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A review by writtenontheflyleaves
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix 👹
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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🎀 The plot: Abby and Gretchen are best friends, but after a night at their friend’s lake house goes wrong, Gretchen starts acting differently. Strange and terrible things start happening, and Abby is forced to one terrible conclusion...
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This book far exceeded all of my expectations. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s and Satanic Panic, this is a story about best friendship and the bonds we forge when we’re young teenagers looking for our place in the world. Everything about this novel, from the setting to the characters to the scary and spooky elements, was brilliantly rendered, and I was so impressed with the quality of the prose. I definitely would have accepted less evocative writing for this plot and these characters!
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One thing I loved about it that you don’t always see in stories like this is that Abby really is forced to the supernatural conclusion. She exhausts every rational explanation, and you feel her rising panic and frustration at her own naivety. I also was moved by the central message of how powerful teenage friendships are, how much of ourselves we give to them.
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This book to me was a really great example of how fantastical themes can elevate a narrative about very real everyday things - growing up, self image, class anxiety, friendship. I loved it!
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🔦 Read it if you love all things 80s and adore a spooky or thrilling tale but not a horror - the scary elements are quite brief and manageable here, it’s really more of an emotional story. If you love narratives about best friendship this is for you - this shit made me cry!!!
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🚫 Avoid it if you don’t like any scary material at all, and definitely check the TWs before reading if you’re unsure. Particularly if you’ve suffered with an eating disorder tread carefully/ avoid altogether. Also, this is a very faithful portrait of life in a privileged American high school the 80s, prejudices and all - there are ableist slurs throughout, as well as sexism and violence.
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🎁 Bonus rec! If you enjoyed this, listen to the episodes of the You’re Wrong About podcast about exorcism and Satanic Panic - they provide a lot of fascinating context!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
-
🎀 The plot: Abby and Gretchen are best friends, but after a night at their friend’s lake house goes wrong, Gretchen starts acting differently. Strange and terrible things start happening, and Abby is forced to one terrible conclusion...
-
This book far exceeded all of my expectations. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s and Satanic Panic, this is a story about best friendship and the bonds we forge when we’re young teenagers looking for our place in the world. Everything about this novel, from the setting to the characters to the scary and spooky elements, was brilliantly rendered, and I was so impressed with the quality of the prose. I definitely would have accepted less evocative writing for this plot and these characters!
-
One thing I loved about it that you don’t always see in stories like this is that Abby really is forced to the supernatural conclusion. She exhausts every rational explanation, and you feel her rising panic and frustration at her own naivety. I also was moved by the central message of how powerful teenage friendships are, how much of ourselves we give to them.
-
This book to me was a really great example of how fantastical themes can elevate a narrative about very real everyday things - growing up, self image, class anxiety, friendship. I loved it!
-
🔦 Read it if you love all things 80s and adore a spooky or thrilling tale but not a horror - the scary elements are quite brief and manageable here, it’s really more of an emotional story. If you love narratives about best friendship this is for you - this shit made me cry!!!
-
🚫 Avoid it if you don’t like any scary material at all, and definitely check the TWs before reading if you’re unsure. Particularly if you’ve suffered with an eating disorder tread carefully/ avoid altogether. Also, this is a very faithful portrait of life in a privileged American high school the 80s, prejudices and all - there are ableist slurs throughout, as well as sexism and violence.
-
🎁 Bonus rec! If you enjoyed this, listen to the episodes of the You’re Wrong About podcast about exorcism and Satanic Panic - they provide a lot of fascinating context!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Body shaming, Death, Murder, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Torture, Vomit, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual content