A review by hali
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

2.5

i can’t lie and say i wasn’t engrossed in this book. i definitely was (i mean, i read it in two days), but a lot of weird elements added up and in the end it was just odd. it’s set in the 80s, so i guess the casual racism and ableism and homophobia was supposed to make it realistic? but these things aren’t ever questioned in the narrative???

also: Abby and Gretchen should’ve been gay…that’s what i thought all that “DBNQ” shit was working up to. Take this quote, for example:

“I love you,” Abby shouted into the storm. “I love you Gretchen Lang. You are my reflection and my shadow and I will not let you go. We are bound together forever and ever!”

It’s giving lesbian. I’m annoyed that it wasn’t. Also, them growing apart was realistically done but I think if I exorcised my best friend we’d never lose touch. Maybe that’s just me, IDK.


At least it had some good horror elements and the characters felt real.
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