The Thrashers by Julie Soto is an unforgettable thrill-ride with suspense and drama around every corner. The story is centered around a group of friends nicknamed the Thrashers. Jodi feels as if she doesn’t belong among Paige, Lucy, Julian, and the infamous Zack Thrasher. However as Zack’s her childhood best friend, she’s one of them. Together, they’re the elite group at New Helvetia High. The group anyone would die to be apart of. Until someone does. Emily Mills, who had desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, commits suicide. Her journal surfaces, depicting tales of horrific bullying the Thrashers had done to her. And it doesn’t help that their classmates are eagerly ratting them out. But there’s one twist. The Thrashers had never done anything the journal had said. Sure, they hadn’t liked her, but they hadn’t done anything as bad as the journal had claimed… right? As they are charged with crimes, arrested, and publicly scrutinized, Jodi begins to wonder what her friends had really done to Emily Mills and who Emily really was. But as their bad luck increases and terrifying things begin to happen to them, it’s clear legal issues aren’t the only problem. Emily Mills’ isn’t done with them yet, and she’s looking for revenge.

This twisty and suspenseful novel was a great read. With a bit of paranormal activity, it’ll be sure to keep you up at night, eager for the next page. The characters were fleshed out and it was enjoyable to see the dynamics in their friend group. The characters felt real as they each had their own flaws. The book explores highschool hierarchies, and how bad they can become and how far someone would go to belong. There aren’t many cons, but Emily’s character could have been explored further, including digging deeper into her more disturbing actions. I’d have liked it if we saw more of her thoughts and a deeper dive into her twisted fixation on Jodi. The plot line around her and her sister seemed rushed and a lot more could have been written about her character and her motives. The paranormal activity seemed a bit sudden and the book could have done without it, as some supernatural parts felt forced and odd. But it helped build up the atmosphere for the final twist, which was surprising and unexpected. The ending was not my favorite, and I wish it would’ve ended on a different note, but it was an unexpected twist.

Overall, The Thrashers is a twisty and suspenseful book, with a friend group that felt real and flawed, and a chilling exploration of how far someone would go to belong and the dangers of popularity.

4/5 Stars