“Everything they say is bad is good, and everything they say is good is bad. So maybe we should stop marching along like a bunch of sheep and start thinking for ourselves.”

I don’t typically read a ton of horror, but I have really enjoyed Grady Hendrix’s books in the past so I was excited to get an early copy of this one. This could have really gone badly, but Hendrix centers this story so completely on female rage and the injustices of pre-Roe America that it feels powerful. I was in it from the quotes at the beginning of the book that are so infuriating they set the tone for what’s to come.

This can be difficult to read. Following Fern’s journey as an unwed teenage mother is harrowing. She’s dropped off at a home for unwed mothers by her furious father, left to face the consequences of her actions. It’s constantly emphasized that it’s her actions (and those of the other girls) that got her in this position and hers alone. In their desperation, they turn to witchcraft. Hendrix really captures the fear and desperation the girls feel, and for me a big part of the horror was how they're treated. The owner of Wellwood House, the doctor, the nurse, and the social worker all see to have ulterior motives and display little to no empathy for what these girls are going through.

I will say this feels like a cross between historical fiction and horror, and I wished there was a bit more witchcraft. It felt like a bit horror adjacent, where a lot of my fear came from reading about how the girls are treated and how society viewed them. There is a lot of graphic depictions of pregnancy and also some gnarly body horror, which can be rough to read. The determination of Fern and the other girls feels great to read. As a reader, you worried and scared for the girls because no one is ever listening. This is a wild ride, that’s for sure.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Grady Hendrix, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This has got to be my favorite Grady Hendrix novel to date. What I loved most about this one is how descriptive Hendrix is throughout the story. You can almost feel the sweltering heat of Florida; later, you can almost feel the contractions with Fern. The writing immerses you so deeply that you can certainly feel the desperation of these girls to better their circumstances and to avoid being discarded by society and their families.

I truly enjoyed the feminist aspect of this novel as well. It tackles some really heavy-hitting topics with grace and authenticity. Hendrix’s ability to balance these themes with compelling storytelling is truly remarkable.

I 100% recommend this book—I thoroughly enjoyed it.

First off, a huge thank you to the publisher for the digital ARC of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. This novel gripped me from the very first page and had me laughing out loud with the opening lines of chapter one: “She didn’t think things could get any worse, then she saw the sign. Welcome to Florida, it read. The Sunshine State.” From that moment, I knew I was in for a ride, and I couldn't put it down.

Grady Hendrix has long been celebrated for his unique ability to blend horror with deeper, often unsettling societal themes, and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is no exception. Much has been said about his accurate—and chilling—depictions of pregnancy and childbirth, which add a visceral layer to the horror in this story. But beyond that, this novel delves into the harsh realities faced by young girls in the 1970s, sent away to places like the Wellwood Home under the guise of moral correction and societal shame.

Hendrix doesn’t shy away from exposing the deeply ingrained racial prejudices and Christian moralities that dictated the lives of these girls. The book serves as a powerful reminder of the limitations placed on women, particularly young, vulnerable girls, during a time when their agency was stripped away. In a post-Roe world, as we grapple with the uncertainties of 2024, Hendrix’s reflection on the past feels particularly poignant. He subtly drives this home when he writes, “Less than three years after we left Florida, Roe passed and the Homes disappeared in a wave of the magic wand. If we had only gotten pregnant two years later everything would have been different.”

At its core, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is about the power dynamics at play in a society that treats children as adults while denying them any real autonomy. It's a harrowing look at how these girls were unprepared for the world’s harsh realities and how they were stripped of control over their bodies and their futures. Yet, amidst this grim backdrop, Hendrix weaves a story about the strength of friendships, the concept of found family, and the resilience of women supporting each other through unimaginable circumstances.

While it’s undeniably a horror novel, the historical context gives it a sense of realism that is both captivating and haunting. Hendrix continues to grow as a writer, delivering stories that linger long after the last page. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a testament to his mastery of the genre, solidifying his place among the greats in recent horror fiction.

This book is a must-read, not just for fans of horror, but for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story with profound emotional depth and historical insight.

This is Grady Hendrix’s best work by far.

This is a horrifying, infuriating, and heart-breaking story that follows a group of pregnant teens at a home for unwed mothers in 1970’s (pre Roe v Wade) Florida. Hendrix delivers a poignant story with relatable characters, tackles some very hefty subject matter, and wraps it all up in a fast paced witchy horror story. I simply couldn’t put it down.

I have seen a lot of reviews of this book start with WOW, and since I echo the exact same sentiment, I will say it too. WOW.

This book was not what I was expecting, but in the best way. Hendrix has a tendency to go campy with his horror- which I love- but he also has the capacity to get emotional and address deeper issues. For me, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is reminiscent of The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires- my favourite Hendrix- in that at its heart, it's about female friendships, fighting the patriarchy and taking back power in whatever ways you can.

The narrator, Neva, is 15, from the southern US in the 1970s, and pregnant. Her parents plan to 'send her away to spend the summer with her aunt' so they can cover up Neva's shameful mistake; in reality they send her to a wayward home for girls in Florida, where she'll secretly have the baby and give it up for adoption. As for Neva, she just wants to get it over with so she can return home and pretend nothing ever happened. At the Wellwood House girls are given names of plants and flowers to use as aliases and further remove them from their former lives; the names are sunny and hopeful, like Daisy, Laurel and Zinnia. Neva becomes Fern and Wellwood becomes her new reality, kept under strict rule with limited time outside, work duty, extreme dietary restrictions and rough medical examinations. Fern's only saving grace is the 'bookmobile', from which she obtains a book entitled 'How To Be a Groovy Witch'. With the aid of the bookmobile librarian and enlisting her roommates Rose, Zinnia and Holly as her coven, Fern uses the book to start to claim back power in small ways, until the price to be paid for using magic threatens her and the friends she has grown to love.

This story is complex and layered, with multiple levels of horror. There's some elements of actual horror that Hendrix fans have become accustomed to, including body horror, but there's also the more subtle but equally as powerful horror that these girls face in the way that they are treated as damaged goods and stripped of their autonomy, coerced into giving up their babies without hope of ever seeing them again and unprepared for what they have to go through at such a young age. Holly's story in particular will make you want to launch something across the room. Fern is a great main character and I felt heavily invested in her story. The elements of witchcraft were well done, as was the escalation to the final climax. The last chapter does the book justice by giving closure to the girls, though in different ways than they might have envisioned.

Kirkus Reviews referred to this book as having shades of V.C. Andrews, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Foxfire and I completely agree. I did find this book a bit slow to start, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. This book is evocative and especially timely as it gives a glimpse into a pre-Roe world and the limitations faced by young mothers, and it can't help but make one wonder if elements of the past may once again become our future...

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. I will certainly be getting myself a physical copy of what is an early contender for one of my top reads of 2025.

4.5 rounding up to 5

In the summer of 1970 Fern is dropped off alone, scared and pregnant in a Florida home for unwed mothers. Fern is surrounded by a dozen other girls like her. Girls who were dropped off until their “condition” is cleared up and their babies are adopted out to other families. Despite being told not to befriend other girls, so that when they have their babies they can go home and pretend it never happened, Fern gets close to her roommates. Rose, a hippy who swears she’s going to keep her baby; Zinnia, a musician who swears she’s going to marry her boyfriend when she gets back home; and Holly, a girl who doesn’t speak and is by far the youngest of the lot.

The adults looking after them decide what they can eat, what they can talk about and everything they can do because they “know what’s best”. Then Fern meets the librarian on the bookmobile. She’s given a book of witchcraft and it changes things for her and her friends. For the first time ever they have the chance to have power over their lives but power has a price and when it comes to witchcraft that price is usually blood.

This is what I categorize as a “good for her” book. Cue the feminine rage soundtrack I have saved on my Spotify library. The rollercoaster of emotions this book gave me…. I don’t have coherent words. This was, even though not specifically stated, a reaction to the recent overturning of Roe v Wade. And really a commentary on treatment of women over the course of history. Some of it was really hard to read and I would highly HIGHLY suggest reading content warnings. I’ve given birth to two children and the descriptions made my skin crawl. Child abuse, SA, body horror, in depth description of a birth, blood, self harm and I’m probably forgetting a few are included in the major warnings.

This reads more like a historical fiction and less like a “regular” horror novel. It’s slow to start but the payoff is worth it. Oh and I almost forgot! The 70's slang? Groovy man.

Alright so characters:
The book is told from Fern’s pov, with exception of a few bits that switch a couple of times. I didn’t particularly like the sudden switches but I get why they were done, to see parts of the story Fern wasn’t involved in to get that information. Grady Hendrix writes women exceptionally well, I don’t have those “ew, this was written by a man” moments.

Having that many girls made it hard to differentiate them all but really just certain ones were important. And the main ones were easy to keep separate. The adults were all nightmares. Even the cook who was helping wasn’t pleasant (her sister was pleasant but she was the quiet one), Miss Wellwood was awful and preachy and exactly what you’d expect as the head of a wayward home. Nurse wasn’t as bad as Wellwood but she was an enabler of the terrible stuff. The doctor was a man and hoo-boy. I hated that guy. Then the last prominent adult, Mrs. Parcae. Mrs. Parcae is the librarian that gives Fern the book on witchcraft. I’m a librarian and was a tad offended (not really but you know what I mean) when she wasn’t exactly the glowing good guy I was hoping she’d be. She comes for her dues.

I know I say this every time but I believe horror books are enjoyed much much more when you go in without details. I will say there was a point in the story where I had no idea how it would turn out even remotely ok for them. It wasn’t a happily ever after but it was in general, a happy ending.

"Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" by Grady Hendrix is an engaging horror story that tackles difficult themes. Despite its graphic content, I found it enjoyable and admire Hendrix's writing style. This was the most exciting horror/supernatural story I have read in a while. I recommend.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about a feminist rage novel written by a privileged white man. That being said, he really told this story well, and came across as a real ally in the fight for female equality and rights. It just goes to show that limiting authors to writing about their own lived experiences can rob us of important stories. All of that said, was this perfect? No.

The treatment these girls are subjected to at the home is truly horrific, so I wanted this to be a story of women reclaiming their power through witchcraft, but it didn't quite turn out that way. Rather than portray the witches as righteous avengers giving these girls the power to save themselves, the witches are just another horrific system trying to oppress them to some extent. I appreciated that there was some hope presented at the end, but this was such a hopeless novel until the very close of the story.

My other beef with this novel is its treatment of BIPOC characters. There is a strong sense of tokenism happening here, and the "mystical African American" trope is leaned on quite heavily. I just wish that these characters had been more important to the story other than as supporting actors to a white drama.

If you are a fan of body horror, then I think you will enjoy this book for that alone. The childbirth scenes are visceral. I feel like, overall, Hendrix did a decent job of portraying the helplessness of these girls and the horrific treatment to which they were subjected. All the trigger warnings for pregnancy related horror.

Review published on Cemetery Dance Magazine - https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/review-witchcraft-for-wayward-girls-grady-hendrix/

Oh man this book was so good and I really loved that it dealt with the harsh reality of what it was like for girls before roe vs wade and the stigma of having an illegitimate child while being a teenager who doesn’t know any better and isn’t educated about the consequences of sexual contact. That these girls had no agency, no actual way to keep their babies even if they wanted to when they were sent to these homes for unwed mothers and that they were expected to just go back home and pretend they didn’t have a baby and that nothing happened. I really enjoyed the witchcraft aspect of this and while it wasn’t the main story, it was great how it was interwoven in the story and that it reflected how much these girls needed to get some of their power and agency back and how they used magic to do that. This was a great read and I really loved the comradery between the girls at the home and how they tried to take care of each other.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

The new king of horror is back ! Although this installment was a bit different than previous works by Grady, it was just as fun and faced paced than others ! And as always, there is a story about womanhood and girl hood at its core.

Historical horror fiction delivered by the best in the in the biz! This story really shook me up. Mostly because this is what society did to girls who didn't follow the rules.
In 1970, Neva Craven (Fern) is sent to a home for unwed mothers after becoming pregnant. The home changes her name to Fern and makes sure she shares no outside info about herself to the other girls. They are told what to do, when to eat, when to sleep, when to see the doctor, which chores they will be doing. They are even made to give up their children, whether they want to or not. So when a librarian on the book mobile gives Fern an occult book full of spells, she and her friends have power for the first time. But with great power, comes great sacrifice. Nothing is given freely, especially magic.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this digital e-arc.*

Grady Hendrix you have no business writing about pregnant teenage girls in the 70s being sent to maternity homes but sir…you pulled it off and did it in the most respectful way possible. I absolutely LOVED this book.

I loved each and every girl and her backstory. Fern was such a great main character to follow. Historical horror is one of my favorite subgenres so learning about maternity homes in the 70s and how these girls were treated was horrifying alone. The witchcraft and the horror that was intertwined into the pages was flawless. Usually my biggest complaint with Grady is how long his books are and this one certainly is long. But I could not put it down. Additionally the end of this book made me SOB. When horror makes me emotional it’s an automatic 5 stars from me. This will be my new favorite Grady Hendrix book and dare I say that I’ve already read a top read in 2025 and it’s only January 2?

First thing's first - Grady Hendrix knows how to write. He crafts dynamic and believable characters, his descriptions are searingly vivid, and he can turn out some beautiful turns of phrase. That being said, this book was not my cup of tea. I should have loved everything about it - I love all things witchy. I love powerful female protagonists. It's the 70s, it's the south, it's very much giving House of the Rising Sun and American Horror Story: Coven. All of which I love. And I really think I would have enjoyed it more if I had had the right expectations.

But here's the thing - this book is not horror. It has been marketed as such repeatedly, but that is unequivocally not its genre. It's part fantasy, part historical fiction, a powerful commentary on women's rights and bodily autonomy (particularly relevant in a post-Roe America). But it is not horror. There is no fear or suspense, and even the witchy elements are surprisingly negligible to the plot. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for it to ramp up into a horror or at least a thriller, but it never did. If I had come into this novel expecting fiction about the power of female friendships and resisting the patriarchy, I think I would have loved this, although it could definitely have been condensed. But that was not how it was marketed, that was not what I was anticipating, so I was ultimately disappointed.

In any case, thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the e-ARC! I'd still recommend this book if it's approached with the right expectations.

grady hendrix consistently writes women with care and realism. his characters feel real and fully fleshed out. this was a wild ride and I loved the unreliable narrator. set pre roe v wade in the US it was heart wrenching and infuriating at times. the magic is scatty and twisted and really makes you question what is real and what isn’t.

An emotional powerhouse. I had requested this book based off of the author and the title, having no idea of the overall premise.

This was a truly powerful statement on religious hypocrisy and the crux of being a young. un-wed mother, and the damaging and dangerous stigma that goes along with it. The characters made for a truly compelling story- though there were some pretty gruesome scenes throughout involving pregnancy and labor that were a bit triggering and I would strongly recommend knowing this ahead of time to prepare yourself-especially if you are currently pregnant or went through a traumatic pregnancy/labor. (It was....definitely horrific at some parts).

The main girls decide to take a chance and delve into witchcraft, but the themes are clearly painted. They are completely powerless and have a chance at it for once in their lives- so of course they take it... with mixed consequences. Seeing this unfold was compelling.

My only issue was maybe with the pacing, where the beginning felt a bit slow. I liked Fern's character- but also would have enjoyed the pov of others maybe a bit more? It took me a while to fully get into it.

A good, insightful, read for sure. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Grady Hendrix, and Berkley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a tough read because it's a horror novel in two parts-- mythical horror with witches and then tragically real horror about teen pregnancies in the 1970s. I have mixed feelings about the two Grady Hendrix's novels I read prior to this one (one I loved, one I didn't like), and I think I'm going to need a while to process this one. By no means did I expect this to be a lighthearted or fun read, but I would definitely check some trigger warnings related to this book, specifically about sexual assault by religious men in power. I did like the witchy elements to this story, and the girls are all extremely compelling to read about. I liked that Hendrix wrote this book fully on the sides of the girls and supporting them, as it was more "feminist" that I was expecting. The witchy elements are great in that it's a very dark witchiness; while it starts out fun ("How to be a Groovy Witch"), it definitely escalates into something much vaster and more mythical. I do think there was a little too much going on here between the mythical and realistic, as there were times when one or the other plot points would go to the backburner for a while. I think Fern was the perfect girl to tell the story through, and I liked her complex character. However, as I stated up above, Holly's story was personally extremely tough and unsettling for me to read, and I think it detracted from my overall enjoyment because of how dark and horrific it was. I do commend Hendrix for daring to write and confront such horrors as what happened to Holly in such an unabashed way, as he portrays this girl being continually abandoned by any adult around her and takes the stance that this is the true horror of the story. Hendrix writes unflinching horror that doesn't shy away from the grotesque, and I will continue to give his stories more chances.

Grady Hendrix is known for his horror novels with unique takes, sometimes with a social spin, and there’s no doubt he’s tackling some heavier and more complex themes in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, even if some of them might be over his head. Whether or not Hendrix fully succeeds will depend on the reader—but he’s definitely taking some risks, and that’s always worth noting.

As the story opens, we’re transported to 1970 as 15-year-old Neva Craven becomes “Fern” at the Wellwood Home, a sanctuary for teen girls facing unplanned pregnancies. None of the girls here use their real names or talk about their pasts. They were here to do one thing only—carry out the rest of their pregnancies in secrecy, provided with the necessary medical care and support until they give birth, then give their babies up for adoption. Then they go back to their old lives, never to speak of this time again.

At the home, Fern and her newfound friends—with names like Rose, Zinnia, Holly—while away their days waiting for their due dates, chafing under the strict supervision of the owner, Miss Wellwood. Every two weeks, an eccentric librarian named Miss Parcae will stop by in her book mobile and provide some reading material for the girls. One day, Miss Parcae hands Fern a book on the occult that changes everything: How to be A Groovy Witch, a slim volume of spells that are guaranteed to get you what you want in life, if only you are strong enough to take what’s yours. This includes pledging your loyalty to your coven, even if it means having to take bold, sometimes messy actions. However, as Fern delves further deeper into the book’s secrets, things soon spiral into darker, deadlier territory—especially as the girls grow increasingly desperate to change their circumstances.

As events progress, witchcraft becomes our characters’ only path to regaining the autonomy and dignity they’ve lost. This thread underlies much of the story, becoming a powerful metaphor that resonates. Hendrix does an admirable job portraying the emotional turmoil of the young women at Wellwood Home. Each of them arrived there for unique reasons—some more terrible than others—yet they all share a common thread: their families, unable to bear the societal shame of their daughters’ pregnancies, have sent them away to erase the scandal, with the expectation that once their babies are born and adopted out, they can quietly return home and pretend none of it ever happened. While some of the girls are resigned to this arrangement, others are far less willing to give up their rights as mothers but are forced to do it anyway. Often, they are written off as too young and incapable of making their own decisions or deemed unfit because of their “wayward” reputation.

The author deserves credit for approaching these emotional struggles with clear intent and empathy, making the women’s rebellion—their choice of turning to a book of witchcraft—feel both bittersweet and empowering in its own strange way. That said, I couldn’t help but feel the execution was uneven at times. For one, the pacing felt inconsistent. After a strong start, the middle sections meandered and touched upon so many separate threads at once that it diluted some of the tension and urgency. Elements of the occult also felt slightly underdeveloped, as if the story was torn between taking a full-on plunge into the supernatural realm or staying firmly rooted in reality.

Using pregnancy and childbirth as a device in horror novels can also be tricky, though one good example of doing it right is Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition. There’s the undeniable feminine experience in the subject, which can be deeply personal, and raises the question of whether complex issues like emotional vulnerability and physical sacrifice can be authentically portrayed, especially when interpreted through a male lens. This isn’t to say that male authors shouldn’t write about these topics or that Hendrix’s take isn’t valid, but I will confess that, in at least one instance, his portrayal of childbirth came across as borderline exploitative and sensationalized for shock value. It made me feel kind of icky, and not for the right reasons.

Still, it may hit differently depending on the reader. Despite its flaws, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was a worthy read, delivering a thought-provoking tale especially when considering the subject matter and taking the historical setting in context. The story is undoubtedly at its best when leaning into the raw emotions of its characters like anger and helplessness giving way to hope, determination, and defiance. Fans of Grady Hendrix’s previous works will want to pick this one up, as will readers who are curious about the premise and are also interested stories with a witchy punch.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady is a dark and captivating exploration of teenage rebellion, societal control, and the dangerous allure of power. Set in the summer of 1970 at the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, the story follows fifteen-year-old Fern, a pregnant girl sent to a home for "wayward" girls where they are stripped of their autonomy and forced into silence as they await to give birth. Alongside her are a cast of complex and diverse characters, each struggling with their own dreams and decisions for their futures.

The strength of this novel lies in its vivid portrayal of these girls’ lives—stifled by a judgmental society but finding unexpected freedom through the occult, a gift that may come at a horrific cost. Grady's ability to weave feminist themes with supernatural horror creates a chilling narrative, and while the pace can sometimes drag due to its hefty 400+ page count, the compelling character development and occasional bursts of graphic body horror make for an unsettling and addictive read. If you’re a fan of Grady's previous works, you kind of know what you are signing up for and this novel will not disappoint, though those looking for a deeper witchy experience may find themselves wanting more magic. Ultimately it's a story that lingers, tapping into both the rage and resilience of young women in a society that continually tries to silence them.

I’m never really sure what to expect with Grady Hendrix, but I know I can always count for the book to be full of unexpected twists, an eerie scene or two, a moment that always makes me cry and an in-depth plot where you can visualize the scenes.

I will say the book was slow paced and there were lulls where I had to put it down for a few days then come back to it. There was also one specific scene in the book I struggled to get through because of the medical jargon used throughout it.

Overall, I enjoyed this one, and liked how each character had their own personality. I also thought the setting of the book and the situation the girls were in was different than things I had read in the past.