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My Best Friend's Exorcism

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'My Best Friend's Exorcism' by Grady Hendrix is a horror novel set in the 1980s that follows the story of two best friends, Abby and Gretchen. The book combines elements of friendship, coming of age, and demonic possession. When Gretchen becomes possessed by a demon, Abby must navigate through the challenges of high school drama, toxic friendships, and the supernatural to save her best friend with the power of their unbreakable bond. The writing style is a mix of horror, comedy, and nostalgia, with seamless incorporation of 80s references, creating a fast-paced and entertaining read that keeps readers engaged till the end.

Characters:

Main characters Abby and Gretchen are intricately portrayed, showcasing the complexities of female friendships during their formative years.

Writing/Prose:

The prose mixes humor with horror, maintaining a campy yet engaging style throughout, effectively invoking nostalgia through 80s pop culture.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on a deep friendship between two girls, Abby and Gretchen, who face challenges including drug use, social ostracism, and ultimately demonic possession.

Setting:

The setting in late 80s Charleston adds to the nostalgic atmosphere, reflecting the cultural backdrop vital to the story's themes.

Pacing:

The pacing initially focuses on character establishment but grows intense as the horror elements increase, culminating in a gripping climax.

Notes:

The novel is set in the late 1980s, specifically 1988.
It features strong themes of friendship amid supernatural events and social drama.
Abby Rivers and Gretchen Lang, the main characters, have been best friends since elementary school.
Gretchen begins to act strangely and is suspected to be possessed after a night of drug use.
The book takes a unique approach to demonic possession, mixing humor with horror.
Each chapter title is named after a popular song from the 1980s, enhancing the nostalgic vibe.
The book design mimics a high school yearbook, complete with signatures and ads.
The relationship between the characters is depicted as deeply personal and reflective of teenage struggles.
The story explores socioeconomic disparities, with Abby coming from a less affluent background compared to Gretchen.
A significant scene involves Abby trying to help Gretchen cope with her possession, showcasing the lengths friends go to for one another.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic depictions of violence, animal death, substance abuse, bullying, and emotional trauma.

From The Publisher:

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, this unholy hybrid of Beaches and The Exorcist blends teen angst and unspeakable horrors into a pulse-pounding supernatural thriller.

The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act…different. She's moody. She's irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her to some startling discoveries-and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?

Ratings (110)

Incredible (15)
Loved It (48)
Liked It (22)
It Was OK (18)
Did Not Like (7)

Reader Stats (216):

Read It (110)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (67)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (33)

10 comment(s)

I decided to put the book down and finish it some other time as I feel I'm not in the right head space fornit now. While I enjoyed the story somethings just hit harder then it should. But I will count it as readvas I read a lot of it.

 
Incredible
3 months

4.5 rounded up because I love Grady Hendrix style of writing. A fun story that was creepy, funny, and 'spooky'.

 
Incredible
3 months

Awesome book! 10/10 would recommend to anyone. Witty, pulse pounding and surprisingly heartfelt

 
Loved It
5 months

I enjoyed this but honestly, I’m not sure if it was entirely the book or the nostalgic itch it scratched.

 
Loved It
5 months

Love a Gen X themed story. Brought back some memories. This was a fun read.

 
Did Not Like
7 months

My Best Friend’s Exorcism was kind of meh, if I’m being honest. The book begins with the tone and themes being similar to

PEN15, then the book seems like it is going to transform into a

teenage girls who are hot, popular, and rich but also a mess type book, but quickly abandons that tone for a much darker tone. I was confused for most of the book as to whether Gretchen

actually was possessed by a demon or 1) if the demon possession was actually a metaphor for sexual violence or 2) the demon possession was a metaphor for girls and women not acting in accordance with traditional feminine standards.

There is a bright spot in the exorcism itself.

I like that Abby was only able to complete Gretchen’s exorcism when she committed to the things that were real—their friendship and Abby’s love for Gretchen.

However, the ending does seem quite glib in comparison to all the topics the book touched on.

Overall,

My Best Friend’s Exorcism failed to do much for me, but the book might be more suited for people who actually lived in/grew up in the eighties.

 
It Was OK
8 months

Too campy

 
Incredible
9 months

This book hits all the good spots. It's one of my favorites: friendships between high school girls that are realistic, supernatural horror, actually scary.

 
Incredible
1 year

Love the interplay between the two main characters, the aching tension and suspense around the horror scenes, and how Grady blends the tropes of the two distinct genres together.

 
Loved It
2 years

Yes! Of course it was the front cover that grabbed me. The amazing artwork transported me from a book store to a video store from the 1980s. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the novel itself, had a feeling that it was going to be a little basic and shallow—but no! Far from it, underneath the gloss of Hollywood horror is a superb story that cuts deep into the anxiety of friendship and growing up.

 

About the Author:

Grady Hendrix is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter living in New York City. He is the author of Horrorstör, My Best Friend's Exorcism, We Sold Our Souls, and the New York Times bestselling The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, which is being adapted into a…

 
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