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My Best Friend's Exorcism
by Hendrix, Grady
Set in 1988, this story follows Abby and Gretchen, best friends since the fourth grade whose bond is tested when a skinny-dipping excursion goes horribly wrong. After Gretchen begins acting erratically, Abby suspects something supernatural has taken hold of her friend. What follows is a messy, heartfelt, and genuinely unsettling exploration of teenage loyalty. Hendrix captures the specific, heightened stakes of high school, where a social slight feels as lethal as a demon. The pacing is sharp, balancing laugh-out-loud 80s nostalgia with moments of visceral, stomach-churning horror. It is a story about how the people we grow up with shape who we become, and the lengths we go to save them when they seem lost. If you enjoy stories that treat the trauma of adolescence with as much seriousness as the presence of actual monsters, this is for you.
10 Books similar to 'My Best Friend's Exorcism'
Since you enjoyed the blend of teenage vulnerability and supernatural dread in this book, we have curated a list that leans into those same messy, high-stakes dynamics. These selections focus on the intensity of female friendships, the weight of buried childhood secrets, and the way trauma manifests as literal monsters. Whether you are looking for more genre-bending humor, dark coming-of-age stories, or the specific claustrophobia of small-town hauntings, these titles explore the same boundary between the mundane and the horrific that makes Hendrix so compelling to read.
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Since you enjoyed Hendrix's unique blend of horror and sharp, meta-commentary, this novel is a natural next step. It captures the same fast-paced, genre-savvy energy while focusing on trauma and the bonds formed through shared, terrifying experiences.
by Cicely Knott
Based on the cult classic film, this novelization perfectly mirrors the 90s aesthetic and the intense, often toxic dynamics of female friendship intertwined with supernatural occurrences. It shares the 'teens dealing with dark magic' theme that drives the plot of Hendrix's work.
This book offers a more psychological, chilling take on the possession subgenre, much like Hendrix's work, but focuses deeply on the unraveling of a family unit. It balances the terrifying supernatural elements with a very grounded, emotional core.
This novel combines historical narrative with a modern-day meta-horror story, capturing the same 'spooky school' atmosphere found in Hendrix's work. It is deeply concerned with the specific intensity of female relationships and the way history haunts the present.
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by Stephen King
The definitive story of childhood friends banding together to fight an ancient, supernatural evil in a small town. Hendrix's work is clearly indebted to King's mastery of the 'coming-of-age horror' genre, making this an essential read for any fan of the style.
While darker and more surreal than Hendrix's work, this book shares the 'found family' dynamic among outcasts dealing with bizarre, terrifying, and magical circumstances. It is a wild, unpredictable ride that fans of genre-bending horror will appreciate.
This is a brilliant, humorous love letter to Scooby-Doo-style mystery tropes, reimagined through a dark, Lovecraftian lens. It captures the same 'friends returning to face their childhood trauma' vibe that makes Hendrix's writing so engaging.
This novel brings a supernatural threat into a modern, small-town setting, focusing on how a community deals with a persistent, magical presence. It shares the claustrophobic, tense atmosphere and the way ordinary lives are upended by the inexplicable.
by Rory Power
Focusing on a group of girls isolated in a boarding school during a mysterious, body-horror plague, this book highlights the fierce, protective nature of female friendship. It matches the intensity and the 'teens against the world' energy found in Hendrix's novels.
You cannot go wrong with another Hendrix classic; this one applies his signature humor and horror to a haunted IKEA-style furniture store. It features the same witty, character-driven approach that makes his writing so accessible and fun.
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