This was so good. These kids were so bad and so confused. I could hardly stand it. But I also felt for them. It was scary and interesting and sad. It was a wonderful listen. I love the narration!

"The Thrashers" is an exciting and unputdownable YA mystery/thriller. I've had a great streak with YA novels recently, and this book did not disappoint. This was my first Julie Soto novel, and I will definitely be reading more. I was actually surprised to see that this was her debut YA thriller, so I hope she writes another. From the very first chapter I was hooked, and I was turning pages late into the night to find out what happened next. The story is fast-paced and compelling, and you will either love-to-hate or hate-to-love the main characters, a group of popular high schoolers known as "the Thrashers." It reminded me of some of my favorite teen dramas growing up. I'm not typically a fan of books with paranormal elements, but I thought this was really well done. Overall, a fun read, and as I said, I really hope Soto writes more YA thrillers!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Eva Kaminsky. She did an excellent job bringing the story to life and enhancing the tension and suspense. Jesse Vilinsky also did a great job voicing Emily's perspective. Her voice was a nice contrast with Kaminsky's, so it was easy to tell them apart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Thrashers is a YA novel which I wanted to love, but I just wasn't the right audience for this book. The writing was a bit slow and I couldn't connect with the characters (but it is a YA novel). I would recommend to younger readers :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reader copy of this audiobook.

Ok wow? I loved this book! It has been a while since I had a book that I TRULY didn't want to put down and this was one of them. Addicting and intriguing! Jodi and her friend group kept me guessing with their lies and stories. I liked how no individual was strictly "good" or "bad". The paranormal element to the novel was something I personally loved. The high school dynamics were filled with drama and gossip that had me hooked (even as a 24 year old).

Narration - The narrator was easy listening and lively. I loved when she read from Emily's journal and added in the "lovestruck teenager" voice.

I 100% will be recommending "The Thrashers" to my audience for its intriguing narrative and thought-provoking questions. Thank you netgalley and Wednesday books for the ALC!

This book was so good!!!! For a YA mystery/thriller, this book slaps. It had a Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why vibe to it, and a bit of a spooky element? I mean that ending! I've been told Julie Soto can do no wrong, but now I 100% believe it. I inhaled this book - SO good.

This was another excellent work of Julie Soto! I believe she can write about anything and make it interesting, engaging, and unputdownable. She drew me in with her characters, the drama, and twists. The plot kept me glued to every page. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. It’s not spicy, and I liked the spookiness of it. I highly recommend this one. Also, I had the privilege of also receiving an audio recording of this, and the narrating was excellent! Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky were a perfect fit for this novel. They both deserve a 5-star rating with Julie Soto for this one. Happy reading or listening.
Thanks, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

Quick Summary: A dark, creepy YA/T suspense/thriller

My Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto is a 2025 nailbiter. It is scheduled for release on 5/6/25.

About the Book: "Either you're in or you're out.

Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.

They're everything everyone wants to be."

In My Own Words: After an innocent high schooler with a murky past loses her life, a dark spectre happens upon the scene, haunting a band of peers who are accused of more than seems immediately obvious. One by one, they must face the deeds that they have done.

About the Characters: What a crew!!! The Thrashers were certainly more than they appeared to be. Each group member had a story to tell. There were layers to their existence, which added to the texture of the story. I liked the depth in which the author presented them.

About the Audiobook: This novel was narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky. They did an exemplary job with rhythm, flow, timing, expression, and tone. There was never a dull moment. It was a thrilling ride from beginning to end.

My Final Say: This novel was simply outstanding! I was on the edge of my seat the whole team. Right when I thought I had things figured out, I was hit with a tidal wave of unknowns. The underlying themes in play, such as loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, and hierarchy added to the story. The lies, deception, and false fronts influenced the movement and direction of the characters in play.

This was a massive YES from the jump!

Other: Readers who enjoy twisted thrillers in the teen/YA genre will appreciate this novel. I highly recommend that you run with a quickness into the pages of this brilliant book.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T/YA
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to an ALC of this work in exchange for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure to critique this title. I am grateful for the opportunity. Julie Soto is an incredible writer. I look forward to continuing to read her catalog.

Julie Soto delivers in this Young Adult/Thriller Mystery.

It is told in a third person POV and I was lucky enough to immersion read. Narration is brought to us by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky in dual style narration. It is a very enrapturing story that gives the vibes of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl meets Thirteen Reasons. I was enthralled in the writing style and couldn't wait to see what was coming next.

The Thrashers, led by the popular Zack Thrasher, is the perfect representation of HS cliques - those who want to be on the inside and those who are that kick the others out. Zack has the habit of discarding people once he grows bored of them.

Jodi Dillon is a Thrasher but doesn’t exactly fit into the group. She’s not wealthy, athletic, or stunningly beautiful like the others. But she’s best friends with Zack, so that’s why she hasn’t been “thrashed” or kicked out of the group.

The story starts following the suicide of a classmate, Emily Mills, whose diary points to The Thrashers’ psychological bullying that broke Emily. But did they really do anything that brutal?

This story was quite the ride. Reminiscent of Dear Evan Hansen and Thirteen Reasons Why, this YA thriller kept me wondering until the very end. It was very much a “just one more chapter” at 1am kind of book. It did take a few chapters to get in the swing of this book - so many characters to keep up with right away. But as the pieces of the puzzle were unraveled, the hint of an unreliable narrator, and the drama of an investigation, I was hooked. Oh, and the epilogue… just brilliant, chef’s kiss.

This was my first Julie Soto read, but I’ve heard such love for her romance books, so I was excited to read a thriller by her.

I switched between both the digital read and the audiobook as I experienced this story. The audiobook was very well produced.

I listened to the audiobook of *The Thrashers* by Julie Soto, and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I finished. The suspense kept me hooked, and I loved how the narrator really brought the tension to life. The story had me questioning the characters' motivations, and I was constantly on edge, trying to figure out what would happen next. Jodi’s struggle with fitting in felt so real, and even though some of the twists were predictable, I still found myself racing to the end. It’s definitely one of those books that lingers in your mind, making you reflect on loyalty, power, and secrets.

I went into this not knowing at all what to expect and came out loving it!

A solid YA thriller that doesn’t shy away from the mess and meanness that can be teens. I can’t say I loved the characters in a way that I was rooting for them but I loved how complex the characterization was. They feel like real teenagers!

There’s one element I wasn’t sure I was sold on but by the epilogue I only wanted more of this story.

Expertly narrated as well!

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for ALC!

If you're into twisty, turny shows like 13 Reasons Why or Pretty Little Liars, you're gonna eat this book up. It's got that same addictive quality.

Basically, we dive right into a town reeling from the suicide of Emily, a 17 year old who dies on prom night. Right from the get go, you're like, "What happened?" Then, we meet the Thrashers – think super rich, popular kids, the kind everyone's obsessed with. And let me tell you, they're definitely hiding something.

This audiobook grabbed me from page minute one. It's a real rollercoaster, with all these unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As a YA book, it totally nails that mix of drama, suspense, and teenage angst that the target audience will love.

Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky were fantastic! Their narration really brought the characters to life. I did an immersion read, which is where you read along while listening to the audio, and honestly, it was such a great experience. I highly recommend it if you can!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for an ALC of this audiobook. I voluntarily listened and gave an honest review.

Very glad to get an arc of this! It was a great book to listen to.
This had a very interesting premise though took about 50% of the book for me to feel actually engaged. The whole haunting aspect was fun but it took a while to get to. The characters were all stock and I couldn’t tell you the difference between two of the girls, Lucy and Paige (who I kept referring to as Olivia?). The friend group dynamic was a typical high school popular group, though I thought Jodi and Julian’s relationship was interesting (especially after the epilogue).
I think if this was set in college instead of high school, and was a new adult book instead, it would’ve been great!!! I would definitely read another book by Julie Soto

4.5 ⭐️

I loved the bulk of this book. I was on the edge of my seat wanting more and waiting for bombs to drop the entire time. The ending was “fine”. It wrapped up what was necessary and did its job to a point. I was mostly underwhelmed. Perhaps that is because the ending was all too realistic to the US’s justice system which tends to leave stones unturned.

The audiobook was a great listen/read. I really enjoyed it and through the narrator was fantastic. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Macmillan audio for this audiobook ARC.

I'm a sucker for a premise that focuses on a group of popular kids being shrouded in controversy, with a mix of paranormal elements. It seems incredibly specific, and Julie Soto really knew how to speak to my soul. The Thrashers was a thrilling read with many turns as to what was happening.

I just LOVE Julie Soto. I found her through AO3 and now I can’t get enough of her writing.

That was fantastic. Not my usual genre but kept me guessing. Could not stop listening. The characters were so fun to hate. The epilogue 🤯

Very YA. One kiss. Mention of intimacy in the past. I would absolutely recommend this to a teen.

When the book started I was immediately hooked. I didn’t know what to really expect since I’ve only read Julie Soto romances but this was such a good mystery thriller. Like a mix of Veronica Mars with the weird mystical esthetics of Pretty Little Liars but instead with really good writing. There are charismatic characters and whispers of psychological issues and it makes you wonder whose narrative you believe.

The Thrashers are a group of friends that are known as the popular cool kids. They are basically rich kids being rich and cruel (or thrashed) when they are done with you. At least that is their reputation, whether it's true or not. Jodi Dillon is part of this group and the one that wonders what she brings to the friend group. She isn’t wealthy or super beautiful but she’s also the one who is kindest to Emily Mills who wants to become part of the Thrashers. The book starts off with Emily’s death and when her Journal is found, talk starts happening around the Thrasher's involvement in her death. The mystery is mixed with eerie supernatural elements that really add to the story and there are twists that I wasn’t expecting. Also bonus for a very slight sort of romance. I hope there is a second book.

The narration for this is top notch. It’s very immersive and well acted. Love how from the jump you are quickly invested. Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vilinsky do a great job narrating the story.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

As someone who reads many thrillers and mysteries, I went through this book, feeling the tension and having the curiosity to figure out what was going on, but never truly being afraid. That is, until I read the last page. THAT was unsettling. WOW.

This suicide mystery started off with a bang, but ended with a fizzle. Trigger warning the very first thing that happens in this book is a suicide. At the side of the person who dies is left a notebook that says the thrasher. The thrasher happens to be a group of five students who are led by Zachary Thrasher. They’re more collection of friends than any type of organized group. For our wealthy one is not. It is well known that to be thrashed is to be brought into their group to experience the high life just to be burned out and left for ashes at the end. Well, that habit is coming back to bite them as one person killed themselves over being thrashed. Our main character Jody is the one character without money. She was Zachary Thrasher, best friends and second grade and so she gets to stay with the group. You can tell she has a thing for Zack even though for Zack, this is all platonic. When the story gets started, it’s a few months after the suicide a journal has been found and now all of the thrashers are under investigation for causing the suicide. What follows is both a forward and a backwards timeline of what did happen what’s happening now. We introduced to each of the quirks of the characters what makes them tick what makes them likely to have done something. And also what makes Jody different besides the money thing. This book was addicting. It was very easy to keep listening once it got started. For me the final wrap up in the last hour was kind of like that’s it but at the same time that’s kind of how life is. I do like the epilogue. There is a bit of a supernatural element wound throughout this book and you’re constantly wondering if this is supposed to be a sci-fi book or if the kids are just freaking out. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of Karen McManus or Eli Lockhart, you would probably enjoy this book so pick it up and make up your mind.

This is 100% my favorite Julie Soto book to date and who would've guessed my favorite would be a YA paranormal mystery/thriller?

I was kept on the edge of my seat and completely gripped by this story!

The "Thrashers" are a group of five friends led by Zach Thrasher himself. Rounding out the group we have Paige, Lucy, Julian, and our protagonist Jodi. When one of their classmates commits suicide an incriminating journal is found that alleges the Thrashers bullied her and are responsible for her death. There is a lot more than meets the eye and a lot of underlying themes woven throughout this story.

Not one single person, including the victim, is entirely innocent or entirely guilty.

The more I learned, the more confused I became because this story is NOT cut or dry - there are secrets on top of secrets and an abundance of lies or half truths. You will second guess what you believe to be true multiple times and the paranormal aspect adds another layer to this already intriguing story!

I NEED Julie to confirm there is a sequel in the works because the epilogue opens this up to SO much more.