Oh, how I loved this story! While it had a definite horror theme, there was the tragedy of the unwed mothers – their sense of shame, loneliness, impending loss, and isolation that just broke my heart! As a teen mom myself – one who was blessed with a loving family around her, I really empathized with these girls and each of their journeys.

Hendrix has a way of writing horror that creeps in and sticks for a while. Every adult character from the innocuous traveling librarian to the staff at Wellwood Home – all wolves in sheep’s clothing – want something from the girls. Loss of control over their lives leads the girls to desperate measures, opening a door to a nightmare they never expected.

The characters, as usual, are exceptionally written and Hendrix’s trademark humor is interwoven throughout and I don’t want to gloss over the hard fought band of sisterhood found.

Another winner for me in the form of a Grady Hendrix book!

Absolutely amazing like everything else Hendrix has written. Often times the detail was so much that you wanted to stop reading but it was just so well written you couldn’t put it down. Not my favorite work of his but definitely in the top 3!

3.5 stars

I like Grady Hendrix a lot and he writes some interesting and unique stories. The premise of the book was really good but the execution wasn’t quite there for me. I didn’t love the focus on how pregnancy affected their bodies and a man writing it made it a little more unpleasant. It also took about 100 pages to get to the witchcraft. I did really enjoy the characters and once they started doing magic and the way the story progressed was super interesting. It focused a lot on the evils within humans but also by the dark magic.

*Thank you so much netgalley and Berkley for an advanced e-arc and Berkley for sending me a finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Grady Hendrix book. I loved it. This story follows Fern, a teenage unwed mother, as she navigates being left at a home for "wayward girls" in rural Florida in 1970. Fern and her newfound friends Rose, Zinnia and Holly are suffering under the strict rule of the home's leader. Being made to clean and do laundry to pay their way. Having their diets closely monitored. Undergoing manipulation about what their real options are concerning their babies. Things take a wild and witchy turn when the girls meet the local librarian on the bookmobile. This book was quirky and full of 1970s charm while also deftly addressing the very real issues and abuses of homes for unwed mothers during that time period. I am not a huge horror fan but I wouldn't say this book had much horror. There were a few horrific scenes (mostly involving childbirth) but this story was definitely more spooky/paranormal than horror. This story will stay with me.

DNF unfortunately- Grady Hendrix is very hit or miss for me, and this was definitely a miss. The childbirth descriptions were not something I could handle.

**Review: *Witchcraft for Wayward Girls* by Grady Hendrix – A Haunting, Emotional Slow Burn**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.8/5)

Grady Hendrix has a knack for blending horror with nostalgia, humor, and emotional depth, and *Witchcraft for Wayward Girls* is no exception. This time, however, he steps into heavier territory, tackling themes of systemic misogyny, bodily autonomy, and the cruel realities faced by unwed pregnant teens in the 1970s. While the book isn’t without its flaws, it’s a compelling and often gut-wrenching read that lingers long after the final page.

The story follows fifteen-year-old Fern as she is sent to Wellwood House, a home for "wayward" girls in Florida where society hides its shame—pregnant teens forced to give up their babies in secret. The bleak reality of their situation is suffocating, but a flicker of hope emerges when a librarian introduces them to a book on witchcraft. What starts as an escape soon morphs into something far more dangerous, as the girls discover that power—especially the kind denied to them—comes at a cost.

Hendrix excels at character-driven storytelling, and the cast here is a standout. Fern is an easy protagonist to root for, but it’s her fellow residents—Zinnia, Rose, and the heartbreaking Holly—who steal the show. Their friendships feel real, raw, and deeply moving. Then there’s Hagar, a housemother whose arc is layered and complex, though at times it felt like she could have been explored more deeply.

While *Witchcraft for Wayward Girls* is being marketed as horror, readers expecting non-stop supernatural thrills may be disappointed. This leans more into historical fiction with a creeping sense of dread, featuring body horror elements (especially related to pregnancy and childbirth) and slow-burning occult influences. The magic is present but never fully takes center stage, which might not satisfy those looking for a more traditional witchcraft narrative. Additionally, the pacing drags in spots—at nearly 500 pages, the book could have been tighter, especially in the middle sections where momentum slows.

That said, the payoff is strong. The final act delivers an emotional gut punch, and Hendrix’s writing, as always, is sharp, witty, and full of heart. This is a book that doesn’t just entertain—it unsettles, enrages, and forces reflection. While it doesn’t quite reach the highs of *The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires* or *My Best Friend’s Exorcism*, it’s still an engrossing and powerful addition to his bibliography.

Final Verdict: If you love slow-burn horror with historical elements, strong female characters, and a sharp critique of societal hypocrisy, *Witchcraft for Wayward Girls* is worth picking up. Just go in knowing that the real horror here isn’t always supernatural—it’s the way these girls are treated by the world that’s supposed to protect them.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is an absolutely beautiful book that will stick with me for a long time (like most of Grady Hendrix's books). I felt like I knew and understood those wayward girls, and my heart broke for them. While the narrative took a while to pick up and the witchcraft elements weren't front and center until the end, the last quarter of the book was exceptional. I've seen plenty of reviewers claim that this shouldn't be classified as horror; I can only assume they are men. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is feminine horror at its best, with themes of isolation, feeling shame and judgement, abandonment, body horror, childbirth, discovering hidden power. I can't say enough how much I loved it.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not what I was expecting from Grady Hendrix. Personally, I would not categorize this as horror, and it did not go as far as the other Hendrix books I have read. To me, this felt more like a dark historical fiction. That being said, this was still a great read and I would recommend it if it sounds like something a reader is interested in!

As Mt First Grady Hendrix book. Although i do own 5 of his other books ( These Fist Break Bricks, Paperbacks from hell, How to sell a haunted house, Horrorstor and MY Best Friends Exorcism ). This started off extremely slow and had a very long build up to the events that unfolded. I enjoyed most of the relationships between the main characters. However, this would have warranted a little more editing to the book, it did seem overly long for no reason, Also , i was not a fan of the epilogue and how it was all tied together. Not a bad read, but from I heard, his other books are better.

I really enjoyed this Grady Hendrix book. It has his signature touches of nostalgia and an intensely realized sense of setting. I would recommend to fans of Melissa Albert.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

This book will haunt me for a while. I struggled a bit with some of the timing/flow towards the end, as it felt like it was taking a while to really wrap up the story, but overall it was moving and thought-provoking, especially with what is going on in the 'real world' these days. I think the author did a great job of showing the stark contrast of these girls being children who are forced into an adult circumstance. At times you almost forget they are young teenagers because what they're going through is difficult even for adults, and then you get a reminder that oh, these girls are all just children trying to figure out how to move forward and continue their childhoods after a few months in the home where they're expected (by everyone) to act like adults. It was heartbreaking and disturbing to follow these girls through this, reading along as they tried to do whatever they could to make things better for themselves. They have been let down by so many people in their lives, and so much is asked of them at every turn, even as they try to support and help each other. I thought it was interesting that the 'gore' and 'horror' of the story comes through actual things that children were (and are) expected to suffer through if they end up pregnant - traumatic even for many adults, but complicated even more when these are young girls who don't even fully know or understand what is going to happen to them when they give birth, and they had no other option. This book may be a work of fiction, but I am sure there are plenty of people in the world today who see parts of their own stories in what these characters went through.

Hendrix has done it again. I really enjoyed this novel and have already ordered it for my HS library. There were some parts of the story that could have been a bit quicker paced, or tighter, but overall it was a great read. There's a lot of topics covered through this fictional story that a relevant today ,a great read!

Grady Hendrix’ Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is the fourth Hendrix book that I’ve read. Each of them have had young women as the main character(s), and Grady writes them so well. Witchcraft is no different in that regard.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls Begins with the very painful scene of a disappointed father driving his pregnant teenage daughter to the Wellwood Home for pregnant girls in the summer of 1970. She begs him not to take her and he reminds her of how much of a disappointment she is and how she has shamed her entire family.
When he leaves her at the home without even saying goodbye, she is given a new name (Fern) and instructed to never reveal her real name to anyone until after her baby is born, taken and “Fern” returns home.
Miss Wellwood treats all of the girls with disdain and Fern makes friends with several of the other girls. Each has their own backstory and hopes for the future.
When the bookmobile comes around, the librarian gives Fern a book called “How to be a Groovy Witch” and ultimately the four girls join a coven.
There are supernatural elements to the story, but at its core, witches are an ancillary part of this story. It’s all about these characters and their struggles related to unwed teenage pregnancy in the era.
It is an emotional story that in graphic detail shows us the nightmare that these girls went through (witches aside) and how that nightmare follows them and sometimes haunts them for the rest of their lives.
The guilt, pain, fear and shame that this young ladies showed us is something that I will always remember.
Yes. I ended this story with a tear in my eye.
This book is Grady Hendrix at his best. The prose is tight and efficient. There is less fun in this book than the others I’ve read, but the nostalgic nuances that Hendrix is known for are still there.
I’m saying this is a 5 STAR book, and it’s right there beside my favorite from the author. (My Best Friend’s Exorcism.)

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.