I could not put this book down. It felt like a blend between an “old school” and modern YA story. It was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for.

I knew very little about this story when I started the book, other than I have loved all of Julie Soto’s books so far. I highly recommend this approach as there were elements of the story that I was really not expecting but found I really enjoyed.

I wouldn’t have hated a little more focus on romance in the story but I loved the little that was there

I recommend this book for fans of ‘One of us is Lying’ who are looking for a similar vibe but maybe with a bit of a genre twist (you’ll see)

If this book does not get a sequel, I will riot!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Okay, i was a bit not hesitant but prepared to not like love this book because switching not only genres but age range seemed tricky but OMG this book was soooo good! i have enjoyed julie sotos other books but this is my favorite of hers. i felt like the characters were well written and it stayed like intense through and everything worked. i hope she does more young adult thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Soto for the ARC.

As a fan of Soto’s previous work, I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC—even with its YA rating. The premise immediately caught my attention, and as promised, this book's subject matter was vastly different from her past novels while still delivering an incredible reading experience. Honestly? This might be my new favorite from her.

That said, I strongly advise readers to check the trigger warnings. This story tackles heavy themes, including suicide, domestic abuse, stalking, substance abuse, and bullying. The content is undeniably dark, pushing the boundaries of what I’d expect from YA fiction.

<i>The Thrashers</i> filled the void <i>Ninth House<i> by Leigh Bardugo left in my heart—another five-star read for me. I was completely hooked. While I’m not usually drawn to high school-aged protagonists, the thriller plot, paranormal elements, and psychological twists made this impossible to put down. If you love the class tensions of Veronica Mars, want a less problematic version of some plot points from Thirteen Reasons Why, and grew up on too many early 2000s horror movies, <i>The Thrashers</i> is for you.

By the end, I could not stand just about any character—but in the best way possible, think <i>Tell Me Lies</i>. Soto crafts privileged, morally gray characters so well that I loved to hate them. I don't want to spoil the ending but it made me so frustrated by how true to reality it is. And THAT epilogue? I’ll be thinking about it until the day I die.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

Julie perfectly captures a story of a high school girl learning to find her place amongst her peers. Our main character Jodi is accepted into a group of notorious bad behavior. She has to learn how to find her own voice, when it feels impossible at times. This story is perfect for a young adult to read, as I feel like it did a great job of showing the struggling of maturing and realizing not everyone is your friend, and that’s not always a reflection on you. I love Julie’s writing and this is no different!

Wow. Thank you NetGalley for another great ARC!!

I just…….what. I loved this one so much. And I normally don’t love YA. I was constantly guessing what the heck was going to happen. The whole thing seemed fishy from the beginning but I couldn’t have guessed that ending omg. All the twists and turns and little details that were fed to us throughout this book were magical. I loved every second of it!!!

Wow! Julie Soto! This was such an amazing thriller debut. I am sure it can be nerve wracking switching genres but YOU DID IT! This was so well done and really kept my interest. I loved how the journal entries were included. I think there were so many relatable parts to young readers and the realities of bullying. The characters were so well done. I would recommend this to others. I did a mix of audio and reading and enjoyed both. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It all started with Emily's suicide. As investigators begin looking into the cause of her suicide, fingers start pointing to a group of friends, commonly known as "the Thrashers", Jodi, Zach, Julian, Lucy, and Paige. Will this investigation tear this friend group apart or will they rise above the wreckage?

Overall, 4.5 stars, going to round up to 5 on this one. I knew going in that this book was not a typical Julie Soto novel and what a wonderful surprise it was. So many twists and turns, everything was unexpected and kept me guessing until the very end. The character development was incredible, and this book covered so many great themes, friendships, mental health, a sense of belonging, loyalty, insecurity, trust, and many others. I loved diving into the inner workings of the friendship through Jodi's POV with a little bit of help from beyond the grave.

This book is a must read! I finished this book in one sitting and literally couldn't put it down.

Format: audiobook/ebook

Thank you SO much NetGalley, St.Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advance ebook and audiobook!!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Content Warnings: teen suicide, suicidal intention, bullying, teen drug/alcohol use, child abuse, references to date rape and teenage sex, accusation of statutory rape between teenages, alcoholic parent, body image issues and body dysmorphia, references to death of a parent, loss off sibling, suspense and violence

Following Jodi Dillon and the Thrashers, an elite friend group, The Thrashers is a YA mystery/thriller set months after the death of Emily Mills. With Emily’s journal in the hands of detectives, Jodi must decide if she’s willing to protect her friends or herself. But strange, unexplainable events and messages escalate and the Thrashers know that Emily isn’t done with them.

I only dabble in the mystery/thriller genre, however I love Julie Soto’s romance books (both 5 stars), so I wanted to see what her YA debut was going to be like. Even though this is not my preferred genre, I ended up really enjoying this book. I have had experiences where an adult romance author I love releases a YA book and I do not like it, but this was not the case here!

Julie Soto does a great job of weaving the mystery surrounding these five friends and even adding touches of strange and potentially paranormal events throughout the book. The start was a little slow for me but once I reached the 30% mark, I did not want to put it down and I flew through the second half of this book, wanting to unravel the mystery and get to the bottom of it. Between five different people and one dead girl’s journal, I didn’t know who was telling the truth and I ate it up.

I also was not expecting the cliffhanger at the end of this book, especially because it hasn’t been announced if this is a series or not, but it better be after that ending!

Now that I have enjoyed something that is not a romance from Julie Soto, I will probably pick up everything she writes no matter the genre. I had a great time with this one and am overall giving it a 4 star rating.

Probably closer to a 3.5. Strong Pretty Little Liars vibes.

YA mystery/thriller isn't a genre I typically read but l've liked Soto's writing in the past. Found the writing compulsively readable, as always. Interesting depictions of imposter syndrome and feelings that no one truly cares. Trigger warnings for suicide and death by drowning.

I'm intrigued but also worried about a sequel based on the epilogue. I don't know how I feel about that ending.

I could not put this book down. It kept me engaged and wondering which way it was going to twist and turn. It also offered the interesting point of we all preceive how we fit into a friend group a little differently. The romance was also quite satisifying in how it played out. Would highly recommend reading!

A thriller that kept me up past midnight on a Sunday (with the worst daylight saving!). I could not put it down. I started to question who I could trust? If you’re into Pretty Little Liars, I fear this may be the perfect book for you….

Julie Soto is an insta-read author for me. I'm always going to be intrigued by whatever she's writing. But this - this is something entirely different and I . FREAKING . LOVED . IT .

I was hooked from page one. What a concept, and it was perfectly executed. Not only could I not put this down, I was deep in thought when I wasn't reading it. The premise, the characters - it occupied my mind almost constantly. What was going to happen next? What's going on with these two characters? What about this guy? It just wouldn't stop. After I finished, I wanted to start again and see if I missed anything. And then I started thinking about my own high school experiences and the nuances and complexities of the friend groups we all formed. The dynamics, the round robin of crew love, the hidden parts of our lives from some of the others, who we let in... It's such a rollercoaster and Julie captures ALL of this effortlessly.

The ending left me wanting, but in a kind of desperate way - I almost felt like, well, Emily! If you read the book, you'll get the reference. But, I think the author intended it to be this way, and for that, I can draw my own conclusions about the future for these characters.

To say I loved this book would be an absolute understatement. Please do yourself a favor and give this one a shot.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Julie Soto herself for writing such a compelling novel outside of what the readers are used to from her previous works. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Thrashers prior to publication. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a perfect book! Honestly, I have no notes. YA with a hint of paranormal, and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. I couldn’t put it down!

I feel like it perfectly encapsulated the YA thriller genre, and provided a fun dynamic between the Thrashera themselves and the teen angst involved with fitting in. I loved that each character had their own secrets and complexities that made it hard to choose a favorite, and hard to know exactly who to trust.

3.5/5

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is a gripping psychological thriller that blends high school drama with eerie supernatural elements. The story follows Jodi, an outsider in her high school clique, “The Thrashers,” begin to uncover dark secrets after their classmate Emily takes her own life. As Jodi grapples with the group's involvement, she faces unsettling truths about Emily’s death.

Soto’s writing draws you in with its emotional depth, particularly in Jodi’s portrayal—her feelings of isolation and guilt are vividly written. The mix of suspense and paranormal elements adds intrigue, though I felt the mystery of the group’s actions could have stood stronger on its own without the supernatural twists. Still, the ghostly presence of Emily keeps the tension high, adding a chilling layer to the narrative.

The relationships in the story feel authentic, and Soto does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of high school dynamics. However, I was disappointed with the ending, especially the fate of Julian, which felt unresolved after his emotional growth.

Overall, The Thrashers is an engaging read that balances psychological drama with supernatural suspense. While the ending left me wanting more, Soto’s compelling storytelling makes me excited to read more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

Well Julie, you got me.

The Thrashers is a story about a popular group of friends who end up in the center of an investigation about the death of a classmate. People say that the Thrashers thrash people; use them up and drop them. Is this what drove Emily to take her own life? What actually happened? Where is all this evidence from? Why does it seem like the universe is after this group of friends?

The Thrashers is Julie Soto's entry into the YA thriller space, and, man, did she do the dang thing. I had to take several breaks in the first quarter because it was making me feel anxious! Exactly what you want a thriller to accomplish. You never really know what's going on, like the characters. I can not say enough good things about this book. That ending? Oh my gosh. I got goosebumps reading it and again while thinking about it now.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

No way this ends like this!? Are you kidding me!! Do we know if there’s gonna be another book?
I went into it blindly, not knowing absolutely anything about it. I love Julie Soto so freaking much so I didn’t need to know what this book was about- I just knew I had to read it and yup, it was really good. It was also super fun reading a different genre by an author whose contemporary romance novels I LOVE. It felt like seeing a different side of her and it was amazing. I enjoyed reading this thriller with some paranormal elements. I actually didn’t see that coming at all and really liked it.
I was really intrigued by the characters and as the story progressed I kept trying to read everyone’s intentions and trying to decipher who was lying and/or were they all making stuff up? So fun haha. I wanted to slap them all at some point! The last couple of chapters made me a bit sad, but the ending!? Hello!?
I need answers. I want more.


Big thanks to NetGalley for my ARC 🩵

Jodi Dillon nunca estuvo destinada a ser una de ellos. Julian, Lucy, Paige y el infame Zack Thrasher son ricos, sofisticados y aman la atención. Jodi se siente fuera de lugar, pero Zack es su mejor amigo de la infancia, así que ella está dentro del grupo. Entonces Emily Mills, que deseaba desesperadamente ser una de ellos muere, y comienzan los rumores sobre los Thrashers. Cuando sale a la luz el diario de Emily, los detectives se acercan y Jodi se enfrenta a una elección imposible: traicionar a sus amigos o protegerse.

Este no es usualmente el tipo de libros que leo pero me gusta mucho la autora así que decidí darle un chance y la verdad es que no decepcionó, fue atrapante y muy entretenido, tremendo thriller. Lo recomiendo mucho.

This was awesome!!!!!!! I was already a fan of Julie Soto previous works but she definitely outdid herself with this one! I honestly could not put this down until I finished it…the tension and the pace of the book were awesome, and the characters kept me in my toes all the time, I could not trust any of them 😂

4 stars for this one! Thank you so much for the ARC!

4.5 stars !!!!!

No but like….what was that ending????? Julie?? Julie??? Give us more???

This was such a fun read. I’ve never really been one for thrillers/mysteries but as a Julie Soto fan girl, I knew I’d love this.

I loved Jodi, and watching her navigate the very real complexities of high school as well as her own complicated family dynamics and trauma.

I am honestly shocked that I didn’t fall in love with Julian like…immediately? He was giving major Jess Mariano vibes (albeit while also popular and rich) and I’m always here for that.

I knew the sister knew more than she was letting on the entire time, but was glad she came clean to Jodi and was met with so much sympathy.

Also like….all of Jodi’s friends literally kinda suck? Except Julien? In a way that just makes them real, flawed, complex characters but our girl Jodi deserved better!!!

I’m dying (no pun intended) to know more about what Julien’s haunting experience has been! And to see his and Jodi’s relationship grow - although I guess being haunted by her ‘stalker’ practically isn’t really an ideal basis to kick start a relationship?

This was so good and I’m so thankful to Forever and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

UN.PUT.DOWN.ABLE !!!
A perfect blend of mystery, drama, supernatural, and pull at your heartstrings relationships that makes addicted to anything Julie Soto. As soon as I finished I wanted to start it back over again! What a perfect YA thriller! Julian and Jodi and Zach pulled at my heartstrings. Seeing Paige also struggle with feeling accepted (and Jodi not noticing, being too absorbed in her own otherness) was so captivating. Watching how others saw or didn’t see the mental health issues of Emily and Hannah through their own self absorbed lenses was CAPTIVATING. 10/10 !