happened, and the more Jodi discovers, the more she starts to question whether those accusations actually have any merit. Kudos to Soto, because the relationships (friendship, romantic, and familial) and characters she crafted were so damn complex and realistic! I honestly ended the book still unsure of how I felt about the majority of the characters, which feels so honest. Because most people aren't 100% good or 100% bad, I really appreciate when authors create characters that are fallible. Honestly, I couldn't put this book down. I zoomed through it, would have read it in one sitting (if I didn't have to break for work and sleep, etc).

All in all, I loved this. A big thank you to Soto, Wednesday books, and netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Thrashers follow Jodi after the suicide of her sometimes friend Emily and it shows her just how much she doesn’t know the people she surrounds herself with, and how things definitely aren’t always as they seem. What were Emily’s relationships like with the Thrashers and what role do they play in her death?

Completely obsessed with every book written by Julie Soto and I loved every minute. The Thrashers kept me completely engaged the whole time. The pacing was good and there are a lot of small mysteries along the way to keep you guessing and wondering where it will go next. There were some supernatural elements that kind of took me out of the story a bit but they were used to help the story progress and keep it interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed myself and would definitely read more books about Jodi and her friends. This was a very bingeable story that kept me up way later than I’d planned because I just couldn’t stop until I finished.

This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I’m so thankful to Wednesday books and Netgalley to be able to read an early copy.

I love Julie Soto! I was super excited to read this book. I love her fanfic and her romances. I was looking forward to seeing her do something a bit different. YA thrillers are my favorites. And I love a good boarding school setting! This one did not disappoint. It was really good!

This book was phenomenal! It's Veronica Mars meets Final destination and it is everything. I was addicted right from the start. It pulls you in and you need to know what's happening. There is death, mystery, and supernatural things. It's so good. I would call this a thriller so not my usually go to but wow. I really can't say anything else without spoilers so 🤐

Julie Soto's first YA thriller had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. This was the perfect read for a flight, pulling me in to the plot and character dynamics immediately. The way that Julie introduces the larger question of the book that the characters will work to unravel was the perfect "mic drop" moment that had me itching to read the book as fast as possible so I could know the answers immediately!

I was hesitant to read this as a lover of Julie's adult titles, both fantasy and contemporary romance, but Julie still added small threads of her angst and tension filled romance that she is so great at writing. I hate report that I did actually guess the main plot twist, but there were smaller twists that still have me reeling even days after finishing the book because they surprised me so much. I am excited to see what else Julie does in this new age group and genre!

Omg yesssss! I ate this book up! Loved the characters and the storyline so much! Will definitely be reading her backlog of books now!!