Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto
Thank you Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
In case anyone is wondering, I will read anything Julie Soto writes. This is also a fantastic audiobook that will hold your attention and keep you driving, doing chores, or whatever hobby you choose to keep your hands busy. It’s fantastic, thrilling, juicy, and a little bit heartbreaking.
Synopsis:
“Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.
They’re everything everyone wants to be.
Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.
Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.
But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Stakes—As someone who was in high school during the height of the OG Gossip Girl mania, I will forever be attracted to books about elitism in high school, friend group dynamics, and adolescents facing real world consequences for the first time.
The Mystery/Thriller elements—I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t see the twist coming at the end.
What Didn’t Work:
I think this was due to me listening to the audiobook vs reading with my eyes, but some of the flashbacks were hard for me to follow and I needed to backtrack. Like I said, mainly a me problem but something to be aware of!
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
suicide, alcoholism, bullying, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, toxic parent, grief