Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was definitely a great introduction for me to the writing of Grady Hendrix.

A chilling horror set in a 70's home for unmarried mothers, this had tones reminiscent of The Craft which ironically took me back to my own teen years. Upon receiving the witches handbook, the girls soon found they were out of their depth and everything comes with a price. Sometimes the price is more than you are prepared to pay...

I found there to be lots of dark, graphic imagery in the story but it had it's place and wasn't superfluous. The writing was well paced and, although it didn't throw any real surprises my way, was still an enjoyable read.

Would I recommend? Yes if you like your horror but be warned there are some elements of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls that might be triggering for some.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

Another hit from Grady Hendrix! I love his combination of humor and horror. I'm always entertained reading his books and this was no less. I'm also very fond of how he writes female characters. A man who actually portrays them good. This topic was also deeper than his prior novels I felt, which impressed me. A great novel.

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by Pan MacMillan, Tor Nightfire via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to Pan MacMillan, for providing me with the arc for review.

Plot
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is set in a home for unmarried teenage girls in 1970. When one of the girls is given a book about witches, the group of girls start dabbling in magic.

Thoughts
Rating: 3.5 Stars

This was good. I liked the setting of the mother and baby home, and the dynamic between the girls in the home as well as their adult caretakers. I felt it was a bit too long winded towards the end, I thought it was almost over, only to realise I was only 80% through.

4.5 stars ⋆˙⟡

ahhhh this book!!!
im genuinely at such a loss for words for this review.

grady hendrix did an amazing job on this novel and im blown away at the impact its had on me.

this story had me so intrigued and invested in every character.
i felt for all these girls put in such terrible places all because of a childlike mistake or because they were taken advantage of.

“𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢, 𝘙𝘰𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵.
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘛𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.”

nothing i love more than a great feminist piece with magical elements.

Fifteen year old Fern is unmarried and pregnant and frightened as her family leave her at a home for wayward girls to sort out her "problem". Fern soon bonds with the other girls and before long a librarian presents them with a book that opens up a whole new world to them. The book offers escapism, but at what price? Can the girls really escape their fate? Or will the world get its way and tear their babies from their arms and thrust into adoption before sending them home to get on with their original lives? A mix of Hendrix' horror underpins this heartbreaking tale of underage pregnancy and baby homes. #witchcraftforwaywardgirls #gradyhendrix #netgalley

I’ve enjoyed Grady Hendrix’s books in the past, although I have found his focus only on groups of female protagonists to be a little overdone and odd, but this was just far too long and slow to hold my attention so unfortunately I couldn’t finish it.

I gave Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix two stars because, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. While the premise seemed intriguing — a group of pregnant teens in a mysterious house discovering witchcraft and trying to reclaim their power — the execution left me completely bored.

The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest long before any action or plot really picked up. When the story finally did start to get intense, it veered into disturbing territory with an overwhelming focus on childbirth and the strange, unsettling ways of getting pregnant. This triggered a strong negative reaction in me, especially since I was hoping for a more magical, less graphic experience.

The elements of witchcraft and power were certainly intriguing, but the heaviness of the content combined with the slow pace made it difficult to stay engaged. I ended up not finishing the book because it felt like more of a slog than a captivating read. If you’re sensitive to topics around childbirth and pregnancy, this might not be the book for you. For me, it wasn’t the right mix of spooky or fun; it was just too dark and off-putting.

I found the book's theme very interesting, especially because I had no idea there were houses for unwed girls to have their babies and then move on. This is not a conventional horror book about witches; it does have some gore, and the horror revolves around the theme—the dark reality these girls lived in. There were parts quite hard to read; I could feel the desperation of these young mothers. Very sad book!
I really liked the final chapters! It was quite slow to reach a satisfactory resolution, though.

3.5/5 stars

I went into this book pretty much blind so I didn’t expect a lot of it.

This book made me sad, it made me angry. But it’s also a good reminder (not that we really need it, let’s be honest) of how quick the world can turn against girls and women. And it’s also a reminder of how strong we can be, how strong we are.

3.5 Stars. A really interesting premise. This is my first Hendrix book, and whilst this didn't blow me away I'd be keen to read more of their work. I think I mostly struggled with the slow pace. We're almost a third of the way through the book before we reach any witchy/unusual goings on. The pacing suffered as a result. Clearly a well researched book in terms of homes for 'wayward women' and the treatment of them. The mirroring of their persecution with that of witches was cleverly done and I really felt for our protagonist and her friends. The horror elements were engaging; I read and listened in tandem, and there's a particular moment with nails that I still can't think about without wincing...

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I like Grady Hendrix so I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book. The premise is super interesting. I feel it was well researched. I feel like childbirth can definitely link into horror but I also wish that Hendrix did more with this book. 500 pages is a big book, however, I feel nothing really happened during that time. There were some good horror moments in this book, but definitely not enough for me personally. It was still worth the read for me but I wish the witches theme and horror was more prevalent.

Another brilliant book from Grady Hendrix and this one leans more into the historical rather than the horror aspects. 

As a male author I think he writes females fantastically well and these characters had my heart. Set in a home for pregnant girls in 1970 when pregnancy outside marriage was a big taboo, we follow Fern and other girls as they are left at this home to have their babies, give them up for adoption and then return to their "normal" lives.

I found it heartbreaking and hopeful and the fact that these homes did actually exist and girls were treated this way made it all the more powerful a story. 

The horror and witchcraft parts came into the story about halfway through and there were still a few scenes that had me grimacing as I'd expect with a Grady Hendrix book. It's also reaffirmed how much I do not want to be pregnant or give birth...

Overall though I loved this book and I can't wait to see what Hendrix writes next!

Grady Hendrix's Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a spellbinding (of course) journey into the heart of darkness and defiance, set within the confines of a girls' school where the ordinary turns extraordinary. The plot features dark humor and horror, and could be seen as a critique of societal norms.

The story starts with an air of mystery as Fern arrives at Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened. Quickly, we learn that this isn't just any school for wayward girls; it's a place where the line between our world and a magical reality is blurred. The plot showcases witchcraft as more than a tool for chaos but as a symbol of rebellion.

The discovery of a secret group of witches among the students sets the stage for a story of power struggles, secret societies, and the quest for freedom. The plot is fast-moving, with twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

One of the most compelling aspects of the plot is how Hendrix manages to make the supernatural feel grounded in our world. The magic isn't just for spectacle; it's a means to explore themes of identity, freedom, and the cost of power. Each plot twist is both a revelation and a lesson, making the story not just about what happens but what it means for the characters involved.

The climax of the book has everything you might expect: action, emotion, and revelation that ties together the threads of the narrative in a way that feels both satisfying and thought-provoking. It's here that Hendrix truly showcases his ability to blend horror with heart, with much of the books horror being in the knowledge of how we treated people who found themselves in this situation.

In essence, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is more than just a plot; it's an adventure into the depths of human nature, wrapped in the cloak of witchcraft. The social commentary woven throughout the narrative challenges us to reflect on society in general. As a Brit I knew the history of homes like this in the UK so it was interesting to read of the US equivalent and it sounds like they were every bit as harsh and dehumanising.

For some I can understand that this might feel slow as it's over halfway through the book before we start the aspects that are horror/supernatural but I liked that it took the time to showcase the horrors of society and we got to know the situation and characters before the genre aspects kicked in.

In conclusion, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a great entertaining novel. With characters you can't help but want to know more about, this book not only entertains but also leaves you with a poignant message about the human condition. It's a must-read for anyone who loves their horror with a side of heart and a dash of defiance. I have other books by Grady on my tbr pile and they’ve now moved up!

What a book! So heartbreaking 💔 I did want a but more witchcraft though. Check Triggers.

Set in the 1970s, Fern is a 15 yeard old girl who gets pregnant and sent away to a home to give birth, give up her child & return as though nothing has happened. A long the way she meets other girls like her and we learn their stories aswell. A librarian then goves Fern a book on witchcraft and the girls try out some spells. Such a harrowing read that really shocks you with what these girls go through.

This was all about powerful women and friendship and how women were treated and how they still are. It was also about the links between strong women and witchcraft. Some parts of this were very heavy and full on, there were a lot of very descriptive parts about childbirth, some parts were also extremely eerie and dark. Certain parts of this book genuinely gave me chills and had me feeling anxious like it was me being hunted by witches. I've read a lot of Grady Hendrix and never know if it's going to be a hit or miss, this was honestly the best I've read so far. A very good mix of creepy and suspenseful but also informative and powerful. Would highly recommend.

Buckle in, you’re about to go in a wild ride. I have read and loved all of Grady Hendrix’s books, so yes I am biased however this is an excellent read.

Head into this romp through the 70s through the perspective of teenage women, disowned by their families for getting pregnant. This book has so much heart to it. The girls find family within each other and with that they unravel their secrets of how they came to be at the home for wayward girls. Holly absolutely has my heart, her character is so well plotted with care and her ending is one I was cheering for.

Although very different from Hendrix’s other works this is a firm contender to be a favourite. Do yourself a favour and read it. (If you have any discomfort around, pregnancy related horror however I would give it a miss)

Class Hendrix literature- what I’ve been accustomed to from this author! Full of creepy/supernatural events, intertwined with some real, historical issues that plagued young, expectant mothers’ lives. 10:10 read for me!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75/5)

From the Synopsis:
‘I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.’

With this chilling opening, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls sets the tone for a dark, atmospheric story about young women cast away by society.

Set in the summer of 1970, the novel follows fifteen-year-old Fern as she arrives at the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida. This home for unwed mothers serves as a place where girls—deemed wayward or loose—are hidden away to give birth in secret, forced to surrender their babies for adoption, and, most importantly, expected to forget everything that happened.

Fern is not alone. She meets other girls with their own tragic stories: Rose, a free-spirited hippie determined to keep her baby and escape to a commune; Zinnia, a musician planning to marry her child’s father; and Holly, a mute fourteen-year-old pregnant by an unknown assailant. As the girls navigate the grim reality of Wellwood House, the novel weaves themes of resilience, female solidarity, and the crushing weight of societal expectations of the time.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The opening felt a little slow, but the pacing picked up once I was about 10% in, and I found myself engrossed in the story. I became invested in the girls’ struggles and desperately wanted them to achieve the futures they envisioned for themselves.

However, while the depth was strong, the horror elements didn’t fully land for me. Given Hendrix’s reputation for crafting compelling horror, I expected a more intense, spine-chilling experience. Instead, the supernatural aspects felt somewhat muted, leaving the ending a bit underwhelming. While Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is certainly a good read with strong emotional beats, I’ve read stronger works by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor Nightfire for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

They call them wayward girls—troublesome, shameful, in need of correction. At the Wellwood Home for Unwed Mothers, teenage girls are hidden away, their pregnancies erased from polite society. But when Fern, a terrified 15-year-old, stumbles across a book of witchcraft, she and her fellow inmates begin to grasp at something that’s been denied them: power. The only problem? Magic demands a price, and in Wellwood, blood is already spilling.

I went in expecting teenage girls cackling over spells and sisterhood. What I got was something much darker—an unflinching look at desperation, control, and what happens when the powerless finally push back. The real horror here isn’t the witchcraft (though when it appears, it’s brilliantly eerie), but the brutal realities of these girls’ lives. Hendrix crafts a slow-burning, unsettling narrative, though the pacing wavers; the first act takes its time, but once the occult elements kick in, the book sinks its claws in deep.

This isn’t a fun, spooky witch story—it’s a raw, sometimes difficult read, heavy with emotion and injustice. But if you have the patience, it’s a gripping, thought-provoking ride. A haunting tale of resilience, revenge, and the power of belief.

I absolutely loved this!! I loved the atmosphere of the 70's and it was such an overall good reading experience.