Grady Hendrix is who you go to for social commentary and this is no exception. Girls are sent to Wellwood to have their illegitimate babies out of sight. Fern and her compatriots get a visit from the library van and Fern checks out a book on witchcraft at the behest of the librarian.

Reading through the book, she tries a few simple spells and then hits upon the idea of taking revenge on the adults running the "home".

It's a story of fear friendship and fighting for what's right.

Yeah, well, it's Grady Hendrix, people! Doing his usual thing! I liked it (I like 80% of his books), but I don't think it's one of his greatest. For one thing, it took a long time to shift into gear. Make that a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time. Also, this novel suffers from a serious case of Character Overload. I gave up pretty quickly on trying to keep all those pregnant teens with their weird floral names straight, because frankly there were just too many, but, as it turned out: didn't matter! Most of these chicks drop out of the narrative faster than you can say "Marigold". Phew!
Maybe I'm being sexist, but I also thought Hendrix was taking his male-author-writing-exclusively-female-MCs-shtick a bit too far this time, going all the way into some (lovingly detailed but frankly weird) descriptions of late pregnancy, labor and childbirth. YMMV; I wasn't impressed.
There's a generous helping of Magical Negress as well (aren't we kinda over this time of thing in AD 2025?) as well as Hendrix' usual slap-dash use of what other authors consider plotting; the narrative arc of this thing was seriously crazy and out of control a lot of the time. So if you come into this thinking, I was not overly fond of his earlier novels but surely by book no. 7 he must have gotten the hang of the whole plot business... nope. Sorry. Still feeling his way in the dark, from what I can tell.
But of course this is also a lot of fun. There are some scary bits. There are characters that may not feel true to life exactly, but they're fun to be around and come across as three dimensional and recognizable, not just those flat pieces of cardboard you find in 90% of commercial fiction. There's the usual sense of warm-heartedness and caring about his creation. So basically, you know, it's another Grady Hendrix novel. If you like him, you'll like this one (and there is a lot to like; one thing you can say about him, he never repeats himself, every book is a world upon itself).
If you don't... well.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC, although this one also took the cake for being the least readable ARC I've had the misfortune to come across -- the formatting was so terrible that I seriously considered giving up, despite having looked forward to this book so much that it started to feel unhealthy. So thanks, guys, but thanks for... well, not that much.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls takes you to 1970, where pregnant fifteen-year-old Neva gets shipped off to a home for unwed mothers after her family basically disowns her. She's supposed to give birth, hand over the baby, and pretend none of it happened. But plot twist—she and her fellow outcasts discover a coven of witches in the woods and suddenly have a whole spellbook to mess around with.

Not gonna lie, this one started slow and I wasn't sure I'd stick with it. But once I got past the first few chapters, I was hooked! Sure, it dragged in spots, but I ended up tearing through it and the ending legit made me tear up a little. Props to this male author for tackling such a heavy topic—the way society treated unwed mothers back then was brutal, and he handled it with real sensitivity. Even if historical women's fiction isn't usually your thing, this one's worth checking out.

I love it when Grady Hendrix combines horror writing with a story that addresses a historical social issue. Teenage pregnancy used to be a huge, shameful issue and it was interesting to read about the opinions of the time and the way people treated these girls. The witchcraft element was woven in so well that it didn't seem completely out of place. It felt like it actually could have happened, which made the book all the more thrilling. I really liked the characters and their development as the story progressed. This was just one of those books that gets stuck in your head and you want to keep reading

It took me an embarrassingly long time to read the ARC of this. Actually, to the point I even got the Black Crow signed edition of it… RIP

Anyway, this very much felt like a Grady Hendrix book. It’s got a woman centric story, friendship at its core and a sort of vague supernatural theme (it’s there, but it’s not really the core of the story). 

I mostly really liked it. I binge read it whole visiting my sister in Finland, making it possible for me to really immerse myself within the story for hours. Which made for a better reading experience than anything else. It felt emotionally charged (I absolutely did feel like crying!) and the topic was honestly heartbreaking. But with that said, I also feel weird reading stories that should be women’s own voices but which is told by a man — it’s what Hendrix does and he did very clearly put a lot of thought and care into it — but it still feels “wrong” in some ways. Are there other similar stories written by women that I could’ve read? Should’ve read instead? It’s minor, but it’s a sort of ambivalent feeling I have lately reading stories by men about women.

Then again, it was phenomenally well done and it seemed well researched. It was written with care and such detail you could almost imagine Hendrix experiencing this himself. So honestly, who knows.

It’s a good story though and an emotional one. You rooted for these girls to survive and get the future they wanted — and to get the revenge they deserved. There’s some criticism to be had on how the focus is only on girls who are forced to give up their babies, despite wanting to keep them and not on the other girls (or girls wanting abortions as some reviewers have said). But again, I don’t think that’s necessarily bad. It’s very specifically about the harm caused by girls being sent against their will to these places and then having no choice in whether they can keep or loose their babies. So to me, I think that’s a fine focus to have.

Anyway, I mostly loved it but would honestly love to hear people’s thoughts on Hagar and her sister and the possible ‘black magic woman’ trope? I don’t think I as a white woman can comment on it, but I’m curious if people felt that was a trope that was used or not?

/// ARC courtesy of Tor Nightfire and NetGalley

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix is a haunting, emotionally charged blend of historical horror and feminist rebellion, set in the sweltering summer of 1970. The story follows Fern, a pregnant fifteen-year-old sent to the Wellwood Home for unwed mothers - a place that promises secrecy and salvation but delivers control, shame, and silence.
When Fern and the other girls discover a mysterious book of spells, witchcraft becomes their only means of reclaiming power in a world that has stripped them of autonomy. But Hendrix makes it clear: power always comes at a price, and the real horror isn’t the occult - it’s the systems that treat young women as disposable.
This novel is less about broomsticks and more about rage, resilience, and the cost of survival. Hendrix’s signature wit is dialled down here, replaced by a raw, visceral tone that doesn’t shy away from graphic depictions of childbirth, abuse, and institutional cruelty. The supernatural elements are subtle and almost metaphorical, but they underscore the central theme: they’ll find their own magic when society fails girls.
While some readers may expect more overt horror or spellcasting, the book's strength lies in its empathetic characters, especially Fern, Rose, Zinnia, and Holly, each with their own heartbreaking story. The pacing lags slightly in the middle, but the emotional payoff and thematic depth more than make up for it.
If you’re drawn to witchy fiction with teeth, stories about female solidarity, or books that explore bodily autonomy through a horror lens, this one’s worth your time. Just be prepared - it’s not always an easy read, but it’s a powerful one.

This was solid! I enjoyed the horror elements and the way it didn’t hold back from certain topics!! The pragmatic kind of horror that explored how these girls dealt with the awful situations they were put in with little to no support. There was a particular comment about essentially all the abrahamic religions and then some hating women and that was really uncomfortable to read as someone who is religious. It’s a blanket statement that’s at least partially based on racist stereotypes and sure it was the character saying it not the author but they then go on to present examples of all the ways women were mistreated- all totally real and valid. My issue lies in the lack of distinction between the cultural attitudes towards women in certain countries and the religious. Something to think about, and also the reason i didn’t quite manage to finish 🥸

“They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast.”

It’s 1970, and fifteen-year-old Fern has been cast out—pregnant, alone, and hidden away at the Wellwood Home in sweltering St. Augustine, Florida. Here, girls like her are stripped of their names, voices, and futures. Under the control of the cold Miss Wellwood and her compliant doctor, the rules are simple: give birth, give up your baby, forget it ever happened.

But Fern refuses to forget. And when a mysterious bookmobile rolls into town, everything changes. Among the dusty stacks is How to Be a Groovy Witch, and with it, the girls find something they’ve never had before: power.

Grady Hendrix blends horror, heartbreak and feminist power like no one else, and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls might be his most gutting book yet. It’s a little bit The Handmaid’s Tale, a little bit V.C. Andrews, and it's brimming with cruelty, rebellion and melodrama. It's also got heart - the friendships among the girls - Rose the revolutionary, Zinnia the dreamer, and quiet, tragic Holly—form the emotional spine of the novel, grounding its darker, magical elements in something raw and real.

There’s body horror. Occult vengeance. A lingering sense of dread that never lets go. But the true horror lies in the real-life systems of control and cruelty these girls are forced to endure—systems that are all too familiar, even today. This is a fictionalised account of maternity homes in the US - ones run by the Catholic Church (and other organisations) - but it's rooted in reality and shines a light on a shameful history those of us in Ireland will recognise. Hendrix writes in the acknowledgements that two female members of his family were sent to maternity homes, and I admire him for taking on this topic.

This isn’t just a horror novel. It’s a searing indictment of how society treats vulnerable girls, wrapped in a gripping, witchy revenge tale. Hendrix has delivered another fiercely original story. He's a master of modern horror, and I love his work.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
I don't even know how to begin describing my thoughts and feelings about this book. My words cannot accurately express the emotional impact this book had and continues to have on me. Grady Hendrix has long been an autobuy author for me and I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to read an advance readers copy. Hendrix as always is able to make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. In my opinion this is his best book yet. This story is about a group of pregnant teenage girls~ they call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast~ sent away to have their babies in secret and give them up for adoption. However this book is about so much more than that. The setting of 1970’s Florida is vivid and this backdrop eerily draws uncomfortable parallels with the resurgence of regressive values around gender and body autonomy. This is something Hendrix does so amazingly well, he manages to create a fantastically rich and nuanced narrative with a serious message without it feeling preachy. This book uses horror in a really subtle and smart way, it doesn't just scare, it pushes back against the way women have been treated both in the past and in today’s society., and if that isn't scary, i don't know what is.
As always Hendrix writes characters that feel real and believable, I dare any reader to not feel so deeply for the main characters and to not hate the situation they are in. their rebellion and resistance is emotionally charged and doesn't come easily. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come and it's definitely in contention for my book of the year.


Thanks to the author, Pan Macmillan, Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

Strap in—this one is a brutal, witchy punch to the gut. Fifteen-year‑old Fern lands in a creepy unwed mother’s home in the ’70s, surrounded by tight rules, controlling adults, and raging stigma. When she and her bunkmates stumble on a dusty occult book, magic kicks off like a riot. Witchcraft becomes resistance, spells give them scraps of power, and suddenly shutting up isn’t an option. It’s raw grief, sister‑bond fury, and supernatural rebellion all mixed like a Molotov cocktail.

But hold up—this ride isn’t nonstop fire. The pace dips into introspective gloom too often, where you’re slogging through emotional word-soup rather than cursed chants. A few characters pop in, hang around like ghosts, then vanish without a trace. And when the girls finally make magic, the weird horrors don’t always hit as hard as the real-life nightmare they’re escaping. Still, there’s something addictive about that slow-burn dread and the messy power it gives them.

**Verdict:**
A brutal, atmospheric mash-up of historical oppression, teenage rage, and occult spark. Messy at times, with pacing potholes and loose threads, but when it hits—*it hits*. For fans of feminist horror, ’70s mysticism, and gritty sisterhood vibes, grab this—but don’t expect tidy.

Grady Hendrix's books are always a wild ride and this one was no different.
There are some rather graphic descriptions of childbirth, which could be off putting for some, but weren't too out of left field given the subject matter and story.
There maybe wasn't as much horror as I was expecting, however, it still kept me hooked the whole way through.
And I'm always such a fan of Grady's writing and writing style. He did so well, especially as a male author, to depict these teenage girls.
Definitely one to pick up around spooky season, I would say. And I can't wait to see what Grady does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Grady Hendrix, so no surprise I devoured this books and loved every minute of it. But I’m not biased, this story is engaging it follows Fern, 15 and pregnant, set in the 70’s she is sent away to a home for wayward girls. There she meets Rose, Zinnia and Holly, all in the same predicament and nothing to do but wait to have their babies and go back to their lives. But some people’s life’s aren’t as safe as others like Holly’s and in order to save their friend they tuen to witchcraft. However it’s not as simple as casting a spell and they get more then they bargained for when Fern gets accidentally tangled in another covens web. Full of excellent pop culture references as you would expect from Hendrix. It takes you on an emotional journey from start to finish. It shows how women have been treated and seen in ways you can’t ignore. Just brilliant writing.

Absolutely loved this book! Highly recommended for a fast pace, creepy, addictive, page turning horror.

I have read every book by Grady Hendrix and I have to say I'm a little disappointed by this one. It's probably my least favourite of his.

When I picked this up didn't realise it was more historical fiction based on pregnant women rather than a horror story about witches.

I'm not really a fan of reading about graphic pregnancy and it felt much more about giving birth than an actual horror novel which Grady is very much known and loved for.

I also found there were far too many characters in the beginning, some of them very similar, and I struggled to get a mental picture of each character in my head.

I did enjoy the horror elements to the book, they were just very few and far between.

I'm not sure I would recommend this to anyone I know. Not enough horror, and way too much graphic scenes regarding pregnancy.

It is the 1970's. Fifteen year old Neva gets pregnant. In order to ward off scandal she is sent to 'visit her Auntie' for a few months. In other words she is off to a home for unwed mothers. There they can wait for their babies to be born and then to hand them over to adoption. Once at the home she is given a new name, Fern (all the girls are named for flowers and allegedly this name change is to protect their anonymity! The girls are expected to follow the rules and atone for their sins! When Fern is given a book on witchcraft by the strange visiting librarian, the girls look for ways to gain some control of their fate & when a 'spell' works they are both thrilled and scared. Nothing comes for free and soon the mysterious librarian is expecting some payment.

This wasn't a hide behind the sofa sort of horror story-although it had some pretty awful moments! Overall it was a good read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book,

In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, we follow Fern; pregnant at 15, she is sent to Wellwood House where unwed mothers are hidden away to give birth away from their families before returning home. There, Fern meets Rose, Zinnia and Holly and the four girls quickly form a tight friendship, but it isn't long before Fern meets the librarian who introduces the girls to a very special book... a guide to witchcraft. As the girls seek to hold power for the first time in their lives, the book becomes more and more important to them, but remember, as the book says 'everything has a price, and every price must be paid'.

While I remember liking the characters in The Final Girls Support Group, I can't say that I remember them specifically as people now, over 18 months since I read it - but I feel that Fern, Rose, Zinnia and Holly will remain with me for a long time. While the majority of the book is from Fern's perspective, the other girls, even those who appear only briefly, feel so memorable and whole, allowing you a window into to lives of not only unwed teen mothers in 1970s America, but teen girls as a whole during the period.

The way Hendrix has taken such a harrowing subject (please check trigger warnings!!) and made such an enjoyable read out of it has really impressed me - the book is dark, warm and chaotic, which may not always go together but really work in this and the fact that the horror comes from both fantastical and very much real events added even more to my enjoyment. I imagine this will make my end of year favourites list as well, it may be a new all-time favourite.

I typically really enjoy Grady Hendrix books, but sadly this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations, though it was still enjoyable. The stand out of this book is really the way the female characters and their experience are written with truth and empathy, which I honestly didn’t think a male author would be able to capture. This is clearly a very well researched book, and it is absolutely horrifying to think how many young women will have experienced this.

I do think this was lacking in horror and witchcraft, and I found myself quite bored through long stretches of the book. My favourite character was Rose and I wanted more of her!

Not as horror or witchcrafty as I expected. The pregnant teenagers are shipped off, our wayward girls. Graphic depictions of pregnancy and labour, good characters, and thought provoking. Enjoyed it

A heavy and emotional read.
To think the way the girls were treated was factual for some women of the times.
I love the balance of magic, prices to be paid etc.
The graphic births took me back but over all, a solid read.

A haunting story about young women who try to break out of a life where they have no control over their bodies and where the greatest horrors are done by the people who should be protecting them. Grady is on his way to become one of the best voices in modern horror.