Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Not sure how I've gone this long without reading [a:Grady Hendrix|4826394|Grady Hendrix|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1542284521p2/4826394.jpg] to be honest.
Some excellent horror writing here, and really great characters. There were points I legitimately felt on edge, and the eerie building of tension had me glued to the book. Just about fell short off a 5-star rating for me when it got to the ending. Otherwise loved it, dying to read [b:The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires|44074800|The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires|Grady Hendrix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584222716l/44074800._SY75_.jpg|68534292] next.
Some excellent horror writing here, and really great characters. There were points I legitimately felt on edge, and the eerie building of tension had me glued to the book. Just about fell short off a 5-star rating for me when it got to the ending.
Spoiler
The summary of the rest of the girls lives felt rushed or perhaps a little too neatly wrapped up? Also the exorcist dying is kind of brushed past, and I thought from the first chapter this was going to be a far more definitive event.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
A super enjoyable and fun read, I couldn’t devour it fast enough. Hendrix’s best work to date. He tends to have a lot of really fun titles and the content lets it down but this one was really fantastic.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to the audio book for this, and I really didn't enjoy. The audio book itself was fine, I just didn't like the book and the only reason I didn't DNF was because it was something I could just listen to while playing Diablo 4.
I didn't like the main friendship, I think it represents well a 16 year old co-dependent slightly toxic friendship (I think all 16 year old girls have had one). But I wasn't rooting for them. I didn't really get the music references that are usually referred to in other reviews because I'm not an 80's baby. I got some of the obvious ones but they didn't enhance the book for me like it did for other people. I also didn't think it was very funny or engaging.
I think this book can be very problematic for one main reason that I think everyone has already stated. The need to include a slavery day in spirit week was bizarre and absolutely unnecessary. Anyone who defends it as "that was the 80's" or the south was like that, I need you to just think about it a little harder and maybe go work on yourself. This book was written this decade, by a man who should know about modern ideas. The inclusion of it added nothing to story (if it was story relevant then fair enough, I don't think we should censor that these things happened) but because it wasn't story relevant it felt unnecessarily racist. I think it needs mentioning and critiquing so people don't think that this is okay to do.
So as a 90's baby this didn't give me a nostalgia trip and I didn't like the characters very much. I think if you are from the 80's or into that era you might enjoy this book more, but it wasn't for me. I think people who like Stranger things for the setting would really enjoy this book, but I ain't that person.
I didn't like the main friendship, I think it represents well a 16 year old co-dependent slightly toxic friendship (I think all 16 year old girls have had one). But I wasn't rooting for them. I didn't really get the music references that are usually referred to in other reviews because I'm not an 80's baby. I got some of the obvious ones but they didn't enhance the book for me like it did for other people. I also didn't think it was very funny or engaging.
I think this book can be very problematic for one main reason that I think everyone has already stated. The need to include a slavery day in spirit week was bizarre and absolutely unnecessary. Anyone who defends it as "that was the 80's" or the south was like that, I need you to just think about it a little harder and maybe go work on yourself. This book was written this decade, by a man who should know about modern ideas. The inclusion of it added nothing to story (if it was story relevant then fair enough, I don't think we should censor that these things happened) but because it wasn't story relevant it felt unnecessarily racist. I think it needs mentioning and critiquing so people don't think that this is okay to do.
So as a 90's baby this didn't give me a nostalgia trip and I didn't like the characters very much. I think if you are from the 80's or into that era you might enjoy this book more, but it wasn't for me. I think people who like Stranger things for the setting would really enjoy this book, but I ain't that person.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced