Sometimes cover redesigns get it right, just like the paperback cover of My Best Friends Exorcism. The original cover was a bit boring and didn’t really get at the fun to be found between the pages. This cover brings to mind Stranger Things, Monster Squad, and Firestarter. Those great 80’s (or 80’s wannabe) movies and shows.

Do not go into this novel expecting a tale of horror in line with the original Exorcist. You will be sadly let down. Go into this book for it’s tale of friendship gone wrong. It takes no imagination to see yourself as the teen girl whose friends no longer want to be friends. Or the member of your squad who is boy crazy and pays crazy attention to her weight. And let’s not forget the friend who is hot for teacher. It is standard trope because it is so real life. If it wasn’t for the worm, the exorcism, and all the dead birds, this could have been my life, or that of my friends. And it’s those feelings that this book brings up that makes it so perfect.

First we have Abby. The poor child at an elite private school on scholarship. Her best friend Gretchen was serendipitous. A young Abby hosts a birthday party and the school “Barbie girl” decides to host a horseback riding party the same day. So no one shows up to her amazing skating party, except new girl Gretchen. Fast forward 10 years, and the two are thick as thieves. They have added two other wings to bring their squad up to 4. One night, the girls decide to drop acid. They will do it together for the experience, and be there for the other if things get to crazy. Well, things get crazy, and Gretchen goes missing. She’s not found until the morning and soon the changes start happening.

Abby is always there. While other friends, teachers, and even parents look the other way, Abby is trying to help her friend, even if it means losing everything. Its during this period of loss that I, the reader, lose my cool. It probably has to do with the Blasey-Ford/Kavanaugh thing, but there are similar moments in this book that made me want to throw it across the room. There was one point I almost wanted to add it to the DNF pile. I am glad I struggled on, just like Gretchen and Abby. The exorcism is such a small part of the book, yes it’s important, but the friendship and how it plays out is more important. That being said, pay attention to the exorcist. I’m pretty sure he was my social studies teacher when I lived in Alaska.

Grady Hendrix does such a good job of putting the reader not only in the friendship, but also in time period that it becomes a full immersion. So don’t go into this book looking for a blood horror, instead look for the horrors of friendship, and life in general. Either way, you are bound to have a good time. And BTW, Grady, thanks for getting all those songs stuck in my head.