This book- ohmygod! It was the perfect mix of Pretty Little Liars and the Naturals. The friendships and relationships were perfectly written. The feelings were felt! It had the best scenes with angst and hurt/comfort. Just everything about this book was perfection! I really hope this isn't a standalone because I would love to follow these characters to wherever life takes them.

This book reminded me a lot of 13 reasons why, in the best way.

The prologue had me instantly hooked, and from there I was fully in Julie Soto’s world. Her writing is so immersive I found it so easy to dip in and out of the story and still feel completely reconnected every time I picked it back up.

The pacing was spot on. Fas, engaging, and unpredictable in the best way. I genuinely had no idea where things were going, and that sense of mystery kept me gripped the entire time.

The teenage characters felt real. They were messy, complex, and well-rounded. I especially connected with Jodi, but I would have loved more development from Lucy, Hannah and Paige. Oh and the twist at the end with Julian was so good. He’s a dark, complex character and the path he follows is exactly what his arc needed.

I still can’t tell you if there were ghosts or not, and honestly, I kind of love that. That blurred line between real and imagined felt so authentic. Like, if that happened to you in real life, how would you ever really know if it was real or not? Spooky.

The book dives into some heavy topics like suicide, bullying, body shaming, child abuse & more and handles them with care. It didn’t feel preachy or sensationalised, just honest and empathetic.

A fast-paced, thought provoking, genre blending ride. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. If you like teen drama meets thrillers you’ll love this.

Pretty little liars meets one of us is lying meets 13 reasons why in this YA thriller with a touch of paranormal thrown in.

It tackles some deep topics, and not just your usual high school issues (Alcoholism, Suicide, Bullying, Car accident, Drowning, Drug use). It's written in a way that is believable and connects you to the characters in the story.

Told in third person from Jodi's pov, the story follows five friends, known to the school as "The Thrashers" as the group centres around Zack Thrasher. We dive into the sensitive group dynamics, unraveling the hierarchies in high school. Jodi doesn't feel like she fits in with the group, the rest of the group is rich, privileged and beautiful, but she's been friends with Zack since second grade and she'll do anything to stay friends with him.

On prom night Emily Mills killed herself. Police think it's due to bullying by the Thrashers. Emily had been spending time with the group and the diary that she left behind highlighted how the way they treated her led to her suicide.

As the group faces the accusations against them, you see how it affects them as individuals and how they each cope with it. You start to see their characters change, their confident exteriors crack. I feel some developed more than others and some changed for the better, others for worse. It perfectly highlights the dark side of high school and how some, through desperation will do anything to be in the "popular" crowd.

Half way through, I thought I had this group figured out. I thought I knew what happened and how it was going to end. I was wrong!!

There's a romance subplot that I loved. I would love to see more of these two characters.

This book was addictive, I couldn't put it down! As this is set in their last year in high school I'm not sure if a sequel would be practical but I would instantly read anything else with these characters.

I cannot wait to see what else Julie Soto has in store!

The Thrashers by Julie Soto is an addictive and thrilling exploration of friendship, secrets, and the dangers of wanting to belong. At the heart of the story is Jodi Dillon, who finds herself reluctantly pulled into the elite group at New Helvetia High, the Thrashers. Despite being out of place among her wealthy and glamorous friends, including her childhood best friend Zack, Jodi becomes entangled in their world of attention and privilege.

Things take a dark turn when Emily Mills, a girl who desperately wanted to be part of the Thrashers, dies. As Emily's journal is discovered, the group’s secrets begin to unravel, and Jodi faces a moral dilemma—betray her friends or protect herself. With eerie messages and unsettling events escalating, it becomes clear that Emily isn’t quite gone, and her presence haunts the Thrashers.

Julie Soto does an exceptional job of creating complex, flawed characters who feel incredibly real, making readers question who they can trust and where their loyalties lie. The tension in the book is palpable, and the constant pull of conflicting emotions will have you hooked from start to finish. Soto’s portrayal of the messiness of teenage relationships and the desire for acceptance is both nostalgic and gripping. The Thrashers is a must-read for anyone who enjoys dark mysteries and character-driven stories with plenty of twists and turns.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Title: The Thrashers
Author: Julie Soto
Publication Date: May 08, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

'The Thrashers' follows Jodi, Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher, an elite friend group at New Helvetia High, as they deal with the fallout of Emily Mills tragic suicide. When a detective discovers a copy of Emily's diary, rumors circulate that Zack and his friends have 'Thrashed' her to death. As detectives close in, Jodi must make the difficult decision to either protect herself or betray her friends.

This is Julie Soto's debut YA thriller, and she did not disappoint. The story had me hooked from page one and made it completely unputdownable. There is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and paranormal aspects throughout the book, along with a romantic subplot.

The morally questionable characters, complicated friendships, and family dynamics were spot on. When the layers of deceit come to light, it is difficult to sympathize with the characters, which makes the story a compelling read.

The ending is excellent, though I find it a bit too open-ended. I'm hoping for a sequel that delves into the potential outcomes of this conclusion for the characters and the events that transpired. The cliffhanger in the epilogue left me speechless.

Anyone who appreciates clever, captivating, and unputdownable thrillers should read 'The Thrashers'.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children's | Harper Fire for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Thrashers are what everyone calls the most elite friend group you could never hope to belong to, at New Helvetia High. Jodi isn't from money and doesn't have the easy confidence of the others but she finds herself one of them. So was Emily. But her suicide on prom night led the police to suspect her friends of bullying her and now the group must disband. Jodi feels unmoored and unsure if her friends were ever really that to begin with.

I've read such a number of YA thrillers centred around toxic friendship groups and school settings that I've longed for a break from them or something different delivered from the genre. This definitely delivered the latter!

Jodi was the perfect perspective, as she was both inside and on the sidelines of the Thrashers. She was ever unsure of her place there and so managed to notice things about them as her insecurities grew. This led to this book to start out with the reader also enamoured with the group before suspicions grew and were cast in every direction. I thought this quite a clever tactic and one I really enjoyed reading.

There were so many secrets kept and mysteries to be revealed here, meaning the storyline was quite a convoluted one. I enjoyed the twists and turns, that kept me both guessing and reading, and ensured this reader one I gravitate towards again.

First things first, thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for this ARC!

My first YA novel for 2025, but hopefully not my last. Again, I am not the target audience, but I do enjoy those books now and then. And this one did remind me a lot of Pretty Little Liars, and I do love this show, so this is a plus as well.

This is a twisty and fast-paced story about a clique calling themselves 'Trashers', one of the Jodi, who only feels like she is a part of them because she is friends with Zack Thrasher, and Emily - Emily, who is dead. Thanks to Zack and his friends. And who has left behind a diary... a diary also filled with Jodi's secrets. But why? And could one of those secrets be the reason why Emily really had to die?

You all better go and pick this book up as soon as it is published. I promise you are not going to regret it!

What the actual hell did I just read?? 😱 I requested this book blindly because it had the name Julie Soto on the cover. Ever since I discovered her books and had the pleasure of meeting her in Amsterdam and Liverpool, I’ve been following her writing journey closely. Let me tell you, this book is nothing like her others, but in the best, most unhinged, twisty way 💀📚

If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s 13 Reasons Why meets Pretty Little Liars, packed with mystery, teen drama, and a thriller vibe that hooks you from page one from the first pages.

Jodi never asked to be a Thrasher, one of the high school elite. But being best friends with Zack Thrasher meant being part of the group whether she liked it or not. She’s not like the others, all talented, privileged, and magnetic, but she still benefits from the status, especially compared to her difficult home life.

Then Emily Mills, sweet and intense, takes her own life on prom night. When her diary surfaces claiming she was "Thrashed", bullied by Zack and the others, everything begins to unravel. The once untouchable Thrashers are suddenly arrested, isolated, and haunted by a string of terrifying incidents. Jodi starts to suspect the diary isn’t what it seems, especially when it starts revealing her own secrets twisted into lies. But why?

Emily may be gone, but she’s definitely not done 👁️

This story digs deep into the dark side of high school: the cliques, the power struggles, and how easy it is to look the other way. It also explores serious topics like suicide, bullying, alcoholism, and drug use. Please check the trigger warnings before diving in 🚨💔

What I loved the most? This book grabs you and does not let go. I was glued to my Kindle, spinning wild theories and getting it all wrong 🤯 The beginning took me a little time to settle into, but once it clicked, I was all in.

Huge thanks to Julie Soto, NetGalley, and HarperCollins UK for the ARC 🖤 I still need answers, a support group, and maybe a nap after that ending.

The Thrashers is fast-paced and easy to read. I would definitely recommend it to fans of 13 Reasons Why and Pretty Little Liars, as they would likely enjoy this book.

Thank you to Julie Soto, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with the opportunity to read this.

This reminded me a lot of "13 reasons why" and somehow also of "Pretty little liars"!

Fast paced and easy read, it will keep you hooked to the very end. I was not really expecting that twist at the end and that epiloge... just wow!

Julie Soto cannot do wrong. She has become an auto-buy author for me and I'm sure people are gonna enjoy this book a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and enjoyable read, that gives the feeling of Karen McManus’ ‘one of us is lying’. It keeps you gripped and wanting to turn each page to find out the truth of what has happened to the characters to get them where they are.

This was such a ride, I'm honestly not sure what to think. My feelings are so conflicted, which means this book really did its job, and did it extremely well..

It centers around a group of five people, they call them "The Thrashers". Zach, Julian, Paige and Lucy and then there is Jodi, who never felt like she belonged. They were popular and loved until they weren't. Because of Emily. Emily, who wanted to be one of them. Emily, who was always there and asked too many questions. Emily, who took her own life on prom night. And now all eyes are on "The Thrashers", wondering was it their fault she ended her life. But Emily isn't done with them either.

I loved the pacing and Julie Soto might be becoming an auto-buy author for me. She did an amazing job.

My feelings about this characters are honestly all over the place, because I can't say I loved any of them fully, while I did hate a certain someone..
There were so many things happening, so many things I had to question and that epilogue... I wasn't expecting that at all. I'm still reeling from it.. I just.. I need more answers, because now I'm seeing everything in a new light.

The book did have a small romantic subplot, one I think I would like to see more of.

5⭐

Thank you Julie Soto and Harper Fire for the ARC!

Let's talk about debuts, especially a YA Thriller debut after writing fanfiction for years and a trad debut being Adult Romance. Julie has expressed multiple times on her social media that it has been daunting and she'd been waiting for this book for years to be published and now it finally gets to see the light!

The Thrashers was an amazing novel. It gave me the same feelings that Holly Jackson's THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE and A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER gave me. This book was literally sending chills down my spine and I binge read it in one setting.

The twists and turns were impeccable. Despite knowing so many things early on, there's always more twists and turns left.

The ending . . . let's just say that if we blow this book up, there's a heavy chance we might get justice for a sequel. There's so much space left despite it being a standalone novel and you will not regret reading it. This book will have you flabbergasted by the end. It's an amazing read for thriller and an amazing YA Thriller debut from Julie Soto!

The Trashers is an exciting YA paranormal thriller. It kept me guessing from the start right until the end. I loved the characters, and since finishing I want more! I feel like I was totally absorbed in the world and can’t recommend this enough!

Is this a YA? Is this a mistery novel? Is it a thriller? A paranormal romance? Yes, it is!

Julie Soto has created the perfect mix of genres and delivered a book that keeps you glued to the pages.

The story has 13RW vibes, with its triggering and sensitive themes, a group of friends full of secrets and lies and a well-constructed and engaging analysis of modern adolescent groups and dynamics.

“The Thrashers” are not the perfect teens others seem to see and want to be: all the characters have flaws and make huge mistakes that will lead to the disappearance of Emily Mills and that will force them to face the harsh reality of not being “the elite”.

Now we just have to wait for a bonus chapter on the Jolians, because I know that's what we all want to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

Guys... Julie Soto has RANGE. First romance, then romantasy and now a YA thriller? She nailed it, and this was such a fun twist on the classic YA thriller genre.

The pacing did start off slow but picked up around 30% of the way through. The character development of the main cast was really well done, flipping the classic high school clique stereotypes on its head. The conclusion felt quite anticlimactic and a little too open ended for my personal liking but otherwise great. I also cannot BELIEVE that I was rooting for Julian behind the end.

I'm particularly interested in the reaction to this book once it's released. Comparisons to 13 Reasons Why definitely check out but I predict that some people will find this controversial. Personally, I thought the discussion of teen suicide a bullying was handled with nuance and provided a different perspective on the issue.

Thanks so much to Harperfire and netgalley for this e-arc, I am simply obsessed.

Absolutely brilliant! I had no clue what to expect and even when I thought I knew the potential “mystery” I was proven wrong.
This was such an engaging and addictive read, I flew three the first half in one sitting and finished it the next day.
Elements of the book reminded me of final destination - this story is like a modern day version (with more suspense than actual gore).
Julie is an auto-buy author for me and this proves she can smash any genre!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to have been picked for a copy of The Thrashers, having been a fan of Julie Soto for years.

The book follows Jodi, a member of the notorious group called The Thrashers, as she tries to navigate both personal and social relationships when The Thrashers are implicated in the suicide of a fellow classmate, and she is forced to confront the demons of her own past.

The Thrashers carries powerful messages about bullying, ostracisation, relationships, and the potential harm that comes from social media. I fully believe that all teenagers should read this book and understand that words can be deadly.

Fans of "Before I Fall" will resonate with The Thrashers.

This book follows a friendship group, notoriously nicknamed The Thrashers, as they are caught up in the police investigation of a suicide at their high school.
As a fan of Julie Soto’s previously published adult romance books, I was sceptical going into this book because I often find that I’m now a little too old for YA and find them cringy. Saying that, I was blown away by this book. I found myself unable to put it down once I’d started reading. Soto has crafted a story that truly has you on the edge of your seat throughout the book as new details emerge. I found myself second guessing each character’s motives at points throughout the book and I was desperate to uncover the truth.
This book has been one of my top reads of the year so far and I would like to extend my thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the privilege of receiving an advanced copy.

WOW, Julie has done it again! this proves that she can write anything in any genre and make it work.