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gen_wolfhailstorm's review
- 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
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.
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
sea_sea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Also Abby and Gretchen were definitely more than friends ;)
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Ableism
tifftastic87'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
4.75
Synopsis
Abby is a scholarship girl at a prestigious private school in South Carolina in the 80s. By the standards of the era and the region, she is an outcast. That is until a new girl comes to town, Gretchen, and becomes Abby's ride or die. Everything goes down hill when Gretchen runs off to the woods one night and comes back a little wrong. Gretchen's behavior starts spiraling out of control, none of the adults believe Abby and she finds herself ostracized and on the verge of expulsion. It all culminates when the only adult that believes Abby is a muscle bound, neon clad, evangelist. But will his faith and Abby's determination be enough to save Gretchen?
High Camp Tension
This was so campy and satirical that it really made the story for me. I have a lot of religious trauma around "deliverance" so was really pleased that it was handled in such a campy way, that made the uncomfortable bits a little easier to stomach. Every time I felt my stomach clenching there would be some sort of comedic relief. If that is not necessarily something that you look for in a horror, and I usually don't either, then maybe this one isn't for you.
Girl Crew
At first Abby is extremely unlikable, at least to me, she is selfish and whiny and somewhat rude. But she has a good moment where she makes a decision on who she wants to be and her character just changes from there to a very likeable, if not frustrating (stand up for yourself woman!), character. The friendship dynamic among the girls is actually pretty relatable to growing up in the 80s/90s. I don't know how teens treat each other now, but even in to the very early 00s this felt pretty true to form. I have heard from some reviewers that Grady Hendrix is "banned" from writing women after Final Girl Support Group, but I actually really liked how he did it here.
The Satanic Panic of it All
This, combined with the War on Drugs, was so perfect. I think this is what I wanted out of Whisper Down the Lane and was severely disappointed in that book. Abby is accused of selling drugs and committing satan worship, when she's probably the most quintessential high school student, but doing it all with perfect grades. Any time any of the kids has an emotion the adults are quick to ask "are you on drugs?" Which feels so, well, real. I have strong memories of very similar conversations in my youth.
In Short
I really enjoyed this book, I thought some of it could have been better. But only by bits and pieces. I really loved all of the chapters being named after songs from the era and how important music was to the story itself. I think this is a case where pop culture references were done very well. I would definitely recommend this to people who are new to horror, as it is very light on the horror. Though do check the content warnings.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
bingo_banjo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
tiernanhunter'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Cultural appropriation
sydneynorman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Racism, Blood, and Alcohol
mickraine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Excrement, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and War
geektastically'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
bookishgoob's review
- 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
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
lovelymisanthrope'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
4.0
"My Best Friend's Exorcism" follows Abby, a young girl in high school in the 1980's. Abby and her best friend, Gretchen, have been best friends since the moment they were thrown together at Abby's birthday party. One night, after some skinny-dipping and recreational drug use, Gretchen starts acting different. Abby is concerned that Gretchen is possessed, and Abby will do anything to get her friend back from the clutches of a demon.
This book was filled with some great representation from the 1980's, and it was very atmospheric and nostalgic for anyone that went to high school in the 1980's. Abby and Gretchen's friendship is something to be coveted. Despite being so young, they will do ANYTHING for each other, and I think this is something to aspire to have with someone.
This book definitely had horror and there are some scenes some people might find disturbing. Grady Hendrix is so great at what he does, and I seem to be enjoying everything I pick up from him!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship