Die hard 80s slasher movie fans will, I'm sure, lose their minds over this book. It's a slasher horror book taking the perspective of "what if all the final girls from all the slasher movies had group therapy together?" It also pays homage to slasher movies throughout the entire book. It zooms in a few of the "final girls" personal lives - kind of a "where are they now?" but from the inside. Most of them are super messed up, living in constant fear, judging the other final girls about how they survived their murderers or how they're benefiting from movie franchises or book deals. I felt like it was a kind of sarcastic/witty take, without being sarcastic or witty straight at your face - like, you just knew you were in some kind of gruesome parody. The ending was brutal.

If you've read Grady Hendrix before, you know he gets pretty creative with plot and story format, and this book is no exception. The thing I disliked the most about this book, and about all other books that do this, is that Hendrix interjects all these random "external" things. For example, we're moving through the plot at a good clip, chapter ends, then it's a completely disjointed and unrelated blog post about serial killer movies. And all the serial killer movies are allusions to the real thing (probably b/c of copyright, I'm assuming) so it took a bit for my brain to figure out what the heck movie he was talking about, and why it might matter in this fictional universe and if the final girl in the recent chapter has to do with whatever random blog, movie critique, interview, article, etc. is being interjected. I HATE this device. It removes me immediately from the story, stops the flow of the book dead in its tracks, and I just find it annoying. Other books are using this device too, i.e. "Head Full of Ghosts" by Paul Tremblay. I just hate it.

But the plot was fine, interesting, for the most part. It got ridiculous, but that's also Grady Hendrix and 80s slashers for you - ridiculous but also gory.

I really enjoyed this book! I know it’s cliché but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! It’s super fast paced and action packed! Hendrix is a great writer and knows how to keep your attention. I know we are supposed to suspend belief but the ending to me was just a bit too unrealistic. It’s extremely hard to explain that without giving anything away. It came as a surprise but it was so random which I guess if you are a major thriller/slasher film watcher then you will get it. I still 100% highly recommend reading this book! (But not if you are squeamish!)

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix is a wild crazy standalone horror thriller. A final girl is the lone survivor in all those horror slasher movies, where they managed save themselves and kill the crazed killer. There are six girls (each having been victorious in saving themselves against the evil monsters), who meet with a therapist monthly, to help them try to get beyond the trauma they suffered through. Though with many years having past for most of the girls, they still need these sessions to help them try to move past the horrors.
Lynette Tarkington, one of the final girls, is the main heroine in this story, as we follow her throughout the forth coming ordeal, when one of the girls does not show up, and is found dead. Lynnette goes home to lock herself in, and we watch what she has to go through to get back to her place (multiple buses, train, cage outside her door, keeping her address secret, and no social life at all, etc), which showed how much her life was still like, living in fear.

When one of the other girls comes to visit her, Lynette knows she has been compromised, and suspects someone is out there, planning to kill the remaining final girls. When shots are fired, Lynnette manages to escape, leaving the other girl injured. Lynette was a good heroine, though at times a bit batty, but then again, constantly being faced with a murderer on the loose, we can understand that. She is determined to find out who is out to kill them, (though she constantly suspects various people along the way), as well as try to save her friends.

What follows is a wild intense dark ride that never let up, with a number of twists and surprises along the way. With Lynette acting mostly on her own, she does everything she can to escape an evil killer, and try to save her friends; with a surprise betrayal. It is a gruesome and at times gory journey that will give you the chills. At the same time, it was amazing how these women, especially Lynette, would continue to fight, never giving up.

This is a difficult review to write, as the action is non-stop and saying too much would ruin the book for you. The Final Girl Support Group was a chilling dark story, with lots of violence and gory details. Grady Hendrix did a great job writing this book, tying together many of those massacres from those movies. If you enjoyed your slasher movies, this book might be for you.

Read for the references, less so for the story. I've recommended a lot of books to horror movie fanatics, but The Final Girl Support Group may top them all. This book is overflowing with easter eggs and you could probably find some sort of hidden callback to an 80's slasher on every other page.

But be warned, there are a lot of points in this novel where it felt like it needed a breather. Once you're around the 15% mark there is absolutely no coming back, as the rest is basically non-stop action. And while I'm not strictly against fast-paced stories, I think a lot more could've been done with the Final Girls themselves.

But I especially LOVED our introduction to the characters. The therapy session itself that introduces the novel was a ton of fun, even though there was nothing notably creepy or horrific about it. I also did enjoy one article segment in particular (which are wedged in between chapters) where it talked about how every murder in a horror movie needs to be unique or special in some way. Comparing the over the top and cheesy deaths in slashers to a mundane reality was pretty hard-hitting and unexpected.

All in all, you know what you're getting into when you buy another Grady Hendrix novel. A really fun story and a heck of a crazy ending. Thank you Berkley and Netgalley!

I watched a lot of slasher movies growing up although I've moved away from that genre. But in the 90's, I was OBSESSED with the movie Scream. So The Final Girl Support Group was 100% right up my alley. I devoured this book in approximately 24 hours. I loved all the homage to the movies. I did figure out the "who" in advance but I wasn't mad about it. There was enough going on that I still enjoyed it through the end. This was a fun thriller and if you loved Scream or 80's slasher movies, you will enjoy this book too.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy of this book.

Grady Hendrix's The Final Girl Support Group pays homage to the slasher film and all the movie franchises that were spawned by the genre. The novel revolves around a group of women and their therapist. All the women were "final girls" the ones that survived a mass murder against all odds. Now years later their group is splintering as they are all finding ways to deal with the traumas they survived. But then one of their group is viciously murdered and soon it would appear that someone is trying to kill them all. The book revolves around Lynette, the one girl in the group who doesn't feel like she quite belongs. Was she a true final girl? She is not sure and as she races from the evil that is trying to kill them all she has a chance to prove she is indeed a part of this group that no one really wants to belong to.

This book reads exactly like the slasher films that inspired it. It moves at a rapid pace never giving the reader time to catch their breath. It is incredibly violent and the twists and turns never stop coming. The reader isn't given time to add up the fact that how the narrative went from point A to point B doesn't quite add up. There are red herrings galore and the reader is constantly kept on edge much a like films of the genre keep the viewer on the edge of their seat.

This was a fun book to read and as someone that grew up watching all of the slasher franchises of the 80s and 90s, it was especially exciting to see how Hendrix turned the genre into a novel. While paying homage the films he was able to create his own niche genre of cinematic horror fiction. This is a book that will keep Hendrix's growing legion of fans anticipating his continued reinvigoration and reimagining of the horror genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley publishing for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

If you’re one of those people who enjoying yelling at the characters on screen during slasher movies like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, this book is for you. You’ll find yourself reminiscing.

This support group is exactly what it sounds like – these six women are literally the final girls left standing, each the survivor of real-life horrific situations that were turned into movies. What the slasher movies never show is the fallout of surviving, the paranoia, guilt, and fears these women are left to struggle with. Some are dealing with things better than others, but Lynnette isn’t one of those people. Except for the support group, she’s cut herself off from everyone, has essentially barricaded her apartment (where her roommate is a beloved pepper plant she speaks to – and he talks back), stashed weapons and cash in hiding places, and has numerous escape plans. She’s certain it’s only a matter of time before someone else shows up to finish her off. And then her worst fears are realized when someone kills one of the final girls and then makes attempts on the lives of the other five.

As with the classic slasher movies, you can expect gruesome and gory scenes, some cheesy lines, and poor decisions made by the characters. The climax of the book plays out exactly like the final movie scene – a little long, kind of over the top, with plenty of injuries and blood. I’d guessed the “villain” early on, but I still enjoyed watching the characters piece it together. Another reviews I read pointed out that the final girl characters are named after the actresses who played final girls in slasher classics from the 70s and 80s, something I thought was a clever detail the author added.

I was a fan of those movies in their day so I found this to be a nostalgic, entertaining read. If you’re not familiar with those films, keep in mind they’re a little campy and this book follows that pattern. Not recommended for the squeamish when it comes to gore and violence – you may want to steer clear.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Having read two other books by Grady Hendrix, I was sadly disappointed by this one!

What I liked:
- Fun, fast-paced plot
- Homage to many horror movie franchises
- Engaging and easy to read

What I didn't like:
- NO character development whatsoever
- Felt very gimmicky.. Almost too much
- Weak/no motivation for the person/persons responsible for the murders
- Hard not to compare to his other works, which I liked better

Well, Hendrix has done it again: given us another wild ride of a story full of twists and turns you don't see coming...and telling it in the kind of fashion only he can.

The story moves at a fast clip, continuously propelling us forward from one set piece to another with plenty of action and wit. I finished this in two sittings, I wanted to see how it would all unfold! If I only have one gripe, which kept me from giving it five stars, is that I feel like he focused more on the stories/set-ups than he did on the characters, It took awhile before I could "tell them apart". I feel like he barely scratched the surface of these ladies; that he might have fallen into the very trope he was lampooning, which are stock characters. Had he delved a bit deeper with them, we'd be fist-pumping the air by the end as they stage their final stand against the bad guys instead of going through the motions to see how the story would wrap-up.

But that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book, and I think he may have another hit on his hands. It felt like I was reading a movie...and I hope this gets adapted into one!

Another fantastic novel from Grady Hendrix, who can pen characters so convincing you feel like you're in the story with them and are totally cool with that, even when it's a horror story.

*full review closer to pub date via The Nerd Daily*

For "Final Girl" Lynnette Tarkington, everyone except for her group of real-life Final Girls (last one standing in horror films) has the potential to be a monster. Perpetually on guard and ready with multiple survival plans, Lynnette is our point of view throughout. Fans of horror movies spanning the 1970s to the 1990s will recognize the women and their franchises. When their monthly support group teeters on disbandment, everything unravels with quickly. Fast-paced and full of nods to classic slashers, "The Final Girl Support Group" never lets up or lets you off easy. Alongside the constant threats to their safety and sanity, is plenty of food for thought about murdering women as entertainment and what happens after the credits roll. Highly recommended for your next trip to the lake, abandoned summer camp, or curled up at home.

What. Did. I. Just. Read? Very interesting plot! What happens to all of the “Final Girls”? The ones who don’t get killed by mass murderers? The lone survivors. Apparently, a lot.

Lynette is a Final Girl who survives 2 brutal murder attempts. Because of that, she is paranoid and has some serious OCD. She is part of the Final Girl Support Group, along with Marilyn, Dani, Heather, Julia, Adrienne and Doctor Carol. Someone yet again, is attacking all final girls, who could it be? Who can they trust when they can’t even trust themselves?

This book had some serious twists and turns, very much unlike actual slasher films. It was a wild ride from the start, and it felt to me like it was 5 stories in one. That is the only way I can describe it. It was a bit odd to me, some of the dialog and thought processes. They almost seemed... childish? However, the pace of the book made up for that and some of the inconsistencies.

I would recommend this book. It wasn’t amazing, but it sure does the job. Very odd & a little unsettling, but it’s worth a read.

This book has suck=h an interesting premise. All the "final girls" in horror movies get together once a month in a church basement from group therapy. Then. They start being hunted, one by one. Who will be the FINAL final girl?

I am not one for scary movies. They are scary. I don't like it. But books are fine!

I liked the idea of the book and that the final girls are out living their lives. Some have turned their tragedy into something positive for others, some have turned to substances to help them cope, some take three hours to get home after a meeting just in case someone is still trying to kill them.

The twist though! So many plausible twist. I didn't know who to trust (much like our main character) when every possible suspect made so much sense! Until the one that no one was expecting! Insanity.

I think this would be a good movie adaptation. I might even go see it! Or, at least watch it in the safety of my own home where I can cover my eyes if need be!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Grady Hendrix for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just wow. I loved this book from the first page. If you are a fan of Gillian Flynn, you won't want to miss this magnificent nod to final girls and secret society that thrives on murder memoribilia. Unreliable MC, but perfect in her view of the world based on the crap hand she's been dealt. Loved every roller coaster ride moment and can't wait to share this book with my customers at the store. #awesome #moreplease #wow

I was really amazed by this book! I loved the connection to classic horror films like Friday the 13th; that was really well done. I also thought Lynette's characterization was so good! From her obsession with keeping herself protected (totally understandable) to her anxiety and ocd, I thought she was a great and well-developed character. Overall, the concept of the book was fantastic, and readers will be left with their mouths hanging open by the end of the book.

Grady Hendrix does it again. Another awesome read in the horror genre. A support group for final girls. Those girls who fight off their attacker and live to tell the tale. I loved the added slasher movie references throughout the book, some I had never heard of. It wasn't as gory as some of Grady's other books, but it still had some jump scenes to keep me invested in reading. Great read for fans of this genre!

Another home run from Hendrix. I very much admire authors who can pull of the trick of writing the Thing while both poking fun at it and making a thorough examination and Hendrix not only does it in The Final Girl Support Group but does it well. As with vampire dramas and the satanic panic, the slasher film is something both of its time and eternal, something both mass market and deep, corny and meaningful and The Final Girl Support Group looks at the genre from both sides and every angle, reminding us it's okay to have fun but also important to examine. Why do we enjoy watching girls run for their lives? Why are all of the monsters men? Why is the final girl always a virgin?
Of course, it wouldn't be a Grady Hendrix book without fantastic characters and smart snark. Plus a little surprise at the end you know you should have seen coming but never could have, The Final Girl Support Group is definitely in my top ten of 2021 so far. Can't wait for the next!

I only recently was introduced to the concept of "final girls", but I quickly became a fan. The Final Girl Support Group examines how it changes their lives to survive. How the credits roll and we think, "they survived!" but how we never think about what kind of life they are going to live. The ways in which the world takes them and rips them apart. All the ways in which people want to disprove them, re-traumatize them, and to fetishize their experiences.

While I was definitely drawn to the action in The Final Girl Support Group, I am normally drawn to character driven stories. This book is almost exclusively action, even while it delves into the women's memories and trauma, the ways their thinking patterns have changed. The Final Girl Support Group manages to balance introspection and action. It easily appeals to those searching for a mystery or thriller, I just wanted a bit more out of the characters.

I absolutely loved this book! If you are a fan of slasher movies then you are going to love The Final Girls Support Group.

It is fast paced and has so many breakneck twists and turns. It is an exiting novel perfect for any thrill seeker.

If this year is the Year of the Robot, then last year (2020) was the Year of Grady Hendrix. His new title is everything you can hope for in your horror satire. It piggybacked ahead of most of the titles on my to-read list because having a Grady Hendrix book on your shelf is like having chips in your pantry. You can't resist eating them, and once you do, you demolish the whole bag.

While I didn't like it as much as My Best Friend's Exorcism or Southern Book Club, it has the same compulsively readable quality as those titles. If you like your books to be (relatively) nonstop action with lots of twists and turns, and if you've seen lots of 80's and 90's slasher flicks, then this will be your jam, right down to figuring out which real-world franchise each Final Girl represents.

The other Final Girls were a bit light on characterization, and there was a REAL missed opportunity where Heather's story with the Dream King kept getting glossed over, but that's par for the course when you're expected to fill in a backstory with franchise info. (Not unlike reading fanfic.) The number of twists at the end was enough to give me whiplash, but as a whole, very satisfying for fans of the genre and plenty of teen interest.