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readingrobin 's review for:
My Best Friend's Exorcism
by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This'll be the third book I've read from Grady Hendrix, after We Sold Our Souls and The Final Girl Support Group, and, out of all of them, this one is probably my favorite. It feels much more naturally paced than the other two I've read, which had a problem of meandering and getting bogged down by plot every so often. Abby and Gretchen are such likable characters, full of the messy teenage self doubt and insecurities that anyone could relate with. Though the possession plotline is what we come to the book for, their friendship is the real crux of the story, with Hendrix making sure that the reader understands the full depth of their relationship before all the demon stuff kicks off. This may cause the reader to have some trouble really diving into the book at the beginning, but I like that a great foundation was built right at the start.
Adding to the emotional beats of the story, there are a lot of wonderfully grotesque horror vibes going on here, underlaid with all the cheesiness of an 80s teen drama. (You just have to mention the word tapeworm and I shudder.) Body fluids, body horror, decay, the works. There really is a sense of dread when things start to spiral out of Abby's control, as she's ostracized from her friends and has no one to turn to as the demon's presence takes a greater toll on her friend.
The ending, while it may be a bit silly, does ultimately fit with the direction of the story. It's all to do with the power of belief, and, while Abby's belief in the Almighty may not be foolproof, she does believe in her friendship with Gretchen and the strength she feels from it never wavers. Yes, the ending straddles the line between sappy, yet realistic, but it's a nice ending, really the best case scenario ending we could have gotten.
Maybe this might be my favorite Hendrix book because it ultimately comes with the most satisfying resolution and thematic exploration. Maybe it's because it takes a much simpler route to its terror, which is just as good as something that is complex and labyrinthian with its storytelling. There is a real fear people have of losing those around us as we grow up, especially our closest friends, and really the threat of demonic possession takes it to a whole new level.
Adding to the emotional beats of the story, there are a lot of wonderfully grotesque horror vibes going on here, underlaid with all the cheesiness of an 80s teen drama. (You just have to mention the word tapeworm and I shudder.) Body fluids, body horror, decay, the works. There really is a sense of dread when things start to spiral out of Abby's control, as she's ostracized from her friends and has no one to turn to as the demon's presence takes a greater toll on her friend.
The ending, while it may be a bit silly, does ultimately fit with the direction of the story. It's all to do with the power of belief, and, while Abby's belief in the Almighty may not be foolproof, she does believe in her friendship with Gretchen and the strength she feels from it never wavers. Yes, the ending straddles the line between sappy, yet realistic, but it's a nice ending, really the best case scenario ending we could have gotten.
Maybe this might be my favorite Hendrix book because it ultimately comes with the most satisfying resolution and thematic exploration. Maybe it's because it takes a much simpler route to its terror, which is just as good as something that is complex and labyrinthian with its storytelling. There is a real fear people have of losing those around us as we grow up, especially our closest friends, and really the threat of demonic possession takes it to a whole new level.