My Best Friend's Exorcism

by Grady Hendrix

È il 1988: Abby e Gretchen, studentesse al secondo anno di liceo, sono migliori amiche fin dai tempi della quarta elementare. Insieme sognano, parlano, respingono i ragazzi troppo disinvolti, ascoltano musica, stringono e sciolgono alleanze all'interno del microcosmo scolastico, eccetera. Tutto più o meno nella norma, insomma. Ma, dopo una serata di esperimenti lisergici, chiacchiere e bagni nel fiume con altre compagne di scuola finita in modo abbastanza disastroso, Gretchen comincia a comportarsi in modo, come dire?... diverso. È diventata lunatica. Irritabile. E ogni volta che c'è lei nelle vicinanze si verificano incidenti ora bizzarri, ora spiacevoli, in alcuni casi francamente terribili. Le indagini di Abby la conducono a scoperte sorprendenti e, quando la loro storia giungerà alla sua sconvolgente conclusione, il destino di Abby e Gretchen resterà appeso a un'unica la loro amicizia è abbastanza potente da sconfiggere il diavolo?

Ambientato durante quell'ondata di Panico Satanico che spinse gli americani a cercare messaggi satanisti sotto o dietro ogni album heavy metal, questo romanzo è una storia toccante di amicizia liceale e possessione demoniaca, un thriller ibrido e soprannaturale al cardiopalma, capace di miscelare sapientemente angosce e drammi adolescenziali, orrori indicibili e un mix - pericolosamente nostalgico - di canzoni pop degli anni Ottanta.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Paranormal, Thriller, Fantasy

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2016

About the author

Grady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend's Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it's set in the Eighties. He's also the author of We Sold Our Souls, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, and the upcoming (July 13!) Final Girl Support Group!

He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80's horror paperback boom, which contains more information about Nazi leprechauns, killer babies, and evil cats than you probably need.

And he's the screenwriter behind Mohawk, which is probably the only horror movie about the War of 1812 and Satanic Panic.

You can listen to free, amazing, and did I mention free podcasts of his fiction on Pseudopod. He also does a podcast called Super Scary Haunted Homeschool.

If you're not already sick of him, you can learn all his secrets at his website.

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updating review on 9/20/19
I read a one-star review basically calling the author out for "queerbaiting" in this book by using the phrase "Love ya dearly but not queerly." I have to say that the 1980s were so homophobic and ignorant. Especially with language and phrases. It has taken a long time for me to stop saying, "That's gay" for something I think is lame and I'm not homophobic. It's a phrase that was used before I had any idea what it even meant (my kids have corrected this behavior and I know better and do better)
We also said the "R" word synonymously for "lame" which is also not OK. But if an author writes a book set in 1980s, it's relevant to reflect this ignorant attitude, in my humble opinion. It's the way it was; the way we talked. I know that the usage of these words is triggering for readers TODAY because these ignorant attitudes and words are still in use--but I think the accusations against the author are misguided in this context. Just my .02


I'm not really sure why anyone would rate this book anything lower than five stars, unless of course, they didn't understand the premise of the book. I think it helps that I was born in 1976, so I'm the target audience and I buddy read it with a friend who was also in middle school in the late 80s-high school in the 90s, so you know--the E.T. themed birthday party at the roller skating rink? Yeah. Nailed it.
What you're signing up for when you read this book is the general plot of The Exorcist paired with Carrie vibes but lightened up with Hendrix's unique brand of iconic cultural identification/nostalgia that looks a lot like a blender smoothie of Stranger Things, My So Called Life and every 80s sitcom I ever watched---that's what this book *feels* like when you're reading it.
If you were born after 1985, you're probably going to miss out on reliving stuff like the scene where Abby and Gretchen get in trouble for singing the lyrics to Like a Virgin and wearing Gretchen's mom's cross necklaces. That was a scene from my own life--I mean, I *am* the MTV generation. I was scandalized by Madonna. I Stayed up late with my parents to watch the premiere video for Micheal Jackson's Thriller when it was an event on network television, I crimped my hair, had a Swatch Watch, wore Esprit Jeans and sprayed myself with Exclamation perfume every morning of eighth grade. But you'll get the basic idea of it if you swap Madonna with Britney Spears or something.
So of course, Grady Hendrix was speaking my language this entire book-not one pop culture reference was wasted on me. I especially loved the song title chapter headings and the songs would immediately get locked in my head,
"How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning"

I had no clue what these lyrics by Midnight Oil was even about when I was a kid, but I knew every, single word and it was a treasure to recall that when I got to this chapter-and the way the lyrics actually fit so well with what was happening in the story? I mean, it's genius level storytelling in my opinion. However, I don't think this book will alienate any of the younger generation of readers because 80s pop culture is super celebrated and people who can't relate on a personal level, will at least get it on the same level that they get what's going on in Stranger Things, which is wildly popular for all ages, you know? Sure, my 12 year old isn't going to feel it like my husband and I do, but he relates as a kid--kids don't change. All the characters in this book were well developed and easy to relate to for anyone who remembers what it is like to be a pre-teen/teenager.
The humor and horror seem in perfect balance. Yes, there are some cringe-worthy moments and yes, they are less scary because of the humor that's blended through out, but for me, that didn't make it any less entertaining. I enjoyed every moment--stand out moments being the climax towards the end and the exorcism stuff--there were some laugh out loud moments (love the Phil Collins mentions in that scene) Ha!
Overall, I recommend this book for anyone--not just fans of 80s pop culture (although they would love this!) and not just fans of horror books, but everyone who likes a good story with witty dialog, great characters and a well crafted horror plot, with few laughs. How does that *not* sound like a good time?

[Wil Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very very very good, but falls just short of being great and I can't say exactly why.
I loved the characters and the metaphor of possession (which is not just a metaphor in this story). I loved the references to 1988, and how seamlessly they were dropped into the narrative.

It's a supernatural horror story, and the third act drives that home without mercy, but at its core, this is a story about friendship, and I'm glad I read it. I think it would make a great 6 episode series.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPPPPPYYYYY SPOOOOOOKTOOOOOBER!



a reverse-mullet review: GIF-party in the front, long tendrils of ruminating “business” in the back.

in short, this book is



and



"DBNQ," and largely because “we got the beat” is used as a plot point in this book and “heaven is a place on earth” is used in that episode,



so it's six degrees of belinda carlisle



and then you throw in some



and



and



i need to use the rest of this space to untangle some thoughts and reactions i have about this book. you can come with me or you can go on your merry way to read a more review-shaped review, but you cannot bitch at me for not writing a review in whatever manner you find most useful or appropriate, because i'm telling you right now - if you are the kind of person who has bullet points for how goodreads reviews "should" be, this ain't your review.

i’d intended to only read horror books for october, despite the temptation of several non-horror books side-eyeing me wantonly from the stacks. and yet i feel like i have already inadvertently failed in this goal by reading this one, because i wouldn’t really classify it as “horror.” unless you are extraordinarily spooked out by teengirl squabbles. which is probably a legit phobia with a fancy name, but i don’t know what it is.

and i’m okay with this not slotting neatly into the horror category. i like genre blends, i like ambiguity and metafiction (when it is purposeful and not just gimmicky), and i like it very much when the reader is invited to take a step back and examine a situation through a slightly different lens before returning them to the narrative a little off-balance; out of alignment with their former expectations or beliefs or even comfort level.

this book both does and doesn’t do these things. see, i can be ambiguous, too!

this is a possession novel that offers several different “outs” along the way before committing to a stance on the “demon or no demon?” question. the problem is, i’ve already read a perfectly-done example of this: A Head Full of Ghosts, which sustains its ambiguity throughout, essentially presenting two books at the same time; one in which the possession is real, one in which it is not. this one kinda bats around the idea of that ambiguity in a half-hearted way, but it’s more a case of “presenting logical alternatives” than “maintaining two possible storylines simultaneously.” which is less ambitious and less fun, but it certainly does its due diligence in checklisting all of the possible explanations for erratic teen behavior that aren’t demon-based, with especial focus on two of the big baddy blamealots of the 80’s: satanic cults and drugs. it’s all part of that “just say no,” medical misinformation, satanic panic zeitgeist of the 80’s where urban legends are presented as factual, where teenage characters fully believe that subterranean tunnels under preschools host molestation parties, AIDS is a weapon in a psychopath’s arsenal, and that any family moving out of town is really covering up the satanically-motivated dismemberment-murder of one of their peers.

but as far as the



parade of alternate explanations go, it’s actually an interesting experiment to see how long you can make a possession novel read like a teen-problem novel - how long you can hold off before you must choose. because there is a lot of overlap in how they present to the outside world, and in this book, the potential problem/excuse for gretchen changing itself changes with breathtaking frequency, depending on who’s diagnosing her, but they are all valid; textually supported and confidently asserted:

page 128 - blamed on drugs and life stress (boys, school, parents)

”I don’t know what’s going on with Gretchen…But if you care about your friend, you need to get her off whatever she’s on.”

“What?” Abby asked.

“What?” Mr. Barlow mimicked. “I’m not an idiot. I know what drugs are. If you’re really her friend, get her to stop.”

and

Abby realized that no one was going to do anything. For five years, Gretchen had been the perfect Albermarle student, and the faculty still saw what they were used to seeing - not what was really happening. Maybe they chalked it up to PSAT stress or problems at home. Maybe they figured that tenth grade was a tough transition. Maybe they were caught up in their own divorces and career dramas and problem kids, and if she still wasn’t turning things around on Monday they’d say something. Or maybe the following Monday. Or the Monday after that.

Something was changing inside Gretchen. Maybe it was the acid, maybe it was Andy, maybe it was her parents, maybe it was something worse. Whatever it was, Abby had to keep trying. She couldn’t abandon her friend because soon Gretchen would be ready to talk. Any minute now she’d look up from her daybook and say, “I have to tell you something serious.”

pages 138-9 - blamed on rape, trauma manifesting in cutting

So it was true. Someone had been in the woods and attacked Gretchen, and now she was hurting herself again and again as she relived the trauma, punishing herself just like Seventeen said. It all made so much sense that, insanely, Abby felt proud for having figured it out.

144 - blamed on unspecified adolescent psychology

”What Gretchen is going through is very scary, and I don’t blame you for backing off from your friendship a little. But we’ve talked to doctors and they tell us that what’s happening is an unfortunate sickness of the mind and spirit that happens sometimes as girls grow up.”

and

”It’s terrible when a young person hurts herself. But it can be a reaction to a lot of things. We’ve found someone in the church who Gretchen can speak to, and that’s how she’s going to start getting better.

and the biggest opportunity for an “out” from a supernatural explanation comes from a source who should be above reproach:

”Abby,” Father Morgan said, “I know how it is to be a young person. There are all these reports of satanic cults everywhere, sacrificing babies. Geraldo Rivera’s doing a two-hour special on them next week. Of course you feel these things deeply, and they upset and influence you. But they’re not real.”

“Then what are they?” Abby asked.

“They’re…” Father Morgan waved one hand around in the air. “…metaphors. Ways of dealing with information and emotions. Adolescence is a complicated time, and some really bright people think that when the adult emerges, it’s like you’re being taken over by a different person. Almost like being possessed. Sometimes parents, or friends, get hurt when a loved one changes. They look around for something to blame. Music, movies, satanism.”

He leaned back and flashed a smile.

“So you think Gretchen is possessed?” Abby asked. “Like she has a demon inside of her?”

His smile flicked off.

“What?” he said. “No, it’s a metaphor.”

oh, where was this authoritative voice of reason in the wayback? or was tipper gore just so loud in castigating ozzy osbourne, cyndi lauper and jello biafra that no one could hear? or is it, as poor father morgan later tries to explain to the very stubborn abby, that society needs a scapegoat to explain the bad things that happen, we need someone to be sick so we don’t have to address ourselves, and a media circus is a wonderful distraction.

so, that was all a lot of words going nowhere, i know - but again - this is pretty much just for me to figure some shit out. and here’s more of that.

hand in hand with the panoply of reasonable natural-world explanations in terms of how it serves the author and manipulates the reader is what i’m calling the stepback. usually, this happens in a first-person narrative, when you have gone along with the narrator for the bulk of the story, and whether or not you agree with/approve of their choices and actions, you are nonetheless firmly lodged in that perspective and then suddenly the book takes a giant step back into third person, showing you the scene in a more objective way, and it’s all “hey now!” the two i can think of right now are American Psycho and And the Ass Saw the Angel, but i know there are more.

this one has two stepbacks, of a sort, where the choice easily could have been made to move away from the demonic angle and go down an equally creepy but more real-world path. OR to kinda juggle both. they both revolve the exorcist character, and again - A Head Full of Ghosts does a wicked thorough job examining the problematic, gendered and highly sexualized nature of exorcism rituals, but this book seems to be satisfied with setting up and calling attention to a sinister possibility without taking it any further.

abby and the exorcist meet at the mall, and after a candid and unvarnished discussion about ghb as a means of knocking out and then kidnapping her best friend, for her own good, of course - praise jesus, this enormous bodybuilder of a man, no more than a stranger to abby, says: ”Come on…I want to show you something in my car.”

abby’s no dummy, and she’s cautious enough to work out an escape route as she follows him to his white van (natch), where he triumphantly shows off his nylon straps, handcuffs, a straitjacket, duct tape, ball gags, chains, collars, a leash and muzzle, a leather hood, shackles followed by this not at all indicative of a crazy person scene:

”It’s for our safety, of course,” he said. And then he laughed and clapped his hands. “Hot darn, I’m excited,” he said, hopping from one foot to the other.”

in a different book, this goes a different way, right? and i kind of wanted to read that book - a sharp twist away from my expectations, rattling reader-me from my ridealong absorption of abby’s belief in demonic possession back onto firmer ground with a turn of events equally “earned” by events thus far. the second stepback, or opportunity to switch gears, comes during the ritual itself, as it should during any physical torture of a teenage girl “for her own good.” you should take a moment - preferably before you administer the ghb, just to entertain the possibility that you’re reading the signs wrong. just half a mo.

i’m not sure what i’m trying to understand by identifying these moments, other than reiterating that this is barely a horror novel, that it goes 3/4 of the way before it is any different from a contemporary YA problem novel, and that i think that’s interesting. you may not. “you” are probably just an echo of me right now, because i doubt anyone has come this far down the babble spiral with me, but i’m okay with that. and now i will babble some positive responses.

i liked so many things in this book - it gets a hundred stars for design. i love the cover of the paperback, but unfortunately it does not include all the yearbook signatures of the hardcover, of which i particularly like abby’s, whose P.S. means one thing before you read the book and one much more specific thing after, and is the part that made me get as close to emotional as i can when reading.

and although the 80s music references i was promised were of the #notMY80s variety - all pop music instead of new wave, i have to admit i thoroughly enjoyed the girls’ new lyrics to "against all odds" and "we got the beat."

and i especially-especially enjoyed the code of the south - that genteel looking away from the inelegant shames of others:

In Charleston, the day you become an adult is the day you learn to ignore your neighbor’s drunk driving and focus instead on whether he submitted a paint-color change proposal to the Board of Architectural Review. The day you become an adult is the day you learn that in Charleston, the worse something is, the less attention it receives.

this is, by the way, the complete opposite of how we do in new england, which is pretty much exactly like The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible.



that ending, tho.

completely unexpected and yet absolutely perfect.

*****************************************
3.5 rounded up for ending. word-thoughts to come.

come to my blog!

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected! At this point, I'm a bit weary of male authors writing teenage girls but this was very campy. A good balance of horror and readability and I wasn't expecting the... second part of the exorcism lol

Will read more by the author!

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well hell, the end of this book made me cry a little bit! I didn't see that coming!

I loved the front and back pages of this book. I took a couple of pictures so you guys could see. It's awesome, like a yearbook =)





I loved Abby and Gretchen's friendship. It lasted the test of time.

I think something in the book might have went over my head but I'm just going to pretend it didn't.

I loved, loved, loved the 80's music references and other stuff. It makes me think of the good ole days. Well, mostly good ole days.

This book is about high school, friends and weirdos, demonic stuff, exorcisms ish, troubled families and kids, and probably several more things that I have forgotten.

I enjoyed this coming of age story - not your typical coming of age story - but I still enjoyed it. And like I said, the end was both sweet and sad =(

Enoy!

MEL ♥

[LTJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My Best Friend's Exorcism” by Grady Hendrix is yet another novel I’ve read of his that proves he’s one of the best horror authors out there. I’ve read several of his novels already and have had this one on my TBR for a while. I am so glad I finally read it because my goodness, this one was incredible.

Now, before I jump into my review, there are a bunch of trigger warnings for this novel I wanted to share. Here they are…

- Rape
- AIDS
- Dead cats (no graphic details but insinuated/mentioned)
- Slavery
- Suicide
- Death/graphic violence to birds
- Death/graphic violence to a dog
- School shooting (no graphic details but insinuated/mentioned)

If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this was without question a powerhouse of a read. I loved all the unique characters with Abby and Gretchen leading the way in this amazing novel that takes place during the legendary years of high school. This brought back a lot of memories for me and made it even more relatable when it comes to the power of friendship and just dealing with everything that tends to happen in those four years of high school.

The best part is that this all takes place in the 80s! Being born in 1981, the nostalgia is real with this one. Even before I started to read this novel, Hendrix literally put a PLAYLIST to listen to while reading. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, if you’re using the Kindle app, Hendrix puts a clickable link to a specific Spotify playlist to listen to for each chapter which captures all that 80s magic.

I don’t use Spotify but was glad to see someone made this exact same playlist on Apple Music so I listened to each song right before starting that specific chapter and it was so awesome. I can’t read while listening to music with lyrics but either way, it helped set the tone for what that chapter was about and I enjoyed that immersion big time. That was a first for me in a horror novel and helped take this reading experience to a whole other level.

There are so many great references in this novel that it brought a huge smile to my face. Everything from UB40, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Madonna, Tracy Chapman, and METAL BANDS! In case you didn’t know, I am a huge metalhead and to see Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Guns N’ Roses, and my all-time favorite band SLAYER mentioned in this novel totally rocked. Bonus points to Hendrix who I am truly convinced is indeed a metalhead for literally naming a chapter “The Number of the Beast” in honor of the legendary Iron Maiden \m/

Besides that, I will always cherish the memories of old-school horror paperbacks that have illustrations either while reading or right before the start of a new chapter. Hendrix did both all throughout this novel that once again checked another box for me. Some were hilarious, super high school-ish, and of course, creepy! You’ll see what I mean as you experience it while reading as I thought it was a nice touch.

Make no mistake about it, this was a genuine page-turner for me from beginning to end. There were several horrific situations that happened and don’t worry, no spoilers here but wow, they were spectacular. Some were pretty shocking, gross, and well, hilarious. In typical Hendrix fashion, he did a brilliant job balancing humor and horror in “My Best Friend's Exorcism” which made me laugh out loud at some parts and yet still send chills down my spine in others.

That is extremely hard to do without making it too cheesy but as I said, this all takes place in the 80s. Honestly, what wasn’t cheesy in the 80s?!?!? Again, Hendrix captured the 80s perfectly with classic reactions and sayings that were authentic to that era. Even all the way to the ending, it was all executed nicely.

Speaking of the ending, wow, this was one of the most unique and craziest demonic possessions I’ve ever read. It was so fantastic, disturbing, and well, powerful. I loved the ending so much as I wasn’t sure how it was going to end but it left me beyond satisfied thanks to all the suspense leading up to it. The ending is nothing short of remarkable and truly makes me appreciate all the little things in life even more. Especially when it comes to my friends.

I give “My Best Friend's Exorcism” by Grady Hendrix a 5/5 and would consider this a must-read for any horror fan who wants a demonic possession read with a touch of humor added to the mix. This is a very fun read with illustrations, a soundtrack to listen to while reading, and demonic horror that is taken to a new and hilarious level. I will never forget this novel and will recommend this to many because it’s so damn good. Best of all, I guarantee once you’re done reading you will look at the power of friendship in a whole new light.

[Claudia Ramírez Lomelí · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 estrellas :)

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you lived through the 1980s then you'll probably remember the rash of Satanism that struck middle-class America during those harrowing times.
Thank God for Geraldo Rivera and his timely news pieces.



As children, we were being sucked into the service of the Dark One through Dungeons and Dragons, heavy metal rock bands, Ouija boards, and copious amounts of hairspray.
#facts
It was a good time to be alive.



Ok, so Hendrix takes all of the nonsense and paranoia of that era and tells a story of two girls from very different walks of life who become best friends. Like, real ride or die bitches.
And then throws a real demonic possession in there.



It's funny, but more in a hahaha! I remember that! way than in a belly laugh sort of way. It's also touching and sweet and scary and sad and surprisingly realistic when it comes to how things would probably go down in a situation like that.
And the ending made me wish I had a friendship like those two.



I've read a couple of Hendrix's books now, and this one is definitely my favorite so far.
So, if you're one of the millions of folks in the market for an '80s exorcism story, I think you'll really enjoy this.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

"Demons are ideas made flesh," Brother Lemon said. "Bad ideas. The one inside your friend is discord, anger, and rage. He is the bringer of storms with a smile like lightning, brother of owls and giver of nightborn intelligence. He is the cleaving that can never be healed."

...

I really wanted to like this book.

I mean, look at that cover! It's bloody gorgeous. Trust me, I wanted a fun, Halloween romp with demonic possession and loveable characters. But did I get that?

No. I didn't.

My Best Friend's Exorcism was...not good. At all. It was a chore to slosh through a majority of this book, and by the time I got to the end, I was vastly disappointed. Here's why:

This book is supposed to be about two girls, Abby and Gretchen. The year is 1988. Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since the third grade, and one night during the summer, they go skinny dipping. Something goes wrong, however, and the next day, Gretchen starts to act really weird. After some bizarre incidents in their friend group, Abby comes to the conclusion that Gretchen is being possessed by a demon. Time to hire an exorcist to send the demon back to hell!

Sounds fun, right?

WRONG.

First of all: why was this book set in 1988? Oh, I know why!! For cheap 80's references for the sake of nostalgia. No other reason. Oh, and also so the author can say some pretty offensive shit and get away with it because, ya know, those were the times, amiright???

Here's a quote from the fifth chapter of this book:


"Promise me you'll always be my friend," she said
"DBNQ," Abby replied.
It was their shorthand for "I love you." Dearly But Not Queerly.


...are you kidding me? Was that really necessary? NOPE. Ughhhhhhhhh I'm probably overreacting but shit like this pisses me off. During Abby and Gretchen's high school's spirit week, there's also a day called "slave day." During "slave day," people are bought by other students and have to follow their "master" around and do whatever is commanded of them.

WHAT THE FUCK?! Who in their right mind thought this was okay? This didn't serve any purpose in the story other than to be extremely offensive. It there was commentary to go along with the content, sure yeah that's fine, but this shit was put in here merely for shock factor.

Nope. NOT IN MY HOUSE IS THAT OKAY.

Let's also talk about the characters for a second.

I disliked pretty much everyone. I didn't care about Gretchen and Abby's friendship, despite the author spending the first 50 pages of the book building the foundation of their relationship. I just didn't care. That's due in part to the fact that every single character is a walking stereotype.

Gretchen is the rich, goody-two-shoes. Margaret is the good-looking, bratty cheerleader with severe body-image issues. Glee is the brain. And Abby is the stupid teenage horror movie main character that doesn't have a FREAKING BRAIN.

Abby was so stupid. We're told by the author that she's smart, and got into this private religious school all on scholarship because of her grades. She's the sensible, hard-working one, right?

Haha. HaHAHAHAHA. NOPE. Abby is a complete moron. She makes some of the stupidest decisions, and dear god, she's written so poorly. What was her personality? Acting dumb and constantly acting like the victim? Because there's nothing more to her character besides that. It's so apparent that all of these young girls are being written by a middle-aged white dude. It's so obvious it hurts.

The only character I actually liked was Abby's mom. Everything she said to Abby was 100% the truth. She warned Abby about hanging out with those horrible people. She told her daughter how idiotic she was acting. She kept it real, and I appreciated it.

Nothing exciting happened until the last third of the book, and there wasn't even a body count. Sure, some messed up shit happened, but I didn't care because I wasn't invested in the characters. I was yawning for a majority of this book and waiting for it to just end already.

Merciful God, this book was a chore. The only reason I'm not rating this book any lower is because some parts of it were pretty entertaining. I enjoyed the ending of this book...in theory. In the hands of a better author, this book could've been so much better. I liked the author's ideas, and I appreciated what he was trying to do at parts. But man, did the execution fall flat.

My Best Friend's Exorcism was a waste of my time. I wanted to have fun with this, but the poor writing, horrible characters, and boring story line really hindered my overall enjoyment of this book. Maybe this book wasn't for me. Maybe you'll enjoy it. But come on, there has to be better horror out there.

If you're looking for a scary, fun time, just watch The Exorcist and skip past this boring mess.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 80s nostalgia

Part tongue-in-cheek comedy

Part gory demonic horror story

Are you a fan of the darker 80s comedy movies? (i.e. Heathers) Is one of your favorite parts of Stranger Things the 80s references? Do you enjoy that part in The Exorcist when her head spins around and she spits pea soup? Well, then look no further - your next read is here!

I enjoyed this one a lot for the bit of escapism it gave me. I didn't find it laugh out loud funny or skin crawling-ly scary. But, there were enough chuckles and minor shocks that, at the end of the day, I was satisfied.

This is my second Grady Hendrix and I have found them so far to be the perfect palate cleansers. So, the next time I finish a heavy book and need a break, a Hendrix title I shall choose!

[Nancy (Vacation) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 nostalgic ⭐️

“By the power of Phil Collins, I rebuke you!” she said. “By the power of Phil Collins, who knows that you coming back to me is against all odds, in his name I command you to leave this servant of Genesis alone.”

With each chapter named after an ’80s song and packed with pop culture references, this felt like a nostalgic blast from the past for me. I was roughly the same age as Abby and Gretchen in 1988, so I could easily relate to them, minus the exorcism of course.

Part campy horror, part coming-of-age, this was a fun and entertaining read, though it did lose a bit of momentum in the middle. The horror elements weren’t scary, just occasionally a little gross.
One thing is for sure, everyone needs a ride or die friend like Abby in their life!

I alternated between reading this on my Kindle and listening to the audiobook, and I can easily recommend either format.

TW: There’s a quick, non-graphic instance of animal abuse/death of a pet in the “Harden My Heart” chapter, which can easily be skipped.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. This is my second book from Grady Hendrix and I just love his writing so much. This book screams 80's horror movie vibes and I love that about it. We follow this young teenage girl and her best friend begins acting super strange, and then we find out her best friend is possessed. This book is strange and gory and it has one of the most disturbing scenes I've read in a book since The Troop which is pretty surprising and hardcore for a YA book. There's also a Spotify playlist for this book that is absolutely incredible and enhances the reading experience x1000000.

I also read it for Summerween, you can see my reactions to this book here: https://youtu.be/FO2wJTXJIYA

[Cece (ProblemsOfaBookNerd) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... not good.

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 1 out of 5]

To say I’ve been waiting to read this for so long and have heard everyone’s rave reviews of it in the meantime…I literally couldn’t care less. Grady Hendrix’s writing on this one at times felt like a to-do list, simply listing what happened with barely any description besides the bare basics. I know this is on the lighter side of horror but there was zero atmosphere to indicate danger, and I can’t say I cared for the retro vibe everyone loves. The plot itself was standard exorcism story. Honestly the only reason I finished it was because it’s a quick read and I could at least get the satisfaction of finishing a book out of it.

[JJtheBookNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Abby receives an email informing her that the man she knows as 'The Exorcist' has died, she reflects back to 1988 and how her friend Gretchen became possessed by the devil. But first, we revert to 1982 to learn how that friendship blossomed. Abby is just 10 years old, and ET was the big movie of the year. On her birthday Abby throws an ET-themed party for her schoolmates, but only one turns up—Gretchen, following which they become firm best friends.

The timeline moves forward a few years, and the girls are now teenagers. When they go on an overnight trip with some of their friends to a lake-side house, Gretchen disappears into the woods. She reappears the next morning naked and filthy, and she doesn't quite seem herself. Abby slowly watches Gretchen turn into a stranger, and their friendship is tested to its limits. Abby ultimately realises her friend may be possessed and sets about seeking help, which she finds in the form of a self-proclaimed exorcist, known as Brother Lemon.

A blast back to the 1980s, as the story includes a plethora of nostalgic pop-culture references of the era. Music fans will also notice all chapters start with a song title. After the disappointment of The Final Girl Support Group, which was my last read from the Author, I did enjoy this for the most part and its quirky, almost cheesy style, but it did lose a touch of steam towards the end.

Just a couple of minor critiques: The intermingled inserts of flyers, magazine clippings, etc. I know they were probably incorporated to help with immersion, but I found they broke up the momentum of the story and my reading experience; a less-is-more approach might have worked better. I was also fairly blasé about the constant petty squabbling of the girls and fallings-out; it felt a tad trite.

Nonetheless, on the whole it kept me engaged and was an entertaining read. You do get the feeling that it's one big play on William Peter Blatty's cult classic The Exorcist, only with teenage girls, big hair, and hormonal angst. The focus is predominantly on the profound bonds of friendship, which are most notably portrayed when we get to the actual exorcism—the religious incantations didn't work, but the friendship mantras did. I will add that the Author did an excellent job of painting the scene of the era; it certainly did take us on a nostalgia-soaked trip back to the 1980s.

Rating it 3.5/5 but will round up.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Best Friend’s Exorcism was great! This was a wonderful tale about friendship and staying connected through it all, even involving demon possession.

Does it seem like a hokey idea, maybe? But it wasn't because it's written so well by Grady Hendrix that it just works. The creepy moments with the demon were well done. The book had moments of grossness that was fantastic. I was never terrified while reading this but I was definitely entertained!

The transformation of Gretchen made me feel vile and sad. The moments in high school during the 80s took me down memory lane. The nasty rich kids made me realize why I'm glad I'm not in high school anymore. All the 80s references were just excellent!! I really loved this part of the book.

This is the first book that I’ve read of Grady Hendrix and it won’t be the last. I loved his writing, storytelling and characterization of Abby & Gretchen. Even the secondary characters in My Best Friend’s Exorcism are well done.

The exorcism scene was a bit cheesy in the beginning with Brother Lemon, but the ending of it with Abby saved it. The ending of the book was just fantastic!

Do you think you would like this?
Well, do you like the 80s or books set up during this time?
How about awesome tales about everlasting friendship?
Do you like creepy books that have you binge reading past your bedtime?

Look no further then checking out My Best Friend’s Exorcism!! I think you’ll love it!

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steeped in 80's nostalgia, I thought this book was a blast!

It was never really scary, and I'm not sure that it was meant to be. My instincts tell me this book was written as an homage to the 80's and the silly fun that the horror genre provided at that time. Sure, there were crazy Satanism scares, Geraldo and diet fads but there were also great music videos, Blockbuster stores and a horror book boom to beat all booms. A lot of them were just like this...about young people, influenced by culture and cliques, just trying to fit in. Carrie, Audrina, and all those kids from the covers of John Saul novels know what I'm talking about it.

If YOU know what I'm talking about and if you're smiling at those memories as I am, then I recommend this book. It was made for you!

*I bought MY BEST FRIEND'S EXORCISM with my own hard earned money. It's the enhanced version and it's a lot fun, especially those flies crawling on the cover!*

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll admit that I first picked up Grady Hendrix’ 2016 novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism because of the title and the cover art, but his personable writing and fresh ideas kept me reading until the end.

This is about what you would think: a snarky and fun pseudo spoof of an exorcist themed horror / black comedy. BUT – author Hendrix makes this work because he tells the story with personality and better than average characterization and dialogue. The reader gets to know characters like Abby and Gretchen and we can understand their unique relationship (even when you consider the demon possession and subsequent exorcism).

His horror themed speculative fiction is also quite good. Hendrix fills in the gaps with some good backstory and demonology. Devilishly mean HS girls and cliques are elements that most of us can relate to and the “faith and fitness” show was classic.

Also fun is the 80s theme. Yes, I graduated HS in 1987 and so this 1989 graduation story was nostalgic good times. Like Ernest Clines’ brilliant Ready Player One, we can also kick back with some 80s trivia as all of the chapter headings are 80s songs.

Better than I expected, this was a lot of fun.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby and Gretchen were best friends until they dropped acid at a party. Now, Gretchen's been acting strangely, letting her appearance going to shit, and Abby's worried. But Gretchen will soon give her something to really worry about...

After the nirvana that was Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction, I had to give Grady Hendrix's fiction a shot.

Set during the satanic panic of the 1980s, My Best Friend's Exorcism is the story of the friendship between two girls and the possessing demon that drove a wedge between them. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't precisely this. It feels more like a Megan Abbott book, a window into the lives of teenage girls than a horror novel.

While it's set in the 80s, My Best Friend's Exorcism doesn't beat you over the head with nostalgia. There are musical references but the culture of the time is the main 80s feature imported into the novel. Satanists are everywhere and they'll stop at nothing to take over the world!

The inter-girl politics between Abby, Gretchen, and their friends was very well done and believable. I was never at a moment when I thought "There's clearly a dude writing this." The book is compulsively readable. I wolfed it down in four sittings. I would have gotten it in two but people kept wanting to talk to me during my lunch breaks. Fuckers.

It felt more like a suspense novel a lot of the time but there were still some horrific moments that I won't go into here. I was telling my wife about one particular incident and she was pretty impressed.

It wasn't perfect, however. The editing was a little sloppy. I noticed one character called the wrong name and one instance of someone's wrists and ankles tied to a bed post but with her hands at her sides. Did she suddenly have four arms?

Anyway, those minor quibbles aside, I enjoyed My Best Friend's Exorcism quite a bit. I'll be reading more of Grady Hendrix's fiction. Four out of five stars.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid story, a quick read - didn’t care for the exorcism portion of the story, but that was really my only quarrel with the book. Knew all of the cultural references, brought back some memories. Overall, enjoyed it.

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby was very annoying and yet i can relate to her and her need to put makeup on because of her acne because i was the same way in high school until i finally stopped caring LOL. really love how grady hendrix sometimes will intertwine other topics in his horror books, for example this book that focuses on horror but friendship at the same time.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading vlog: https://youtu.be/iRS2a-CgSu4

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

“By the power of Phil Collins, I rebuke you!”

Sometimes, I read a book and I think to myself, "I can see how this wouldn't work for everyone, but wow, does it work for me!" — and honestly, that seems to have been my experience with all of the Grady Hendrix books I've read so far. I can get why his stories might not be everyone's cup of tea, but damn, his writing just hits the spot for me every time! I'd had this book on my TBR for years and never read it, so when Kay picked up a copy, I immediately asked if we could buddy read it and I'm so glad that we did.

“Corn dogs,” the exorcist said, “are all the proof I need that there is a God.”

Grady Hendrix's writing is so entertaining to me. He has this way of weaving genuinely creepy scenes with lovable characters, pop culture references, and cheeky one-liners that always make me smile. While We Sold Our Souls is still my favorite book of his to date, this one came incredibly close to matching it because I had so much fun with these characters and the entire premise.

It's April 1988 and the world belongs to them.

I loved how heartwarming Abby's love for Gretchen was and I connected deeply with these characters (at one point, Kay and I were even discussing how amazed we were that Grady had nailed the teen girl personalities so well). The creepy scenes were spot-on, but most of all, I adored the friendship theme that played out through the entire book. At its core, this story is a love letter to those thick-as-thieves childhood friendships and the lengths we'll go to for the people we care most about, and I found it so charming and wonderful. If you're a horror fan who likes possession themes and lovable characters, I highly recommend picking this one up!

✨ Content warnings for: discussions of sexual assault, violence, pet death, attempted suicide, disordered eating, body horror, exorcisms, religious trauma, misogyny

Buddy read with Kay! ♥

———
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[TheNeverendingTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, it was unique, i like his writing style, its quirky, I also found certain bits horrible - like the tapeworm bit. Wtf! Lol.

Abby, Gretchen and Brother Lemon were likeable characters.

I'd have preferred a different ending though with Halley's comet, if you've read it you'll know what I mean.

A book I'd read again.

I also love the VHS cover, we need more books like this!!

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! :)

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me he demorado bastante en hacer una reseña sobre esto porque no tenía mucha idea de qué decir sobre esto en su momento.

2.5 en realidad

Ahora que ha pasado algún tiempo ya me he alejado de este relato y puedo decir con seguridad que el título como principio es un punto muy en contra para la historia. Primero, porque desde el primer instante nos enteramos cual será el núcleo de la historia y eso le resta tensión narrativa para conectar el misterio con el lector sobre lo que le puede estar pasando a Gretchen, la amiga de Abby, así que allí ya pierde peso argumental. Y el segundo motivo es que al ser uno de los temas que más ronda por la literatura y el cine obviamente es de lo más manoseado que hay por lo que es muy poco posible que sorprenda o innove de alguna manera. Y definitivamente es así, de no ser porque es un relato que juega mucho con el humor negro que alcanza a salvarlo un poco.

Ahora, ¿qué más pasa con esta historia? Pues que sencillamente ha sido encasillado en un género de muy mala manera. De terror tiene muy poco ya que es más un libro juvenil que perfectamente puede conquistar a un público más joven, si hablamos de manera objetiva. El terror es una excusa para desarrollar una historia de fuerza ante la adversidad de dos mejores amigas ante un demonio y no me malinterpren, de hecho me gustaron bastante los capítulos finales porque pude conectar con ellas pero aún así, si alguien se acerca esto creyendo que va a encontrar una historia para pasarlo mal pues se va a sentir evidentemente estafado, decepcionado y molesto.

Así que sí, recomiendo sinceramente que si alguien lee esta novela no vaya a esperarse una trama de terror, ni siquiera al uso porque básicamente es una novela sobre amistad y lealtad entre dos chicas y sobre si su unión será mucho más fuerte que el mal. Solo hay que ver que en un 70% casi que no pasa nada y solo en el último 30% es que hay escenas perturbadoras y terroríficas. Como las que este autor escribe, aderezadas con sus buenas dosis de humor que te hacen pasar un buen rato entre sus líneas. Tampoco hay que descartar que sabe hacer un relato atmosférico cuando desea y que es bastante rápido de leer. Eso sí, está repleto de referencias de los años ochenta con la música, los libros, las series y películas transmitidas en ese momento así que si te gusta eso también es un buen aliciente para leerla.

Por cierto, como apunte final vi la película de este libro cuando salió y me pareció malilla pero entretenida hasta cierto punto. Con el libro pasa casi exactamente lo mismo de no ser porque hay más profundidad en los pensamientos de la protagonista y me ha gustado muchísimo más.

[Johann (jobis89) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She and Gretchen spent hours ranking their friendships, trying to determine who was a best friend and who was an everyday friend, debating whether anyone could have two best friends at the same time."

Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fifth grade, but things change when they start high school. After getting lost and spending a night in the woods, Gretchen becomes slightly... different. Abby knows that something is wrong, coming to the conclusion that her best friend must be possessed. Nothing will stand in her way as Abby tries to save her friend from the devil, but will their friendship be strong enough to overcome such forces of evil?

When I started this book, I honestly didn't know what to expect. A throwback to the 80s? A horror spoof? A young adult book disguised as horror? Thankfully, it was a pleasant surprise. Yes, it feels spoofy at times and has its own sense of humour, but overall it's a really wonderfully touching book. I signed up for an exorcism, but what I really got and loved most about this book was the friendship between Gretchen and Abby. Not only do you get nostalgic for the 80s (an era that I didn't live in - 1989 baby here - and yet I still feel nostalgic for - explain that!), but mostly I felt nostalgic for those childhood friendships you form. There's really nothing like it. They're so pure and honest and you honestly feel like you're gonna be best friends forever.

The usual themes and tropes of possession stories are all accounted for and present in this book, but I still feel like Hendrix brings something different and unique to the story. It's a demon possession story, but with heart. I loved that each chapter was named after a song from the 80s, I loved all the cultural references, I loved that Gretchen went through a stage of crimping her hair... we've all been there, even growing up in the 90s - I've been there. There isn't much in terms of horror - some parts are squeamish and unsettling, but it's not going to keep you up at night. But that's not the point of this book.

It's a fun read ultimately, but also really sweet. It's heartwarming to see the lengths that Abby will go to in order to save her best friend - she's admirable, courageous, brave, resilient. And I cried at the end. I was not expecting tears, but they came anyway! Throughout the entirety of this book, I was thinking to myself "Yeah, this is a solid 4 stars" but that ending... I gotta give the book 4.5 stars out of 5. I loved this one, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, quick read with a lot of heart (and demonic possession)!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the words of the immortal Ron Swanson, never half-ass two things. Whole ass one thing. My Best Friend's Exorcism wants to be a satire of the 80s satanic panic, while also being a horror title and a coming of age story. The notes aren't cohesive, it's synth pop out of key.

One of the things that made the first season of American Horror Story so effective was it's dual horror. It was both about a haunted house and also the exploration of what scares the kind of suburban white people the show starred. It was about the horror of gay people and teenage abortions and having a disabled child. These are the same notes MBFE is trying to hit, by telling dual stories about a teenage girl possessed by Andras, while also confronting fears from urban legends: tapeworms in diet pills, needles in Halloween candy, and your kids licking LSD laced stickers. Ryan Murphy's show was a masterwork and shot him into the tv stratosphere. Grady's book...

Do you know the story of the ET landfill?

At one point, Abby's priest tells her that possession stories are just parables to explain how people change, mostly children growing up. So that's the second story the book tries to tell. It actually starts years before the possession, with Abby's ET themed skate party and how she and Gretchen bonded when every other child goes to Margaret's party to ride horses. As the story continues on and Gretchen starts to change, there's a question if it actually is demon possession or just puberty. She breaks out, she changes her clothes, she hangs out with other friends. Of course she also vomits up owl feathers, soooo, it's not a big question.

The horror elements are few and far between. The demon contents himself with petty high school things: getting the quarterback drunk, forging love notes. The newspaper clippings talk about dead fish and hoards of owls taking off with house pets, but nothing supernatural actually happens on page between the flock of dead birds right after the possession and the swarm of bugs during the exorcism. The tapeworm scene is shocking and gross and probably the only scene I would classify as "horror".

I feel like there are a lot of plot holes. The actual demon possession isn't well explained and I'm left confused if it actually happened the night in the woods or before. Gretchen has a boyfriend from camp but it's revealed that his phone number is actually a line to Gretchen's...soul? consciousness? post Andras taking over her body. Abby looks the boyfriend's actual number up and calls him in her investigation of the possession and he reveals that he's never spoken to Gretchen. So who was Gretchen calling before the possession? There's also something weird about a phone line in the woods near the site of the supposed satanic rituals. It's mentioned several times but I don't see how it actually fit into the plot.

In all, this didn't work for me. It wasn't funny enough to be parody, smart enough to be satire, or scary enough to be horror. The best part is the spotify playlist of 80s jams.

CW: Eating disorder (including counting food), on page pet murder

[Nikola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25/5
Wspaniałe to było

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Abby and Gretchen have been friends ever since Abby’s 10th birthday party. Let’s just talk about that party for a minute. Who in their right mind would (1) plan their party after someone has already sent out invitations for another party? Margaret, that’s who . . . .



And (2) who would attend some lame ass horse party when they could do this instead . . . .



Apparently everyone #sadface. But seriously, what was with the stereotype all girls loving all things horsey back in the ‘80s???


(Countdown to girl from elementary school who was obsessed with horses discovering this review and trolling me for life in 3, 2, . . . . )

Anyway, poor little Abby. It didn’t even matter that Gretchen brought a stupid children’s bible as a gift, they were BFFs as soon as they skated under the sparkling lights of the disco ball on that roller rink.

Fastforward to high school and two girls who really only argue about one thing . . . . .



That is until a seriously strange acid trip that leaves Gretchen a little different than before . . . .



Now Abby will have to do whatever it takes to save her . . . . .



I picked this up because . . . well, duh, it’s almost Halloween, but mainly because of the cover. Look at the majesty which is the cheesy VHS horror rental at your local Blockbuster (#ripblockbuster). It was exactly what I was looking for while I counted down the seconds until the premier of the new season of the best 1980s deliciousness since the actual 1980s . . . .



If you are actually looking for “unspeakable horrors” like the blurb states, you need to look somewhere else. On the other hand, if you want to feel a little nostalgic in the form of chapter titles that are also well-known ‘80s hits, references to Chi-Chi’s fried ice cream, The Thorn Birds, Flowers in the Attic, puka shell necklaces, and on and on while you experience some campy good times, this one might be a winner. The story does drag a bit when it comes to the teen angst and nonsense in lieu of the barfing of pea soup, but eventually readers do get the scene they’ve been waiting the whole book for . . . .



This also appears to be marketed as general fiction. Maybe because it’s set in the olde days of yore??? Be forewarned that this is NOT going to scare you and should probably have been cross-marketed for both teens and geezers.

[Leap through the pages Coffee and Commentary · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://instagram.com/p/CjnpubCLGXO/

A funny, zany, tribute to friendship and the (sometimes supernatural) pains of growing up. Filled with hilarious 80’s pop culture, and also all of the gruesome terror of being plagued by ancient demons. One of my favorite parts of this story was the realistic portrayal of lifelong friendships; the ups and downs, the fights and memories, the long stretches of silence and drifting, only to come back together strong when it matters. Really fun and meaningful.