Reviews tagging 'Grief'

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

33 reviews

geektastically's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

This was a really interesting and well written book. You feel the inspiration but once you get to the later half of the book some of the content really got to me because of how well the relationships and characters were written. Be careful reading this for sure. I'm only giving it a lower score because the back half really shook me and I had a hard time with it. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

lovelymisanthrope's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.0

This was the second book in my mini Grady Hendrix readathon. I was very excited to pick up this book and enjoy the movie adaptation afterwards.
"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! 

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Content Warnings

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

nikogatts's review

dark emotional hopeful tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

poppyseedromance's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

ekmook's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent

lucimolri's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.5

3,5. La verdad me ha sorprendido bastante! Después de la decepción de The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires no me esperaba que este me fuera a gustar. La razón por la que no le doy 4 estrellas es porque me da mucha rabia cómo están escritos los personajes antagonistas, pero por lo demás ha estado muy bien (el capítulo 22??? 

la forma en la que describe todo lo de los gusanos buf buuuff

  Que maravillaaa, casi poto en el coche). Mis dieces a la narradora, lo hace genial!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Child death and Car accident

genny's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• 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? No

4.5

An ode to friendship wrapped within a story full of body horror and Satanic panic. I liked it a lot! 😆 This is my second Grady Hendrix (my first being The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires); IMO this one had better pacing, and surprisingly made me quite emotional. I don't think the Satanic panic was a thing in my country, but it's always fascinating to read about.  I appreciate that Hendrix was dedicated to the 80's theme, from the little pamphlets/clippings in each chapter, to the Spotify playlist, and even to the dedications stylized as yearbook pages. This is what I'd call "fun horror"! The climax was appropriately scary and cheesy. I still get a little teary-eyed thinking about it. I picked this up not knowing there was a movie coming out, so that's a happy surprise!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism

mallory10100's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

5.0

based on the cover, i expected this to be a campy fun horror, but it was actually quite disturbing. pay attention to content warnings!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Gun violence

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Racism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Classism

i recommend this for spooky season!!

abyssgazesalso's review

dark slow-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? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Biphobia, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Lesbophobia