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Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Jennifer's Body meets The Weight of Blood in this horror-comedy about an evil spirit looking for a second chance at love and life.
Just because Schuyler is a bloodthirsty evil spirit doesn't mean she can't fall in love. Ever since Wren Castillo moved into the house Schuyler haunts, Schuyler has been crushing hard. But Wren has a boyfriend, Enzo, and he's the worst. Schuyler has no choice but to watch as Enzo treats Wren terribly-until she accidentally possesses him.
With Enzo's spirit nowhere to be found, Schuyler must pretend to be him until she can set things right. But Schuyler feels more at home in Enzo's body than she ever did in her own, and as she grows closer to his family and friends-including Wren-she starts to wonder if this could all be for keeps.
Maintaining a possession is harder than Schuyler expected, though, and it might just take some spilled blood to keep her new body going strong. Worse, it turns out she's not the only one interested in stealing Enzo's body. When another evil spirit threatens everyone Schuyler now holds dear, she must decide just how far she's willing to go to secure her second chance at love-and life.
Just because Schuyler is a bloodthirsty evil spirit doesn't mean she can't fall in love. Ever since Wren Castillo moved into the house Schuyler haunts, Schuyler has been crushing hard. But Wren has a boyfriend, Enzo, and he's the worst. Schuyler has no choice but to watch as Enzo treats Wren terribly-until she accidentally possesses him.
With Enzo's spirit nowhere to be found, Schuyler must pretend to be him until she can set things right. But Schuyler feels more at home in Enzo's body than she ever did in her own, and as she grows closer to his family and friends-including Wren-she starts to wonder if this could all be for keeps.
Maintaining a possession is harder than Schuyler expected, though, and it might just take some spilled blood to keep her new body going strong. Worse, it turns out she's not the only one interested in stealing Enzo's body. When another evil spirit threatens everyone Schuyler now holds dear, she must decide just how far she's willing to go to secure her second chance at love-and life.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Justine Pucella Winans
8 books212 followersJustine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a critically acclaimed and award winning author of queer fiction. They have written a variety of funny and/or scary books across age ranges, receiving accolades such as a Stonewall Honor, Indies Introduce, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and multiple starred reviews. When not writing, she can be found taking too many photos of her cats, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, actively avoiding real life scary situations, and working their true goal of becoming a Pokémon trainer.
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July 1, 2026
Schuyler has a dilemma: she has possessed the douchebag boyfriend of Wren, who lives in the house she haunts…and who she has been in love with since Wren moved into Schuyler’s old house.
As a bloodthirsty evil spirit, there isn’t much Schuyler has to look forward to in her afterlife. It’s the same old existence of talking to other ghost, snooping on the living people, hanging out in her ghost room, and cleaning the remains of whatever poor animal has become the victim over her latest bloody rampage––which is completely involuntary by the way. One such fit of rage overtakes her as she is watching Enzo, the truly horrible boyfriend of the girl who now lives in her house, and she accidentally possesses him. Because Schuyler has no acting skills to speak of and couldn’t lie convincingly to save her own (after)life, Enzo’s brother, Vinny, and Wren catch on almost immediately. Schuyler navigates the woes of a new body, evil-spirit bloodlust––which is way worse in a human body by the way––a bear, and high school. Vinny and Schuyler navigate all these challenges and enlist the help of an alcoholic nun to help them either exorcise Schuyler from Enzo’s body or find a way for Schuyler to take it for good. Winans crafts a cute story about found family, second chances, and standing up to one’s demons (literally). While the story was pretty cute, it was a bit chaotic at times and had some parts that didn’t add much to the plot.
Personally, I didn’t really like Schuyler as a character. I’m not used to seeing such meek characters that cry rather than find solutions and they were just a bit off putting for me as a main character.
As a bloodthirsty evil spirit, there isn’t much Schuyler has to look forward to in her afterlife. It’s the same old existence of talking to other ghost, snooping on the living people, hanging out in her ghost room, and cleaning the remains of whatever poor animal has become the victim over her latest bloody rampage––which is completely involuntary by the way. One such fit of rage overtakes her as she is watching Enzo, the truly horrible boyfriend of the girl who now lives in her house, and she accidentally possesses him. Because Schuyler has no acting skills to speak of and couldn’t lie convincingly to save her own (after)life, Enzo’s brother, Vinny, and Wren catch on almost immediately. Schuyler navigates the woes of a new body, evil-spirit bloodlust––which is way worse in a human body by the way––a bear, and high school. Vinny and Schuyler navigate all these challenges and enlist the help of an alcoholic nun to help them either exorcise Schuyler from Enzo’s body or find a way for Schuyler to take it for good. Winans crafts a cute story about found family, second chances, and standing up to one’s demons (literally). While the story was pretty cute, it was a bit chaotic at times and had some parts that didn’t add much to the plot.
Personally, I didn’t really like Schuyler as a character. I’m not used to seeing such meek characters that cry rather than find solutions and they were just a bit off putting for me as a main character.
Read
April 15, 2026...Hmmm. This'll probably be a hit with the teen crowd who loved the Jennifer's Body renaissance and Lisa Frankenstein. Lots of fun ideas and interesting dynamics, from Schuyler and her bestie who she accidentally killed and therefore trapped in unlife forever, to Vinny and the ghost who took over his bully brother's body, so on.
But this read as very...internet-approved to me?? Like, I KNOW this author is chronically online, from the "gay ally's bad behaviour" to "mean cis white straight men deserve to be eviscerated--don't worry they were REALLY PROBLEMATIC" to . It was simultaneously trying to be really laissez-faire about death in the style of Jen's Body/Lisa/Bottoms, but also it took social issues SO seriously (with progressive-approved phrasing and everything) that it made the whole reading experience really dissonant. Also can we STOP letting authors put Twitter jokes-of-the-week in their books? The "I choose the bear" stuff aged terribly and I'm reading an ARC 6 months before publication!! It'll be dead-on-arrival in September.
idk i hope the teens like it
But this read as very...internet-approved to me?? Like, I KNOW this author is chronically online, from the "gay ally's bad behaviour" to "mean cis white straight men deserve to be eviscerated--don't worry they were REALLY PROBLEMATIC" to . It was simultaneously trying to be really laissez-faire about death in the style of Jen's Body/Lisa/Bottoms, but also it took social issues SO seriously (with progressive-approved phrasing and everything) that it made the whole reading experience really dissonant. Also can we STOP letting authors put Twitter jokes-of-the-week in their books? The "I choose the bear" stuff aged terribly and I'm reading an ARC 6 months before publication!! It'll be dead-on-arrival in September.
idk i hope the teens like it
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you pitched me a book as ‘Jennifer’s Body vibes but make it queer, chaotic, and weirdly heartfelt,’ I’m already in, and “Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist” by Justine Pucella Winans absolutely delivers on that energy.
This book is such a fun, slightly unhinged mix of horror, humor, and emotions. You’ve got Schuyler who is, yes, technically an “evil spirit” haunting her old neighborhood after dying in a car accident with her best friend. She’s stuck in this in-between state, dealing with guilt, trauma, and also a crush on the girl now living in her house. Casual ghost problems.
Then things go completely off the rails (in the best way) when she accidentally possesses that girl’s terrible boyfriend, Enzo. Watching Schuyler try and fail to convincingly act like a mediocre dude is honestly one of the funniest parts of the book. She is so bad at being him, and it leads to a lot of awkward, chaotic, and weirdly sweet moments.
But underneath all the chaos, this story actually has a lot going on. It digs into gender expression, identity, toxic masculinity, consent in relationships, and what it means to feel at home in your own body (or someone else’s). Schuyler’s experience of being forced into a very specific version of femininity in life and then suddenly existing in a boy’s body adds an extra layer that feels really thoughtful without being heavy-handed.
Emotionally, it hits harder than you might expect. Schuyler’s guilt, her protectiveness over her little brother Vinny, and the way she’s still trying to figure herself out even after death? Yeah, it hurts a little. There are some genuinely heartbreaking moments mixed in with all the humor and horror.
Tone-wise, it balances creepy and funny really well. There’s gore and possession and darker themes, but it never loses that chaotic, slightly absurd energy. Think: nuns with questionable habits, adorable cats, and a general “what is even happening right now” vibe.
That said, it’s not perfect. Some parts feel a bit rushed, and the big reveal doesn’t hit quite as hard as it’s built up to. There are also a few moments where the timeline/details can feel a little fuzzy. But honestly? It didn’t take away much from the overall experience because the book is just so fun and full of personality.
And the ending? Completely unexpected in the best way. It leans a little wild, a little chaotic, and somehow still lands in a way that feels satisfying and memorable.
Overall, this is a super entertaining YA horror with heart; it’s messy, funny, a little creepy, and surprisingly thoughtful. If you like possession stories with humor, emotional depth, and characters who are absolutely going through it, this is 100% worth picking up.
If you pitched me a book as ‘Jennifer’s Body vibes but make it queer, chaotic, and weirdly heartfelt,’ I’m already in, and “Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist” by Justine Pucella Winans absolutely delivers on that energy.
This book is such a fun, slightly unhinged mix of horror, humor, and emotions. You’ve got Schuyler who is, yes, technically an “evil spirit” haunting her old neighborhood after dying in a car accident with her best friend. She’s stuck in this in-between state, dealing with guilt, trauma, and also a crush on the girl now living in her house. Casual ghost problems.
Then things go completely off the rails (in the best way) when she accidentally possesses that girl’s terrible boyfriend, Enzo. Watching Schuyler try and fail to convincingly act like a mediocre dude is honestly one of the funniest parts of the book. She is so bad at being him, and it leads to a lot of awkward, chaotic, and weirdly sweet moments.
But underneath all the chaos, this story actually has a lot going on. It digs into gender expression, identity, toxic masculinity, consent in relationships, and what it means to feel at home in your own body (or someone else’s). Schuyler’s experience of being forced into a very specific version of femininity in life and then suddenly existing in a boy’s body adds an extra layer that feels really thoughtful without being heavy-handed.
Emotionally, it hits harder than you might expect. Schuyler’s guilt, her protectiveness over her little brother Vinny, and the way she’s still trying to figure herself out even after death? Yeah, it hurts a little. There are some genuinely heartbreaking moments mixed in with all the humor and horror.
Tone-wise, it balances creepy and funny really well. There’s gore and possession and darker themes, but it never loses that chaotic, slightly absurd energy. Think: nuns with questionable habits, adorable cats, and a general “what is even happening right now” vibe.
That said, it’s not perfect. Some parts feel a bit rushed, and the big reveal doesn’t hit quite as hard as it’s built up to. There are also a few moments where the timeline/details can feel a little fuzzy. But honestly? It didn’t take away much from the overall experience because the book is just so fun and full of personality.
And the ending? Completely unexpected in the best way. It leans a little wild, a little chaotic, and somehow still lands in a way that feels satisfying and memorable.
Overall, this is a super entertaining YA horror with heart; it’s messy, funny, a little creepy, and surprisingly thoughtful. If you like possession stories with humor, emotional depth, and characters who are absolutely going through it, this is 100% worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very cute, fun read!
If you like nuns with bad habits, kittens, and you chose the bear in the great man vs. bear online debate, then this is the book for you. There's a lot of really important conversations in this story for young adults to read and I really appreciate it. Conversations regarding gender expression, consent while dating, and parental care & love.
What stopped this from being a 5 star for me personally is I struggled trying to figure out when Schuyler died, sometimes it seemed like surely Schuyler died in the 90s due to their reactions to technology and other times it seems liked they only died a few years ago. But that's just my personal struggle. Also since I'm a woman in my mid 30s I was able to anticipate certain plot twists due to being alive longer than the characters and reading a lot of YA in my time when I actually was a YA.
What I didn't anticipate was that endinggggg!!! Easily my favorite epilogue of all time and something I have personally always wanted. 😂 (If you've read this too then you know what I'm referring to!) So adorable, so fun, literally so jealous.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you like nuns with bad habits, kittens, and you chose the bear in the great man vs. bear online debate, then this is the book for you. There's a lot of really important conversations in this story for young adults to read and I really appreciate it. Conversations regarding gender expression, consent while dating, and parental care & love.
What stopped this from being a 5 star for me personally is I struggled trying to figure out when Schuyler died, sometimes it seemed like surely Schuyler died in the 90s due to their reactions to technology and other times it seems liked they only died a few years ago. But that's just my personal struggle. Also since I'm a woman in my mid 30s I was able to anticipate certain plot twists due to being alive longer than the characters and reading a lot of YA in my time when I actually was a YA.
What I didn't anticipate was that endinggggg!!! Easily my favorite epilogue of all time and something I have personally always wanted. 😂 (If you've read this too then you know what I'm referring to!) So adorable, so fun, literally so jealous.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A wonderful mix of horror and comedy! Schuyler is an evil spirt and she’s fallen in love. She’s crushing hard on Wren, who now lives in the house Schuyler haunts. To make it worse Wren has a boyfriend who is not a good guy, he treats Wren terribly. And Schuyler’s just forced to watch that is until she ends up possessing him. Now she’ll have to pretend to be him until she can figure things out but soon she’s realizing she feels more at home in his body then she did her own. The closer she grows to his family, friends, and especially Wren she starts to wonder if this could be her new life. But keeping the body is harder then she thinks and it may require some spilled blood. Not to mention that she’s not the only spirit interested in the body and when the other spirit threatens her new friends and family she’ll have to decide how far she’s willing to go in order to keep her new found life. I loved the mix of humor, horror, and emotions in this one! Justine Pucella Winans does a great job of balancing the darker themes with the funny really well and creates a story that’s unputdownable! A story with a lot of depth, emotions, humor, great characters, and horror! Highly recommend!
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. Justine Pucella Winans delivers a wonderfully chaotic story about a ghost who gets an unexpected second chance at life. The plot follows Schuyler, an evil spirit who has a major crush on a girl named Wren. When Wren's awful boyfriend Enzo acts up, Schuyler decides to intervene and accidentally takes over his body. With Enzo missing, Schuyler has to fake her way through his daily life, but she quickly realizes she actually prefers living as a human. She ends up bonding closely with his family and getting closer to Wren, but keeping up the facade requires spilled blood and gets complicated when a rival spirit tries to steal her new body.
I gave this book 4 stars because it was super cute and a ton of fun to read. The mix of creepy horror vibes and laugh out loud comedy kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially loved the great queer representation and how the story focused on the deeper themes of discovering who you are and learning to stand up for yourself. It is a refreshing, heartwarming, and spooky read that is perfect for anyone looking for a unique paranormal comedy that focuses on identity and self-growth.
I gave this book 4 stars because it was super cute and a ton of fun to read. The mix of creepy horror vibes and laugh out loud comedy kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially loved the great queer representation and how the story focused on the deeper themes of discovering who you are and learning to stand up for yourself. It is a refreshing, heartwarming, and spooky read that is perfect for anyone looking for a unique paranormal comedy that focuses on identity and self-growth.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨️Paranormal
✨️Fantasy
✨️Romance
✨️Horror
✨️Comedy
✨️Young Adult
✨️LGBTQ+ representation
This is a fun, fresh new story that I haven't read before. A perfect blend of horror, comedy and twists. The ending is my favorite part and the epilogue is perfect.
There were parts that didn't contribute much to the actual story, but also didn't take away from the reading experience. I enjoyed the deeper message about discovering yourself tucked within this story. This would be a wonderful read for a young adult reader. Not only is the story itself clever and written well, but the message within is very important.
Recommended to readers who enjoy laugh out loud moments mixed with horror, paranormal romance and a journey of finding and staying true to yourself.
Thank you to @coloredpagesbt, @bloomsburybooksus and author @justinepwinans for the gifted copy of this book and for having me on this book tour.
#YourBoyfriendNeedsAnExorcistTour #coloredpagesbooktours #paranormal #horror #youngadult
✨️Fantasy
✨️Romance
✨️Horror
✨️Comedy
✨️Young Adult
✨️LGBTQ+ representation
This is a fun, fresh new story that I haven't read before. A perfect blend of horror, comedy and twists. The ending is my favorite part and the epilogue is perfect.
There were parts that didn't contribute much to the actual story, but also didn't take away from the reading experience. I enjoyed the deeper message about discovering yourself tucked within this story. This would be a wonderful read for a young adult reader. Not only is the story itself clever and written well, but the message within is very important.
Recommended to readers who enjoy laugh out loud moments mixed with horror, paranormal romance and a journey of finding and staying true to yourself.
Thank you to @coloredpagesbt, @bloomsburybooksus and author @justinepwinans for the gifted copy of this book and for having me on this book tour.
#YourBoyfriendNeedsAnExorcistTour #coloredpagesbooktours #paranormal #horror #youngadult
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review!!
Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist was such a fun mix of horror, humor and so many emotions!
I loved the chaotic energy and how real the friendships felt, especially with the deeper themes of identity and connection woven through. It had a balance of creepy and funny moments.
I did not expect the beginning at all, poor Schuyler went through so much and the guilt carried broke my heart. Oreo is so adorable and the way Schuyler hugged that stuffy broke my heart. This book kept breaking my heart, Let's be honest!
I love how protective Schuyler is over Vinny, "But when this is over... you're still gonna be my little brother and I'm still going to protect you. I promise." IM CRYING
And that ending! Wow! I didn't expect it at all!
Overall this was a unique and heartfelt read that had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and I’d definitely recommend if you like horror with a lot of personality.
Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist was such a fun mix of horror, humor and so many emotions!
I loved the chaotic energy and how real the friendships felt, especially with the deeper themes of identity and connection woven through. It had a balance of creepy and funny moments.
I did not expect the beginning at all, poor Schuyler went through so much and the guilt carried broke my heart. Oreo is so adorable and the way Schuyler hugged that stuffy broke my heart. This book kept breaking my heart, Let's be honest!
I love how protective Schuyler is over Vinny, "But when this is over... you're still gonna be my little brother and I'm still going to protect you. I promise." IM CRYING
And that ending! Wow! I didn't expect it at all!
Overall this was a unique and heartfelt read that had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and I’d definitely recommend if you like horror with a lot of personality.
April 15, 2026
Schuyler is a ghost - an evil spirit, in fact. She died like, idk, maybe 2010s era? She seems to know what phones are and be familiar with all that stuff. But she haunts the neighborhood she lived in, alongside her best friend Key, who died in the same car accident she did. She spends the most of her time in her old house, of course because it's familiar to her but alsoooo she has a crush on the girl who lives there!!
The girl who lives there has the utterly shittiest boyfriend known to man, Enzo, and while Schuyler is lamenting his shittiness she somehow accidentally jumps into his body and now she has possessed him :-)
It's her first chance in years to leave the road she lives on, and also to like, see what it's like to be a teenager in the modern era, also kind of explore gender stuff tbh since she was made to live pretty primly and feminine by her mom, who we get the impression was overbearing about societal norms.
Yeah so she initially tries to fake being Enzo but she is NOT good at being a POS boy surprisingly! So Enzo's brother picks up pretty quick that she is... well... a ghost possessing his brother.
Basically her evil spirit side (that needs to basically have blood or something idk) is trying to take over since she's not fully in Enzo's body, but neither is Enzo, and there's a WORSE, MORE evil spirit somewhere on the loose, and she's also finally unpacking trauma from her death, and trying to date her crush, so miss girl is going through it bad.
There are some important topics brushed on in this one: gender, of course, toxic masculinity and controlling/abusive relationships, "nice guys", also like death obviously lol
The end was maybe a little silly and rushed but overall this was definitely cute, easy, and had just enough heavy stuff to not feel frivolous, which is typically what I get out of JPW books!!
The girl who lives there has the utterly shittiest boyfriend known to man, Enzo, and while Schuyler is lamenting his shittiness she somehow accidentally jumps into his body and now she has possessed him :-)
It's her first chance in years to leave the road she lives on, and also to like, see what it's like to be a teenager in the modern era, also kind of explore gender stuff tbh since she was made to live pretty primly and feminine by her mom, who we get the impression was overbearing about societal norms.
Yeah so she initially tries to fake being Enzo but she is NOT good at being a POS boy surprisingly! So Enzo's brother picks up pretty quick that she is... well... a ghost possessing his brother.
Basically her evil spirit side (that needs to basically have blood or something idk) is trying to take over since she's not fully in Enzo's body, but neither is Enzo, and there's a WORSE, MORE evil spirit somewhere on the loose, and she's also finally unpacking trauma from her death, and trying to date her crush, so miss girl is going through it bad.
There are some important topics brushed on in this one: gender, of course, toxic masculinity and controlling/abusive relationships, "nice guys", also like death obviously lol
The end was maybe a little silly and rushed but overall this was definitely cute, easy, and had just enough heavy stuff to not feel frivolous, which is typically what I get out of JPW books!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the e-ARC!
While Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist covers some darker/more serious topics like abusive relationships, it's writing is light-hearted, simple, and clear, making it perfect for teens.
I thought that specifically the stuff about spirits and possession was interesting and I was invested in the storyline that followed the mystery of Schuyler possessing Enzo's body.
I really enjoyed the character of Vinny, Enzo's brother, as I think he added a lot to the story.
The other characters weren't necessarily so memorable, and I felt like the original Enzo could've gotten a little more backstory.
In general, I did feel like the topics were spread a little bit thin, but given this is a YA, I think it could work as an entertaining story with some important themes about self-worth for teens.
While Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist covers some darker/more serious topics like abusive relationships, it's writing is light-hearted, simple, and clear, making it perfect for teens.
I thought that specifically the stuff about spirits and possession was interesting and I was invested in the storyline that followed the mystery of Schuyler possessing Enzo's body.
I really enjoyed the character of Vinny, Enzo's brother, as I think he added a lot to the story.
The other characters weren't necessarily so memorable, and I felt like the original Enzo could've gotten a little more backstory.
In general, I did feel like the topics were spread a little bit thin, but given this is a YA, I think it could work as an entertaining story with some important themes about self-worth for teens.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST by Justine Pucella Winans (September 1, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the eArc
Schuyler is in love. The problem is, she an evil spirit. When Schuyler accidently possesses Enzo, she has no choice but to be him---his spirit is nowhere to be found. She's still an evil spirit, and to maintain strength, things get messy. It doesn't help that another evil spirit is trying to take over Enzo's body.
YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST is an upper YA paranormal thriller. The possession thing was kind of crazy. It was honestly a bit disturbing too---the gore of it all. It was violent and bl*ody but somehow wholesome and sweet. YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST was a whirlwind of an adventure. I laughed and cringed (not at the bl*od) throughout.
YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST by Justine Pucella Winans (September 1, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the eArc
Schuyler is in love. The problem is, she an evil spirit. When Schuyler accidently possesses Enzo, she has no choice but to be him---his spirit is nowhere to be found. She's still an evil spirit, and to maintain strength, things get messy. It doesn't help that another evil spirit is trying to take over Enzo's body.
YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST is an upper YA paranormal thriller. The possession thing was kind of crazy. It was honestly a bit disturbing too---the gore of it all. It was violent and bl*ody but somehow wholesome and sweet. YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST was a whirlwind of an adventure. I laughed and cringed (not at the bl*od) throughout.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so everything Justine Pucella Winans writes is pure gold. Absolute perfection. Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist is no exception.
To start, Schuyler is a very relatable character to someone who was once a genderqueer teen (aka, me), and they were insanely realistic, despite being a spirit. Even though Schuyler was a great protagonist, my favorite person was definitely Vinny. He was probably the best support network a sport could’ve hoped for. He was also a great brother and a good person in general. Not to mention, his and Schuyler’s love of cats was probably one of the best parts of this book.
The ending was satisfying and definitely had a hilarious twist I didn’t expect.
Overall, a fantastic book that once you get into, you can’t put it down.
To start, Schuyler is a very relatable character to someone who was once a genderqueer teen (aka, me), and they were insanely realistic, despite being a spirit. Even though Schuyler was a great protagonist, my favorite person was definitely Vinny. He was probably the best support network a sport could’ve hoped for. He was also a great brother and a good person in general. Not to mention, his and Schuyler’s love of cats was probably one of the best parts of this book.
The ending was satisfying and definitely had a hilarious twist I didn’t expect.
Overall, a fantastic book that once you get into, you can’t put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was exactly what I wanted from this book! I put it for It as a wishlist item on netgalley because the premise sounded like a fun concept and it definitely delivered!
Not only was the possession aspect different to anything I've read so far, but I also loved all the main characters and found them to be so enjoyable to follow along and was thoroughly invested to see how they ended up.
Bonus there was LGBTQ rep, and found the way transness/gender fluidity to be handled really unique and suited back to the whole possession storyline
this was exactly what I wanted from this book! I put it for It as a wishlist item on netgalley because the premise sounded like a fun concept and it definitely delivered!
Not only was the possession aspect different to anything I've read so far, but I also loved all the main characters and found them to be so enjoyable to follow along and was thoroughly invested to see how they ended up.
Bonus there was LGBTQ rep, and found the way transness/gender fluidity to be handled really unique and suited back to the whole possession storyline
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*4.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot exactly tell you why I loved this so much but I did. It was fun and silly but it also broached heavier subjects and I was laughing and tearing up and getting angry and then laughing again. I honestly had laugh out loud moments. I really liked the main character and I loved seeing them get to know themselves and grow. It was just such a random plot start but it all just worked. I flew through it. I never wanted to stop reading. It was just the perfect mix for me and I want more more more.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot exactly tell you why I loved this so much but I did. It was fun and silly but it also broached heavier subjects and I was laughing and tearing up and getting angry and then laughing again. I honestly had laugh out loud moments. I really liked the main character and I loved seeing them get to know themselves and grow. It was just such a random plot start but it all just worked. I flew through it. I never wanted to stop reading. It was just the perfect mix for me and I want more more more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Schuyler was an ordinary teenage girl, but her death was violent enough to give her spirit gruesome urges. Most of the time, though, she just chills, watching reality TV and yearning for Wren, the cute girl who moved into her old house. When Wren's boyfriend Enzo is a jerk once again, Sky snaps and accidentally possesses him. Sky didn't mean to steal his life, but she quickly falls in love with Enzo's family and body as much as his girlfriend. Unfortunately, her sanguinary tendencies are still in play, and she's not the only evil spirit around. Both gory and heartfelt, with quite a lot of self-discovery for the messy bisexual. Thanks, Netgalley.
July 1, 2026
I haven’t laughed this hard at a book in ages, and then I found myself getting a bit teary eyed at the end and the epilogue too.
Meet Sky, an evil spirit who gets a second chance at life by possessing the body of a total jerk who just so happens to be dating the girl she has a major ghostly crush on!
Picture this: a girl spirit in a boy’s body for the first time ever.
It’s got some spooky vibes, some comedy, a bit of language, but overall, it’s a blast to read!
Snugglebug’s final little excerpt was pure perfection. 😂 The perfect ending!
Meet Sky, an evil spirit who gets a second chance at life by possessing the body of a total jerk who just so happens to be dating the girl she has a major ghostly crush on!
Picture this: a girl spirit in a boy’s body for the first time ever.
It’s got some spooky vibes, some comedy, a bit of language, but overall, it’s a blast to read!
Snugglebug’s final little excerpt was pure perfection. 😂 The perfect ending!
Want to Read
June 5, 2026Just because Schuyler is a bloodthirsty evil spirit doesn't mean she can't fall in love. Ever since Wren Castillo moved into the house Schuyler haunts, Schuyler has been crushing hard. But Wren has a boyfriend, Enzo, and he's the worst. Schuyler has no choice but to watch as Enzo treats Wren terribly-until she accidentally possesses him.
August 16, 2026
Oh this one was super fun. A mix of comedy and horror with a heavy helping of heartwarming and bittersweet moments. I enjoyed it a lot!
Caveat, even though the characters were teenagers, it felt more like an adult book than YA due to R-rated content around language, sexual content, violence, etc. If you’ve watched Jennifer’s Body (which I also love), this is similar as far as content but with a warmer, more heartfelt tone.
Thank you to the publisher for a free ARC at ALA!
Caveat, even though the characters were teenagers, it felt more like an adult book than YA due to R-rated content around language, sexual content, violence, etc. If you’ve watched Jennifer’s Body (which I also love), this is similar as far as content but with a warmer, more heartfelt tone.
Thank you to the publisher for a free ARC at ALA!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When a book is pitched as Jennifer’s Body meets The Weight of Blood, I’m immediately interested. This was a fast paced, entertaining YA horror with some humor mixed in. There were some plot holes and the “big reveal” wasn’t as big as it was built up to be but it didn’t take away from the overall fun of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I tell you this book is *unfairly* good, I mean it. Sharp, hilarious, gory, and wrenchingly emotional. Also wins the Biggest Epilogue Plot Twist award. If you want more spooky, queer YA, you need YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS AN EXORCIST on your radar!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book is one wild page turn after another. Filled with laughter, action, and very awkward gay teen moments, Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist is a silly yet deep novel about discovering one's identity and learning how to hide a body or two.
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