This book is advertised as bad mom meets my best friend’s exorcism um no! Bad moms was hilarious and Grady Hendrix is a genius author when it comes to horror mixed with comedy. This was none of those things! If it was a movie I would have changed the channel.

A group of four mom suburbanites get together monthly to drink and chat. They meet at Liz’s house where it’s decided that a Sheshed will be built as their special hangout spot!
Soon a horrible smell comes from the pit and Liz starts acting really strange! Actually, we find out she’s possessed by a demonic woman who brutally killed her whole family and who lived on Liz’s property all these years ago. And the way they find out is so anticlimactic.

I knew going into this that it wasn’t in any way reality. There were funny parts and even some mild creepy scenes. I skimmed through a lot of this book. It was mundane. Boring neighborhood things and characters that didn’t need to be in the story.

Eventually, an exorcism is performed: the power of friendship is the demon’s demise! What!? Really!?

This book is a could have been: could have been hilarious, could have been scary, and could have been meaningful. Unfortunately, it was not.
Two pluses: the awesome cover and the book was short.

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I picked up Suburban Hell and I did not set it down until I had read the entire thing. This was such an entertaining book that lived up to the expectations I had when I saw the comparisons to Bad Moms and books by Grady Hendrix.

The plot of this book is relatively straightforward: a group of suburban moms who are best friends have to deal with a sudden and terrifying situation when one of them appears to become possessed by a demon. This book stays pretty lightheaded because of the contrast between the scenes more directly related to demonic possession and the scenes about mundane tasks like making school lunches or attending PTA events. The way that it flips between tones creates a lot of unexpected humor. There are also several scenes that get more and more outrageous. I couldn't stop reading.

This is an extremely fast-paced book and it wastes no time getting started. It's silly, engaging, creepy, and at times touching. I loved my experience reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC to read and review.

I loved loved loved this book! Maureen Kilmer does a fantastic job of keeping light yet spooky at the same time. Super fun and easy to read, and I really hope to see more from Maureen soon!

Suburban Hell was heaven! I loved this book! It was just the right balance of scary and exciting so I stayed up way too late reading it! It was even better than my best friend's exorcism and I can't wait to read more from Maureen Kilmer!

Being a mom in the suburbs has got to be tough. You’ve got temperamental children, minivans, the PTA…and now a demon on the loose?!

Amy and her best friends, Liz, Jess, and Melissa, all live in a Chicago suburb, in a mostly quiet and neighborly subdivision where everyone knows everyone and all of their kids play together. It’s always been safe, and the four women love their little neighborhood.

Getting together monthly for a movie (ahem, wine) night provides some relief from their duties as mothers, wives, etc. However, they’d still love a place to go where there are no interruptions from complaining children or husbands. So they decide to build a She Shed in Liz’s backyard.

The night before the construction begins on the She Shed, the four friends christen the area with a drink…and quickly feel a change in the air that they all brush off…that is, until it quickly becomes evident over the next few days that they have unwittingly unleashed a demon to wreak havoc on their once idyllic community.

Now, Amy and her friends are dealing with Liz being possessed by an evil force, a foul smell overpowering the neighborhood, terrible burn marks, and a roomba from hell…and that’s just the beginning. Can they fight back against the demon and save their neighborhood and Liz?

Living in the suburbs can be hell…literally!

This is such a fun book, and proved to be exactly what I needed after an extremely stressful week. I had a good feeling about this one, and I’m glad my intuition was spot on. Debut “horror” author Maureen Kilmer writes an amusing and occasionally LOL-inducing story that has witty dialogue, an original premise, fantabulous characters, and a whole lotta heart!

I loved Amy and her friends, and appreciated how level-headed they were while all of these demonic shenanigans were going on around them. This is described as a “lite-horror-comedy”, and I find that very fitting. It’s never really scary, but there are some ghoulish and creepy moments (I even got goosebumps at one point). Most of the darker scenes still contain a laugh or two.

I enjoy when there are supernatural elements in my reading from time to time, but have never been a fan of demons or bodily possession in my books or movies. However, this was an exception, as I truly enjoyed the story and couldn’t put it down. I also found parts surprisingly touching, as it becomes evident that the ties of friendship are very important to this group…and sometimes that means more than anyone can even imagine.

4.5 stars

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected to be unleashed on: 9/27/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Omg I loveddddd this book!! I’m so sad that it ended but I’m hoping there’s a sequel! I loved desperate housewives and this truly was the same vibes with a crazy horror twist to it. I loved the characters, I loved the authors style of writing, It’s the first book I’ve read in awhile that didn’t alternate narrators which was refreshing. I loved the spookiness of it. I really loved everything about it, Please make a second one!!

This was such a fun read! When I saw the comparison between My Best Friend’s Exorcism and Bad Moms I could not click download fast enough.

Amy and her friends are the “bad moms” of the neighborhood. They drink wine on school nights, don’t volunteer for things and generally stick to themselves. On the eve of their She-Shed groundbreaking, something goes horribly awry and something sinister is unleashed. It might just be coming for all of them and their children.

This book was a perfect blend of humor and horror. I loved how the author played up all of the suburban mom stereotypes (Heather’s kitchen reveal was hilarious) and as a fellow Chicago suburbanite I loved all of the local references. The possession moments were very creepy and the descriptions were positively grotesque. I loved it! Even with the horrific moments this was a great story of motherhood, female friendship, and the strength of those bonds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an advanced copy.

I can honestly say this is one of the most original books I’ve ever read. It’s like a cross between Stepford Wives and the Exorcist. At times creepy and it other time sardonic, I absolutely love this book. Absolutely recommend!!!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five