It was hard for me to pace myself and put this one down. It was a multilayered mystery/thriller with a powerful message about bullying, social dynamics, and family trauma. None of the characters were really redeemable to me, and that added a feel of authenticity to it. The twists kept me guessing and the ending was jaw-dropping.

Julie Soto proves that she has literary range with this one!

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

Julie Soto did an amazing job with this YA Thriller! I have not read any of the other books she's written although I've had Forget Me Not on my TBR for ages, and Not Another Love Song quickly joined it on it's Pub Date! I'm also foaming at the mouth for Rose In Chains I'm somewhat "new" to the thriller genre having most of my thriller reads Freida McFadden, but Julie Soto wrote a bomb one, and its definitely top tier! Intriguing, and thought provoking, this book will keep your mind racing throughout! I was hooked from about 15-20% and at the edge of my seat all the way through to the ending. And my oh my that ending was WOW! If you watched Pretty Little Liars, this book is a bit of that mixed with a tad bit of Gossip Girl, and topped off with some of 13 Reasons Why. I personally think Julie has a NYT Bestseller with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free eARC.

Julie Soto can do no wrong!

I don't typically read a ton of YA but The Thrashers is a wild ride and I loved the journey!

The story begins as you learn about Emily Mills' death by suicide. After the discovery of her journal, the Thrashers, a group of 5 friends, become the primary suspects of a criminal investigation and we follow along as protagonist Jodi tries to make sense of what happened and whether or not her friends are actually who she thought they were.

The Thrashers is full of mystery and excitement and I think YA readers will have a great time reading this gripping story.

Thank you netgalley, publishers, and Julie for this ARC.

Julie is an auto-buy author for me. I'd read her shopping list at this point. So naturally I loved this book.

A group of high school friends are known as The Thrashers. 4 friends with Zack Thrasher. If you're not part of the group you get "thrashed". After a suicide happens the group is investigated. Following Jodi's point of views, Zacks longest and best friend.

This was a very engaging story with an absolute twist at the end, that leaves you wanting more of The Thrashers. There is paranormal elements, teenage drama, teenage angst and crushes. As an adult it certainly brought me back to my high school days and remembering what it was like to be a teenager.

I do think that this could benefit from some trigger/content warnings especially given it is a YA book. This story involves suicide, underage drinking and drug use, reckless behavior, child maltreatment.

5 stars

One dead girl. Five close friends. They tormented her in life. Is she tormenting them in death?

At New Helvetia High, there's a friend group called The Thrashers. If you don't want to be with them, then you want to be them. The Thrashers will even give you a glimpse into what it's like to join their group; the parties, the exclusiveness, the feeling of being on top of the world, but then --just as quickly as they reel you in-- they'll cast you out. It happens so frequently, that it's better known as being "thrashed."

And one of the thrashers, Jodi Dillon, has no idea how she scored so big. She also doesn't know why her friends frequently engage in this behavior that makes other school members feel so isolated. She knows her friends aren't acting with ill intent... until someone commits suicide and The Thrashers are at the center of the investigation.

Trigger Warnings: suicide, suicidal thoughts, parental death, fear of abandonment.

The Thrashers reminded me of one of those hit, early 2010's teen TV shows (e.g., Pretty Little Liars), except it was exceptionally well-written and highly thought-provoking. One of my favorite things about this novel was the grey area that existed; where feelings get hurt, what's considered bullying, where mental health takes a play, and why everyone is so desperate to fit in.

This book also had one of the best romantic subplots I have ever read. Granted, I could see which character would be the love interest from the first chapter, but I still greatly appreciated the journey. It was so well-written and now I'm convinced I need a Julian in my life. That being said, the plot twist in the epilogue threw me for a LOOP. I really hope that means we get a second installment or spin-off.

So, all in all, I would say that this a better (and more sensitively written) 13 Reasons Why with a dash of Pretty Little Liars/A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and even a hint of the paranormal, such as with Light As A Feather. So many things to love and nothing to hate.

My deepest thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and Julie Soto for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this YA thriller! Many reviewers are pitching this book as Thirteen Reasons Why meets Pretty Little Liars and I agree with that description, This is a fast, twisty, and fun read without being too heavy and captures a lot of what high school is like (although it’s been a long time for me). Enjoyed the hints of paranormal in the book, too. I was engrossed throughout and couldn’t put this book down. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks again to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book!

Julie does it again I devoured this book. I loved every moment, every twist and turn and I need more!! Thank you so much for this arc, if you love thrillers than this one is for you!

First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this captivating novel in exchange for my honest review! 🙏📖💖

Julie Soto has once again delivered a masterfully crafted story that showcases her exceptional talent as an author. The Thrashers, set to release on May 6, 2025, is an enthralling read that dives deep into the complexities of teenage life, making it a gripping addition to the tens & YA genre—though I would advise it for readers 18+ due to its sensitive themes. ⚠️

Imagine if 13 Reasons Why collided with Pretty Little Liars—that’s the vibe you’ll get from The Thrashers. I found myself utterly engrossed, staying up until 2 AM because I simply couldn’t put it down! 😱🌙 Soto weaves together elements of thrill and mystery with a touch of the paranormal, creating a page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat.

Meet the Thrashers 👥💔 At the heart of the story is a group known as the "Thrashers," composed of five teenagers: Zack, the charming leader; Jodi, the main POV character; and friends Paige, Lucy, and Julien. Zack’s magnetic personality presents a double-edged sword as he unintentionally entangles the girls in an emotional whirlwind, often leaving them feeling “thrashed”—discarded by their prince charming. This dynamic sets the stage for a gripping exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the dark undercurrents of high school life.

The plot thickens with the arrival of Emily Mills, a new student whose tragic suicide sends shockwaves throughout the school. The way Soto addresses such sensitive topics—suicide, bullying, statutory issues, and substance abuse—is both poignant and respectful. 💬🖤 While the subjects are heavy, they are woven into the narrative in a manner that adds depth to the characters and the storyline, making it a thought-provoking read.

After Emily’s suicide, a journal is discovered that seems to implicate The Thrashers. 📓😳 The group is brought down to the police station for questioning about their possible influence on Emily’s tragic decision. The tension builds, and the narrative keeps you guessing!

Overall, I’m giving The Thrashers a solid 4.75 stars. 🌟 I would recommend this book to anyone willing to take the emotional plunge and delve into a world that balances thrill and heavy themes with grace. It’s a story I’ll be thinking about long after I close the cover, and you can bet I’ll be buying a copy for my shelf! 📚✨

4.25 ⭐️ wow wow WOW! ms. julie does it again!!! the thrashers is a YA thriller that follows our main character jodi and her friend group. the story starts off with the suicide of one of jodi’s acquaintances, emily, and later on, it is found that jodi’s friends are being legally charged for their involvement in the suicide of emily. jodi now has to figure out who is telling the truth—her friend group called the thrashers, or the diary of the girl who committed. there is so much that goes into this story, and julie killed it! this story almost reminds me of a mix of pretty little liars + 13 reasons why + what lies beneath

warning: please read any trigger warnings as this book discusses suicide, physical & emotional abuse, bullying, alcoholism, classism, etc.

overall, i am very impressed with this book! i know this is julie’s first published YA thriller, and it was SO well done. this book was very easy to read and get right into, and i stayed up WAY too late reading for multiple nights. this would have been a five star read (and im still considering raising the rating), but the only flaw was that ending was a bit rushed. also THE EPILOGUE?!?!? overall, i 100% recommend this book and i will be purchasing a physical copy for my trophy shelf once its out!

Very different from Julie’s other stories! I didn’t know much about it as I started reading. It’s a bit like 13 Reasons Why and maybe a Pretty Little Liars vibe to it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out how things were connecting - So-and-so is a bit suspicious?! What did the journal say? Is it just a hoax? Julie wrote this so well that I was both angry at all “the Thrashers” but there was still hope for a love story. I had about 4 chapters left and was wondering how it would wrap up - I think that’s my only critique is the end felt like it wrapped up too quickly based on the progression of the rest of the year. And that ending?! I mean what does it mean?! I’m scared. I kinda want more but I also think it’s satisfying!!!

This book had me HOOKED from the first few chapters. I honestly didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It had so much drama, secrets & a little hint of romance which I loved! If you are a fan of Holly Jackson, I definitely recommend this book! I had no idea who to trust & was second guessing EVERYONE, even the main character Jodi! I could relate to her throughout the book, especially for being the “black sheep” of the friend group. Also, the things that she dealt with broke my heart. I just wanted to reach into the book & give her the biggest hug. There was one specific character that I think deserved better & I’m still a little sad about it 😭 also, the ending??? Are you kidding??? I feel like I could definitely see Julie Soto writing a sequel to this book. But if she doesn’t, I think it was still wrapped up nicely. Overall, such a gripping book about grief, friendships & so many other things. I definitely recommend it but please check trigger warnings before reading 🫶🏼

A fresh and new novel from Julie Soto! Loved the YA suspense style of the story. It had a different vibe from her other books but was still gripping and hard to put down!

Inject this straight into my veins.

I’m a huge Julie Soto stan and started loving her before she was trad published. Her Rights and Wrongs series and The Auction solidified her as one of my favorite writers. Now that she’s being traditionally published, I want to read every word she writes. Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song are two of my favorite romances, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from her YA debut, The Thrashers.

The Thrashers was fast paced and so hard to put down. On the surface, our rich kid clique was shallow and mean, but so much more lay beneath the surface. When tragedy strikes their school and they’re blamed as bullies, they learn whether they can trust each other and themselves. The characters were complex and riveting, and the mystery was thrilling. It’s all I could think about for days.

I felt the ending was perfect and wrapped things up really nicely. It was creepy in the most perfect way. But honestly, I just want more Julian.

WOW!

Ok, I did not know what to expect when I picked this up. Young Adult, teen mysteries tends to not be my most popular genre. However, WOW. I was absolutely riveted the entire time. So intriguing, captivating and attention-grabbing. The thrill and the mystery combined with the teen drama and those twists! Julie Soto has done an outstanding job.

This is catered towards teens but I’m nowhere near my teen years and I thoroughly enjoyed this read. So I think people of all ages would love this one! Definitely a hit!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an early review!

I’m convinced there’s nothing Julie Soto cannot write!! This book is part final destination, part pretty little liars, and part good girls guide to murder. (The latter being a popular YA thriller that this genuinely blows out of the water.) I’m 36-not exactly the target audience-and i finished this in one sitting. It was way too late, and i was a little scared to turn off the light.

Wow. What a wild ride. This book is YA thriller with paranormal twist. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And honestly I have not stopped thinking about it ever since I finished.
High school teen drama at its best. 5 friends navigating extremely stressful situations after girl who wanted to be their friend died. I don't want to spoil it for you. But you should read it! And that epilogue?! Omg!

3.50 to 3.75 stars

I enjoyed the story but at times the pacing was a little off for me. It gives I know what you did last summer vibes with gossip girl mixed in. Then ending was surprising and definitely added to make the story worth it however it felt a tiny but rushed. I love Jules writing even though this one wasn't my favorite

I will read anything Julie Soto writes.

I enjoyed this, and this isn't the type of story I typically seek out to read. The pace was quick, it was a bit spooky, and really got aspects of the high school experience right, like how even within the group of "cool kids" everyone still has their own emotions/feelings/experiences they're dealing with that others may not know about. (And, I'm pretty sure everyone knows a Zack!) I loved her ability to write a character you find yourself loving even though they do some not so great things. The ending? Whew!

Many Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-arc!

I love this book! I typically don’t read a lot of YA books but this book I definitely recommend reading. Once I started I couldn’t put the book down.

A YA has never described how tragic and emotional high school is so accurately and in such a fun and beautiful way. I loved every second of this and Jodi is my high school soul!