A review by literarywreck
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I've seen people complain about this book being falsely called queerbait-y... BUT, come on, where have you heard
they lived happily ever after, holding each other on their deathbed, raising children together... as FRIENDS
before?

I think it's unfortunate that Hendrix didn't choose to make the main characters' relationship more explicitly queer.

The queerplatonic relationship between these two girls was reminiscent of every overly intense female friendship I had as a youngin before I figured out I was bisexual (and that so were said "friends"). Once you add in the tumultuous and vaguely codependent relationship dynamic, WASPy parental disapproval, and odd involvement of a buff youth pastor, it's nearly identical. Using literal demons as a metaphor for queerness has a long history in horror, and actually addressing that and intentionally interacting with that would've been a much more interesting use of these pages. I'm still bothered by the kind of cheesy
power of friendship
ending, when that same ending could've been empowering & used to turn a fun and immersive book into one that actually said something.

3.5 rounded down
Expand filter menu Content Warnings