I know that there are many issues when it comes to men writing female characters. Especially, when a novel's narrator is a woman. And despite that, I still happen to find Grady Hendrix's work enjoyable. Which feels like a strange way to describe the experience of reading a horror story.
Following the story of Neva/Fern and the summer she spends pregnant and sequestered in Florida at the Wellwood Home until the birth of her baby is interesting to read as the country to continues to slide backward in time (towards the end of the book the mention Roe V. Wade and the impact it had on the country's women feels like a swift kick to the gut) is an interesting one. As the four central characters (Fern, Rose, Holly, and Zinnia) struggle with the lack of power and control they have in their lives, they reach out to witchcraft through a book given to Fern by the librarian Miss. Parcae in the bus library that visits the girls at the Wellwood Home. As fourteen year old Holly finally opens about her past and the identity of her child's father, a split in the group starts as Zinnia decides that the magic they've been doing is wrong and that they need a more practical way to help Holly. However, when Miss. Parcae makes an offer to Fern, she once again is reminded that in this world she has no power or control over her life.

Grady Hendrix is always so hit or miss with me. I loved The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, but everything else seemed a bit mid for me otherwise, and I hated How to Sell a Haunted House. I was apprehensive but optimistic with his 2025 release, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, because it seemed heavier than his other books and because I love anything witchcraft. I am so glad I decided to prioritize this book because it’s my favorite one since Vampires!

Taking place in the 1970s, women who end up getting pregnant are publicly shamed, so if their parents have money, they’re sent to homes hide away and give birth and put their child up for adoption in secret. When 15 year old Fern arrives to one of these homes in Florida, she comes to terms with how society treats pregnant unwed mothers. Fern meets Zinnia, Hope, and Rose, and the four of them meet a librarian who introduces them to the occult with a book of spells. Is this book even anything real? Will these young women try to set things right with their predicaments or will they just make their journeys even harder?

This book is very much a slow burn character-driven horror/suspense. I found the research done for this world of unwed mothers fascinating and also very depressing as this is something that women still to this day are judged upon. The story is dark and unrelenting at times with how the girls are treated, but I grew to be fully invested in each of their journeys. As mentioned prior, the build up is slow, but the payoff is excellent. I enjoyed every moment of this book!

really enjoyed Grady’s last novel, especially since I hate puppets, it was a wild ride and when I read this one was about witchcraft I thought, sign me up. Unfortunately I will admit to struggling with this one a bit. It was overall too slow going and it really felt like not much was happening within the story. With that being said, I still feel a lot of other people will really like it and I look forward to his next book after this one.

It's the 1970's, a time where family appearances are everything. So much so, that families will send their young and unmarried daughters away to hide their pregnancy. Hidden away at the Wellwood House, in Florida these girls are describe with every word under the umbrella of wayward. They are to: act proper, never talk about their home life, pray, eat only what is in front of them, and become totally invisible in their corner of Florida during their pregnancy. Only when their baby is born and adopted are they able to return home.

However, not all the girls in Wellwood House like this arrangement... and a secret covent is created with the help of the mysterious librarian, who brings books to the girls every two weeks. "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" is the abrupt story of childhood to adult hood, from childhood to motherhood, from teenager to witch.

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I so wanted to fall in love with this book! It had all the witchy things going but the story was slowly paced and I lost interest 60% in. It is witchy and supernatural and fun but I'm torn on the idea of Grady writing on childhood pregnancy. I think fans of Hendrix will devour this new novel but I wouldn't recommend it for a Hendrix first-timer. By the time I got to the real witchy part of the book I had already made up my mind of how I felt about the book, I wish it had paced faster to have the witchcraft scenes start earlier because that's what pulled me in to read this title.


Thank you author Grady Hendrix for writing this book. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this excellent platform and thank you Berkley Publishing Group (PRH) for bringing this title to us.

This book evoked every ounce of feminine rage I didn’t know I had. I felt trapped, controlled, deceived, scared, hopeful, and crushed. The thought of being pregnant, underage, and unwed during a time when society was less forgiving is terrifying. I have never been more grateful to be alive today, and I’m relieved that my childbearing days are behind me. Even as someone familiar with the experience, the depiction of childbirth in this book was shocking and disturbing—every single detail. 🫣 Keep this in mind before reading, especially if this topic is sensitive or potentially upsetting for you. As always, excellent writing by Hendrix. Solid five stars.

👶 Favorite Quotes 👶

“Bring everyone! Bring Hell! You think I’m scared? I’m scared of NOTHING!”

“I try to keep them from being forced to make decisions they don’t want to make. I am the woman who says No.”

“Reading the wrong book is almost worse than reading no book at all”

“They hate us enough. Don’t let them make you hate yourselves, too. “

“I wish there was a better way, Fern, with everything in my heart, but this is the world we live in.”

“She realized that, like Miss Wellwood, he wasn’t evil. He wasn’t cruel. He was just frightened. He was frightened of what she could do.”

Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a delightful, quirky romp that combines horror, humor, and nostalgia in a way that only Hendrix can pull off. Set in the 1980s, the story follows a group of outcast girls who come together to form a witchcraft coven, hoping to find a sense of power and belonging in a world that has always overlooked them. As they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, they inadvertently summon real magic—and the consequences of their spells soon spiral out of control.

What I loved most about this book is Hendrix’s unique ability to blend humor and horror. The witchcraft and supernatural elements are creepy and unpredictable, but there’s also a sharp wit that runs through the narrative, making the darker moments easier to stomach. The characters are equally compelling: they’re flawed, relatable, and each girl’s backstory is rich with detail. Their bond as a coven, as well as their individual struggles, feel real and heartfelt.

While the plot is fun and engaging, there were moments where the pacing felt uneven, especially in the latter half of the book. Some plot points seemed to meander a bit, and certain twists felt a little predictable. That said, the overall ride was enjoyable, and the book definitely picks up steam toward the end with a satisfying conclusion.

This one took me so long to finish... Frankly, I was going to DNF but then this ended up becoming the thing I read a few chapters of before bed. It’s not that I hated it or anything but it just wasn’t really working for me. Grady Hendrix and I are a bit hit or miss. This was so slow and not as witchy as I wanted. But I did come to care about the characters eventually and enjoyed the classic Hendrix camp mixed with some sharp social commentary.

An atmospheric and addictive read from master storyteller Grady Hendricks. Showcasing the often erased experiences of pregnant unwed mothers during a time when bigotry and condemnation was the established norm. This narrative weaves elements of the supernatural into a story that is ultimately about power. What's a teenager girl to do when life has left her powerless and a seemingly kind book mobile librarian gives her a book on witchcraft? The answer lies in this gripping portrayal of what happens to girls who must go way for the summer to "take care of a sick aunt."

Fern is 15 and pregnant in the 1970s. She is sent away to a house for unwed mothers where she will have her baby in secret and then go back to her life as if nothing had happened. Things are mostly going well when Fern and a few of her friends are gifted a book on witchcraft. They use the spell book to help with morning sickness and other minor inconveniences. But they discover bigger issues that they want to fix. And all things come with a cost. But are the girls willing to pay the cost? I enjoyed this book but it was harder to get into than some of Grady Hendrix's other books. I liked it more when I realized it took some themes from Rosemary's Baby.

Wow. This book is EMOTIONAL. Took my heart, crushed it, held it and spoke sweet to it, and then did that all over again. Let me tell you, this book is NOT for the faint of heart and NOT for the squeamish. These girls stories are probably so much more common than any of us want to believe of admit (minus the witchcraft, I hope), and Grady Hendrix did their stories SUCH justice. The ending made me sob like a BABY (no pun intended).

Plot: A pregnant, fifteen year old Neva (later called Fern in order to protect her identity in the home) is sent to Wellwood Home in order to have her baby in secret, getting to return back to her normal life after as if nothing happened. What follows is anything but normal and showcases the harrowing brutality that befell unwed mothers in the late 60s. Each girl in the home has her own story and revelations while in the house that shook me to my core. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE... throughout the struggles of these pregnant children in a deeply religious home is a witch lurking in the woods (and a bookmobile, of course) promising them safety and their worst nightmares at the same time.

I will be thinking about this book and holding it close to my chest for a long time. It is SO MUCH MORE than a horror book and is so important, especially at such a pivotal time in history. Thank you, Grady for bringing these stories to life.

AGAIN, if you are freaked out by gore or squeamish at all, this book is not for you. Pregnancy is HORRIFYING. Hendrix does not shy away from this.

Thanks:
Thank you to NetGalley, Grady Hendrix, and Berkeley publishing for this ARC.

This was not what I was expecting, but it was a great read. Hendrix has a way of making me feel everything. The characters were interesting and the story heartbreaking and powerful. I don't trust everyone can get these kinds of stories to feel real or correct while also adding in magic, but it works and as usual Hendrix writes it well.

"There's power in a book...

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they're sent to Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, to give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There's Rose, a hippie who insists she's going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby's father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they're allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what's best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it's never given freely. There's always a price to be paid...and it's usually paid in blood."

Hopefully the blood of their oppressors!

Neva is a pregnant 15 year old in 1970 Alabama. She is taken by her father to stay with her aunt for the summer, but in reality she is taken to Wellwood House. Wellwood is a home for unwed mothers that cares for the them until they give birth, then puts the baby up for adoption so they can return home as if nothing happened. After a chance encounter with the local librarian, the girls start casting spells to make their lives easier.

I was hooked on the story until the spell casting got out of hand and I wasn’t a fan of that part of the story. The book is well written and will appeal to those who loved Grady Hendrix’s other novels.

First line: Sit.

Summary: In St. Augustine, Florida, there is a home for wayward girls just like “Fern”, a young girl who is sent away by her family to deal with her shame in secret. When Fern arrives at the home she meets a dozen other girls in the same position. They have all been sent away to have their babies and forget that this ever happened. Miss Wellwood and her staff control every aspect of the girls’ lives because they believe they know best. That is until the day a librarian appears giving Fern a book on witchcraft and now the girls with no power have discovered that they can wield power against those who control them. But like with all things this power comes with a price.

My Thoughts: I have come to love Grady Hendrix’s books. He writes some truly creepy stories that don’t have to be bloody. And while he does that again here he also veers into something unlike he’s written before. Dealing with the stigma of unwed teenagers in the 1970s is a heartbreaking subject but I think he did it in such a great way. He shows how demonized the girls were and the lack of consequences for the male partner in the situation. In a post Roe era this really seems to be a book for the time.

Besides the horrible treatment of these girls he brings in a paranormal aspect too. The girls get their hands on a book for witches where they see a chance to gain some power in a powerless place. It seems rather innocent until they encounter other witches. From the beginning we know that the promises they make will not end well. Hendrix writes some absolutely spine-tingling scenes of suspense as the girls deal with backing out of their promises. I loved every word of those moments.

I found the characters very easy to sympathize with. The girls all had dreams but found that the world around them is tipped against them. The women around them seem to be there to help but many do not. It is a world that unfortunately was too real at the time. I would highly recommend this but be prepared to deal with some truly heartbreaking moments. It is not your normal Grady Hendrix but it is executed beautifully and worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my gifted advanced copy.

As a diehard Grady Hendrix fan, this pains me. It took me nearly two months to read this. I just couldn't latch onto the story or the characters. It felt like Hendrix was trying to write a retelling of The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke without the excitement. I was hoping for more Witchcraft and female rage 🤷‍♀️ I don't mind slow burns, but this pacing was just far too slow for me.

If Orange Is the New Black, American Horror Story Asylum and The Craft had a literary fiction baby, it would be this book. We're following a pregnant teen in the 1970s who gets sent off to an asylum for pregnant teens. Without giving much away, witchcraft ensues.

I have been a fan of Grady Hendrix's other books, but this one felt a bit off. The first half of the story was incredibly slow (90+ pages before witchcraft was even mentioned). I enjoyed the witchcraft/spell elements, but I didn't feel that there was enough of it throughout. There were moments of horror/gore, but it was more of a horrific real-life literary story about pregnancy, agency, parental rights, medical pressure and coercion. It wasn't what I was expecting and I can't say that I truly enjoyed it in it's entirety. The ending did get me a little teary-eyed though, so I'm bumping it up to a 3 star read.

I'd still recommend this to fans of Grady Hendrix's other books with the forewarning that it is quite slow in the beginning, feels like literary fiction, and has a much more serious tone than his other books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Grady Hendrix novel after hearing about him from my coworkers for years. I feel… a little disappointed with this one. I liked the campy atmosphere that the novel has and the horror scenes were written pretty well. Even the surgical scenes were visceral and horrific in a way of their own, which I appreciated. Ultimately, what dampened all that down for me was the pacing of the book and the lack of character development. I love to see character growth throughout books but I felt like there really want much of that until the end. That being said, I’d still like to try reading some of his other, more esteemed works!

The biggest thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

Power is a fickle thing, something that’s often controlled and kept from others on the basis of fear. And what if that power is discovered by those who have been kept in the dark? Grady Hendrix’s latest novel, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, is a close examination of these ideas of female empowerment and what this power looks like for every woman, not just all women. In the humid swamps of Florida, Wellwood Home exists as a place for “wayward” girls – pregnant, unwed, girls. The process is “simple”; a wayward girl is delivered by her family, she works for the Wellwood Home to earn her keep, she has her child who is then adopted, and the wayward girl returns to her life as she knew it before. But “before” is never as it really was, a truth that becomes apparent to many of the girls of Wellwood. This all changes when one group of girls discovers the possible power of witchcraft, the ability to alter their circumstances beyond normal means. Of course, all actions have consequences as these girls soon find out, leaving them with unthinkable choices to make. Hendrix crafts an emotional, moving examination of women’s empowerment through this lens, demonstrating the power of choices and those who make them.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is Grady Hendrix’s longest novel, knocking on around 500 pages in length. With this vast space, Hendrix chooses to leave no stone unturned concerning the inequalities women must suffer, especially expecting, unwed mothers. While the book is set in the 1970s, there is an unfortunate amount of truth to be found in these pages regarding the treatment of women in the world today, making Witchcraft another painfully timely read. I won’t lie and say this is a breezy, fun read from Hendrix; rather, this is an unflinching look at what happens when autonomy and choices are stripped away from individuals. Sure, there are still some signature Hendrix moments of levity, but on the whole, this feels like one of his more earnest, serious contributions.

This harrowing atmosphere is made possible through the character work implemented in these pages, with unique life breathed into the girls of Wellwood, chiefly Fern, Rose, Zinnia, and Holly. Most important of all, not one of these girls is written the same as another, each with their own personal wants, desires, and motivations. Through this diversity, we find so much to relate to with each girl who craves a different outcome for themselves and their unborn children. This feels like the most touching sentiment of all, this recognition of differences among women that does not take away from their essence of being a person, the bonds they forge with one another.

Of course, the horrors of this story can be found in the treatment of these girls as their lifestyle at Wellwood measures close to cruelty. Even more harrowing are the attitudes of those outside the home and their treatment of these girls in the real world. Yet, most horrifying of all is the withholding of information from these girls in regards to how their own bodies function, the falsehood perpetuated regarding their own being. Of course, to drive the true essence of horror home, Hendrix never shies away from body horror with no shortage of gore, blood, bile, and other stomach-churning bodily functions.

For all this horror, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is an emotionally fueled story with an ending that brought me to tears. Fern, Holly, Zinnia, and Rose share a relationship with one another that is cemented in the trenches of trauma, loss, and love. The final fifty or so pages of this novel contain poignant, heartfelt portraits of these female friendships, the ties that still bind these women together in ways that feel otherworldly. It’s powerful prose, a sentiment of beauty that drives this whole thing home and may even impart a little hope for a better tomorrow thanks to the helping hands of those just like us.

I enjoyed parts of this book, especially learning about the homes they had for unwed young girls and the thoughts they would put in their heads and the things they would say and teach them to think about themselves. It still is unreal to me how the men never had any backlash just the women. I enjoyed meeting the characters and all the different stories on how they got in their predicaments. But the book got too long in the middle for me. I could have cut out about five chapters and cut to the chase. Grady Hendrix books are a wild ride, that I enjoy getting on but this one for me was just too long and drawn out. Still enjoyable, creepy and I could picture it like a movie- just like his other books. So read it just be ready to get settled in.

1970s witchcraft? Sign me up!

I’ve always been a big fan of Grady Hendrix and this book did not disappoint. I’m not a big fan of how slow paced the first few chapters are but glad I kept with it because once I got past those chapters I couldn’t put this book down. This book also has a few graphic scenes so keep that in mind before reading.