I love anything by Grady Hendrix and this book is no different. The author's masterful storytelling has earned the book a well-deserved perfect rating. I wasn't expecting to cry while reading this book, but it brought me to tears not once, but twice.

I wound up being wonderfully surprised by this even though I have read all of Grady Hendrix’s books and have enjoyed them all, his most recent release about the haunted house was by my least favorite and I started to fear that he was running out of ideas. Suffice it to say I was delighted with his newest book, which I very much hoped would be the case. I knew the premise of witchcraft had the potential to be utterly delightful in the hands of A storytelling horror master like Grady Hendrix, and I was absolutely right. This was a treat, it was campy but not overly so, creepy without being gross and the character work and the writing were both top-notch as well. This is probably my second favorite of all his books after only the “southern book club’s guide to slaying vampires.”

It’s almost time! Grady’s newest arrives in FOUR DAYS. I cannot wait to hold this book in my hands. And the gorgeous @blackcrow_bks edition too. I knew I’d want the special edition before I even opened the ARC and I was right.

I LOVED this book. It’s my new favorite by @gradyhendrix (sorry, We Sold Our Souls).

From my first read of his, before I knew anything about him, I was impressed by his empathy. I will always champion his writing of women, and men writing women in general—especially on topics like the one’s handled in this book. Story before author, sure, that’s a discourse, but more importantly: why do men get vilified for seeking to understand women? I have certainly felt seen and understood reading his books, and have been able to discuss my own experiences with them as a lens with multiple friends regardless of identity.

But back to the book—

This is classic, pulpy witch horror. Think The VVitch and The Crucible. But add in some more “modern” neopagan witchcraft too, for fun. I loved how he walked the line between those two, and how he weaved horror into witchcraft without disrespecting the practice.

It’s the same way he handled the real life horror these girls lived through and continued to go through in the Home. It is a terrifying tale on two levels, and an empowering one on both those levels too.

This story really got into my head. I read it in like two days because I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s gruesome, powerful, emotional, and oh so smart.

So there you go, a bit of a soapbox and a rave review.

I will read anything that Grady Hendrix reads. This was so fun and scary! He has so much versatility-- it's not just serial killers. I like the odd themes.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I have read and loved several Grady Hendrix novels and this is no exception! Witchcraft for Wayward Girls dives into the heavy topic of mother and baby homes in the US in the 70’s. This novel will fill you with rage, frustration, sadness and gratitude that this gruesome era of female oppression has ended(albeit not completely).

I do think it read more as historical fiction with elements of witchcraft and was looking forward to more from the witches, and I didn’t love that the witches were villainized. But overall I thought this was a sad tale that was incredibly moving and emotional!

witchcraft for wayward girls by grady hendrix is a bold, unsettling read that combines horror with sharp social commentary. set in 1970 at a florida home for unwed pregnant teens, it offers a chilling look at the way society treats women, especially when it comes to bodily autonomy. the story follows fern, a terrified 15-year-old who, along with other girls in her predicament, is controlled and manipulated by a cruel system. everything from what they eat to what they’re allowed to talk about is monitored, and the horrors of this system feel all too relevant today.

hendrix does an excellent job of illustrating the trauma and rage of women throughout history and still today. by focusing on the ways these girls are silenced and stripped of agency, the book forces readers to face the raw reality of denying women control over their lives. the inclusion of witchcraft adds a supernatural element that feels both empowering and dangerous. it's an avenue for these girls to reclaim some control, but as the book warns, power comes at a steep price.

the 1970s setting is also wonderfully done, transporting you into a time where women’s rights were heavily restricted, and the world was on the verge of major social change. the grotesque horror moments are gripping, and while the witchcraft elements are intriguing, i do think they could have been explored more deeply. some readers may take issue with how witchcraft is portrayed, but i don’t think the book is necessarily meant to be an accurate representation of real-life witchcraft.

while hendrix’s characters, including the bipoc characters, feel a bit flat and could have had more depth, this wasn’t a major issue for me. it’s clear that the characters serve more as a vehicle for the story’s deeper messages rather than being fully fleshed out individuals. for some this might be a drawback, and i do think it prevented the book from getting a full 5 stars from me, but it still stands strong without more fleshed out characters.

overall witchcraft for wayward girls is a haunting, thought-provoking read that delivers a strong social message wrapped in a compelling horror story.

thank you to berkley publishing group, grady hendrix, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the rebellious year of 1970, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix delves into the heartbreaking and disturbing world of pregnant teenagers forced into "Homes" to hide their pregnancies and give up their babies. The protagonist, Fern, a 15-year-old girl, is sent to one such institution, where she befriends several other girls enduring the same fate. The book explores their desperate need for empowerment and freedom, which leads them to a quirky librarian who gives them a book, How to be a Groovy Witch—a gift that changes their lives in ways they never expected

This novel not only touches on themes of rebellion, autonomy, and sisterhood but also provides a chilling look at the harsh reality many young women faced in a time when abortion was illegal and women’s rights were actively fought for. As Fern and her friends seek a sense of agency, the introduction of witchcraft as a form of resistance adds a darkly magical and fantastical twist to the narrative, although its consequences aren’t always positive.

As someone who was still an infant in 1970, I found the portrayal of the era’s treatment of of pregnant teens incredibly eye-opening. I wasn’t fully aware of how deeply restrictive and stigmatizing that time was for young women, and the emotional impact of reading about these girls' struggles was jarring. It made me reflect on how far we've come—and how much work is still left to do. It also reinforces the fact that witchcraft, while often vilified and fantasized in such contexts, is also a symbol of reclaiming power and identity, despite the consequences in this story.

I particularly appreciated how the author skillfully captures the frustration and injustice of the time, while also adding in a dash of fantasy. The horror is not so much in the witchcraft and mayhem that follow but in the reality of how society once treated young women like Fern. This book certainly stirs emotions and invites the reader to reflect on gender, autonomy, and the complex ways society tries to control women's lives. The combination of Hendrix's dark humor and social commentary makes this a compelling read. It’s a gripping, thought-provoking, and at times unsettling tale that does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the time while drawing attention to enduring social issues.

For anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a (small) twist of magical fantasy and social critique, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is definitely a book worth reading. It’s both a poignant reminder of the past and a call to action, urging readers to think critically about the treatment of women and their bodies.

One of the things I love about Grady Hendrix is that I never know what to expect. Each book is completely different from anything else he’s done before. This one didn’t grip me quite as tightly as others, but it was still powerful. Fern is pregnant and since she is only 15 and unmarried it’s a huge shame. Her parents arrange to send her to a home for girls like her in Florida while they present a lie to save her reputation. Fern isn’t her real name but in the garden of unwed girls she’s been given the alias Fern. But there is something strange in the woods behind the house and a book from the bookmobile sets Fern, Holly, Zinnia and Rose on an adventure they were not prepared for and will change them forever, even more than giving their babies up for adoption. I think part of why this one took me longer than normal is looking at the lack of rights of women in that time was harder right now while so many civil rights are being challenged in the country I’m in. Overall I gave it 4.5 stars rounded up because it is the kind of book that will stick with me for a very long time.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
By Grady Hendrix
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 4⭐)

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

I'll be honest and say that when I requested this book from NetGalley, I was seeing it everywhere on Bookstagram and felt like I HAD to read it. I didn't focus on the synopsis or take a lot of time to see what it was about, as everyone was raving about it and my FOMO took over.

All that to say, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was not a great book for me to read on a personal level. With my history of miscarrying my son at 18 weeks into my only pregnancy, I have a very strong apprehension about reading books that could be triggering to my personal trauma around that. And reading about a bunch of frightened teenage girls experiencing unexpected pregnancies, along with receiving terrible and unempathetic medical care during childbirth and their newborns? Yeah, that's pretty triggering for me.

** I actually finished this book before publication date, and it's just taken me several weeks to circle back and formulate a review. My apologies to Berkley and to the author for not sharing this review sooner. **

I genuinely enjoyed the character development in this read, and I thought Hendrix created multi-faceted characters with humor, wit, and real emotional depth. The interactions between the teenagers were written with such raw vulnerability, which was quite compelling. This was my first Hendrix read, and I really loved the writing style, so I'll definitely be picking up more of the backlist and diving in. I've learned that I'm not a huge fan of books about witchcraft, but I thought the inclusion of witchcraft here was well-done and didn't give off cultish vibes (which I really don't care for).

Overall, given my own personal visceral reactions to parts of the book's storylines, and the fact that witchcraft reads aren't really my jam, this wasn't my favorite read. But it's definitely a me thing. Because as I've said, I know this was a MASSIVE favorite for so many of my friends and it's been raved about again and again, with 5⭐ reviews everywhere.

#WitchcraftForWaywardGirls #GradyHendrix #Berkley #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

An interesting look into society’s views on pregnant teens in the 50’s? This was the story of a group of young girls who have been sent to a home to deliver their children. So many dark topics, like how they were coerced into giving up the babies for the homes to profit from, to how they were treated, the lies they were told etc, makes this a heartbreaking read. The paranormal elements were very well done. Very creepy, slowly building to an intense conclusion with a satisfying ending. Very much enjoyed this.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was nothing like I expected but everything I needed.
Set in the 1970s, we follow Neva Craven, a pregnant teenager, whose parents are shipping her off to a home for wayward girls in Florida. There, she becomes Fern and meets other florally named friends who are in the same situation. Rose, Zinnia, and Holly discover witchcraft as an alternative to their lack of autonomy in their pregnancy and lives. Unfortunately, everything has a price and the girls find that the price is too high.
The horror of these girls experiences is their womanhood (or girlhood rather) and the pain and suffering experienced due to their gender daily. I mourn an alternate reality where the girls find solace in the witchery instead of that being one of the villain narratives in the story.
Also the epilogue??? Killed me!
I think this book was amazing. If you like horror but need social commentary for it to be a highly rated experience, definitely pick this book up.
4.5/5 stars

In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, Grady Hendrix has created a stunning and powerful narrative. Between the visceral quality of the words chosen and the situation the girls are in, the novel is about true magic, the power to bring life.
From the very first, when you meet Fern, you feel her presence on the page. But really what reinforces the difficulties the girls face is when we hear Holly’s story, one of abuse. This is when the girls come together to try and save her if not themselves. But we see how knowledge is powerful and how dangerous one small book can be in the right hands. This is the power of the female and of motherhood written with reverence. It is also how much power and magic there is in the world. I absolutely love that magic is neither good or bad but that the witch's magic comes with a price. I also appreciated that wisdom and knowledge is its own kind of magic, when Hagar, a kitchen cook, helps the girls.
If you like stunning and powerful novels that empathize with the magic of women, of motherhood, and of birth, this novel is for you. There is darkness but there is also brightness and love. There is a beautiful ending that highlights the bond between mother and child. There is sisterhood and friendship. And all those powerful bonds are what make this book such a powerful read.

Grady Hendrix can do no wrong when it comes to the books that he writes. A superb addition to his wonderful and bone-chilling catalog of books.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

Reviewed for SFX magazine, so I won't repeat my views here - you'll have to track down the issue to find out my exact thoughts!

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix is a simmering slowburn showcase of the horrors of a horrid time mixed with the clever paranormal thanks to one of the pillars of the horror genre.

This was a little slower than I would’ve liked, but I appreciated that this shown a light on the horrors that these young women faced. I liked the mix of horror with paranormal.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed:

I'm apparently the only person in the world who thought this book was pretty eye-roll inducing, but yeah, it was not for me. Like I see what he was doing, and I like what he was doing, but I wish he did it better. The characterizations all felt off to me, and I cared about absolutely zero of the characters. And in theory, this book has all the elements of things I liked! It was very "I think I've seen this film before" (although I didn't mind the ending), but I've seen better versions of this film, if that makes sense.

So! 2 stars on goodreads, it was just ok for me.

This book was really hard to put down and is so different than any of the other Hendrix books that I've read. If you removed the witchy, paranormal element, you would have a serious historical fiction novel based on real events and it would still be amazing. I think that's where the book is the strongest. It's the late 60's and there's a group of girls who live in a home for unwed, expectant teenage mothers. They are left there by their families until their babies are born with the expectation that their babies will be given up for adoption and they will then return home, excuses being made for their absence. Hendrix researched these homes quite extensively and the heartbreak and compassion you will feel for these characters is overwhelming.

The witchcraft part of the story is an interesting way to allow these girls a way to fight back against an oppressive system. Of course, in the beginning the things they ask for are relatively harmless. As time goes by however, the things they want and need become more serious in nature and a price must be paid. There are some truly frightening scenes involving witchcraft, but interestingly enough, much of the reality facing the girls is just as frightening, if not more so.

There were a few things that I would have preferred to have seen play out differently with the witchcraft part of the book, and that's why I gave it a 4.5 vs. a complete 5.

There's not a whole lot of gore in this book so if you are squeamish you shouldn't be too worried. The childbirth scenes in the book are extremely realistic and detailed and that might possibly be a bit much for some. Having had two kids of my own, I was impressed by the accuracy.

At it's heart though this is a book about female bonds. bonds made during one of the worst times of their lives. It's about finding a way to fight a system they have no power over. It's about hope and risk. I definitely recommend it.

This book was a ride, and packed a lot in. The story was a heavy, bleak tale of pregnant teens in a suffocating, oppressive system. Fern, Rose, and Zinnia felt so real, and I was rooting for them even when the story dragged. Which I have to say a little over the first half of the book did drag but I wanted to keep going. The witchcraft moments—when they finally appeared—were eerie and compelling, and the commentary on power dynamics? The ending tried to pull everything together, It celebrates their power but also highlights their darker sides, leaving room for interpretation. Which is life. I think some students will like this, but it will take dedicated ones to stick with it. I did like it and it wasn't awful, just not what I was expecting, and I have to say the second half of the book I really liked, and I did like the wrap up at the end. I think this is a book for a bit more mature reader who is willing to put in the time.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc to preview.

I'm already a fan of Hendrix and love watching him grow as a writer. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is the culmination of all his previous works. This one take all the fun, zaniness, clever setups, interesting characters and takes it to another level with tackling bigger topics, deeper characters, a different time period, and just the epic=ness of this big book.
I saw another reviewer mention his braveness in taking on the voices of young unwed mothers in the '70s. And from my perch as a cis, white, gay man, he succeeds without looking down on his characters, painting them in broad strokes, or going with the easy character choices.
The worldbuilding, as always, is spectacular. And even though we're introduced to a LOT of young girls, the main ones are fleshed out quite nicely.
And unless you think there's not horror, there were several sections that had me on the edge of my seat (once in the quiet dark of night in the Home and another in an intense storm).
I highly recommend this and can't wait to see what Hendrix does next!