I think Witchcraft for Wayward Girls might be my new favorite Grady Hendrix novel, finally unseating My Best Friend's Exorcism from its long-standing top spot. While it’s undeniably a horror story, it’s also so much more—a deeply moving tale about the intersection of magic and motherhood.

The book is set in a group home for young, unwed pregnant women in 1970s Florida. The protagonist, known as "Fern," just wants to have her baby and get back to her life as a high schooler. But things take a wild turn when the traveling bookmobile librarian gives her a spellbook. What starts as an escape from her grim reality spirals into unimaginable danger, as Fern discovers the costs of wielding power in a world that’s already stacked against her.

What I loved most about this book is how carefully it draws parallels between magic and motherhood. As someone who gave birth this summer, I found myself connecting with Fern on a personal level—especially since, unbelievably, we share the same due date. Hendrix also does a fantastic job exploring the impossible choices and dangers women with unintended pregnancies face, especially in the pre-Roe era. It’s eerie and heartbreaking how relevant those themes feel today.

Overall, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story that packs all the thrills and chills you expect from Hendrix. It gets an A+ for balancing horror with heart and delivering a story that’s both terrifying and thought-provoking. Fans of Hendrix and anyone who loves layered, feminist horror won’t want to miss this one.

3.5✨
Wow, what a ride this one was. I’ve read a few Grady Hendrix books prior, however, I still wasn’t prepared.
To start off with, I felt as if the first 50% of the book was really slow and drawn out. Nothing was drawing me in and I felt pretty dang bored. Thankfully it picked up after that half way mark. The rest of the book was what I craved the entire time (except for those birth scenes. I mean, I get it, Hendrix has a knack for gory gut wrenching moments. It just felt too much for me).
The ending was so beautiful done and honestly saved this whole book for me. It was absolute perfection and made me feel so many things! I felt connected to each individual girl and loved the outcome.

Very slow start, I have paused reading and I am not confident I will return to it. This may be because I was hoping for some magic by now, but also perhaps personal preference (southern stories don't resonate with me for some reason).

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is less a book searching for a theme, and more a story wandering around in hopes that a theme will land. Grady Hendrix takes a very long time to get to the witchcraft (30% into the book) and even longer to get to the horror (50% in), and risks losing the reader with a boring tale of flat, uninteresting characters before getting to either of those progress markers.

It feels like he was trying to write a Stephen King style novel about relatable characters in an unfortunate situation with a dose of cultural commentary thrown in, but it just feels awkward and disjointed. Even after we get the first mention of witchcraft, I found myself skimming to get to anything that advanced the story, and let me tell you, that was a fair bit of skimming.

Eventually, we get a villain to go with the witchcraft, but not a very compelling or frightening one. As for the witchcraft, it does lend itself to a small handful of amusing, well-orchestrated scenes, but they are too few and too far between to maintain any sense of drama or pacing. It doesn’t help that Hendrix attempts to establish a time period with nothing more than a bunch of hippy references and an embarrassingly bad (and lazy) reliance on the magical negro trope to save the day.

Ok, so Grady Hendrix is such a polarizing author. Some books have been incredible, or at least entertaining, and others maybe not so much. The premise allowed itself for so much more but the payoff just wasn't there. I wanted these teen girls to turn to witchcraft much sooner and maybe go beyond what they did in the plot - it just has so much potential as a story but it sucks that it fizzled out.

Fifteen year old pregnant Fern arrives at the Wellwood home summer of 1970 and feels all alone, until she meets the other girls in her same predicament. They have no control and are expected to give their babies up and forget this summer. This all changes when they meet a librarian with a book on the occult.

Witchcraft is not one of my favorite tropes, but unwed mother homes and teenage girls bonding in unusual situations certainly are; add in the fact that Hendrix is the author and I knew I’d love this one. It is quite thick but flies by as you are instantly connected with the main character as she drives to the home dealing with her father’s anger. The magic and witchcraft is a bit light and the focus is mostly on the relationships between the girls, which really makes the story.

“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.”

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls comes out 1/14.

This was an average read for me. The premise of teen girls in a home for unwed mothers turning to witchcraft for power sounded so intriguing, but the execution left me wanting more. While the story had some interesting elements, like the historical setting and the mix of fantasy and social commentary, it felt uneven overall. The pacing dragged at times, and the characters, especially the main one, didn’t feel fully fleshed out.

The witchcraft angle had potential, but I wish it was more of the focus of the story... it took way to long to even get to the witchcraft aspect. I also struggled with how some of the plot relied on secondary characters solving problems for the main character, which felt a bit lazy. The last chapter was the highlight for me, but by then, it was too late to save the rest of the book. If you’re into historical fiction with a touch of fantasy, it might be worth a try, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

Our main character, at fifteen, is pregnant and sent to a home for unwed mothers in Florida. In the oppressive summer heat, she and several other girls meet a witch and try their hand at magic. Of course, there is a price and they are not willing to pay that price.

This is not horror, although there are some pretty graphic descriptors of childbirth. It feels more like a fantasy and historical fiction mash-up. The characters were not particularly likable. The use of Hagar and Miriam to solve most of the white girl's problems felt lazy. It would have been fascinating to read this story entirely from Hagar's point of view.

While well-written, it is strange reading a book where almost every character is female being written by a male.

The last chapter was by far the best chapter in the whole book...

Thank you to Net Galley, and Berkely Publishing Group for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this one! It felt a little different from his previous books as he takes on group homes for teenage unwed mothers in the late 60s/early 70s. It had some social horror in terms of the group homes for teen mothers, and then there was more traditional with the witchcraft piece later in the book. It did move slower in terms of pacing than his other books, but that may have been deliberate for you to see how awful the group home situation was. Hard to really pin down a genre on this one, and I love that.

The start of this was really good, and there was so much heart, but as it went on it felt like it lost it a bit and became more preachy. Not in like a bible preachy way but in a rehashing on the same things kind of way, if that makes sense. It kinda just killed the plot a bit for me.

Power, transformation, and a whole lot of blood all wrapped up in some high-stakes teen pregnancies. The atmosphere was strong! Enough historical context without overdoing it.

phew. this is a doozy of a book. i've never read Hendrix before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I dont think it was this. In a good way.

Make no mistake, this book is a horror story.

this book feels timely in an accidental sort of way. with all of the conversation surrounding women's rights, especially reproductive rights, this story shines the brightest of lights on how things used to be, on how easily they could be this way again. but never did it feel like hendrix was preaching. this was a story that was presented to the reader as facts laid out before a trial. and the conclusions that i, as reader, drew, were damning.

this story is damning of society. the treatment of these CHILDREN was horrific. from the parents all the way on down to every single adult that crossed paths with these girls, they were belittled and reduced to so-called mistake. i spent much of this book shocked over the treatment of these girls, at the way even the people taking care of them spoke about them and felt about them. they were utterly powerless, so it makes sense that they would turn to something like witchcraft in order to feel even a modicum of power and control.

these were girls, children, that had choice ripped from them. they had no choice in going to the Home, no real choice in whether or not they even kept their baby, because what a bad mother they were being already if they didn't give it up and sweep it under the rug. even IF that might be true in many cases, after all, we still don't like children to raise children, the way those girls were manipulated is so scary. because 1970, when this story takes place IS NOT THAT LONG AGO. Every single adult in this book is guilty of something, whether it be of horrific crimes, or of just being a judgmental prick, they're all guilty.

This haunting, feminist tale is unlike anything I’ve read before - it absolutely blew me away!

Set in 1970, in the oppressive shadow of the pre-Roe vs. Wade era, the story centers on Fern, a 15-year-old sent to the Wellwood Home for unwed mothers. Terrified and alone, she meets other girls like her - Rose, Zinnia, Holly - each grappling with their own heartbreaks and stolen choices. Under the strict eye of Miss Wellwood, these girls are stripped of autonomy, forced to conform to societal expectations.

But when Fern discovers a book about witchcraft, the girls find a glimmer of power - power that can liberate or destroy, depending on how it’s wielded.

This book is as much about horror as it is about humanity. The terror here isn’t the supernatural; it’s the systemic injustices that women have endured for generations. The graphic childbirth scenes and raw depictions of trauma are difficult to read but necessary, grounding the story in harsh reality.

Fern’s character growth is phenomenal. She starts as a frightened girl and transforms into someone fierce, empowered, and determined. The friendships among the girls are as heartwarming as they are heartbreaking, making this story feel deeply personal.

Hendrix masterfully evokes a range of emotions - rage, sorrow, hope - while highlighting the resilience of women. This book is witchy, feminist, and simply unforgettable. It’s a searing reminder of the injustices of the past (and, heartbreakingly, the present), making it as timely as it is powerful.

If you’re looking for a horror novel with depth, nuance, and a heavy dose of feminist rage, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a must-read.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a story about pregnant teens finding power within witchcraft, but this book turned into a social commentary about society not just in the 70s but even current day. So many of the themes that were shown, especially in the medical scenes, are unfortunately so easily transferable to the time of 2024 where more than 50 years later not much has changed.

The misguided “help” provided by women in power who were supposed to be looking out for these CHILDREN angered me beyond belief. The behaviours displayed by the men did not surprise me at all especially for the time referenced, but the apathy and cruelness shown by the women enraged me to the point of tears. The unimaginable trauma these poor girls went through at the hands of their caretakers is insane. The social stigma they faced is to be expected, but the fact that LITERAL CHILDREN are being blamed for certain types of assaults that got them into the situation they’re in right now, AND letting them be released back to their abusers made me genuinely want to throw my phone across the wall.

This book is in a way the epitome of female rage, the point of no return for girls and women who have had their bodies, minds, and spirits stolen from them by the people who were supposed to care for them. These girls never get a break and they deserve so much better, my heart breaks for them. At the end of the day, I feel as though this book is about consent, and having the ability to say “no”. I definetly recommend giving it a read as it is a very powerful story, but please know what you’re getting yourself into as the themes are less horror more sad and tragic than anything else. .

My first by this author but definitely not my last. It was instense, intriguing and mysterious and I ate it up

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix is one of those books that invites both admiration and frustration. While I absolutely loved how it explored women's empowerment and the compelling allure of dark magic, I grappled with the feeling that it might be trying too hard to make a political point. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for stories that shed light on real-world issues, but when it feels like the entire plot is pushing an agenda, it can detract from the immersive experience that I love so much in fiction.

The premise immediately intrigued me—young women cast out by their families, forced to navigate pregnancy alone, and then pressured into giving up their babies for adoption, only to return to a society that pretends nothing happened. This isn't just historical context; it's a reflection of the systemic control over women's bodies and choices. While I typically shy away from books that feel overtly political in their storytelling, Hendrix walks the line by weaving these societal critiques into a dark, magical narrative.

The story explores how the home's oppressive environment—driven by societal shame—creates fertile ground for rebellion. That rebellion comes in the form of witchcraft. The depiction of dark magic is one of the novel's strongest elements. Hendrix doesn't shy away from the gritty, dangerous side of spellcraft. The rituals these girls perform aren't neat or pretty; they're messy, primal, and deeply tied to their anger and grief. The magic is empowering and terrifying, making it clear that the power they're tapping into comes at a cost.

What struck me most was how witchcraft became a metaphor for reclaiming autonomy. In a time when these girls were expected to relinquish their voices, their choices, and even their children, magic becomes their way of taking control—of their futures, their pain, and their collective power. It's a theme of women's empowerment that feels incredibly relevant even today, though its placement in 1970 gives it the richness of historical fiction. Hendrix masterfully ties the struggles of these young women to the broader, centuries-long battle for women to be heard and respected.

But there's a fine line between a story steeped in social commentary and one that feels overly didactic. While Witchcraft for Wayward Girls mostly succeeds in letting its themes arise naturally from the narrative, there are moments where the political undertones feel more like a sledgehammer than a subtle touch. I couldn't help but wish some parts of the story could breathe, letting the characters' experiences speak for themselves without so much overt framing.

That said, the novel shines in its portrayal of sisterhood. The bonds that form between these girls—born of shared trauma and their shared magic—are the beating heart of the story. Hendrix doesn't romanticize their relationships; they're messy, fraught, and sometimes heartbreaking. But there's also an undeniable strength in how they come together, forging their own family when the world has taken everything else from them.

The 1970s setting is more than a backdrop; it's a critical part of the story, grounding the characters' struggles in an accurate history of societal control and systemic silencing of women. The home for unwed mothers, with its air of forced compliance and quiet despair, is a reminder of how far we've come and still have to go.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a dark tale of empowerment, rebellion, and the cost of claiming one's voice in a world determined to silence it. While its political overtones may sometimes feel heavy-handed, the story's raw emotional power and its unflinching portrayal of dark magic make it compelling. It's a book that lingers long after the final page, especially for those who appreciate stories of women finding strength in the face of oppression.

Ended up DnFing this one. It is so depressing and there is so much more book left. It’s really just a commentary on how teenage pregnancy was received in the 1960s. There’s no horror, it’s just so bleak,

2.5 stars

my first Grady Hendrix book was a bit of a fail and i think it’s half my fault cause i didn’t read the synopsis. i’m not someone who enjoys reading about pregnancy in general, so the focus on teen pregnancy didn’t hold my interest in any shape or form. i think if the witchy/horror elements were more prevalent in the story, then i might’ve had a better chance of liking this book but who knows. the characters were very one dimensional and the pace was too slow, it just felt like it was missing something for me. there were some choices made by the author that felt off and by the end of the story, i was completely out of patience and just wanted to finish it. i’m still looking forward to trying his other works, but this one just wasn’t for me at all unfortunately.

The plot of this book was absolutely fabulous! Witches! Hippies! Librarians! I found that the story flowed really well and the writing was well done. Some characters did feel a bit undercooked and there were some unnecessary tangents, but overall this was a great read.

This was "Grady Hendrix-adjacent" to me. I kept expecting more from the story and it just didn't surface. Not one of my favorite of his, but a decent read. I enjoyed the idea of the wayward school for knocked up girls in the 70s, but I really wanted it to be so much more magical.