Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

46 reviews

letters_from_gabriella's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75


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ccoterie's review against another edition

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2.0

God. Where to even begin with this book? The premise is strong and paves the way for a compelling look into the slasher genre and its final girls. It's clear (perhaps too clear, some references were basically direct copies) that Hendrix loves the genre. And yet I can't tell what this book was going for. There are a lot of details that left me baffled (not including racist stereotypes - I get that the book is an homage to classic slashers, but some tropes can die) or, as I look back on them, confused about their inclusion. I think this book could've benefitted from cutting a few plot points or picking a clearer tone.
The beginning involved a lot of starts and stops as I texted my friends my newest hesitation. I couldn't get into Lynn as a protagonist. Her mindset was certainly understandable, sometimes her paranoia was uncomfortably familiar, but something seemed off. It felt like an "I'm not like other girls" would've fit perfectly - there were some lines that got pretty close. Without a concrete reason to believe her mindset, Lynn just got on my nerves. The middle rectified this issue, providing a fast-paced action thriller that made her compelling. Chrissy marked another turning point.
I understand the reasons behind her inclusion - everything she has going on has potential. However, her mysticism, murderabilia, and boyfriend didn't have any payoff. They were all loose threads making more of a vessel for the author to get a message across than an actual character. I still can't understand why she was written to be so narratively cluttered. Her scene did not have to be as long as it was considering her sole purpose.
The ending left a lot unresolved for me, mostly regarding its mental health themes.

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cssquared's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had high expectations and it lived up to the hype. The characters were highly developed and the story was exciting. 

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sarah_mcmullan_nz's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

If you're not  a horror movie fan maybe, if you are NOPE

As someone who makes their living out of watching and writing about horror films, this book was incredibly frustrating to read. 
In all honesty, I think I enjoyed trying to figure out who the characters were supposed to be way more than reading this poorly written, sloppily plotted incredibly obvious story. 
Having said that - don't waste your time. 

There are far better horror books, books about final girls and final girl films out there. Find them. 


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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I have had this on my radar since its release because I have historically really enjoyed Grady Hendrix.
"The Final Girl Support Group" follows Lynnette, a woman who survived a massacre and gained the title of a "final girl". For over a decade she has been meeting with other final girls in a support group, in an effort to try to help one another survive life after tragedy. When one of the women misses a meeting, Lynnette quickly realizes that their worst fears are coming true, and someone is determined to bring down each of them.
Of all of the Grady Hendrix books that I have read, this one was my least favorite. One of the elements that I have really enjoyed about his books in the past is that although his books are dark and tackle challenging elements, there is always this outlandish, comedic element. Unfortunately, this particular book did not feel like Grady Hendrix's normal brand of horror, to me. This story was dark and forced the characters to face some of their deepest fear, but there did not feel like there was the same level of comedy.
Lynnette was such an unlikeable main character. She has centered her entire life around being a final girl, which I empathize that her trauma probably did that to her, but I felt like she had nothing else to her personality. She has purely been in survival mode, and she has not found any joy in life for decades. Additionally, for someone so closed off from people because she is always expecting the worst, she seemed to trust characters a little too quickly. This did not feel authentic to her character, and it felt more like a way to make the plot move along.
Although I did not initially see the big reveal about who was behind this, I also did not feel hooked or shocked by it either. By the time it was revealed who was behind this, I was so done with this story that I almost did not care.
I think this idea had a lot of potential, and I am sad that it unfortunately just did not work for me. However, I will still continue to read Grady Hendrix in the future, and I will still continue to recommend his books to the right reader. 

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melodyseestrees's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I read this book after several people recommended it. This book kept pacing well but that is about where the positives stop for me. The writing style was not my taste. There were a lot of plot conveniences. The main character built herself a panic room and it just happens to fail once the group decides to disband? All these women shaped by their trauma to survive let their guards down at the same time, save our main character? Sure, Jan. The varied reactions to a traumatic event did show a realistic variety- some of the girls prepping, some ignoring, one losing her composure. The characters just weren't written in a very 'final girl' way. I did not like how the antagonists were just squished into the plot wherever and I especially did not like the identity of the main antagonist. If you love slashers you will probably find this to be an okay read. 

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chasingpages1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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cara_anne's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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joscelynhe's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I had a lot of time on my hands today, so I did read most of this all in one sitting. It was an easy, thrilling story that was very fun and entertaining. I did have a bit of a hard time getting attached to the group of main characters at first, but otherwise this book was a breeze (fast-paced, not light and airy). Some of the details were more graphic than some of his other books. Hendrix nails the tone in the head like always, though. He has a way of writing that sucks you in almost immediately. “Horrorstor”is up next.

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katyfayyyx's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The problem with this book is that I love the idea of this book I just wished another author has wrote this book because it is just such a good idea but it has been executed so poorly . I am going to be honest I really don't know I feel about this book because I loved the beginning and the ending but I fucking hated the middle and I mean hated it... to the point when I wanted to rip my own eyes out and never read a book again because girl I was in physical pain. So where the fuck does this leave me because I can't give it 3 stars because in my mind that means I have liked and enjoyed this whole book which has not been the case because I fucking hate the middle of this book. Like I think this book would fucking slay as a film and it would make a really good film but I supposed it is supposed to feel like a film so I guess that was done quite well because I feel like anything in this book just take way too long. I am going to say this about how the author has written the women in this book I understand that he is trying to show that trauma makes people deal/act with that in different way but why are they just so mean and some uncalled for and they are just constantly bitching about each other it is like they are out to get each other until the very end but I did think a couple of times this is a reason why man just shouldn't write female because it was kinda painful. It just felt really off.  Another problem I have with this book was that this book was just  all over the place, it is just chaotic but not in a fun and entertaining way just in a confusing way to the point when at times I generally have no fucking clue what is going on in this book. I am not really a fan of how the women interact and it doesn't just make sense sometimes like they are just so mean and malicious to each other when out of everyone they should understand, care and look after each other because they understand what they have all been through but they are just so mean and I hate when I am reading a book and all the women seem to just hate each other and it not in that fun playful way in which you can see that they love each other really but they are just mean and at most times for no reason at all and then they do really nice and loving this that just don't make sense with what we know about them as a character such as taking Michelle home to die so Dani can keep that promise to her because that just so lovely and caring but then Heather is so horrible about not wanting to touch or help Michelle like it just doesn't add up and the one we have been told is horrible which is Marlyin is the one taking control and looking after everyone maybe I am overthinking this because I do really like this book and the overall story but the way these characters are written just isn't sitting right with me. But I think is really nice that they gave Michelle the death she would have wanted but it is just so cruel that Dani wasn't there for her wife all because all this shit is going on.   

Like I did really like beginning of this book as  a huge horror fan with a love for final girls it was just hitting in all the right spots however there are just some things that are just throwing me off like the whole weird flirting bit with the Dr's son when showing him her scars or when she walks into him 'looking' after himself and I don't think if this is a failed attempt at humour what is just not it but it is just so fucking weird. Like, I do like Skye but that was just so fucking strange and off-putting why does every Conversation have this weird sexual overtone-women written by men I guess. 

Like the middle of this book is possibly the worst thing I have ever read like why did this book keep doing dumb shit which means that I didn't like it, like you are telling me that the police believed a serial killer in prison that he killed this girl's whole family because they were fucking and they are going to drag her in and picked on her and take the piss off all her trauma just because they were fucking why was this even a plot point and why the does it matter if they did fuck because it happened 22 years ago, girl shut the fuck up, please for my mental wellbeing. Like has this author ever actually watched a horror film like I would say 95% of final girls boyfriends are the killer (like scream) so why would this matter it was 22 years late and when all her friends were being murder or set up. I was getting so pissed like please use your fucking brain police please just please I just can't do that. I just fell like there are bigger things to worry about at that moment in time. Also I am the only one that thinks that it is not that deep if she did or didn't fuck the killer. I just think this plot point was really fucking dumb, it's make no sense why she was in jail all because she wrote this guy some letter and had nothing to do with the plan and didn't know anything about it But maybe I am just overthink this book and it just not that deep because I did really like this idea of this book but I just don't understand why the author decided to take this book in that directions. Maybe I am just really fucking dumb be her is Lynne only 38 years old like what the fuck I thought she was like 50-60 because the way Lynne acts is not the way a 38 year women would act surely but maybe I am wrong because I am only 19 but I am sure this is not how a nearly 40 year old women would act, shout out to the whole weird side plot about fine the plant because that is just so fucking weird and sad. What was it with the whole thing about Lynne not even been a real final girl like I am not being funny I don't know a lot of people would have survived being impaled for that long but what do I know. I would say in general the things that these characters do just don't make sense. I would also say that the whole Dr being the killer was just such a waste of time she's been helping them for 15 years she would have just killed them it just felt like a waste of time but I did feel kinda sorry for her like she has spend her whole life telling to help her and also female victims of violence just for her sons to be the things that she been helping all these women heal form but she must be a little bit of a shit doctor if she couldn't see the signs in her own son.


I am sorry but what the fuck is going on with Dani like clam the fuck down like why was she just beating the shit out Lynne like she's trying to save everyone and you are beating the shit out her, like you can be pissed at her when you are all safe. I did like that Lynne finally figuring out that she needs other people in her life and that life is not just about being by herself because the times when she actually more safe and happy is with her girls. But girl why did it take you so long. I liked how all the final girls in this book have the story of a classic horror films but then at the same time I think it kinda lazy like get some new and original idea but then I kinda lived for it as well.

I would say that the ending was kinda obvious because I guessed it when the introduce Stephanie as a character I just thought I bet it her like she wants to be the final girl of the final girl and I will the say the ending of this book felt very much like Scream Four and I live for Scream 4 it's the best Scream argue with the wall and Jill is the best ghost face because is just so iconic and I would say that Stephanie gives me Scream 4 vibes but without the iconic part of Jill's character and let's be Skye was just such a cheap shot and it was so obvious like come him wanting to get revenge of his mum for spending all her time with the girls instead of him like that has been done 1000s of times but it was okay, I just didn't really care about him being the second killer and I get why they didn't killed the killers but I kinda wanted to them too but it was not the end of the world to me. The ending just screamed that bit in Scream 4 when Sidney says 'You forgot the first rule of remakes, Jill. Don't fuck with the original' and girl I lived for that okay. Also is no one going to question the fact that no matter now fucked Lynne was she just kept going like is was shot and hit in the head with a sledgehammer passed out for like twenty minutes and got up and fought bitches I have nothing but respect for that. I can't lie. But also how the fuck was she even alive never mind moving, running and fighting. I also did like the fact that the final battle was at the camp because that were the first final girl was born and it will be where the last final girl is killed. I also kinda loved Julia in the end she kinda iconic and I think her love/hate friendship with Lynne was really cute. Also thought it was really cute that Julia stayed at Lynne bedside and they all came a visited her when she was in hospital. Also loved that are final girls were final girling and I love that they are all fighting and helping each other. I just loved that no matter how angry or upset they were each other they still care and fought and came through for each other when it counted and you know what no matter how old and irrelevant they are (which they were not) never count a final girl out and just don't fuck with them because they are bad bitches only. I also loved that at the end you know they are going to be okay and that are happy and they are all living and healing together and I just thought that was really cute.

So in summary there is one rule for this book just don't fuck with final girls because you can never beat the originals also that was such a power move at the ending visiting Stephanie in prison just so they can have a final girl support club meeting

The Final Girl Support Group XXIV:A New Beginning 
"I know what happened to those girls. They turn into women. And they live."

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