I was so excited to read this novel and when I scored an ARC from Netgalley, I couldn't wait to dive right in. 1970s southern home for unwed mothers and witches? Yes please!

Unfornately, the execution fell flat for me. And I also felt that 100-150 pages could have and should have been shaved off. I felt that there were parts of this book that just draaaaagged on. And honestly, unlike TSBCGTSV, I felt most of the time that I was reading a historical fiction novel with witches as a plot device rather than a witchy horror book set in a historical time with some social plot devices thrown in.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the feminist "take back your power" message that this book portrayed a lot, especially since it was written by a man. But I really just wanted more witches. The witchy parts actually made me uncomfortable at times which is weird because I love witches and witchy books. Miss Parcae the librarian was off-putting and not my favorite character and as soon as she was introduced, I began to get bad vibes from her. It's almost as if Grady Hendrix wrote a cautionary tale about witches instead of a fun little witchy book. And that was disappointing.
I enjoyed the wayward pregnant girls theme and all the struggle and injustices that the girls went through. I enjoyed a lot of the characters and their relationships to each other as well as their babies. But. When I was expecting something more horror forward, it was ultimately a disappointment. And though the beginning dragged on for me (I mean I don't even think witches even come into play until like 30-35% in) the first half was so much better than the second. The first half was all about claiming your power and using witchcraft to right wrongs and correct injustices, and I really dug where it was going. And then the second half just fell flat for me. I didn't particularly care for the direction the author took (no spoilers here) and just found it strange. There were a lot of parts that made me uncomfortable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing when it comes to my reading experience, but I didn't find the discomfort enjoyable. And if I'm also being honest, I didn't love the main character. Fern was my least favorite character by a mile, but Holly and Rose and Hagar totally made up for it. I wished that Hagar and Miriam played a bigger part and I wish that there was more emphasis placed on some of the history of the house and the traumas suffered.

So still 3.5 stars because overall I liked more than I disliked, but I really wanted to love this and I just didn't. And a lot of it was just personal preference and my disappointment in some of the author's choices, but a lot of my friends really loved this so I'm probably a wrongreader on this one. I do think it should have been shorter though. Not having the draggy bits would probably have upped my enjoyment.

Set in 1970 when young pregnant girls were without options about their futures and their babies, Fern, Rose, Holly, Zinnia and other young girls are sent to a home in Florida to finish out their pregnancies, give away their babies and then return to their lives as if nothing ever happened. They come to find all that they were told is good is evil and what was evil may actually be good. The girls are at the mercy of the adults in their lives while the boys/men live unscathed but with the help of a book on witchcraft, they find their power and rebel. It's a difficult topic and unsettling to remember the days when this was a reality for young girls. Written by a man but full of the angst of women.

As a Grady Hendrix devotee I was waiting for this book from the second it was announced and I hate to say that it did not live up to the hype for me. I found the horror elements just as spine chilling as ever, but found the characters storyline lacking. I have always enjoyed the way Grady Hendrix writes his female characters, and I know the point of this book was for them to lack agency, but I may have been hoping for them to have the ability to reclaim that agency at some point. This foray just felt a little scattered to me. Still a highly entertaining read.

A very evocative read. The storyline is very gripping and the writing style is very unique. The characters were easy to empathize with and the character development was good.

Grady Hendrix is a very interesting author. His books have stories I enjoy reading and I always look forward to his next book. The setting and date of the book are intriguing.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was a hard book to read. I admit I requested this one purely based on the title. It sounded interesting. I personally have not read a Grady Hendrix book before so this was an experience.

I was kind of nervous picking this one up once I learned that this book was written by a man. Such a sensitive topic needs a strong voice. And I think Grady Hendrix did a decent job. Teenage pregnancy is such a hard topic to discuss these days. Especially during the 70’s. And I am glad someone wrote a story about it.


These wayward girls broke my heart everytime they spoke. Their stories hit me so hard. I wish I had paid attention to some of the TW regarding this book. But that was completely my fault. But the best part of this one was the friendship these girls were able to make in such a scary place. Truly beautiful storytelling there.

This book definitely made me want to check out the authors previous books.

This book is absolutely gut wrenching.
The story follows a group of pregnant teenage girls before abortion was an option.
The fantastic writing really makes you feel what it is like to be in this situation, rejected by society and your family.
To be only allowed to feel shame, to be alone, scared and denied any voice or choice.

The horror aspects are great, both the very graphic body horror and the more psychological interaction with the witches. I loved that the plot was the direct consequence of the characters being deprived of any support or help from the adults who should protect them.

This is a very powerful story, and it will stay with me for some time.

This was a brilliantly crafted historical horror story that shines a light not only on pregnancy and bodily autonomy, but on womanhood as an experience. I loved all the characters. I especially loved that the head witch was a librarian of a mobile library. Hendrix brings characters to life in a way that is super satisfying. Loved this one and highly recommend it!

This was a slow read for me. I was instantly hooked, and then it lagged in the middle, and then I zoomed through the end. Interestingly, the least interesting parts for me were the witchcraft. I can say that, after the misnomer title of How to Sell a Haunted House, this one tells you exactly what it is.

The horror story here lies in the abject disregard for and mistreatment of “wayward girls” pre-Roe and the absolute trauma that is childbirth, though I can’t speak from experience—and I suppose neither can Hendrix. I spent much of the book wondering how a man had the gall to write this, but I admit that he did so convincingly.

This story is full of pain and so much cringing. It’s the first book to make me nearly vomit, and it did so twice. Still, I’m not sorry I read it.

Full review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6582404389

A book that explores homes for unwed pregnant girls in the 70’s with a bit of witchcraft thrown in.

This definitely was not my favorite Grady Hendrix book. With its slow pace it took ages for anything interesting to start happening. I would have liked more character development from Hagar & Miriam. These characters seemed to have a lot going on but it’s never fleshed out. I would have liked more from the witchcraft also.

Still a unique perspective of a disturbing moment in history.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This was a very interesting book. I enjoyed it as a whole but it was entirely too long for me. This book could have been shorter quite a bit and I felt like it was dragged on entirely too long. However it was still a good book.

This book exceeded my expectations by a landslide. I went into expecting just another horror story revolving around young women but it was so much more than that. It opened my eyes to what it was to be a young, unmarried woman in the 60s-70s.

Hendrix is the only male author i read because he somehow captures women in a light i can actually identify with & has done so many times. I will always reach for a book he publishes.

God the graphic birth scenes in this were hard to read. Otherwise, loved the revenge plot and friendships. This was my first Grady Hendrix but won't be my last.

Hendrix masterfully blends historical fiction with supernatural horror, creating a narrative that is both chilling and poignant. The portrayal of the girls' experiences highlights the harsh realities faced by unwed mothers in the 1970s, while the introduction of witchcraft adds a layer of dark fantasy. The characters are richly developed, and their journey from oppression to empowerment is both compelling and thought-provoking.

Ugh, I just didn't love this one. In classic Grady Hendrix fashion, it was Weird and Campy, but oh so Boring. I listened to this book and it took a good 20% for anything to start happening. He does an excellent (and gutsy) job of relaying the horrors of childbirth and being a single mother in an unforgiving time, but the pacing was way too slow and the book felt like it was way longer than it needed to be. Fern, in my opinion, was a very vanilla girl and it was hard to get past some of her naivety, but I did have to keep reminding myself that she was in an environment that was not kind to girls like her.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

This was very slow moving, too slow. I just couldn't love it. The main character didn't stand out enough. Very boring. I thought it would be more dark and atmospheric. It's not.

Grady Hendrix blends horror and humor in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, but the result is uneven. The premise is strong, with a darkly fun setting and moments of sharp satire, but the pacing feels off and some characters lack depth. While the themes of trauma and friendship are compelling, they get lost in a cluttered narrative. Entertaining, but not his best.

This wasn't my favourite Grady Hendricks book but I still enjoyed it. It wish the story went deeper into witchcraft and witches. I found it was missing something and I can't put my finger on it. Still a great read though!

Another great read from Hendrix. Witches, librarians, and wayward girls? A spell for a great spooky read.

I probably wasn't in the correct head space for this book but then again, is there ever a good time to read a book about forced births in teens? I mean, I know it's a reality for many but I have the empathy without the trauma of reading about it. My apologies for not leaving a review sooner.