HarperFire scoops Julie Soto's 'unputdownable' thriller in three-book deal

Harper Fire has scooped The Thrashers, a "gripping" YA novel by Julie Soto. 

Editorial director Tom Bonnick acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in a three-book deal from Gaia Banks at Sheil Land Associates. The Thrashers will be published in May 2025, with the second and third book following in 2026 and 2027, respectively. 

The synopsis reads: "Jodi never asked to be a Thrasher — a member of the high school elite. But Jodi has been best friends with Zack Thrasher her whole life, and like it or not, that means she’s branded a Thrasher by the rest of the school. But being a Thrasher isn’t worth dying for — except, apparently, it was to Emily Mills. Sweet but intense Emily, whose fixation on Zack brought her close to the in-crowd, but never close enough. Emily, who took her own life on prom night.

"When a detective finds Emily’s diary, there are whispers that she was ‘Thrashed’ — bullied to death by Zack and his gang. They are arrested, their once bright futures extinguished. Then begin the texts from unfamiliar numbers, inexplicable light flares, the run of bad luck that becomes a string of near-fatal accidents… and the constant dreams of Emily."

"As an author, you can only hope that the book-of-your-heart will find a home one day", said Soto. "I am so pleased that HarperCollins has given me that home for The Thrashers, a book that I’d been writing in my head for 15 years before putting it on paper. I am so excited to enter the young adult space with the team at Harper Fire."

Bonnick added: "Unbelievably gripping, and with a hugely compelling mystery at its centre, The Thrashers is simply unputdownable — a tense, atmospheric, addictive thriller from a master storyteller that will leave you guessing until the last page. With this move into YA, we are thrilled to welcome Julie to the Harper Fire list."