Spoiler-Free Review

If you like coming-of-age stories about girlhood and friendship mixed with horror, set on a backdrop of 1980s Satanic Panic, then you’ll love My Best Friend’s Exorcism. 

Click here for content warnings – definitely check them before reading, especially if you’re sensitive to gore or animal death. 

What’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism about?

Abby and Gretchen are best friends in 1980s Charleston. But when Gretchen begins acting strange, Abby may be the only one who can help. 

It was a little campy, a little nostalgic, and very entertaining.

When I started reading a book that I knew would be about demons and exorcism, I didn’t expect it to start so coming-of-age, or so 80s. This was welcome. Because while I knew the scary part would be the possession, this book also made sure to point out what the real horror is: adolescence, religious psychosis, authoritarian parenting, and the utter lack of control one can have over life at such a vulnerable age. 

Gretchen’s possession can be read as an allegory for so many things. From a parent’s perspective, a rebellious adolescent trying to navigate the transition from childhood to young adulthood might seem like something akin to demonic possession. From the POV of a friend, it seems like a representation for PTSD, maybe after an assault. It could also be read as an allegory for mental health, and the development of disorders in a world that doesn’t want to help. 

On top of that, it was very atmospheric. Each chapter title was the name of an 80s song, characters used offensive (yet time accurate) words, and sex ed consisted of telling girls not to give away their “most precious gift.” There was a campiness and nostalgia to the storytelling without ever giving off a sense that the times were better in any way.

In fact, one of the main themes is critiquing the shallowness of the era. From the adults refusing to believe Abby (because it’d make them look bad) to dieting fads and heavy makeup, everything revolved around appearances. And Gretchen’s possession was inconvenient to those appearances. 

There were parts by the end that felt a little dragged out, but overall I really enjoyed it and thought it struck a good balance of ideas. 

Should you read My Best Friend’s Exorcism?

If you enjoy the kind of horror where you spend half the time wondering if any of it’s even real, you’ll probably like this. Especially if you’re partial to anything 80s themed and stories about girlhood. 

If you’re not into teen drama and are hoping for more horror, this might not be for you. This one really is about the relationship at its center, with a side of demons.