Reviews tagging 'Child death'

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

38 reviews

brittanylee0302's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

1.5 stars out of 2
 I dont even know where to start...
 This book had the potential to be good but it freaking tumbled off a cliff. The characters were all awful, in the beginning the girls are 10 & by the time of the exorcism they're sophomores in high-school, BUT they still seemed to act like 10 year olds??? Like I'm not sure what Grady Hendrix thinks girls in high-school are like but im afraid he doesn't actually have a clue. & this book was so vulgar & focused on female anatomy & sexualized in just weird ways??? & if I had to hear about a "maxi pad" in one more reference, I think I would have lost it. The exorcism part was okay, but Gretchen speaking like Bugs Bunny & a few other characters really ruined it for me. & why was Abby's fully grown mother also so terrible? Like all these characters were absolutely awful. This is my second try at a Hendrix book & I think its my last. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, and Vomit

Minor: Child death and Suicidal thoughts

gen_wolfhailstorm's review

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Details:
Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Unabridged 

This was such an entertaining read. The relationships, both toxic and pure, was such a fantastic study of high school life, but added in sinister atmosphere with the whole possession plot (which reminded me of Jennifers Body mid way through).

It wasn't really that scary but the scene with Good Boy Max the dog made me feel sick.

The manipulation of Gretchen as she became deeper consumed by her demon was interesting to see, especially when no one else could see what was happening other that Abby.

I thought the ending about friendship was so sad and true and it wrapped up perfectly, with closure, as I like my stories to do.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

thehhugg's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gore, Self harm, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

moonlitemuseum's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Energetic and addictive, I started this book because a friend was reading it and then devoured it over the course of a day. The author works fast to make you as invested in Abby and Gretchen's friendship as Abby herself is, and as everything begins to unravel the pain feels almost as present as if these were real events that happened to you or people you love. Gritty and firmly anchored in its era, this feels perfect for anyone who wants to slurp up a nostalgic slice of millennial horror.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Slavery

nokibay's review

medium-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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Slavery, and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation

julesdbaker's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Miscarriage

_gail_'s review

0.5

I really wanted to like this book. I liked the way it was written, but unfortunately it's racist and homophobic. one of the main characters admitted to doing blackface multiple times ( which had nothing to do with the plot) they participated in a 'slave day' at school (also not important to the plot).  there were also quite a few odd interactions between the characters as children, for instance put their foots in each other's crotches ( they were 11 at the time). I like campy horror but the good parts of this book are made uncomfortable by all the unnecessary racism, homophobia, and grossness. I get it's set in the 80's but it is a work of fiction and the author came up with and chose to add those things to the book. I do not recommend this book to anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Racism, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

bookishgoob's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kuhnja's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

One of the best books of the year, and my first Hendrix novel! This one I’ll buy for sure. I listened to the audiobook and it was good!

Above all this book is about the power of friendship. A perfect balance of Halloween spooky, 80s nostalgia and satanic panic nonsense and a beautifully honest portrayal of coming of age and female friendships through your life. 

It made me laugh, swell with pride and tore at my heartstrings. This book had everything. What a perfect spooky season read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence