Thank you so much to Grady Hendrix and Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book. It was about Fern, a fifteen year old girl who is unceremoniously dropped off at a home for unwed mothers where they are expected to work for room and board until they give birth. She makes friends with the other girls sharing her journey, and tries to make it through her days being controlled by Miss Wellwood. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her a book on witchcraft, and she realizes she may have more access to power than she thought. But Fern is about to find out that actions have consequences, and sometimes you can’t escape your fate.

Thoughts: Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite authors but this was one of his slowest books. Nothing much happened, and it felt more like a commentary on the politics in the 1970s than a thriller or horror book. I will say this book was very realistic about the time and it made me so thankful to be a woman now. Women were treated terribly and this book put a spotlight on the horrible conditions women had to have children in, and the way the history of witches plays into men’s fear of women.

This book was a slow burn for sure, and I actually think this book was mislabeled, because though there were horrifying elements, especially the birth scene, it read like historical fiction. I wish there were more of a mystery to this book, or an element of surprise, instead of the book essentially telling the story. It was a good book for what it was, but my expectations were much different and ultimately that made it a letdown for me. 3.5 stars.

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley & Berkley for approving me for this ARC. Grady Hendrix is easily a favorite author of mine, and this is one of my most anticipated books of 2025. If you have read any of Hendrix's other novels, and think this book is going to be like those, take that thought, and throw it out the window. This is different than anything he has written before. It's not a sitting on the edge of your seat novel, but more of a realistic horror novel. It's feministic, full of female rage, powerful, and the patriarchy of the 1970s.

The book's POV is from Fern, who is fifteen and pregnant, and is being forced into a home by her father where she will have her baby, have it put up for adoption, and forget it ever happened, but the book also follows a group of girls going through the same thing. Everything they do, down to what they eat and what they are allowed to speak about is controlled by the adults of the house. The girls meet a librarian who gives them an occult book about witchcraft. The girls, at first, don't believe anything in this book is going to work, until they start playing around with it, and realizes this librarian is truly a witch. It puts true power into their hands for the first time in their lives.

This book starts off slow, and doesn't turn "witchy" until you're well over 100 pages in. This book may not be an edge of your seat horror, but it will leave you feeling squeamish. There are some graphic scenes of childbirth throughout the book and the spells that the girls put on the adults of the house will leave you having to put the book down for a few minutes until you are ready to start reading again. It left me feeling uncomfortable, which I believe is what Grady was going for throughout the book. The book also made me feel sad, sad for the girls for how they were treated. It is also a little longer than I would have liked, and it took me longer to read than I would have liked, but overall, I truly loved this book. Not my favorite of is, but still a great book.

Set in the oppressive heat of 1970s St. Augustine, Florida, we follow Fern, a fifteen-year-old sent to Wellwood House—a place where society’s “problems” are hidden away: young, unwed mothers forced to give up their babies. Under the suffocating rules of Miss Wellwood, the girls are told what to do, how to think, and what to forget.

But everything changes when Fern discovers a book on witchcraft. 🌑

What begins as a spark of defiance grows into something much darker, as the girls harness forbidden power, their bonds growing stronger—and more dangerous. With unforgettable characters like Rose, the dreamer; Zinnia, the fighter; and Holly, whose silence hides unspeakable secrets, this story plunges into themes of power, trauma, and freedom.

I LOVED this book! Every part from start to finish was incredible and thought provoking. The history of the time when women were not given opportunities to manage their own body and were punished for the same things boys were praised for doing. It was harrowing and painful. The girls' stories were gripping.

What was food for thought at the end of the book was how women can both support each other and also be the greatest enemy. As in real life, punishments aren't equal. The amount of pain you can endure is different than that of another person. The mysticism was a component but it's also endurance.

Highly recommend!

Grady Hendrix is one of the only male authors I've read who can truly write female characters well -- his ladies are complex, complicated, not always entirely likable, and just *real*. He writes lead characters that happen to be female, which is how it SHOULD be (and more male authors really should take note/follow suit). And with this one he tackles a really sensitive real world subject: how society has traditionally treated unwed young mothers. Thankfully, he pulls it off -- and delivers another rousing supernatural-based story where the marginalized take back their agency. Can't wait to put this in everyone's hands!

Loved how raw and real this book was. The detailed writing made you feel like you were a 15 year old unwed mother. The magic intertwined throughout the story was fun. I enjoyed all the characters and loved the girls different personalities. I like how the book came together at the end. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

This was a captivating, chilling, well written read. I really enjoyed the concept of this book and although it is a work of fiction, it gave insight into the lives of girls who became pregnant as teenagers outside of wedlock in the 1970s. The setting of the Home for Wayward Girls was very interesting and I enjoyed the characters, from the other "flower girls" in the home to Ms. Wellwood to Hagar. The character of the librarian was also interesting and I liked the idea that she gives them the "key" to solving their problems (but as I am a librarian, this might be biased haha!). The magic used in the story was also interesting and I have not read a book that framed witchcraft in this interesting way, where the line between right and wrong was often blurred. Lastly, I liked the perspectives that the writer used, switching from Neva to Fern once the protagonist arrived at the home and was given her new name, to the scene we got from Ms. Wellwood and Hagar's perspective, to the scene written in third person. Overall, a great read and one that has made me excited to delve into the author's catalogue!

I would be truly shocked to be disappointed by a Grady Hendrix book. "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" is phenomenal. It doesn't have the camp he usually writes, and the horrors are all too real instead of supernatural. This book was heartbreaking but hopeful. Hendrix captured female rage and fear so well. I loved it.

Each girl in this has a story to tell, and it would have been nice to see some more of the background characters get fleshed out. We get that near the end when we are shown the silent comraderies and teamwork they exhibit with one another. I understand we can't get to all of the characters (as much as I'd like to), so this was a nice simple way to have that connection felt.

As far as the supernatural elements go, I was impressed by the attention to detail that Hendrix put into the rituals and the text of spells. They were honestly some of my favorite scenes, and while thrilling to read were also chilling, which I'm sure was the point. There are of course the usual horror elements we find in a Grady Hendrix book, but I do wish there had been more horror and less...trauma? Let me explain.

I think it's fair to say that in our current political climate most of us are aware of the fight women and AFABs everywhere are having to fight for reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy. Take that and amplify it by about one thousand. Most AFABs know how bad it was, how bad it's getting, and how much worse it could get. I understand that this is the crux of the plot, but there were points where I felt it went a little too far. By that I mean that the audience is never really given much of a chance to breathe from one trauma horror to the next regarding AFABs and the treatment they endure.

One might say, "But that's the point, AFABs don't get a break from it,". Yes, that's true, but that toes the line of retraumatizing people that are still suffering through this. Is this meant for AFABs to enjoy, or to educate men? Who is it written for? I do think it's crucial that those ignorant to this treatment of AFABs need to be educated, but at the end of the day this is a novel. One that's going to appeal to a demographic that has likely suffered some of the abuse in this book.

Most of Hendrix's book drag you through an emotional rollercoaster until you feel like you can't take it anymore, and then you are finally given catharsis. I feel like we don't get as much of that in WfWG. From the description, and knowing how well the author writes supernatural horror, I expected there to be way more supernatural elements. I also expected at least a little humor. Grady Hendrix is a master at delivering dark, biting humor, and then on a dime switching to being solemn. Here? We don't really have any light moments. One could argue that seeing a doctor cursed with morning sickness is pretty chuckle worthy, but you really have to dig through to find a kernel of light here. Again, this isn't necessarily bad, but it can come as a surprise to someone (like myself) who is familiar with Hendrix's work.

There were sections of this book where I cried, where I felt hopeless, where I simply wanted to skip ahead to finally find some semblance of something good happening for these girls. We do get that, but I think it's fair to say that it mainly comes at the end. Like, the very end. Aside from that I really wish there had been more supernatural horror, or simply more horror that wasn't grounded in the abuse of young girls when it comes to reproduction. In a way, it felt like the supernatural elements were incidental. Honestly, everything having to do with the witches could have been removed, and the core story would have remained the same aside from one small detail (I don't want to give any spoilers), that could have simply been handled differently.

Now, don't get me wrong, when the horror was there it was amazing, and Hendrix is a masterclass in body horror, so when we get it, we really get it! I think that's more what I wanted out of this book. I'm left feeling similarly to how I did after reading The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I knew it obviously wasn't going to be a bunch of vampire hunters running around Mt. Pleasant, SC, but at least we were allowed horror and not just a message of abuse and gentrification. I appreciate the direction that Grady Hendrix appears to be going in with his work these days, but man I miss the fun stuff like Horrorstor sometimes.

All of that being said, I would recommend this book to others, but with a heavy heaping of content warning. If you're coming for Grady Hendrix dark humor mixed with horror and lots of witchy stuff, maybe this isn't the book for you.

An amazing book, and so timely! And I love that he added an epilogue. I just wish his portrayal of the main witch was a bit more generous.

Grady Hendrix is my favorite horror with-humor-author. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is another winner. I cared a lot for the girls and rooted for them. Fun at times, powerful during others, it's a recommended read.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley.

This was quite the book; I’ll tell you that. A little bit of magic, and a whole lot of trauma was contained within the pages of this book. Fern was an interesting character. I felt for her, and had to remind myself multiple times that she was a young teenager, so might not make fully rational decisions. This book was also a hard read because what the girls went through was quite traumatic. Being forced to have their babies and then the babies being taken, all while having no one to love them. It was so sad in that regard. The witchcraft and magic elements were fairly minimal, I felt this book was more of a character exploration than anything else. It was a lovely story, but I was just expecting more witchcraft. This one is also very vivid, which I feel is just how this author writes. I love it and continue to read them and enjoy. Of all the books by this author, this one is probably my favorite to date. I really enjoyed the topic and just how well done it was.

Be mindful of reading this one if you have any triggers surrounding child birth as there are some very vivid scenes.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it hard to put down. I was more interested in the whole girls in a home then the whole witchcraft thing tho. Don’t get me wrong it was an interesting part of the story but to me it was just a small piece. You really get sucked into each character. I found myself getting mad at some of the girls for their behaviours and actions.
If you want a good story about a group of young girls who face challenges in life this is a story for you. Even if your not totally sold on the witchcraft aspect I do suggest giving this book a try

Grady Hendrix’s latest title is a different type of novel for him. An expert at creating unique horror novels, his latest title covers the topic of teen pregnancy in 1970s Florida. At a home for unwed mothers, teenage girls are forced to perform chores while hiding from society and awaiting their due dates. The girls must assume a fake name while in the home and are encouraged to put their babies up for adoption so they can “forget this ever happened”.

Bonds are formed between 15 year old Fern, Rose, the hippie girl intent on keeping her baby, Zinnia, who hopes to marry the baby’s father and 14 year old Holly who refuses to speak. When a librarian gives them a book of the occult, the four begin to learn spells and magic in the hope of controlling their lives and making choices for themselves. As their power grows, they learn the sacrifices involved in witchcraft and the price they will have to pay.

Hendrix describes the horror and uncertainty these young girls experience when delivering their children. The fear of the unknown is handled with gritty realism. The horror of the novel has a double meaning when the reader realizes the premise is based on history. The girls’ friendships are realistically depicted and their backstories will have the reader understanding their choices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced readers’ copy.

I'll admit I was a little skeptical about a male writer taking on such a definitively female experience as pregnancy, but this was clearly very (very) well researched. The book leans into the body horror of the experience of pregnancy and birth, and a surprising sense of gritty realism despite including subject matter like magic and witches. The characters felt very individual, with understandable reasoning behind their decisions.

Truly remarkable. It's rare for a book to leave me speechless but that's what Grady Hendrix did here. It took me a while to even gather my thoughts enough after finishing it to write a review. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is different from his prior works. It is not any less good but it has more of a serious tone than his prior works that contain dark humor.

This story made me grateful to be alive in this day and time. To be a girl cast out from all of your family while you're in such a vulnerable state and not to be allowed to make any decisions is just unthinkable. Grady Hendrix gives these girls a voice with his remarkable storytelling talent. I enjoyed getting to know all of the ‘wayward’ girls, especially our main character Fern. Even though the book is 496 pages long, I flew through it in no time.

As far as the horror, it's there. The witch element added a chilling side but there is a birthing scene that im sure will terrify most male readers. However, the most terrifying part of the story is the fact that it is based on history and pregnant teenage girls were sent away to have their babies only to have them ripped away from them.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix will be available on January 14, 2025. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

3.5 stars

Not my favorite from Grady Hendrix! The story line was really fun to follow but I think we lost the plot a couple times along the way. It also wasn’t as horror-y as I’ve come to expect from his work. The only parts that were really gory were around pregnancy & child birth… which kind of rubs me the wrong way a little.

The book wasn’t bad, I really liked the characters & following their lives within the home, but it was long and I was expecting more spooky vibes than I got.

A good book but one that found me at a very hard time.

Finding out you’re pregnant is hard enough, but to be an unmarried teen on top of that finds Fern on the front steps of a home for wayward girls waiting out the clock to have her baby and return to the life she left behind. When a mysterious book offers relief to their troubles they have to weigh the cost of the devils at the door or the witches in the woods.

This book was hard for me to read because like Fern we started this journey pregnant and by the end I had lost my baby which made some of the conversations around pregnancy and what comes after a bit hard to get through as they hit very close to home but nevertheless I think it is a book that I will hold closer because of this personal connection I now have with it.

I enjoyed our characters so much with each of the girls having unique personalities that grounded them in this moment of camaraderie which ultimately became synonymous with coven as we dipped our toes into more of the supernatural elements. There is a lot of hard topics here relating to pregnancy and the womanhood that comes from act of giving birth and seeing it paralleled with the witches was done well. I think part of me wished for more violence against those who were using these girls as means to an end for whatever cause they supported but the subtly of time will heal and karma takes time works too.

This is a very strong book and one I do recommend especially as a fan of the author who does a great job with these kinds of symbolistic horror novels and I look forward to seeing what’s next.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Another great read from Grady Hendrix!! I absolutely loved the witchy and feminist vibes throughout this book. The depiction of sisterhood and the evolving relationships among the characters added so much depth and made their journeys feel completely authentic–you can definitely tell this book was thoroughly researched. The ambiguity of certain characters and their intentions literally kept me guessing who could or couldn't be trusted the entire time. The narrative kept me engaged from start to finish, and I appreciated how it intertwined themes of empowerment and resilience among women and girls!
I will say that this book felt unlike any other Grady Hendrix title I've encountered. I expected it to be scarier, so it fell a bit flat in that regard, but there were still plenty of disturbing and shocking moments that made me think, "Oh my god, that's insane." I should also warn those with emetophobia, there's a scene that you might want to skip and there's also some pretty graphic birthing scenes later on. Despite this, it was a very captivating read, and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"It is only by failing that magic works. The alchemists knew they were unlikely to turn lead into gold, but they also knew that in their attempts they would make profound discoveries. Nothing in magic is gained by aiming straight for it. As in life, it is the failures that prove to be most valuable because it is in failure that you learn anything useful, about the world or about yourself. "

This is one of those books that show that sometimes the scariest things are those that are based in real life. This story follows a group of pregnant unwed girls in a home, where they are waiting to give birth and give up their children for adoption. This story is less about the witchcraft and more about what it means to be a woman struggling under patriarchy.
Also I appreciate the librarian being the coven leader although in this story the witches are the bad guys and she turns out to be a bit evil.