Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

106 reviews

triggs4780's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

lexbox's review

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense 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

3.75

Fun feels like the wrong word to use, but this book was a fun, quick read, not too dark (as far as exorcisms and demons go). If you’re looking for your standard exorcism fare with 80s nostalgia flair and a cast of mean girls, this is the book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Self harm, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Minor: Domestic abuse and Gun violence

amelia_horseman's review

challenging dark funny sad tense fast-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

hailey_horror's review

dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ninubean's review

dark funny tense 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? Yes

4.75

There were some really corny moments, but sometimes the 80's are corny. I've been reading some duds lately and this book made me realize those books have bad editing/writing. Gary Hendrix made me feel like I was watching an entire movie and by the third act, I couldn't put it down. I'm a big fan of 80's/90's horror movies and you could probably spot the tropes a mile away if you are too; it never took away my enjoyment of this book, though! Hendrix's blending of horror and teen drama tropes of the time kept me totally hooked.

Many bizarre characters and moments had me laughing out loud. At the same time, many moments felt so real that they made me teary - Abby's helpless discovery that the world is unfair and, despite it all, doing all she could to fight against it, not for herself but for her best friend. Some of Abby's panicked, misguided decisions had me cringing, but then I thought to myself 'What else could she do?' 

It's everything I want in a horror comedy - absurd, tummy-twisting, and just enough heart to bring it home.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Gun violence

fromtheyellowchair's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry

heyjaneysmith's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Self harm, and Vomit

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

_readerfromtheblacklagoon_'s review

dark emotional funny tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

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

chadreadsrom's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Self harm, and Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Mass/school shootings