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A review by maddiequinn
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
5.0
Where to start with this book? It was insane in the best possible way, and I fell in love with Lynnette as soon as I opened the book.
Usually, the whole 'who's doing it?' spiel is played out and far too easy to figure out on the reader's side. This was NOT the case. Hendrix realized where the reader's mind goes first and played it to his advantage. I was iffy of Dr. Carol when Lynnette first stayed with her after the shooting at her apartment, and by the time Heather called the cops on her I was dead set that this woman was behind it all. I was completely thrown when it turned out it was Skye all along, and I had to reread the betrayal from Stephanie SO many times because I just couldn't believe it!
For me, there are two things that stand out the most: (1) the way that Dr. Carol could have easily put a stop to everything before it ever happened, if she had just given Pax a little bit of attention and looked at his comic book. It's devastating, and it hurts so much because Skye, who was doing it all for some sick desire to kill, had convinced little 8 year old Pax that it was for a good reason. and (2) the connection Lynnette felt with Stephanie.
That last one caused me a visceral reaction: throughout the book it's incredibly obvious that she feels guilt about letting Gilly die, and watching her finally let her guard down to take care of this girl who had supposedly been through her own slasher experience, the line "after all I am the big sister" the way she called her Steph- when she still called her steph after she tried to KILL her??? I am a sucker for it and it's the most I've felt for a pair of characters. Ever.
All of the characters were well thought out and three dimensional, but Lynnette was so beautifully complex and not entirely likable. Which was the best part. Yes, I loved her when I opened up the book and found her talking to her plant, and thinking snarky little comments in her therapy sessions. but I was furious when she left Julia in her apartment.
Lynnette was written in such a remarkable way because Hendrix kept in mind small mundane details. the relationships with Fine the plant was so heartwarming, and I almost cried when Marilyn revealed him growing in front of her guest house, but the codependency Lynnette felt for him was so humane and anchoring to see from a character.
I cannot recommend a better book, and I can see myself buying, rereading and annotating this book.
Usually, the whole 'who's doing it?' spiel is played out and far too easy to figure out on the reader's side. This was NOT the case. Hendrix realized where the reader's mind goes first and played it to his advantage. I was iffy of Dr. Carol when Lynnette first stayed with her after the shooting at her apartment, and by the time Heather called the cops on her I was dead set that this woman was behind it all. I was completely thrown when it turned out it was Skye all along, and I had to reread the betrayal from Stephanie SO many times because I just couldn't believe it!
For me, there are two things that stand out the most: (1) the way that Dr. Carol could have easily put a stop to everything before it ever happened, if she had just given Pax a little bit of attention and looked at his comic book. It's devastating, and it hurts so much because Skye, who was doing it all for some sick desire to kill, had convinced little 8 year old Pax that it was for a good reason. and (2) the connection Lynnette felt with Stephanie.
That last one caused me a visceral reaction: throughout the book it's incredibly obvious that she feels guilt about letting Gilly die, and watching her finally let her guard down to take care of this girl who had supposedly been through her own slasher experience, the line "after all I am the big sister" the way she called her Steph- when she still called her steph after she tried to KILL her??? I am a sucker for it and it's the most I've felt for a pair of characters. Ever.
All of the characters were well thought out and three dimensional, but Lynnette was so beautifully complex and not entirely likable. Which was the best part. Yes, I loved her when I opened up the book and found her talking to her plant, and thinking snarky little comments in her therapy sessions. but I was furious when she left Julia in her apartment.
Lynnette was written in such a remarkable way because Hendrix kept in mind small mundane details. the relationships with Fine the plant was so heartwarming, and I almost cried when Marilyn revealed him growing in front of her guest house, but the codependency Lynnette felt for him was so humane and anchoring to see from a character.
I cannot recommend a better book, and I can see myself buying, rereading and annotating this book.