“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.”
Summary
Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fifth grade, when they bonded over a shared love of E.T., roller-skating parties, and scratch-and-sniff stickers. But when they arrive at high school, things change. Gretchen begins to act….different. And as the strange coincidences and bizarre behavior start to pile up, Abby realizes there’s only one possible explanation: Gretchen, her favorite person in the world, has a demon living inside her. And Abby is not about to let anyone or anything come between her and her best friend. With help from some unlikely allies, Abby embarks on a quest to save Gretchen. But is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?
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My Thoughts
Hendrix is becoming one of my “reading everything” authors. There is something about the realistic yet ridiculous in the way Hendrix presents horror. I am living for it. This mostly holds true for My Best Friend’s Exorcism.
When it comes to horror, the supernatural phenomenons are my favorite. Supernatural horror stories follow the a basic format of: introduce the characters, introduce some act of “summoning evil,” a slow progression of odd or evil thing, then full blown terror. Hendrix builds on this simple plot but adds in heavy doses of doubt. Since My Best Friend’s Exorcism is my second Hendrix read, I knew what I was in for. Hendrix has a talent for crafting chaos in the mundane.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism begins by introducing the reader to Abby and Gretchen’s friendship. We learn of their struggles, their families, who they are, as you flip pages the girls grow from children to teenagers. And that is where the story really begins. There are elements I really enjoyed about My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and some I did not.
- I loved the sense of nostalgia Hendrix invokes in the reader. It was a romantic look into a childhood that no longer exist.
- I enjoyed how Gretchen’s acts of evil are portrayed through “mean girl” actions that lead to greater evil deeds.
- AND of course, I loved loved loved the sense of doubt Hendrix weaves throughout My Best Friend’s Exorcism
Simialr to The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, Hendrix pulls his characters through real life consequences that is not typically seen in the horror genre. Abby deals with the judgment of being a student on scholarship, and the unseen consequences of “ruining” the reputation of someone of higher socioeconomic status. Abby is committed to the idea that Gretchen is not right and may be influenced by evil forces, she is the only one…that is until others begin to suffer the wrath of Gretchen. Hendrix offers various reasons for Gretchen’s behavior, maybe it is an acid phase, maybe she is sexually active, maybe Abby is an awful influence on Gretchen’s life, or maybe Gretchen is experiencing demonic activity.
While I enjoyed My Best Friend’s Exorcism, there were things that did not sparkle with me….as in the last forth of the book. I knew from The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires that Hendrix’s ending are never exactly what you expect, so I kept and opening mind. Without spoiling the ending, I was not impressed. I was hoping for more drama, holding true to a traditional exorcism story, but Hendrix offered something slightly different. If anything, the ending was true to Hendrix’s style, but time did not jive me with. Outside of the ending, My Best Friend’s Exorcism is a slow burn story. I did not mind this pace, but this will not hold true for all readers.
Overall, I enjoyed My Best Friend’s Exorcism. It is not your typical horror book, offering a different take on a possession story.
Should you read My Best Friend’s Exorcism?
If you enjoy Hendrix, you should give My Best Friend’s Exorcism a read. If you are looking for a book for the spooky season that won’t keep you up all night with fright, look no further than My Best Friend’s Exorcism.
Checkout out my review of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.
Looking for a scary movie? Check out my a list of my favorites!
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