You’re in for a ride when you read a Grady Hendrix novel. Incredibly unique and freakishly fun. The characters draw you in and are like nothing you’ve ever read. The only critical thing I would say is that it’s quite drawn out - I feel like it could be shortened a tad. Other than that though, it’s an all round book that’s perfect for those that love a bit of darkness in their lives b

Fern is a new member of the Home (or rather the place families leave their unwed and pregnant daughters). Unable to leave, her only escape is through reading, leading to her discovery of witchcraft.

I think Grady Hendrix is a fantastic writer, his books are easy to read and quick and this was no different from his others.

Going into this I thought pregnancy was a perfect topic for a horror novel (I find pregnancy absolutely insane) from the way the human body can distort to the creation of life. But I think this novels focus was more on the inhuman treatment these "fallen women" got once they were pregnant (and during the time) and the witchcraft they dabbled in. Which while I still enjoyed wasn't quite what I expected. I almost didn't even need the witchcraft, I think it detracts from Hendrix's main story

Id recommend Hendrix as an author, and I didn't hate the book by any stretch of the imagination but not quite what I was looking for

A great mix of magic and historical elements, however, I did go into this book thinking it would be a great Halloween read. It was much more serious and emotional than I expected.
A great read though!

"They said she was wayward. They said it was all her fault. They said she had done something wrong. They lied."

Grady Hendrix never fails to deliver for me.

Historical fiction crossed with horror and magical realism is perfection.

This novel tackles some heavy topics surrounding the injustices and abuse of women and teenagers who were living in homes throughout America for pregnant unwed girls. These homes, which were disguised as places to treat and care for the women, were places they were sent by their families to have their babies in shame away from society.

It showcases an unpleasant aspect of history for women in the 70s who fell pregnant and were unmarried. At times it's hard to read due to the anger I felt at the misogyny radiating off nearly every page, but Grady does well in getting us to understand the frustrations and lack of autonomy the girls felt while staying at the home whilst also finding strength in one another and taking back their voices and power.

It's unfortunately a true reflection of how society treated unwed pregnant girls. But the girls are smart, and their friendship to help each other and create even short-term bonds with one another is wholesome. As the novel progresses so do the stakes, and the inclusion of dread and horror helps keep the pace. The witchcraft and magical realism aspects aren't as prevalent as you'd expect and instead take a back seat for most of the novel and are used as more of a crutch to increase certain aspects of the horror in the novel.

TWs include: horror and gore, stillbirth, gaslighting, misogyny, medical coercion, self-harm, rape of a minor (off page).

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Up on Goodreads now, live on the blog on 13 January:

I’m often the kind of reader who’s desperate to get her mitts on a certain book, and then when said highly anticipated book arrives, manages to ignore it for a long, long time. Not so with Grady Hendrix, I started it the second it landed on my Kobo. There is only one rule when it comes to his books: run, don’t walk!

I’m pretty sure I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: one of the things I love about this author is that I’m never quite sure where I’ll end up when I start one of his books, and that was most definitely the case with Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. In this case, though, it worked a little less for me than it usually does.

I gobbled up the witchy bits of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. That was definitely what I’d signed up for. Particularly the first time this band of wayward pregnant teens dabbles with witchcraft was perfection. Highly reminiscent, for me at least, of The Craft (my favourite film back when I was about these girls’ age) but with that trademark dark Hendrix humour.

A large chunk of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, however, reads more like drama (Holly’s story is devastating) and “historical” (1960s-1970s) fiction, portraying the horrors of childbirth (including multiple graphic childbirth scenes I could have done without) and the homes unwed pregnant girls were sent to to have their babies, any choice taken away from them. I suspect the author’s afterword, which was not yet included in the digital review copy I read, might have something to say about the overturning of Roe vs Wade.

While fascinating and thought-provoking, it wasn’t quite what I expected to read when I picked up Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. I was in it for the witchy and the creepy, and for me personally, there wasn’t enough of it. I probably wouldn’t even classify this one as horror.

Despite the fact that my expectations were not met entirely, I still had a really good time with this story, rooting for its girls and being witness to them finding their strength in each other and themselves, and a little witchcraft. Recommended but be sure to go in with the right expectations.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is out in digital formats, audio and hardcover on 16 January.

Massive thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This is my second book by Grady Hendrix and now I can confidently say this author is not for me. I do like his writing; I think is very fast paced and very descriptive but there always is a moment when I find myself thinking that the book should have finished almost a hundred pages ago.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls starts kind of interesting because of the main characters and their particular situation (I am going to be as vague as possible for those that don’t even read the synopsis). Rose was maybe the most artificial character.
And then the magic begins, and it is intriguing as well, and their way of approaching it makes the reading fast-paced, and the author’s descriptions are very imaginative… But then the repetitions start. And some of the most graphic, disgusting scenes ever. And I know this may not happen to a lot of people, but I could not stop thinking that this was a man writing very graphic scenes about minors and their bodies. And not only once, but twice (and some other prior scenes that were not as graphic but also made me uncomfortable).

Would I recommend this book? Maybe, to readers who are already fans of the author? I really don’t know.

Grady Hendrix has done it again, with a novel that somehow combines the dark thriller genre with genuine emotional depth. I loved last year's How To Sell A Haunted House, which took the themes of generational trauma and sibling rivalry and turned it into a deeply creepy haunted puppet story which tugged on the reader's heartstrings, and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls does something similar.

Set at a school for 'wayward' (read - pregnant) teenage girls a couple of years before Roe vs Wade, the book does have its share of alternately creepy and gross moments (it was way more body horror than I expected, and comes with a huge CN for emetophobes), but at its heart it's a powerful story of the damage done to women and girls under patriarchy, and what happens when those girls try to fight back. It's a sign of how effective this was that at one point I googled the author, so sure was I that a man couldn't convincingly write female pain and rage so well.

Overall a highly recommended, at times heart-breaking book, which is sadly all the more timely since the fall of Roe.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you BookBreak for an advanced copy of this!

They are referred to as wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. 15 year old pregnant Fern arrives at Wellwood House in the sweltering summer of 1970, terrified and alone. There, she meets loads of other unwed underage pregnant women. Their families have hidden them in this home so they can have their babies and give them up for adoption.

Fern then meets a librarian who gives her an m book about witchcraft in secret, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives.

I would say the best way to describe this book is Cackle meets the Reformatory.

This is a chunky book but I loved every minute of it! I felt a rollercoaster of emotions with this book. It starts off being quite upsetting. After that, I got major cozy vibes and then it turns quite dark pretty quickly.

I did shed some tears occasionally and at the end too. I thought the writing style was fantastic and engaging.

Some of the scenes in this book are graphic and did make me feel a little nauseous at times so be aware!

Initially we are introduced to far too many characters however as the book progresses, we only focus on a set few and I found them so interesting!

I would have liked a little more witchcraft in the book but it’s just a personal preference thing.

Who doesn't want to read a book about witches during the spooky season ? This instantly grabbed my attention. How do I feel after reading it rather mixed emotions to be honest. The start of the book really grips you. Set back in the time when being pregnant in your teens was a major taboo Hendrix hits the nail on the head with how it must of felt to be condemned as a Black sheep for having a baby out of wedlock. She makes you feel for all the girls who had no support and were made to be money making machines but throws in the twist of the supernatural. Everything blended so well together and you would of thought it would. I wasn't sure how I could make thus book out of five sometimes it was 5 then it was 3 so I'm going to give it a good 4/5

So I’m absolutely gutted… I wanted so much more from this book and I expected it to be so much more. I mean, it was an ok book but it was flat in places, horror in others… didnt match the title well and I’m sure it’s meant to be marketed for young adults. I’ve read other books by this author and loved them but this one just didn’t float my spooky boat. I’m actually sad… I’m sorry…

This was a tricky one with how u feel about it. I loved the idea but I feel the execution was lacking. Parts of this book were so good and intense and gripping, then parts just felt off, almost like at times I was reading a different book. It was an enjoyable enough read.

The body horror in this was disgusting and frankly it made it a perfect Halloween book. Excellent job again Grady Hendrix, really made me want to crawl out of my skin.

I really liked this book, but I would also like every single adult in this book to have the day they deserve. I lost count of times I screamed in frustration at the way Fern and co were treated!

I enjoyed the plot, the witchy vibes were brilliant, and all of the characters felt really fleshed out. I don't know if it'd because I'm a mum and couldn't imagine ever having to make the choices they do or what but i had to stop several times and take a breath as it was really emotional in places (which I was not prepared for!).

The only negative thing I should say is there needs to be a massive trigger warning for birth trauma sufferers. I know, as it's a book about pregnant teens, and the baby has to come out eventually, right?! But as someone with birth trauma, I was unprepared for the level of detail involved. One of the births takes place over, I think, in excess of 10-15 pages and it's pretty full on.

My first book from this author. I'm glad I'm read it - it was a difficult read due to what the poor girls go through but still compelling - however I was disappointed it wasn't about witchcraft so I do feel the title is misleading. I was also expecting it to be a horror book, but it was more an emotional YA book. It was well-written and kept me reading until the end, but was perhaps wrongly marketed, which may annoy some. Still worth reading though!
Thanks for the ARC.

When it comes to modern horror writers, Grady Hendrix is pretty high up there on my list of go-to authors and every book I've read by him so far has been thoroughly enjoyable. Seeing that Witchcraft For Wayward Girls had become available had me smashing the request button like an impatient boomer on a hotel reception bell.

I went in completely blind to this book with absolutely zero clue about what the plot might be, where it'd be set, or what kind of characters I'd meet along the way. In my mind I had a vague inkling that it might be centred around a school for witches, so I guess I was just a little off on that score.

Set in Florida in 1970 it transpires that the wayward girls are pregnant teenagers, and the setting is Wellwood House. Pregnant girls are sent there from all over the country for the duration of their pregnancies, only being allowed to go home once they've given birth and handed over their babies to adoptive parents.

Fern is 15 and terrified, though she soon befriends Rose, Zinnia and Holly, who each have their own intriguing, and somewhat heartbreaking, backstories. The way the girls and their circumstances is written about is surprisingly tender, and the themes of friendship, support, and solidarity are all strong within the pages.

But let's not forget the witchcraft element, suffice it to say the four girls fall deeply into something that is far too chaotic for them. The struggle between wanting to be a regular teenage girl vs being a witch with unlimited power is one they all contemplate - with varying degrees of success - and they learn that power in any form always comes with a price. Unfortunately it tends to be paid in blood, which lands them in a world of trouble.

Following a bit of a slow start, I eventually finished Witchcraft in a single day because I became desperate to know the fates of the girls. Despite being set in an era that's not even the distant past, it's shameful to think of the ways in which girls and women have been treated throughout history - and still very much are! - at the hands of men. The girls at Wellwood House are made to believe that they're evil, that they're not worthy of being in society, that they're disgusting and shameful and loose...it's little wonder that the temptation of witchery is so strong.

Rating: ✨✨✨✨

A very mid read for me unfortunately 😩. And in my opinion it’s far too long. Gutted I didn’t love it tbh

This one definitely leans more into the tragic than the terrifying... and it didn't really hit for me. Very light on the witchcraft element, but does try to weave together an emotional story of young women trying to escape a life that’s all about taking things from them—choices, babies, freedom. I say tried because I get what the aim was, but I just really don't love the execution. It's pretty slow and left a bad taste more than anything else.

That said, it was more emotional drama than witchy horror. So if you're expecting to be genuinely spooked, you might find the paranormal elements a little light, but if you enjoy painful drama then it might be a pretty solid read.

A big thank you to the author, netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

4.5

This was my first Grady Hendrix book but it definitely won't be my last, this was so good! I grew so attached to the girls in Wellwood House and I just wanted to bundle them all up and give them a hug. The writing drew me in and I didn't want to put it down. There are some really gut wrenching moments in this book so I would advise maybe looking at trigger warnings. It felt very real at times, especially when you consider some of the laws in the US (I'm British so I'm not going to pretend to fully understand but I educate myself as much as possible).
The witch aspect was giving American Horror Story and I loved it! They were scary in an understated kind of way and I think they fit perfectly with the vibes of the book.

They call them wayward girls. They were “bad girls, neurotic girls, needy girls, wayward girls, selfish girls, girls with Electra complexes, girls trying to fill a void, girls who needed attention, girls with pasts, girls from broken homes, girls who needed discipline, girls desperate to fit in, girls in trouble, girls who couldn’t say no.”

And in 1970s America, good god-fearing folks sent their loose-moraled daughters away to the Wellwood home for unwed mothers where they’ll repent, have their babies in secret, most likely have them adopted and then return to their old life like nothing has ever happened. Because, it’s obviously all their fault, heaven forbid there’s a fella in the wrong here.

While at Wellwood the every detail of the girls day is controlled, friendship is discouraged. The girls only real joy is the regular library bus, which gives them the chance to immerse themselves in fiction and forget the daily horror of their lives. On one such visit, our main character, Fern, is given a ‘special book’ by the kindly but beguiling librarian, but this is a book of witchcraft!

This book soon gives Fern and her housemates, Holly, Rose, and Zinnia, the power they have lost since arriving at the Home because desperate times call for desperate measures, right? But the girl’s foray into the world of witchcraft to help right the wrongs committed comes with a price.

This was my first Hendrix Grady read, and I was expecting quite a bit more horror. Still, horror doesn’t have to be a full-on gorefest, so the real horror is how all those admitted to Wellwood and others of its ilk were treated—and this is a realistic portrayal of the nature of a dark part of history that isn’t that far in our past, just with a dose of the supernatural thrown in

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is an immersive and addictive read with well-constructed characters you can’t help but root for. Highly recommend 4.5⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for an honest review. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is out in January

This is haunting, creepy and horrifying because it all felt very real, and gave an insight into Southern life for young pregnant girls shamefully sent away to have their babies in secret before returning back to 'their old life', with no control and no say.
I don't read many horror's and the author is new to me so I was unsure whether it would be too dark of a witchy read for me, but it was so good. The pace and balance was spot on and the elements of the descriptions were so deep and powerful it was like watching it play out in my mind.
The girls were so believable and as well as it being all things coven and supernatural related, it was actually really quite sad too. The back stories were authentic, and the power, control and rules over the girls was quite hard to read sometimes. It almost felt like it could quite easily have been your own Grandparents story.
A very recommended read!