I was under the mistaken assumption that Grady Hendrix was not male when I requested this, and had also not attempted to read The Final Girl Support Group yet, but if either of those things were different, I wouldn’t have requested this one in the first place, because I would’ve known it was not going to be for me.

Knowing a book about this subject matter was written by a straight white guy just gave me the ick way too much, especially considering recent intrusions into women’s bodily autonomy, and the perpetuation of those anti-women sentiments in the US as was made apparent by the events of the beginning of November. I had similar feelings toward The Final Girl Support Group, but this one was way more blatantly offensive to me.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this one for my own mental and emotional well being, and ended up DNF-ing at 14%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC.

A solid 3.5, this may be my highest rated Grady Hendrix book. I liked the concept of this story. Some of the character development wasn't there. I loved learning about the "wayward" girls and how they interacted with each other. The witch storyline could use more fleshing out. Overall an enjoyable read.

This is the second time I’ve questioned if a Grady Hendrix book was truly written by a man, because the way he captures and expresses the feeling of being a women, and specifically the pregnancy experience, has me in awe. I’ve read books by women that didn’t feel this authentic.

That being said, WOW did I love this book. This was so raw and full of beautifully written emotions. This story hit close to home for me as well and was so interesting to see what these “homes” were like. This book is full of feminine rage. It’s a graphic depiction of the systemic oppression of women. Oh, and there’s witches, which in my opinion wasn’t a major theme, nor was it needed to still call this a horror. The horrors just felt more parallel to our world.

This book was heartwarming and heartbreaking, yes I cried, and I couldn’t put it down. This book was graphic and a little gross so check triggers if you feel necessary.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC.

Found family among the cat out of society. I want prepared for a book set in the 1970s to be tagged historical Fiction!

I love Grady Hendrix's books, so naturally, I was really excited to get my hands on an advance copy of this one. I love how he infuses humor and horror while also saying something important about society. While I've loved every book of his that I have read thus far, I think that this is hands down my favorite.

Set in the summer of 1970 at the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, the novel follows fifteen-year-old Fern - a young girl who wound up pregnant and completely devastated when the boy she loved broke ties with her the moment he found out he was about to be a dad. Completely humiliated by their Jezebel of a daughter, Fern's parents send her to Florida to stay in a home with other sinful girls as soon as she begins to show. The home offers a place for young women to live and work away from the public eye and then give up their babies for adoption before returning back home as if nothing ever happened.

Despite the strict rules (never share your real name or info about the baby daddy and always listen to the doctor) imposed by the adults at the home, Fern makes a few friends and one day meets a friendly, though mysterious librarian who introduces her to the world of witchcraft through an occult book. When a morning sickness spell actually works, Fern and her new friends realize they have a newfound power that might help them gain the upper hand over the adults who dictate their every move. As they navigate this newfound magic, they discover that said magic comes with a price, and they must be willing to pay it no matter the cost.

One thing that I loved about this book was the way Hendrix expertly weaved together themes of female empowerment, sisterhood, and the resilience of women - topics that are always important, but even more so in today's times. While the book is set in the 1970s, so many of its themes are still relevant today. The novel is especially powerful after all that has happened in the last few years as far as the stripping away of women's rights and the continued pursuit to take away the rights of anyone who isn't straight, white, and male. We really are going backward.

Hendrix frequently writes from the perspective of females, but this book felt different - the voice felt authentically female simply because of the way the rage plays out. As the coven grapples with moral dilemmas, strict rules, and increasing pressure to conform, lines are crossed, and the line between what is truly right and wrong becomes hazy.

All the characters are vividly drawn, and I loved each of them - even the ones I loved to hate. The writing, as expected, is top-notch. The sense of place pours off the page. I felt the sweltering heat and humidity of the Florida summer. I heard every sound, felt every touch, and smelled every smell. The pacing - while a bit slow in the beginning - really takes off about a third of the way through, and by that point, I couldn't stop reading.

As I mentioned earlier, I think this is now my new favorite novel by Hendrix. This is a powerful and immersive read that had me riveted. It's a story of female resilience, empowerment, and friendship, all told with an urgency that will resonate with readers who are worried about what the future holds regarding autonomy over one's body and personal choices. Read it, and then find you a coven to help take down the patriarchy.

**Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the eARC of this title!**

Unfortunately I am having to come to terms with the fact that Grady Hendrix may just not be for me. I loved Horrorstor, but everything else I’ve tried has fallen flat for me. I find myself feeling the buzz for his books and getting super excited, only to find that I don’t connect with his writing.

At almost 500 pages, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls didn’t have much going on for the entire first 70% of the book. I appreciated some of the character development and I definitely felt the desolation and grief of the girls at the home for wayward girls. I loved the anti-patriarchy commentary as well. My appreciation ended there though, as this couldn’t make up for the pacing of the story and the subtle plot.

I’m not writing this author off completely yet, I will just go into my next read of his with lowered expectations and the understanding that this may just not be an author for me.

Young pregnant women (girls, really) are hidden away in a home until they give birth, at which point their babies are taken and they return to their old lives. Grounded in history and steeped in current fears, Grady Hendrix's latest book follows one cohort at the Wellwood House, where they're controlled and shamed within an inch of their lives. One day, a book changes everything...and the girls gain both hope and a dangerous new enemy. Hendrix does a bang-up job writing female characters, but this is a hard read. The characters face painful injustices, and often, any hope for their future is taken away. Strong writing, unfortunately current themes, and good plotting make this another win for Grady Hendrix.

Grady Hendrix’s books tend to be hit or miss for me. Unfortunately, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was a miss. The book was mis-marketed and didn’t align with my expectations. It was bold choice of Grady to tackle the topic of unwed pregnant girls in the 1970s especially since he’s a well-known, privileged male author. Though I give Hendrix credit for his thorough research, the book felt more like historical fiction with a touch of magical realism which wasn’t what I was expecting. The pacing was extremely slow and the story felt overly long making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, Fern, the main character, was super boring. There are some graphic scenes so I strongly recommend checking trigger warnings before diving in. The story dragged too much for me to stay invested. Ultimately, I ended up not finishing this.

A home where parents hide away their daughters who get pregnant out of wedlock has some of those girls explore witchcraft. Because of this, they get into things they don't understand and cannot handle on their own. Supernatural and twisty this one gets off to a slow start that speeds up along the way.

I always enjoy Grady Hendrixs writing style. It’s so unique and captivating. The story too was unique and so good! The horror and TWs shook me to my core in such a wild way, overall very good book!

I was expecting a bit more from this one. It was good overall, but it was lacking the oomph I was hoping for (though that did pick up near the end). The book got off to a strong start, but quickly slowed down and stayed quite slow through most of the rest of the work. I wanted so much more from the witchcraft, especially given the title of the work. It was sprinkled here and there and finally picked up at the very end, but it wasn’t soon enough. The ending also felt quite rushed, which was a shame after the somewhat slow and repetitive journey to get there.

Honestly, I was also quite surprised that the author was able to write such good characters for a work of this nature. But he did an excellent job depicting the injustice, trauma, and lack of agency surrounding pregnancies for unwed women. I did want a bit more from Miriam and Hagar, their development and addition were a little flat overall. Fern was also a bit bland for a protagonist.

This was an okay read that was more historical fiction than magical realism or horror (though there were some truly gross moments included). My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published January 14, 2025. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a personal opinion, but I've never bought into the narrative that pregnancy is a magical experience where ultimately all the horrific things that happen to you throughout it (and what might have led you to that state) will feel worth it as soon as you hold that baby in your arms - and this book really needs you to believe that for it to work. Unfortunately the first of Hendrix's books to be a straight "no" for me.

Grady Hendrix is an autoread and a household name. And this one is about witches?? Home run.

The only thing that was a bit icky was reading about all the body horror around pregnancy and that the pregnant people were teenagers. The copy was suuuuper clear about this and did a great job, but even still it was a bit hard to read at times. That’s why it was amazing when it got to the witchcraft part.

I had a difficult time getting into this book and actually finishing it. While it was a slow start, it does pick up and eventually I really enjoyed it.

The world is changing in 1970 but not for unwed pregnant teenage girls. It is still pretty grim for them. This is the story of a group of such girls sent to a home to await the births of their babies. The babies will be given up for adoption and the girls will return to their former lives. It will be as if nothing happened or will it? When one of the girls is given a book of magic things begin to change.

Okay, I wanted to love this one, but I couldn't get past the gore. Admittedly, I'm a newbie when it comes to the horror genre, but the premise of this sounded so good that I was willing to try it. If you're big into horror I think this will be a mild book for you, but I just couldn't do it. I want to be a fan of Grady Hendrix, but I'm starting to think it's not going to work.

This was not my first by Grady Hendrix and it definitely lived up to the others I’ve read! Grady Hendrix does an excellent job showcasing teen pregnancy as it has existed in the past and how it could look again in the not so distant future. This book is about power, what it feels like to lack it, what girls will do for some crumbs of it, and how there are always strings attached. The girls in this book are all enduring terrible situations and in it their personhood, right down to their names, have been stripped away for them to only be viewed as unwed pregnant teenagers, with the blame of the situation entirely placed on them. The girls who ended up at Wellwood House came from a variety of different backgrounds and yet they all are hidden away by their families in the same place. A lot of the characters in this book made me really angry because the hypocrisy they expressed felt so incredibly real. I would definitely recommend this book, but it is incredibly important for those who could possibly be triggered to fully take the content warnings under consideration before reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC!

Grady Hendrix always knocks it out of the park, but his take on witchcraft is next level. This book is more than a horror novel, it's an exploration of patriarchy and power in the 70s and is especially meaningful in today's post-Roe v Wade world. Fans of the genre and fans of feminist lit alike will thoroughly enjoy this story.

I think I’m leaning to 4.5 stars, this was good but definitely make sure to check TWs!! Especially if you are currently pregnant or recently gave birth, I’m 8.5 months PP and it was a little much at times. It doesn’t hold back in graphic descriptions of childbirth/pregnancy.

Seriously impressed a male author was able to have such a profound and nuanced take on pregnancy. I can’t wait to have a physical copy to read the acknowledgments and see who/what he credits.

This book really shines in its characters and their connections. Our core group of girls were deeply tied to one another and watching the world abandon them and abuse them time after time was so devastating. Hendrix doesn’t hold back on the very real things that were happened to girls during this time period before Roe and show the potential that we could see again in a post-Roe world.

The witchcraft doesn’t play center stage in this, so if you are hoping for a fully supernatural story, you won’t get it here. Instead it is a vehicle to masterfully move different points through the plot. It shows the very real give and take that women went through with the lens of witchcraft.

I found the ending to be really satisfying as well, wrapping up in a way that didn’t feel overly convenient but very real and touching in many ways.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital advance reader copy.

Let me preface this with the fact that I am a big Grady Hendrix fan. I loved <i>My Best Friend's Exorcism</i>, <i>How to Sell a Haunted House</i>, and <i>Paperbacks from Hell </i>. His other works I didn't love as much, but still enjoyed.

So, I'm not an unbiased reader here.

This one drew me in on the first page with the historical quotes about teen pregnancies.

It's 1970, and 15 year-old Fern has been sent to Wellwood House to have her baby, give the baby up to a "better" family, and then return home to pretend that she never had a baby and that this summer never happened.

However, Fern will never forget this summer, and neither will her roommates, Rose, Holly, and Zinnia (upon arrival the girl's names are immediately replaced with fake names).

During this time when they each seem to have no choices and no autonomy left in their lives, not even their own names, the bookmobile librarian gives them a book of witchcraft, and it works.

Now maybe they have power again, but, as the librarian tells them, power comes with a price.

Although, as Fern looks at her life, she starts to recognize this isn't always true. After all, what price are the men in each of these young women's life paying? None. Perhaps it's time to make them pay.

As the foursome explores the limits of their newfound power, they discover that magic can't solve everything and maybe power is a slippery, demanding thing when you aren't sure who has it.

There's so much to unpack in this novel about the hierarchy of power, bodily autonomy, and the treatment of women, and I was genuinely on edge for much of it. I cared about all of these characters (not you, Rev. Jimmy) and I wanted better for them.

Here's what I found potentially problematic:<spoiler>Are Hagar and her daughter, Miriam, part of a "magical Negro trope" ("the Magical Negro is a supporting stock character who comes to the aid of the (usually white) protagonists in a film.[1] Magical Negro characters, often possessing special insight or mystical powers, have long been a tradition in American fiction.[2] The old-fashioned word "Negro" is used to imply that a "magical black character" who devotes himself to selflessly helping whites is a throwback to racist stereotypes" - Wikipedia)?

I think there's room for discussion on this one, and I am not knowledgeable enough to know which way to lean.

We receive very little background about Hagar. She does have magical knowledge. She does sacrifice her livelihood to help Holly and girls, one of whom is also Black. We never find out what happens to Hagar or Miriam after the police arrive. Were these two characters included in the book only to help the young white women fight the witches and survive Holly's childbirth experience?

. . . OR because the two women do speak their mind about the horrors of the house, they are in charge of the girls at the house doing their daily work, they show the girls the stupidity of trusting the witches, and they choose to help Holly when they could have turned her away, and they ultimately choose to leave their jobs at the house, are they more fully-realized characters?

I can see it both ways, but I think it's worth mentioning. Someone better versed in exploring texts thoughtfully will know better than I will. </spoiler>

All in all, a horror novel that explores the horrors of being a young woman.

*language, child abuse, birthing trauma, violence, adult situations