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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault
I’ll start out by saying this audiobook is so well done!! Phenomenal performance 👏
I was SUCKED IN to this story. It was suspenseful, twisty, and nothing is as it seems. It kind of gave me 13 Reasons Why vibes, but on a higher level. Julie Soto’s writing is perfection.
There are some parts that may be spooky/creepy for more sensitive readers (🙋🏻♀️ I’m glad I read it during the day!).
I was SUCKED IN to this story. It was suspenseful, twisty, and nothing is as it seems. It kind of gave me 13 Reasons Why vibes, but on a higher level. Julie Soto’s writing is perfection.
There are some parts that may be spooky/creepy for more sensitive readers (🙋🏻♀️ I’m glad I read it during the day!).
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book #80 read in 2025
In her YA debut, Julie Soto hit all the right notes. A group of friends called the Thrashers, after their popular leader, Zack Thrasher, are accused of leading a wannabe member, Emily, to end her life. It appears the group is being haunted by Emily, as some strange and dangerous things keep happening to them. Jodie is our main character, and the story is told from her perspective. She is the most likable of the group, which made me want to root for her. But as the story went on, it was difficult to cheer for any of the Thrashers. I flew through this audiobook. The narration was suburb and I couldn't wait to see how the story resolved. The epilogue, ya'll 🤯.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on May 6, 2025.
In her YA debut, Julie Soto hit all the right notes. A group of friends called the Thrashers, after their popular leader, Zack Thrasher, are accused of leading a wannabe member, Emily, to end her life. It appears the group is being haunted by Emily, as some strange and dangerous things keep happening to them. Jodie is our main character, and the story is told from her perspective. She is the most likable of the group, which made me want to root for her. But as the story went on, it was difficult to cheer for any of the Thrashers. I flew through this audiobook. The narration was suburb and I couldn't wait to see how the story resolved. The epilogue, ya'll 🤯.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on May 6, 2025.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well I definitely didn't have a YA thriller/mystery about a clique of teenagers on my bingo card, but here we are and I'm not mad about it!
Guys, this was SO GOOD! I needed a quick break from my normal genre and I saw hype around this book so I thought I'd give it a try. Plus I love Julie Soto, and man she did not disappoint.
Highly addictive, super well written, expertly plotted. I loved the mix of mystery, paranormal, and the dynamic of the friend group. The characters were so well flushed out, and despite all their flaws, I couldn't help but love them anyway. I really had no idea where the story was going to go next, and I had the best time being along for the ride.
AND THAT ENDING. Dang! I hope hope hope Julie writes a sequel because I do not want to be done with The Thrashers.
For all the audiobook people out there - DO NOT SLEEP on this one. I've never listened to anything narrarted by Eva Kaminsky, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but she absolutely slayed this. Her acting was phenomal and the way she was able to distinctly change her voice for every characte was perfection. Each character felt wholly unique and her ability to channel their emotions and personality was next level.
I highly recommend this book/audioboook to anyone, even if YA isn't your thing. You will have a great time!
Guys, this was SO GOOD! I needed a quick break from my normal genre and I saw hype around this book so I thought I'd give it a try. Plus I love Julie Soto, and man she did not disappoint.
Highly addictive, super well written, expertly plotted. I loved the mix of mystery, paranormal, and the dynamic of the friend group. The characters were so well flushed out, and despite all their flaws, I couldn't help but love them anyway. I really had no idea where the story was going to go next, and I had the best time being along for the ride.
AND THAT ENDING. Dang! I hope hope hope Julie writes a sequel because I do not want to be done with The Thrashers.
For all the audiobook people out there - DO NOT SLEEP on this one. I've never listened to anything narrarted by Eva Kaminsky, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but she absolutely slayed this. Her acting was phenomal and the way she was able to distinctly change her voice for every characte was perfection. Each character felt wholly unique and her ability to channel their emotions and personality was next level.
I highly recommend this book/audioboook to anyone, even if YA isn't your thing. You will have a great time!
Julie Soto delivers a deliciously twisted high school drama meets murder mystery in The Thrashers. Think Gossip Girl with a touch of Pretty Little Liars darkness, where secrets fester under the glossy surface of an elite friend group, and loyalty has a deadly price.
Jodi Dillon is our relatable outsider on the inside—dragged into the orbit of the Thrashers thanks to her lifelong friendship with golden boy Zack. The cast is messy, privileged, and addictive to watch unravel. When Emily Mills, a wannabe Thrasher, turns up dead, the story shifts from glitzy teen drama to edge-of-your-seat thriller.
What I loved:
- The suspense! This had me flipping pages well past bedtime.
- Soto’s signature voice—sharp, witty, and emotionally raw.
- The way Emily’s presence lingers even after death, creating a chilling vibe that builds perfectly.
Why not 5 stars? Some of the pacing dragged in the middle, and a few characters felt more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out people. Still, it all came together with a satisfying punch in the final act.
This one’s for readers who love high-stakes drama, layered friendships, and a good "WHAAAT?!" twist. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more thrillers from Julie Soto.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Thrashers by Julie Soto starts off slow, but once it finds its rhythm, the tension builds fast, and I was hooked. While I initially found it a bit hard to follow, I couldn’t stop reading. There’s something about the way Soto unravels the mystery that kept me invested, even when I wasn’t sure where it was going. And that ending? Totally unexpected, I’m still not sure how I feel about it, but it definitely left an impression.
What I love most about this book is how perfectly it captures everything I crave in a YA thriller: morally gray characters, high-stakes friendships, slow-burning suspense, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. Soto knows exactly how to balance eerie atmosphere with emotional depth, and the ghostly, symbolic touches like the street lamps and supernatural elements gave the story an almost dreamlike edge.
If you're into YA thrillers with supernatural twists, slow-burning tension, and messy friendship dynamics, The Thrashers belongs on your TBR. It’s sharp, haunting, and lingers long after the last page.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this e-ARC!
What I love most about this book is how perfectly it captures everything I crave in a YA thriller: morally gray characters, high-stakes friendships, slow-burning suspense, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. Soto knows exactly how to balance eerie atmosphere with emotional depth, and the ghostly, symbolic touches like the street lamps and supernatural elements gave the story an almost dreamlike edge.
If you're into YA thrillers with supernatural twists, slow-burning tension, and messy friendship dynamics, The Thrashers belongs on your TBR. It’s sharp, haunting, and lingers long after the last page.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this e-ARC!
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun and fast-paced YA thriller. I'm not sure how I feel about the epilogue, but I enjoyed everything leading up to it.