I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as I have lived all of this authors as I am a huge fan of the writing and the stories are always bonkers in the best way! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a fascinating read. My first book by Hendrix but won't be my last! It was so special reading about the Wayward girls, and although really hard at times I didn't want it to finish.

It’s difficult to describe whether or not I ‘enjoyed’ reading this book because some pages were extremely difficult to stomach, but I also couldn’t put it down.

Set in the 1970s during a time when pregnant teenage girls would be packed off to a ‘Home’ to be pregnant, give birth and have their babies taken away before returning to their own lives, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls packs a real punch. Fern is fifteen, pregnant and learning to adapt to her new life at Wellwood House. Surrounded by other teenage mothers, Fern and her friends Rose, Holly and Zinnia find themselves drawn to witchcraft, but do they really understand the consequences of such power?

My favourite thing about this book had to be the friendship between Fern, Rose, Zinnia and Holly. The dialogue and relationship between these four is what kept my reading on even when the plot was quite slow at times. I truly cared for how their storylines would develop.

A story all about feminine power and rage, I couldn’t help but feel full of anger and sadness at times. There are some extremely gruesome descriptions of pregnancy, child birth and body mutilation - some of which seriously made my stomach churn and I would advise avoiding this if you’re currently pregnant or dealing with any post-labour trauma.

The true horror of this novel comes from the fact society allowed these places to exist and for these young girls to be stripped of their identities.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan, Grady Hendrix and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

I'm probably one of the very few people on this site that have never read a Grady Hendrix book even though I enjoy a little horror here and there, and after reading "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" I feel like I really missed out. This is one of my favourite horror reads in a long, long time, and it's not just because I just generally love witches and books about them. It's because the real horrors in this book are so very realistic.

Hendrix tells the story of Neva, a 15 years old girl that gets pregnant by a guy that promises her the world but only really wants one thing. It's 1970, Roe has not been passed yet and being pregnant and unmarried is one of the worst sins a person can commit, with the blame lying entirely on the girls and women of course. Girls like Neva get sent to secret homes where they live out their pregnancy and have to give their newborns away right after birth. Neva isn't even allowed to keep her name because in order to keep all their identities and shame secret Miss Wellwood, the owner of said home for wayward girls, orders them to only go by their newly given names while they are part of their little commune - and Neva becomes Fern. Left alone by her family and completely uneducated when it comes to her own body and pregnancy, Fern forms a bond with other girls in similar situations. It's a cesspool of desperation and injustice, and when a mysterious librarian offers Fern and her friends power they could only ever dream of in a world that prefers them powerless they take it. Even if it means they have to pay a steep prize for it.

Really, the paranormal horror elements in this book are immaculate. The witches and their craft are complex and intriguing. But this book's strength is what witchcraft actually symbolizes, and the true horror are the societal norms forcing young women into lives full of shame and pain. The most gruesome scene in this book is a birth, and the most horrifying entity is a man. It was gutwrenching and heartbreaking to read what these young girls had to go through and I was glued to the pages until the very end. I enjoyed the writing style, which is very accessible in general. The story is well-paced and takes its time with its characters, who are the heart of the whole book. I can absolutely recommend this for people who don't read horror as well, and while not spelled out explicitely, it feels like a comment on what's happening in the US right now in regards to reproductive and general women's rights. We really don't want to go back to the horrors described in this book.

Thank you to betgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc!

Sadly this was not the book for me I didn’t love this like I wanted to and I didn’t loved the topic of the book and how it was written therefore I sadly DNF’d

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this, in exchange for a honest review.

This is the first novel I have read by Grady Hendrix and will definitely not be my last. The topics raised were at times gut wrenchingly sad and I was amazed that it could be written so well by a man. The characters Rose and Fern I warmed to straight away. It transported you into their world which was scary, so cruel to have to give up their babies and the deep feeling of being unloved by their families.
I am currently waiting for my next Grady Hendrix book to arrive - My Best Friends Exorcism.

Thank you so much for sending me this book, I loved it. I have read three other books by this author but this is definitely my favourite.
I loved how the horror aspect crept up on you, I was beginning to wonder where the witches came into it and then all hell broke loose.
I loved the isolated setting, you got a real sense of the girls being trapped in so many different ways.
The chapter that detailed Fern giving birth was so good. The horror came through in the gory descriptions but I felt like Grady Hendrix captured how overwhelming it is.
I would highly recommend this book.

I have a lot of thoughts. This was my first Grady Hendrix book. I’ve always heard good things, but when I started reading this story about unwed, pregnant, teenage girls in the 70s I immediately kept getting the feeling that it felt off that a white man was writing this story in this tone. I just kept thinking, “Why this topic? Why these characters?”. There just wasn’t enough of a message behind it to make it feel like allyship, so it just gave me the ick the entire time.

This book is 90% about pregnancy and 10% witchcraft (shockingly little to no horror, which was surprising bc isn’t that his bag?). I will say, I liked how a five star reviewer put it, that the horror in this mostly constitutes the horror of being a woman without agency in this kind of situation. Maybe it was meant to be a more pragmatic type of “horror” for this novel. Anyway, most of the time it felt very obvious that the writer, as a man, had never experienced pregnancy himself and that every detail was coming from somewhere else. But again, this book was so much about being a miserable, pregnant, teenage girl with no free will that I cannot understand what his ultimate angle was with this book.

It all really felt like a missed opportunity. There were so many directions this story could’ve taken…so many ways in which the witchcraft element could’ve been explored and harnessed to create a story of feminine rage, revenge and justice; to send a message about taking back control and the power of Woman…but no…I just got that same weird vibe throughout…about Hendrix’s apparent insistence across all his novels to write through the minority voice. To write women and Black people in these stereotypical tropes. Because I’ve only read this one book, I’d be interested in hearing him discuss some of his themes and creative choices, but ultimately I don’t feel I have enough info to pass any kind of judgement. These are just my initial feelings and thoughts after reading this book, and then feeling led to explore some other reviews, where I found these topics arise in multiple reviews for other books of his, it all just left an impression.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Wow - this book packs a punch!

I was sucked in by the blurb - I’ve seen so many Grady Hendrix reviews but this was the first I’ve picked up and it didn’t disappoint.

It’s not easy to deal with some of the topics in this book, including teenage pregnancy, racism and horrific sexism (especially towards unmarried girls/women) but I thought it was all done really well.

I enjoyed the dive into the two sides of evil - both supernatural ‘real’ evil and the arguably worse evil of humans with no compassion for others.

I’m really glad I picked this up and would definitely recommend - but expect blood and horror and the mistreatment of young girls, it gets a little heavy at times!

It’s 1970 USA and pre Roe, a girl in trouble has very few options. Powerful and full of rage. The reason I love Grady Hendrix.

Fifteen and pregnant Neva is a disgrace to her family. She is dropped off at a home for unwed mothers so she can grow her child in secret, surrender it and pretend nothing ever happened. The girls do not exist at the Home, no names, no personal details and they have no control over their lives or bodies. What do they expect when they couldn’t keep their legs closed? When Neva, now Fern, gets a strange book from a strange librarian, it leads the girls down a different road, they’re looking to reclaim some power, but power comes at a price.

Grady Hendrix uses supernatural to tell important stories like no one else. I loved this. It’s dark, unflinching, graphic and enraging. There are trigger warnings of gore and references to abuse. Hendrix does nothing gratuitously, it’s a terrifyingly relevant story.

The girls in the Home and their stories hit me straight in the heart and stomach. I was full of fear, anger and disgust (at society) the whole way through. The natural elements were far more disturbing than the supernatural. The powerlessness of these poor, suffering children was borderline unbearable to read in the best way. It should be shoved down your throat, something you can’t look away from. When the witchcraft comes to fruition, the hope and the subsequent terror are classic horror, beautifully done. I needed to switch to a lighter book before I went to sleep.

Another belter from Hendrix. This did not disappoint

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my #arc

I think Grady Hendrix holds the medal for most consistently improving author. Every book of his that I pick up, I enjoy a little bit more than his previous work. This is his strongest novel to date, imo. I do think you need to go in with the correct expectations - the horror aspect is a slow, slooooooooooooow boil. Which is not to say this is a slow moving book. On the contrary, I could barely put it down. I whipped through the first half in a single sitting! BUT when the supernatural shenanigans started, it took me by surprise. I was so engrossed in the characters and the setting that I'd actually forgotten I was reading a horror book. The low horror quotient did not affect my enjoyment in the slightest (and things definitely ramp up in the final third) but if you go in expecting non-stop witchcraft, you might be disappointed.

I won't lie the Grady Hendrix books I have read previously have all been amazing which is why I went for this book and it did not disappoint. While it was a bit harrowing reading descriptions of birth when nearly 10 months ago I had given birth this book is written in a way that keeps you coming back and wanting to know what the next twist and turn will be.

Fern, Holly, Rose and Zinna are all well-written to the point that when they are stubborn you get annoyed at them and when they are going through something you feel for them. They are in a situation that no one would want to be in and making the best of a shit deal of cards. overall the story was compelling, fast-paced and exciting to read and I liked that it didn't just end. The last chapter completed the whole story in a great way.

This was a perfect read that I would suggest to my friends.

This is my first time reading anything by this author. I didn't know what to expect from this story, but I wasn't prepared for what I've just read.

A story of a place where young unmarried teens are sent when they are pregnant. They are the forgotton about, they have no identity, forced to take on a fake name and stay quiet about their normal lives. They become nobody. They are there to have their babies and give them up to a loving married couple, then they get to return home like none of it ever happened. These girls are treated as sinners. They bring shame on their families, and they carry all of the blame for the situation they're in.

This story centres around Fern, a pregnant teen and her three friends she formed a bond with in the home. Fed up and tired with how they are being treated, they want to take back control of what happens to them and their unborn child. When the librarian hands them a book about witchcraft, they see this as the answer they've been searching for. They end up facing more than they bargained for, and they have to face the repercussions of their actions.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a dark, descriptive, terrifying, and powerful tale full of cruelty and feminine rage. It's so compelling and an emotional i was so immersed in this story. It's a book that will stay with me for a long time. The horror isn't the witchcraft or the magic. It's the injustices and cruelty these poor girls are subjected to. A must read for 2025.

Contains graphic scenes.

Thank you, Pan Macmillan, for my advanced copy of this book

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

This is a brilliant book. It’s well written with great characters. This is my first Grady Hendrix book but it won’t be the last. I found the story totally immersive and paced so well I found it difficult to put down.

I was wholly moved by this book.
At a time in 2024 when we, as women, are still having to speak up against higher powers trying to rule over our bodies this hit hard.
There were so many different aspects of this story that I adored that I am struggling to put it into words.
The vulnerability that these young characters portrayed made you care for them deeply. Young girls not only seduced by the opposite sex, but also by dreams outwith their own grasp.
Characters that should have protected them. Cherished them. Nurtured them. Only to shed them like a snake shedding its own skin.
I felt so much anger and frustration towards the older generation in this story for turning deaf ears and blind eyes to the reality in front of them.
The disgusting way that the male characters not only chastised young girls for wearing their sins but trodding on them in the process.

This story is moving. Inspiring. Beautiful. Infuriating and raw.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not really sure what to say because this book was pretty gutwrenchingly sad and not at all what I expected - but it was also sort of powerful? Honestly I'm amazed a man wrote this because it felt so true to the experiences of teenage girls. Yeah, there's actual witchcraft and magic, and there's danger in that. But the scary witches in the woods aren't nearly as terrifying as the adults in these girl's lives who take away their agency, who rule over their bodies. Be aware of trigger warnings for this one. It's a harrowing read at some points.

A deeply impactful and haunting exploration of female rage, autonomy, and the dark history of the treatment of young women. This historical fiction novel doesn't follow the typical conventions of horror, instead weaving a story of psychological terror, emotional depth, and witchy subversion.

The story is set against a grim backdrop, where the young female protagonists are trapped in a horrific institution - often cruelly treating their bodies and emotions as disposable. The true horror of the tale lies not in supernatural threats but in the real-world violence and oppression these girls endure. The author’s skill at capturing the girls’ internal lives - especially the isolation, confusion, and the stifling silence they face - is stunning. At times, it’s difficult to believe a male author could so authentically depict the feelings and experiences of these young women - but I have read a Grady Hendrix previously and know him to be skilled in capturing female voice and emotion. The depth with which the author explores their suffering and resilience challenges the reader to sit with discomfort, making the novel all the more poignant.

One of the novel’s most striking features is the symbolism behind the girls’ names. Assigned floral names, they represent the lost potential for personal power and identity in a system that forces conformity. The floral monikers underscore the ways in which these girls, denied real names, are denied any control over their own lives. But as the plot unfolds, the theme of names—and the power they represent—becomes central, adding emotional weight to the girls’ fight for agency and self-expression.

While the supernatural elements - particularly the witchcraft - play an important role, they don’t overwhelm the narrative. Instead, they amplify the central themes of rebellion and rage against societal expectations. The witchy aspects feel like a powerful metaphor for the ways in which these girls fight back against their oppressors, breaking free from the roles that have been forced upon them. The novel’s climax, particularly in its second-to-last chapter, is a stunning and cathartic eruption of female empowerment that will leave readers feeling raw and liberated.

Despite some slow-paced moments that reflect the monotony and oppressive nature of the girls’ daily lives, ‘Witchcraft for Wayward Girls’ ultimately builds to an emotional crescendo. There’s an undercurrent of tension throughout, and when the eventual release comes, it’s utterly cathartic. The feminist themes embedded in the book are especially timely, offering commentary on reproductive rights and the ways in which society continues to regulate and control women's bodies.

The novel’s portrayal of female rage isn’t just cathartic; it’s a necessary and transformative experience for both the characters and the reader. While the book’s tone is often heavy and its subject matter difficult, it offers an empowering, if unsettling, journey into the hearts and minds of young women fighting against systemic forces.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction with a dark edge, complex female characters, and an exploration of power dynamics, this is an unforgettable and necessary read. It is a book that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the arc.

The book was a dark, emotional ride that blends supernatural elements with some seriously feminist themes. . The most unsettling part of the book isn’t the witches or paranormal stuff, but the brutally real descriptions of childbirth. Hendrix doesn't hold back, making you feel every bit of the pain these young women go through, which is honestly more chilling than any witch attack.

While the witchcraft element is there, it's not as scary or intense as you might expect. The real horror comes from the pressures these women face, especially when it comes to reclaiming control over their own bodies and identities. The characters—Fern, Rose, Zinnia—are all deeply complex, each one trying to navigate their struggles in their own way. Rose, the rebellious one, is particularly unforgettable, and Neva’s journey of self-discovery (or loss of self) hits hard, especially when her identity shifts throughout the story.

The pacing does slow down a bit in the middle, especially when Neva’s dealing with the loss of a friend, but the tension never really disappears. It's a story that sticks with you, mixing emotional depth with a bit of dark magic. If you're into stories that blend horror with a strong feminist message, The book will definitely leave you thinking long after you finish it. Definitely worth a read!

Another fantastic Grady Hendrix book, just the right about of spooky, thriller, and mystery vibes throughout the book, and I devoured every word! Loved it, its the perfect read for these darker evenings, snuggled up on the sofa with a hot drink and fire going.

“I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.”

15 year old Fern arrived at Welwood House in the hot murky summer of 1970. Pregnant, terrified and alone, she’s abandoned in shame by her family. Fern meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament and quickly becomes friends with 3 other girls, Holly, Rose, and Zinnia. Every second of their days is rigidly controlled by adults claiming they know what’s best for them. When a librarian arrives to the home and gives Fern an occult book about witchcraft, she hands power to the group of girls for the first time in their lives. But there’s a price to pay for such power and the payment is in blood.

Moving away from Hendrix’s typically dark and humorous take on horror stories, his new book deals with extremely difficult topics which are at times graphic, disturbing and heartbreaking in equal measure. It’s twisted but something that will leave the reader full of rage at the way these girls are ostracised and demonised by their families, the ones who should protect them the most. In a country where mother and baby homes existed right up to the 1990s, this story was so hard for me to read at times, particularly the abuse of little Holly. Her story absolutely ripped my heart to shreds.

It’s a dark and beautiful story; it’s emotional and cruel, but what stands out the most for me is the powerful bonds formed between the girls. Their willingness to call on unknown forces to escape, to take back some control and to protect their friends from further harm and abuse is poignantly treated by Hendrix.

The true horror in this book isn’t the supernatural elements (although there’s some good old fashioned terror added with the presence of the coven and their terrifying canine guardian); it’s the graphic description of childbirth, miscarriage and pain that these girls must endure hidden away from the world as if they are nothing but dirt. It’s not for the faint-hearted so be warned! Oh how the rage boils your blood reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the arc.

4.5⭐️ out 16th Jan.