My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix - Review

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Abby and Gretchen have been friends since elementary school what with their love of E.T. and everything, but when they get to high school Gretchen begins to act different. As more and more weird and freaky happenings pile up, Abby comes to the conclusion that there can only be one true explanation. Gretchen has been possessed by a demon. Abby is not going to stand by and watch Gretchen's life and their friendship be ruined by this thing inside of her. She can only hope that their relationship is enough to beat the devil.

Horrorstör was one of my favorite reads from 2016, so, of course, when I heard about My Best Friend's Exorcism I knew that I had to try it. While I didn't love it quite as much as I did Horrorstör, this one is still pretty awesome and right up my alley. His combination of horror, humor, and heart-warming story of two friends is fantastic. Hendrix also excels in suspense - I think I could have had about three or four heart attacks while reading this one! Plus, although, I only lived through the 80s as a baby, I think he did a good job of portraying 1988 - and I kept trying to figure out the different references.  By the way, each chapter title is named after a song! Even though I know what's coming in this Exorcist-esque tale, I loved cutting through the mystery shrouding Gretchen alongside Abby.

I don't want to spoil too much, but I just want to say that I have actually seen something like Hendrix's The Lemon Brothers Faith and Fitness Show a couple of years ago at a festival. It was pretty ridiculous. This muscle-bound guy was basically doing this faith-healing/ fitness show set to hardcore metal and rap music while his ten year old son with a broken arm set up the entire show by himself by putting boards, concrete blocks and everything else in place. Several people in the audience questioned the guy in the middle of his act about that poor kid. I can't believe I watched show for as long as I did - I just couldn't look away from that train wreck, though. Anyway, if you're a fan of horror comedy, the 1980s, killer suspense, The Exorcist, Supernatural, and Beetlejuice, My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix is a must read.

I read this novel from February 7 - 12, 2017 and my review is also on Goodreads.