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katie_kelz's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
romy_f's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is my second Grady Hendrix book. while the book is labeled as horror, it's not really. there are some scary elements, maybe because of our expectations and previous experiences with Hollywood movies, but the story is more suspense than scary. It's not even a story of exorcism as much as it's a story about friendship and the glorious 80s.
I am not a big fan of exorcisms but I have seen a few movies here and there.
The exorcism in the novel might as well be the best exorcism scene ever. Never thought I'd tear up during an exorcism but here I was with tears in my eyes and it got more and more towards the end of the book.
I Can't decide if this scene was better or the one from The Chilling Adventure of Sabrina Spellman. Oh and the one from Practical Magic!
bear in mind this is a book about exorcism so some gore should be expected
The audiobook is amazing !! The narrator did a good job being serious when the role required it and being funny and lighthearted when the scene called for it.
I am not a big fan of exorcisms but I have seen a few movies here and there.
The exorcism in the novel might as well be the best exorcism scene ever. Never thought I'd tear up during an exorcism but here I was with tears in my eyes and it got more and more towards the end of the book.
I Can't decide if this scene was better or the one from The Chilling Adventure of Sabrina Spellman. Oh and the one from Practical Magic!
bear in mind this is a book about exorcism so some gore should be expected
The audiobook is amazing !! The narrator did a good job being serious when the role required it and being funny and lighthearted when the scene called for it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Drug use
tvgirl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
zaineylaney's review against another edition
4.0
✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
I am on a mission to read Grady Hendrix’s backlist. This book fulfilled a few prompts for #Summerween this year!
I am on a mission to read Grady Hendrix’s backlist. This book fulfilled a few prompts for #Summerween this year!
auralay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
writewithapendragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love Grady Hendrix’s writing and stories but I wish he could complete a book without including sexual assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body horror, Cursing, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Animal death, Car accident, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Torture, Child abuse, Alcohol, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Death, Body horror, and Forced institutionalization
Genre-typical content for a horror book, hits a lot of 80s slasher tropes and some gore.spookymom1989's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
emrodav's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5 stars, really.)
I read Grady Hendrix's novel Horrorstör a while ago and enjoyed it, though I wasn't blown away by it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked My Best Friend's Exorcism quite a lot!
I think there are three main reasons why My Best Friend's Exorcism was so good: the horror, the 80's references and the humor, and the real and meaningful underlying theme of the importance and power of friendship.
First, this book had just the right amount of horror for me. I'm not a huge horror fan, but I also don't like horror that has no real element of fear. My Best Friend's Exorcism struck just the right balance. Although the synopsis sounds like the book may be more satire than not, there are moments of real horror. It's mixed in well among the other elements of the story.
Also, I think the more lighthearted elements of the story are blended in perfectly. It would be easy to go over the top, or for everything to feel ridiculous (which the premise of Horrorstör felt for me sometimes), but that wasn't the case here. The humorous moments and references feel like they compliment the seriously awful elements of the story in an uncanny way.
What really makes this book wonderful is that at the core of it, aside from the horror and the 80's setting, is that it's a story about how important and powerful the friendship between Abby and Gretchen is. Their bond feels so real and important that you understand why Abby would do anything to save her friend. Their love for each other is really at the core of everything.
My Best Friend's Exorcism is a weird, quirky, horrifying, wonderful book that I really enjoyed reading.
I read Grady Hendrix's novel Horrorstör a while ago and enjoyed it, though I wasn't blown away by it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked My Best Friend's Exorcism quite a lot!
I think there are three main reasons why My Best Friend's Exorcism was so good: the horror, the 80's references and the humor, and the real and meaningful underlying theme of the importance and power of friendship.
First, this book had just the right amount of horror for me. I'm not a huge horror fan, but I also don't like horror that has no real element of fear. My Best Friend's Exorcism struck just the right balance. Although the synopsis sounds like the book may be more satire than not, there are moments of real horror. It's mixed in well among the other elements of the story.
Spoiler
For example, the scene with the worms still makes me shudder when I think about it.Also, I think the more lighthearted elements of the story are blended in perfectly. It would be easy to go over the top, or for everything to feel ridiculous (which the premise of Horrorstör felt for me sometimes), but that wasn't the case here. The humorous moments and references feel like they compliment the seriously awful elements of the story in an uncanny way.
Spoiler
When Abby invokes the Coke can and Phil Collins could've felt stupid, but it didn't. It was funny but also so sincere and so in line with Abby and her friendship with Gretchen that it just inexplicably worked.What really makes this book wonderful is that at the core of it, aside from the horror and the 80's setting, is that it's a story about how important and powerful the friendship between Abby and Gretchen is. Their bond feels so real and important that you understand why Abby would do anything to save her friend. Their love for each other is really at the core of everything.
Spoiler
And the ending, which is so realistic because it details how they drift in and out of each other's lives, feels like a real and important female friendship. And it's pretty amazing.My Best Friend's Exorcism is a weird, quirky, horrifying, wonderful book that I really enjoyed reading.
sbudz's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
catbot's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25