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yesica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thought out the story we see how much Abby cares about Gretchen's well being I also like how realistic her reactions to what was going on were. You sadly doing find a lot of realistic reactions in Horror novels.
What I didn't like:
What immediately took away 2 stars for me was
Overall:
Overall this book made for an okay audiobook to listen to while in the car or while doing chores but I could not bring myself to actually sit down and read the actual book.
Even though I did not always enjoy the book and reading it felt like a chore at time I will admit that it did have a very satisfying and realistic ending.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Gun violence
jerbarger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also didn’t appreciate all the casual racism and references to sexual assault. I see what Hendrix was trying to do and set the picture of the South, but it wasn’t ever really indicted? Like it seemed he did not approve from the tone of the main character when she mentioned these things but it was totally glossed over and also THERE WERE ONLY WHITE PEOPLE, so tell me how this improves the conversation? It doesn’t. And it almost made me stop reading the book.
With all of that being said, it is a rather interesting and unique coming-of-age story. Her best friend is possessed by a demon, but who’s the real monster? The adults who don’t believe children? Society? Classism? The way Abby goes from feeling like a child to having the understanding that we are all truly alone in this world is devastating. And that’s what MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM did best.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Cursing, Rape, Drug use, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, and Racial slurs
amelia_horseman's review
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
hailey_horror's review
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Violence
ootoom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Drug use
roanjackal's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
cuprum's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Physical abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Body horror, Blood, Animal death, Pedophilia, and Racism
katiebella_reads's review
- 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
5.0
Tigger Warning ⚠️
* dead abused animals
* rape talk
* Demon Possession
Summery
Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since they were 10yrs old. It's the summer of 1988, and as teens, they are coming into their own. Growing up and doing all the things they have always been told not to. They are young. They are honor students. They are invincible. Until they aren't.
Gretchen is from the right part of town. Her parents belong to the right social clubs. They go to the right church. These kind of things don't happen to people like them.
Something is definitely wrong with Gretchen, but only Abby seems to understand that it's so much more than teenage angst. Gretchen is changing. Acting strangely. This isn't Gretchen.
My Thoughts
Wow!!!! I loved it. The 80's child in me couldn't get enough. It is written exactly like the old style horror movies before the world was all AI and CGI. When movies were gritty and you could feel the fear of the actors. When you could relate to the bumps of an old car on a dirt road because it was really being driven, not special effects. This book is corny and cheesy in all the best ways!
Abby is the perfect example of a true high school teenager. Imperfect skin, worrying about her grades, and just trying to fit in. She is real and authentic. She shows true friendship to the extent she is willing to go to to save the people she cares about, even when it seems they no longer care for her. The author wrote her with such clarity that I could picture her walking down the school halls, hanging with friends, and bopping along to the soundtrack of life. It was easy to empathize with her. She is likable. She grows as the book goes along.
There is no doubt that Hendrix can write! This is the second book in a week that I have read by him, and as soon as I finished, I jumped online to order another. He protays horror in the way it should be done. The way I remember it growing up. Hitchcock and The Omen sprinkled in with some vibes of the movie The Craft. All the nostalgic feels with this read while keeping me turning pages and a breakneck speed. Goosebumps all grown up.
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Animal cruelty, Rape, Animal death, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Violence, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug use, and Self harm
lotoblanco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Blood, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Addiction, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death
ninubean's review
- 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
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.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Animal death, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Gun violence