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My Best Friend's Exorcism

Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)

3.94 · Rating details · 18,968 ratings · 3,403 reviews

An unholy hybrid of Beaches and The Exorcist that blends teen angst, adolescent drama, unspeakable horrors, and a mix of '80s pop songs into a pulse-pounding supernatural thriller

The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to ...more

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Paperback, 336 pages

Published July 11th 2017 by Quirk Books (first published May 17th 2016)

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Apr 28, 2018 Wil Wheaton rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror

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.

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Aug 12, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, horror-etc

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 ...more

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May 18, 2016 karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: october-is-spooky

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

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 ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Sadie Hartmann Mother Horror rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 it doesn't have anything to do with me being homophobic and everything to do with the culture I grew up in. We also said "retarded" 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 it doesn't have anything to do with me being homophobic and everything to do with the culture I grew up in. We also said "retarded" 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. Anyways...feel free to debate this in the comments.

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? ...more

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Mar 26, 2018 Dan Schwent rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, 2018-books

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 ...more

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Dec 08, 2016 Lyn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Ill admit that I first picked up Grady Hendrix 2016 novel My Best Friends 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 ...more

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Mar 15, 2019 Ginger rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: a-z-challenge, 2019

4.5 STARS!!
My Best Friends 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 ...more

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Jan 17, 2018 Char rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-fiction, buddy-read

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 ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it liked it

Shelves: teenie-bopper-books, ya-for-grown-ups, liburrrrrry-book, nutters, pretty-on-the-outside, it-s-all-in-the-name, read-in-2017, becoming-groweds-up

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

Abby and Gretchen have been friends ever since Abbys 10th birthday party. Lets 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, thats 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 ...more

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Sep 04, 2017 Johann (jobis89) rated it really liked it

"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 "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)! ...more

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Jan 13, 2016 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, net-galley, horror, 2016

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I had really high hopes for this book. Like really high. I was a bit disappointed in the end. I wasn't a bad story but it didn't even come close to living up to my expectations. When I first saw this book, I knew that I would have to read it. Demonic possession with heavy dose of 80's references were enough to really grab the attention of this old lady. Unfortunately, despite the wonderful premise I found the book rather underwhelming.

Abby and This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I had really high hopes for this book. Like really high. I was a bit disappointed in the end. I wasn't a bad story but it didn't even come close to living up to my expectations. When I first saw this book, I knew that I would have to read it. Demonic possession with heavy dose of 80's references were enough to really grab the attention of this old lady. Unfortunately, despite the wonderful premise I found the book rather underwhelming.

Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since grade school. Things go wrong at a high school party when the girls were doing a few drugs. Gretchen gets lost in the woods and is gone for a night and her personality starts to changes. She becomes very mean especially to her friend, Abby. Abby knows that something is wrong but she can't seem to get anyone to listen to her in order to get her friend the help that she needs.

I love the 80's. I was a teen in the late 80's and I really was looking forward to a story set in this time period. Unfortunately, the 80's references in this book became a little too much for me. It felt a little forced in some ways and I think it actually ended up being a bit distracting.

The characters felt a little flat to me. I never felt any kind of connection to Abby or Gretchen. I also thought that the story dragged at points. There were some really exciting moments but nothing truly scary as I had hoped to find. In the end, this story just never really grabbed me and was just okay. I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one a lot. This is the first book by Grady Hendrix that I have read and I would be willing to read his work again in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Quirk Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Initial Thoughts
This book wasn't quite what I thought it would be. I really enjoyed all the 80's references as the book got started but eventually it became a little too much...even for someone who loves to walk down memory lane like myself. The story was okay and it did have its exciting moments but there was nothing here that blew me away. I need to think about this one for bit before I decide on a rating but right now it is sitting at about 3 stars. ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 Cece (ProblemsOfaBookNerd) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017

This was... not good.

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Oct 07, 2019 Gary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: modern-horror

I saw this book on the list by Goodreads for new authors. I thought "Why not?" I was at a point in my reading career where I was choosing authors that were familiar for lack of willingness to take a risk with my time, and I hadn't had the best of luck getting outside the box. I'm glad I picked this up.
The beginning of the book was a long introduction to the characters, and if not for the author's wit, it would've made me sleepy. It did give me a clear picture of the characters, rounding them ...more

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Nov 16, 2015 adam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.65/5
So, I guess I should start out with the negatives. There were a few, but that is expected with any book. I really thought that the book was slow in parts and some of the situations didn't really have a sense of danger. I was really expecting a thorough account of the demonic possession, but the story that I did get was still entertaining. Gretchen's parents really ticked me off and... well... actually all of the adult figures in this book ticked me off. They offer no help and just push ...more

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Oct 20, 2017 Raeleen Lemay rated it liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction, spooky-scary

This book was a fun read, but not much more than that. It was extremely silly, and not particularly scary, but I think that was all done purposefully to make it feel like an 80s horror flick. There were plenty of characters with dumb names (duh), adults never listened to the teens when they tried to ask for help (classic), and there was a troupe of performing Christian body builders who also sometimes do exorcisms (that one was new). All in all, it was quite ridiculous, but a fun read ...more

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Nov 28, 2016 Maria (Big City Bookworm) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pretty-covers, 2016-new-releases, audiobook, read-2016

I love you, Gretchen Lang. You are my reflection and my shadow and I will not let you go. We are bound together forever and ever! Until Halleys Comet comes around again. I love you dearly and I love you queerly and no demon is bigger than this!

The moment I saw My Best Friends Exorcism in the flesh, I knew I wanted it. Its formatted to look like a high school yearbook, which is honestly such a cool concept. The bright colours on top of the 80s feel of the photographs really sets the tone for this ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Janie C. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

While I enjoyed the way this story pulled me in for a good portion of the book, I was disappointed by the lack of clarity in the parts that involved the supernatural. The majority of the narrative was about the strength of a friendship, though it was a one-sided relationship for a painful amount of the time. Youthful naivety, social status and hurtful betrayals kept the story flowing. When the horror elements first appeared, they were enticing and creepy. However, by the end, I was disappointed ...more

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Jun 11, 2019 Jillian rated it really liked it

I really liked this story. It was a bit slow but it was atmospheric. Its about 2 best friends Abby and Gretchen who live In Charleston who at a friends house on Labor Day after being on the creek all day in a boat decide to take acid and Gretchen goes missing that night only to be found naked the next morning and drastically changed . You can guess what happens hence the title . It was a fun throwback in 80s style horror flicks. ...more

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Apr 23, 2017 Ashley Daviau rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, I bought it purely because the title really caught my attention. And I'm so glad it did because I think this may be one of my favourite reads this year! I just loved everything about it, it had me completely sucked in from start to finish!

Some parts were quite funny and actually had me chuckling out loud, something that I definitely wasn't expecting from this book! And then on the other hand, some parts where thoroughly disturbing and raised ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Krystin Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural-ish, pee-your-pants-horror, dark-and-twisty, just-one-more-chapter, action-packed, 5-stars-perfect-af, setting-dopeness, standalone-fiction, southern-grits, challenge-2020

Book Blog | Bookstagram

Opening Hook: Dont take acid in the woods.
Main Character: The power of Christ compels her.
Plot Twisty-ness: E.T. attending an exorcism.

I 👏 FUCKING 👏 LOVED 👏 THIS.

I own Horrorstör by this author, but I havent read it yet. I only bought it for the cover, and format, without any idea of what the book was about or if I liked the author. And honestly, I wanted to read My Best Friends Exorcism for the same reason. This is 100% a #bookstagram made me do it read. The alternate ...more

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Oct 14, 2017 Bentley ★ Bookbastion.net rated it liked it

See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net!
_______

This was such a unique blend of 80s movie nostalgia, comedy and horror movie tropes. Grady Hendrix's My Best Friend's Exorcism is nothing if not a wonderful ode to all that made horror of the late 80s and early 90s so great.

From the chapter titles that are all 80s song titles, to the pages rife with pop culture references from the 1980s, this book is a wonderful tribute to all that made that era so memorable. I was unfortunately ...more

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Jul 03, 2016 Trudi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: friendship-women, horror, girls-behaving-badly, 2016

"What an excellent day for an exorcism."
~The Exorcist (1973)

This is an okay book. Fair. Acceptable. But it takes too long to really get humming (I'm all in for foreplay, but Hendrix really pushes the limits to impatience here). More than three-quarters of the novel is essentially an angsty teen, coming-of-age high school drama about a group of girls and their growing pains with each other and with the world around them. It could very well be Gossip Girl or One Tree Hill -- except that one of the main characters might be demonically possessed (instead of merely being a catty bitch). Sometimes it's nigh on impossible to tell the difference.

Here's the thing -- this book suffers by comparison to a lot of other things. Nobody writes the mysterious, dark and turbulent interior lives of teenage girls better than Megan Abbott. Seeing Hendrix attempt to do the same thing here as he explores the iron bonds of friendship forged by Abby and Gretchen when they were children pales in execution and gravitas to Ms. Abbott's vast talents with her mighty quill.

The demonic possession and exorcism angle is adequately covered -- but again suffers by comparison to 2015's Bram Stoker Award winning A Head Full of Ghosts. And no matter who you are, if you're writing about this subject, your book is always going to be compared to Blatty's classic horror novel The Exorcist and Friedkin's enduring film adaptation of the same name.

Hendrix might have thought he was doing something new and clever here by mashing-up a coming-of-age teen drama with the horror tropes of demonic possession stories, but he doesn't quite make it. Some scenes are definitely creepy and unsettling, there just weren't enough of them (too few of them coming too late in the story) to sustain any kind of coiled tension and impending sense of doom in the reader. And boy, is it really hard to write an exorcism scene that chills, rather than have it feel like a spoof out of a Scary Movie sequel, or a daytime soap opera.

Who's old enough to remember Marlena Evans? Me!

...more

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Nov 10, 2015 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, review-copy, arcs-and-galleys, edelweiss

3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/06/18/...

Grady Hendrix is an author who first came to my attention a couple years ago when I picked up his book Horrorstör, a fun and creepy and slightly eccentric horror novel about a haunting at a big box furniture store. The book really stuck in my mind, so my interest was immediately piqued when I found out about the humorously titled My Best Friends Exorcism. Knowing more now than I did before about Hendrixs style though, I 3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/06/18/...

Grady Hendrix is an author who first came to my attention a couple years ago when I picked up his book Horrorstör, a fun and creepy and slightly eccentric horror novel about a haunting at a big box furniture store. The book really stuck in my mind, so my interest was immediately piqued when I found out about the humorously titled My Best Friend’s Exorcism. Knowing more now than I did before about Hendrix’s style though, I had a sneaking suspicion that it’ll be a lot more terrifying than the publisher blurb lets on, and that I’ll be getting a lot more than I bargained for.

On at least one account, I think I got it right: there’s no doubt that My Best Friend’s Exorcism fits squarely in the horror genre, and I also thought it was much creepier and psychologically jarring than the author’s previous novel. The story, ostensibly about friendship and exorcism, follows the lives of two besties named Abby and Gretchen, two teenage girls living in the 80’s who have been inseparable since the fifth grade. One night while staying over another friend’s lake house, the girls experiment with LSD and Gretchen ends up having a bad reaction, running into the nearby forest and disappearing overnight. When Abby finds Gretchen the next morning, she finds her best friend acting different and very strange. Chalking it up to the effects of the drug and the trauma of being lost in the cold and dark, Abby isn’t too concerned, thinking that Gretchen just needs some time in order to get better.

But Gretchen doesn’t get better. She starts coming to school looking tired and wan. She stops washing and bathing. Then come the mysterious scars up and down her arm. The bizarre behavior only gets worse as Gretchen starts being nasty to everyone at school and at home, manipulating them towards harmful and destructive habits and driving a wedge between Abby and all her friends. Abby knows deep inside that something is very wrong, and will not accept that the real Gretchen is behind all these cruel acts. However, no one seems to be listening to her, and so it is no surprise either when no one believes Abby when she tells them what she really suspects: that Gretchen is possessed by a demon.

It would be accurate to say I had pretty high expectations for this book. The novel’s description is a bit sparse, but owing from my experience with Horrorstör, I figured we could be getting another story mixed with humor and horror. In this, I felt like I was a little off the mark. In the end, I didn’t really find it to be all that humorous—darkly or otherwise—but it was definitely horrific. If I had a problem though, it wasn’t because of that. In fact, I loved the horror elements in this book, but, as it so often the case with “exorcism type” stories like these, I simply found the lead-up to the titular main event to be too long, too drawn-out, and way too monotonous.

To be fair, Abby and Gretchen’s friendship is meant to be the theme of this story as much as the actual exorcism itself. I really enjoyed this element of the book, reading about the how the two girls met at a roller skating rink and the way they bonded over a shared love of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, teen magazine quizzes, and Phil Collins songs. The 80’s references were plentiful and fun without going overboard, even though most of them probably went over my head. Abby’s devotion to her best friend was also touching, the way she never gave up on Gretchen in spite of the awful things that happened.

The bulk of the book, however, felt like it was mostly made up of high school drama. Granted, it’s creepy, disturbing high school drama, but at the end of the day…it’s still high school drama. It takes a long time for the possibility of demon possession to even come up, and until then we have to sit through a whole inventory of the things that go wrong with Gretchen and how she goes about methodically ruining everyone’s lives. For all the good grades she pulls in, Abby can also be a bit dense. No rational person would immediately jump to the conclusion that their best friend who is acting strangely must be possessed, so I don’t blame her for not acting sooner. I do, however, blame her for the really dumb mistakes she makes, in some ways bringing about her own downfall even without the help of Gretchen’s machinations.

This book also commits a major pet peeve of mine: Stupid grown-ups. While I don’t think My Best Friend’s Exorcism is really a Young Adult novel (or at the very least, I’d exercise discretion before handing this one to a teen, considering its frightening subject and some of the nauseatingly graphic scenes) it features the trope of painting every single adult figure in this story as an incompetent boob. Parents are either emotionally absent or too conservative and narrow-minded to listen to reason, teachers and school staff are condescending and corrupt, and basically every authority figure who should have been in a position of trust (and responsible for supporting a student in need) are either too obtuse or self-important to do their damn jobs. Aside from being very annoying, this stereotypical approach also made everything feel predictable and unconvincing.

Don’t get me wrong, because I did enjoy this book; however, I also couldn’t ignore some of the issues that cropped up, and even the final exorcism itself felt a little anti-climactic after all the build-up. It’s probably fair to say I liked this one substantially less than Horrorstör. That said though, I certainly wouldn’t dissuade anyone from picking this up, especially if you are a fan of horror. For some, the healthy dose of 80’s nostalgia would also be a nice bonus, plus the “High School Yearbook” motif was clever and inventive. The best advice I can give to the prospective reader is to just dive in while keeping in mind the kind of elements Exorcist-like stories typically come with, both the positives and the negatives. ...more

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Sep 19, 2018 Bill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Im not sure what possessed me to pick this one up. (Hahaha)

I hated the cover (everybody loves it) and it looked to be kind of a YA thang which I also hate. (Mostly) And yes, I hated both covers, although the newer VHS style cover was a bit better. I also heard it was 80s pop culture heavy, which I also should have hated. So why then, oh why, did I pick it up?

Ill tell you why

Because.

No thats not why. Although that is a good enough reason.

I picked it up because Gradys Paperbacks From Hell was ...more

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Jul 30, 2017 Krista Regester rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 - This book will give you a creepy 80s vibe that you wont be able to easily forget. Its unique, quirky, frightening but delightful and shows you that friendship is more important than you think. ...more

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May 07, 2019 Lou rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: friendship, young-adult, horror

I dreaded writing this review with every morsel of my being.

But I feel its my sacred duty to warn everyone about how bad was. I feel so disappointed and let down, I went into this stars in my eyes and Actual Hope. And now all is goddamn lost.

✨Good Things About This Book✨

➡The paperback cover looks like a VHS tape = Stranger Things.
➡Also, the story takes place in the 1980s! I love books that take place in that era. + an added layer of uniqueness, were in Charleston, South Carolina. WHERE ...more

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Sep 23, 2018 Montzalee Wittmann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My Best Friends Exorcism: A Novel by Grady Hendrix, the audible book, I borrowed from the library and listened to in one sitting. It was so intriguing! Friendships, coming-of-age, suspense, social class, and the paranormal all rolled up in a terrific plot and great characters. The narration was spot on and I feel was better than if I had read it myself. A roller coaster of emotions! Great book!

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Nov 14, 2017 Peter Monn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was so much more than I ever expected. An icon of 80s pop culture references while equally gruesome and disturbing. My full review will be up on my booktube channel at http://Youtube.com/peterlikesbooks ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Chandra Claypool (wherethereadergrows) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Take me back to swatch watches, soap operas, game shows, E.T., all the slang (that we wouldn't dare use now but is so reminiscent of its time), high school angst, roller rinks etc. and then throw in some double dutch and four square because why not? May pole anyone?

As an 80s kid, I LOVED all the references strewn throughout the pages. Each chapter heading had a new song in my head (and yet somehow my mind kept drifting to *If You're Happy And You Know it, Exorcise! (your demon!)*) because I too ...more

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Jan 12, 2018 Melanie (TBR and Beyond) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-horror, ya-paranormal, ya-contemporary, books-i-own, tbr-ya, cry-worthy, friendship-goals, tbr-scary-thriller-mystery, read-in-2018

By the power of Phil Collins, I rebuke you!

This was such a strange book. One moment I loved and the next I was bored out of my mind. I did love those 80s pop culture references though! It filled my 80s kid heart with glee!

I debated between a rating of three and four on this one for a couple of days so I'm going to settle on a 3.5, this book was just so different than what I thought I was walking into to. I should start by saying that in general I'm not huge on possession stories. I don't “By the power of Phil Collins, I rebuke you!”

This was such a strange book. One moment I loved and the next I was bored out of my mind. I did love those 80s pop culture references though! It filled my 80s kid heart with glee!

I debated between a rating of three and four on this one for a couple of days so I'm going to settle on a 3.5, this book was just so different than what I thought I was walking into to. I should start by saying that in general I'm not huge on possession stories. I don't find them scary usually and I get bored in most. I got this one because I thought the premise sounded like a Mean Girls/Exorcist hybrid. The cover is a ton of fun (both hardback and paperback) and I saw all the 80s references and I knew I had to at least give a try. I had recently read a fairly mean-spirited book called "The Merciless" and I think I went in hoping it would be a better version of that story (because I really enjoyed that one) but it was completely different.

I don't know if I would classify this book as horror exactly, I think it falls more under psychological thriller mixed with horror comedy. That's a bit of an odd mix and I don't think it was completely successful in what it was trying to achieve. I would've liked it much better if the author had stuck to either thriller or comedy because it really felt disjointed when it went back and forth between the two. I think it would've gotten a high rating from me if it chose a lane and did it well.

The characters were for the most part fine - I didn't feel totally connected to them most of the time but I guess I cared about them enough to finish the book. I did want to slap each character upside their head a few times though. Mean girls in high school is not always enjoyable to read about and I felt like throwing the book a few times out of frustration.

The actual exorcism was really lack luster for me till near the end where it took on a much touching/funny moment. There is very little gore and it mostly centers around these girls and their friendship and just how strong it can be and what it can overcome. That part was great - the horror aspect not as much.

I won't discourage anyone to read this one, it's so different from a lot of books I'd actually suggest trying it out yourself and seeing what you think of it. I thought it was worth a read but I'll probably just pop in the movie The Exorcistnext time I get an itch for possession. ...more

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Dürt Würkers: My Best Friend's Exorcism	4	7	Feb 19, 2020 02:27PM
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About Grady Hendrix

Grady Hendrix

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Want a look at my newest book, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires? Then enter now for an ARC giveaway. You could get your blood-soaked paws on one of these books before anyone else on your block!

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 ...more

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“I love you, Gretchen Lang. You are my reflection and my shadow and I will not let you go. We are bound together forever and ever! Until Halley’s Comet comes around again. I love you dearly and I love you queerly and no demon is bigger than this!” — 24 likes

“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.” — 11 likes

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