I love Grady Hendrix, but wow I did not expect to be CRYING at the end of his witch book. This book felt different than the others I’ve read by him and I think that’s why it made such an impact. The topic is such a serious one, especially given the overturning of Roe and the current political climate, and I think that’s why this hit me so hard. That being said this is still very much a Grady Hendrix book complete with smart and humorous writing, disgusting imagery, and a scene involving random animals that will completely terrorize you (it was eels. I’ll never look at eels the same way).

The book is a bit slow to start, but looking back I can appreciate that. We spend a lot of time getting to know the “wayward” girls, and that development really fleshed them out and made me care for them. The girls we follow come from completely different backgrounds, yet they still end up in the same place. Money and status truly didn’t make a difference back then and if your teenage daughter got pregnant out of wedlock they were sent away (to an “aunt”), forced to give birth, and then robbed of their baby, whether they wanted to give it up or not.

That alone is enough to sicken you, but then the witchcraft arrives. The girls are given just a taste and that combined with the rage they feel over their situations and stolen babies is enough to tilt the world. I only wish we had seen more.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advance copy.

My first 5 star book of 2025 and I don’t give a 5 star very often!I seriously did not expect to have the emotions I had while reading this or the edge-of-the-seat suspense! It’s not often a book can have my heart beating with nervousness and tension while also making me tear up with the sentiment of a mother and a woman. Bravo to Grady who was able to accomplish this as a male writer! I was already a huge fan but I’m even more so now after reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"You can't beg the world to do what you want. You can't ask it nicely. You must force the world. You must bend it to your will."

Overall, I had a good time with this book. Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite horror authors. So I just knew I would enjoy it. My favorite parts of the story were the historical aspect of the book. It definitely felt like Hendrix spent a lot of time researching this topic.

One of my main reasons for not giving it a higher rating was because I think it was too long and sometimes, it was a bit messy. And secondly, I wanted more horror/supernatural elements. By the end of the book, I felt like I read a historical fantasy more than a horror story.

In the end, I still had a good time and will always recommend this author's works to people.

I empathized with Neva/Fern throughout the whole thing. She was a kid, thrown into a bad situation, trying to do what was right and things got messy...literally. Not sure if I needed some of the more gruesome descriptions of natural things. Hagar & Miriam were my favorite characters. Loved that karma bit back at some characters and Neva became a voice for women when she had no one for herself.

Grady Hendrix is amazing at his portrayal of women yet again. A pregnant teenager finds herself left behind her parents at a home for unwed mothers in Florida. The excruciating waiting leads the girls to dabble in witchcraft after a cagey librarian puts a certain book into their hands. A fun ride but beware the hyper realistic childbirth descriptions.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️Please see TW/CWs before consuming: Pregnancy, medical trauma, blood, pedophilia, child abuse, sexual assault, rape, racism, and vomit.

To expand on these warnings above, I would just stay away from this book if anything concerning child birth, pregnancy, or pregnancy loss triggers you. There is SO much about pregnancy in this book, it is on every page!

Could I ever dislike a Hendrix?? Idk if it is possible y’all. I really loved this, it does not top Horrorstor or Southern Book Club for me, but it comes close. It def tops his last two releases for me just cuz I love this subject matter, I love witches!!

I weirdly found this Hendrix more tame, but it certainly gets graphic especially with all the child birth, but it has a slow build of unsettling events. I really loved all the spells and how detailed they got! It was so interesting to read.

I loved the setting in 1970 at a home for unwed mothers, it led to such interesting and such awful conversations on giving up children for adoption. And how these are children having children and they are treated poorly by ALL the adults in their lives…every single one!

If you loved My Best Friends Exorcism, you will love this one too. Just because the young women friendships are so prominent in this book!

My only complaint is the length. I felt there was some repetitive introspection our MC does that could have been cut out. And maybe a few scenes were unnecessary as well, and those things kind of just bogged the plot down to me. I also didn’t love reading from such young characters, but that is on me, not the book.

The American South was a tough place to live in 1970, especially if you were a pregnant, unwed, young woman.

At that time not only would such a woman shame herself, she shamed her entire family. It was easier for that family to ship off the shame to summer camp or Bible camp and when they returned home from the ordeal, they could resume life like nothing happened. Shame averted. I felt for the group of girls in the Wellwood Home. Some were there due to errors in judgement on their part, others were victims of lecherous family members or the clergy. All were ashamed and afraid, and their stories were where this story lived.

That said, the witchcraft was not where this story lived. In fact, there was little of it. I have to admit that I was disappointed on that front. Maybe I was expecting this young coven to take revenge on the mostly awful people at the home and in the nearby town? Maybe I was picturing "The Craft" with young pregnant women? I don't know. I just pictured more magic, more punch on the supernatural front, if that makes any sense.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this historical fiction tale about the plight of young women during this time, especially in the south, but it only had a dash of witchery, when I thought it was going to be the main dish. The horror lives in the treatment of these young women and not the magic in the air. This book was written with a lot of empathy and tenderness and in this way the characters did come alive.

Overall, I enjoyed it and sometimes we need reminding of our history, lest we make the same mistakes again in the future. I just wished there was more witchcraft in the mix.

Recommended!

*ARC from publisher

Dark and witty — this is classic Grady Hendrix that will not disappoint fans in the slightest. I find Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires is still my favourite but this is a close second. This story was gripping and sent shivers down my spine. Hendrix’s dark wit, I feel, has become a staple in horror.

I think you could love this book if you can enjoy witchy stuff.
I had a really hard time connecting to this book with the current political climate.
If I could read it a few months ago I would have have a completely different experience
I do enjoy Grady Hendrix books so this rating is not my norm.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
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Fifteen year old Fern arrives at Welwood Home in sweltering Florida. It’s 1970 and teenage girls who are pregnant are hidden away until they have their babies. Every aspect of the girls’ lives is controlled, so when a librarian offers them a chance to take some of the power back they say yes.
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What I liked:
-This book surprised me. I was expecting a shocking horror book and while there were shocking and horrific things it was so tastefully done. I was impressed.
-Also this book is almost 500 pages long but it did not feel long, I flew through it.
-These girls and their situations really gutted me. I wanted to protect them. I wanted them to be heard and not controlled.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was so well done. And I loved how it ended. I also love how the horror of the book was not the witches but what “regular” people put these girls through.

A group of pregnant teenagers in 1970, sent by their embarrassed families to a bleak and controlling home for unwed mothers to gestate and give birth in secret, happens across a book of witchcraft. These powerless girls discover a power like they’ve never known – but such power comes at a price.

This book was dark and raw and horrifying and glorious all at once. It’s a hard read but a worthwhile one. I was not sure at first about a male author writing this story, but I felt like he did it and its characters justice. The 1970 setting is perfectly rendered, in terms of social conventions, pop culture, political climate, and most especially in terms of the options that were open to a pregnant 15-year-old in that particular year (i.e. none). The story was compelling from the start and only got more gripping as it went on – never once was I bored. Things get pretty bleak, but while I wouldn’t necessarily class the ending as “happy” per se, it was a satisfying one. I’m calling this one five stars, with a real hankering to read more Grady Hendrix soon.

Representation: POC Characters

CW: Pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, graphic depiction of childbirth, details of medical procedures, vomit, blood and gore, child sexual abuse (past), misogyny and patriarchy

A gritty and visceral look at the fate of young, unwed mothers in the early 70s combined with a touch of magical realism at its finest. One can't help but be moved by the fear and frustration of the protagonists while also being shocked and horrified by what they go through. Given the opportunity to rage against the injustice laid upon them, what lengths are they willing to go to for justice or revenge? Not necessarily for the queasy of stomach, but beautiful storytelling all the same.

I never thought I would give a Grady Hendrix 2 stars but here we are and I'm very sad about it. I was so excited for this book, the cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded so good but I really had to push myself not to DNF. It was such a long book with not a whole lot going on except for pregnant girls whining a lot. I can appreciate a male author doing a lot of research to write from a pregnant teenager's perspective but overall this book was such a drag. I was excited to get to the witchy parts almost halfway through but even then I was disappointed by them. The most horrific part about this whole book was the birthing scenes.

This was a bit tough to get through with the political climate in the US right now, but it was extremely timely and needed. It does sound a little weird that a male horror author is going to tackle teen pregnancy, but I trusted Grady Hendrix to handle it appropriately and he did not disappoint. This novel was equal parts heartbreaking, interesting, intriguing, and terrifying. I also love the role the librarian played. I sincerely hope every person picks this up as there is a lot to learn from it.

I have many thoughts about this book. Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite authors. I love his writing and especially love his craziness. This one fell flat on the crazy. This was very safe considering it's a Grady Hendrix novel. I give him props for writing a book about teenage pregnancy and birth. The witchiness was pretty normal, nothing extraordinary. Overall, it kept my interest throughout, but I'm a little disappointed.

The audiobook was very good. I really enjoyed the narrator; she was a perfect fit for Fern.

*Thank you partners @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted e-galley, hardcover copy, and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

Hendrix hasn't disappointed me yet! I love the variety in his books – my two favorites are still My Best Friend’s Exorcism and Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. There’s a good amount of levity and humor to mix in with the horror and scares. This book is very different. It’s heavier and has a different tone than his previous books (at least of the ones I’ve read!)

This story reminds you of the power librarians and books hold. One book of the occult from a librarian changes the course of the lives of the girls at the Wellwood Home for Wayward Girls. Hidden in St. Augustine, Florida, there is a place to send the girls who “grew up too fast” and are soon to be unwed mothers. It’s the 1970s, and we meet an interesting group of girls. Everything they do is planned out and told “it’s what’s best” for them and their unborn children.

Our main character, Fern, is fifteen, scared and unsure. We stay in her POV, and Hendrix does an incredible job really making her come to life. What the girls experience is heartbreaking and upsetting. This is very character driven, and the horror elements don’t really come into play immediately – at least not the witchcraft. I feel like this is perfect for those who want some lighter horror and also enjoy some historical fiction!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC! Everything I read from Grady Hendrix, I absolutely love. This book was disturbing and frustrating, but it was very much meant to be. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls follow a group of girls in 1970 who have been sent to a special home because they are pregnant. This was where a lot of my frustrating came from because the people running the home treat them horribly and control every aspect of their existence. So, naturally, when a librarian offers them a book that could solve all of their problems and give them back control, they take it. Once this book started to pick up the pace, it did not stop. I had so much trouble putting it down!

Grady Hendrix novels have been polarized, some people love them and some don't.

I have read a few and find myself hooked at the beginning and then somewhere it falls flat.

This book had me hooked on the first chapter, he writes such intriguing stories with very interesting premises. Not to mention the covers are always exceptional!!!!

I liked this novel more than his Final Girls novel, I say this knowing I am new to the horror genre and everything is subjective.

My favorite book of the year just entered the chat!

Ok, ok…I know it’s still January, but this is seriously going to be a hard one to beat. Not only did I love the book from cover to cover, but it hit me in the feels so hard at the end that I was in actual tears. I don’t cry often from reading, so for a book to do this, it means a lot.

I’ve long been a fan of Grady Hendrix’s writing style and his ability to bring characters to life. Wayward accomplishes this so well, as the story unfolds through the eyes of a group of girls who have been rejected by everyone. I’ve known that homes like these existed back in the day, but being side-by-side with those living through the rejection and shame that goes along with the terrifying fact of being a young pregnant girl was so heartbreaking at times that I had to put the book down for a breather.

I don’t want to waste a minute of sharing the plot because this is a story that begs you to just start and come along for the ride. There are ups and downs, tension, heartbreak, and joy. Take this as your sign to join Fern in sharing her story.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls takes a look at teen pregnancy in the 70’s and how girls at that time weren’t able to make their own choices. It’s a stark difference from how teen pregnancy is handled today which made for a very interesting and sometimes brutal read. While I thought this book was powerful in that regard, I have to admit that I was hoping for more horror. Grady managed to scare me with his previous novel (How to Sell a Haunted House), but this book didn’t have the some effects that I was looking for. I also felt like the witchcraft aspects were tame and wanted to see more. All in all, this is a decent read (one that DOES take some time to get into) and I think fans of the author will enjoy this one.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐