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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Okay
This was kind of a dull read. Nothing really jumped out and grabbed my attention. Jodi was whiny and insecure. It was hard to like her. The whole friend group was shallow and obnoxious. The deceased girl was so creepy. I couldn’t muster up any sympathy for her. When everything was revealed, it didn’t wow me. I was just left feeling like, “Oh. Okay.”
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Note: This book covers a variety of heavy topics, so check content warnings if that is something you need.
I have to say, YA thriller is not typically a genre I read, but I read this one because of Bookstagram and it CAPTURED ME!! It had similar vibes to Pretty Little Liars, which I loved.
This book was addicting!! As soon as I listened to the first chapter, I had to find out how it ended. The characters were so complex and each of them seemed suspicious at different parts of the story. I loved the exploration of friendship and the need to be liked by peers. My theories kept changing as I kept reading and I could not wait to find out what actually happened.
The audiobook was perfect. It is narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Jesse Vikings. I loved the narration, and it was like listening to a movie. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a gripping teenage thriller.
Read if you like:
🖤 YA thriller set in high school
🖤 Secrets and drama
🖤 Morally grey characters
🖤 Paranormal elements
🖤 Fast-paced books
Everyone knows I LOVE a good YA thriller and this was no different! I mean that epilogue left me in shock and desperate for more but at the same time it was perfect! You don’t fuck with perfection!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Thrashers – 4.25
Julie Soto’s debut novel did not disappoint. This book was recommended to me, and it was something new for me—and I loved it! That epilogue was absolutely wild—so intense!
Julie Soto’s debut novel did not disappoint. This book was recommended to me, and it was something new for me—and I loved it! That epilogue was absolutely wild—so intense!
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of the Thrashers. Julie Soto did not disappoint and this had an added layer of interest for me as a Sacramento native. Many million dollar neighborhoods here are separated from some of the most economically disadvantaged by a road or a fence with people sharing grocery stores, schools, libraries, and activities. As someone who grew up in a lot of these environments and locations (although many years earlier) I feel like this was the perfect setting to highlight the extreme juxtaposition of class differences, which Julie did expertly in her book.
I thought the story itself was engaging and the tension and thrills fit the high school slasher vibe to a T. I loved that she explored how class deeply affected the characters’ relationships with each other and how bullying, treating people as beneath you and indifference are closer than they seem and can be excruciating to experience as an insecure teenager. I struggled a little with the tone of the book in dealing with some deeply triggering and traumatic topics and I definitely recommend the content warnings. I would have also liked to see more character growth instead of just extremely privileged kids worrying about the consequences of their actions and playing victims. I did find the main character very relatable though, if flawed and immature, and I was happy with the way she grew in the book and the way the plot was wrapped up. Ultimately, though I would appreciate a sequel where a few specific people suffer more. I love that Julie wrote this book, something completely different from what she has become known for. It shows how universal her writing skills are and the interesting perspective and relatability in the voice of all of her books.
A group of 5 high school friends are called "The Thrashers", and they are the in-crowd. They are rich and people want to be in their orbit. Their friendship is put under a magnifying glass when another girl in high school, Emily, commits suicide, and left clues that The Thrashers caused her depression. As the teens review what happened leading up to Emily's death. They claim to be haunted by her, having sleep disruptions and strange phenomena appear in their pictures or when doing various things. As Jodi Dillon tries to decipher what happened, she wonders what her friends,Julian, Lucy, Paige, and Zack are hiding.
A tale of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. Surprising.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thrashers is a YA novel that unravels the darkest side of high school social dynamics and the cost of exclusion. It all begins with the suicide of Emily Mills on prom night, an event that shakes the school and exposes secrets no one wanted to face.
At the heart of the story are the Thrashers, the school’s elite, led by Zack Thrasher—a charismatic boy with the power to elevate or destroy anyone at will. Jodi Dillon, the protagonist, is part of the group but has always felt like she’s walking a tightrope. She lacks the wealth and glamour of her friends, but what she does have is a paralyzing fear of being discarded, just like so many before her. And above all, she has been in love with Zack for as long as she can remember.
With a slow-burning yet unsettling pace, Thrashers weaves a story of obsession, complicity, and quiet cruelty, where every character plays a role in the unfolding tragedy. The mystery unfolds with precision, leading to a shocking climax and a chilling epilogue that leaves a lasting impression.
Thank you NetGalley : )
At the heart of the story are the Thrashers, the school’s elite, led by Zack Thrasher—a charismatic boy with the power to elevate or destroy anyone at will. Jodi Dillon, the protagonist, is part of the group but has always felt like she’s walking a tightrope. She lacks the wealth and glamour of her friends, but what she does have is a paralyzing fear of being discarded, just like so many before her. And above all, she has been in love with Zack for as long as she can remember.
With a slow-burning yet unsettling pace, Thrashers weaves a story of obsession, complicity, and quiet cruelty, where every character plays a role in the unfolding tragedy. The mystery unfolds with precision, leading to a shocking climax and a chilling epilogue that leaves a lasting impression.
Thank you NetGalley : )
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes