Reading review of this book before going into it, told me that this wasn't a typical Grady Hendrix story. The horrors are very much grounded in the real (childbirth as opposed to witchcraft!) and the discomfort comes from the treatment of the girls, how they're disbelieved and belittled for their circumstances. The hospital scenes were absolutely brutal. My only wish was that the friendships has been stronger to offset the pain. It was more 'witchcraft lite', and I appreciated that because that meant it wasn't taking away from the real horror: 1970s society.

I am a huge horror buff but this was not horror. It was neither scary or interesting.

Set in the 50's Fern gets pregnant and is sent to a home over her summer holidays to have her baby. She meets other girls there Zinnia and Holly and they form a bond. They pray everyday for bad things to happen to the people that got them pregnant and one day enters a witch. Problem is, she just isnt scary, like at all, i didnt find her terrifying in any way at all, the scariest thing she did was create a storm with hail stones, oooo im shaking!!!

Tame and Tedious.

Witches often navigate challenging lives, yet they find joy in unexpected places. Living on the fringes and in transitional spaces, they resist societal norms whenever possible.

Grady Hendrix's Witchcraft for Wayward Girls offers a profound look at adolescence, empowerment, and the pervasive influence of societal control, all set within a 1970s Florida maternity home for unwed mothers. The story centers on fifteen-year-old Fern, who arrives at Wellwood House pregnant and filled with dread, her existence dictated by the stifling rules imposed by adults. The novel opens with a poignant depiction of Fern's emotional struggles, providing an intimate view into the lives of other girls similarly ensnared by their circumstances.

The narrative takes a transformative turn when Fern discovers a witchcraft book from a librarian, acting as a catalyst for change. This book represents the possibility of empowerment and rebellion against the constricting societal norms. It challenges the idea that everything labeled "bad" is truly harmful; perhaps it's time to stop conforming blindly and start thinking independently.

The plot navigates the tension between the allure of witchcraft as a means of reclaiming autonomy and the potential dark repercussions that such power can bring. This is fundamentally a story about power: where to find it and how to wield it effectively. In today's world, understanding personal power—over oneself and others—is crucial.

Power is not a gift; it must be claimed, as those who possess it are often reluctant to share. For many young women in this narrative, their desires are largely ignored. They cry out for recognition—yet what has it achieved? They remain hidden away like forgotten photographs, punished for engaging in the most natural act.

One cannot simply plead with the world for what they want; instead, they must assert their will upon it. This is the lesson imparted by the book.

Miss Parcae, often viewed as a villain, presents herself as a figure who genuinely wants to empower these girls. She offers them the tools to address their issues but demands loyalty in return. Is that too much to ask?

Hendrix skillfully illustrates how the girls’ pursuit of independence can lead them toward both liberation and peril. The setting is steeped in gothic elements, characterized by the oppressive summer heat and the suffocating atmosphere of Wellwood House. Every interaction is charged with tension, creating a claustrophobic yet vibrant backdrop.

The characters are richly developed; each girl reflects different aspects of youth and motherhood—Rose embodies idealism while Zinnia represents pragmatism. Their varied personalities weave together a tapestry of experiences that resonate deeply with readers.

Hendrix's writing is both engaging and evocative, blending horror with insightful social commentary. He balances humor with pathos effectively, making the story both entertaining and thought-provoking. Some scenes are graphic—especially those portraying childbirth—but this visceral quality underscores the harsh realities faced by these young women. While some may find certain elements unsettling, this discomfort is essential to the story's impact.

As an author recognized for his unique fusion of horror and heartfelt narratives, Hendrix has carved out a significant niche in contemporary fiction. His ability to tackle intricate themes—such as autonomy, societal pressures, and femininity's darker sides elevates Witchcraft for Wayward Girls beyond mere horror; it serves as a profound reflection on women's struggles within patriarchal structures. Through this work, Hendrix encourages readers to examine their own views on power and agency in their lives.

Grady Hendrix does it again!

Honestly I loved this book! It felt like a true representation of being a young woman in this era being scared and cast aside. Which is impressive for many reasons including that Grady is in fact a man.

However it wasn't as spine chilling as how to sell a haunted house and felt like there could be more witch craft than what there was.

I wouldn't recommend if you're a bit screamish about body horror!

I have been a Hendrix fan for as long as I can remember. Whatever he produces never fails to keep me gripped and intrigued, he's a magician, for sure. Be warned there are some heavy topics in this book surrounding pregnancy and childbirth.

So as the title gave The Craft vibes and I was excited to see where it was going. I didn’t need to read the blurb, I’ll like it regardless of the story. The whole premise for this book is spot on, and I cannot faut a single thing. The horror aspect is perfect, the writing is perfect and the plot is perfect. Hendrix never falls short on his work, its phenomenal.

The witchcraft used in the novel, is not just the witchcraft we know, its beyond complicated and Hendrix portrayed it perfectly for a reader to not only decipher but also understand. But don’t be fooled because witchcraft isn't the main theme in this book. Although there are aspects of witchcraft the story if more about these women, their story and the pain they go through.

I loved the friendship that came from these poor girls, who were all but shunned by their family. They helped each other and even began to create bonds with one another, even if it was short term bonds.

Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before proceeding with this book.

4.75 ⭐ When i started reading this i didn’t expect it to be what it turned out to be. I’m shocked this book made me feel all the feels, both negative and positive feels. All girls had such powerful and meaningful stories i was rooting for them for things to work out well for them even after going through hell. The only thing that disturbed me in this book was the very realistic and descriptive births. THAT on its own made me feel what they were going through.
All though it’s a slowly unpacking story i enjoyed it a lot! (besides the fact i got a bit bored at 30% but it got so much better after that). A page turner that makes you wanna find out more about what’s gonna happen and what end will these girls have.
This book will definitely stick with me and its one of those books that i’ll be thinking about for a very long time

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun read. It was a little slow in parts but after the half way point and the witchy bits kicked in I flew through it.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls felt like a unique mix of Girl, Interrupted and The Craft, but with heavily pregnant teenage girls in the 1970s. At first glance, the Book might seem like your typical story of teenage girls dabbling in witchcraft and seeking revenge on those who’ve wronged them—but it’s so much more than that. Beneath the surface, this novel delves into the struggles of women under patriarchy, exploring themes of female friendship, motherhood, and the emotional and physical tolls of young pregnancy.

What Worked
The second half of the book is where it truly took off for me. This is where the action, suspense, and horror aspects kicked in, and I found myself glued to my Kindle. Grady’s writing during the action scenes was especially gripping. His use of capital letters to amplify intensity might not be for everyone, but I found it effective in creating suspense and urgency.

The characters also felt multidimensional, which added depth to the story. At one point, when they took revenge on a particular character, I was conflicted. Despite not liking the person, I couldn’t help but feel bad for them, which made me appreciate the complexity of the characters and their actions. I was expecting to fully support the women in their pursuit of revenge, but the story left me feeling more conflicted, which I enjoyed.

Additionally, the unpredictability of the plot kept me engaged. Just when I thought I had a sense of where the story was going, it shifted, often in unexpected and satisfying ways.

What Fell Short
The first half felt slow, more like literary fiction than horror. It focused on relationships and the girls' lives, while the supernatural and horror elements stayed in the background. I felt some conflicts were added just to stretch the story unnecessarily.

I also expected more witchcraft, but instead, the graphic childbirth scenes took center stage, which was disturbing, especially given the girls’ ages. While historically relevant, this shifted the book’s tone toward bleakness rather than the female rage and witchcraft I had anticipated.

Final Thoughts
The premise is intriguing, but it took a significant portion of the book—about 40%—to really get into the storyline. Overall, I came into this book expecting more female rage and witchcraft, but instead, I found a story that leaned more into the tragic lives of teenage girls under a patriarchal society in the 70s, mixed with the horror of childbirth. The true horror in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls isn’t the supernatural elements, but rather the way these girls are treated by society and the people around them. There are some creepy supernatural moments, but the real terror lies in the exploitation of these young girls.

"The consequences of a working should scare you. Unleashing the power of a coven's will is not for the weak-hearted. But everything worth doing is accompanied by fear."

Grady Hendrix is easily one of my favourite writers working today. When I see he has a new book out, I get my hands on it as soon as possible and when I learned he was turning to witches as the subject of his next book? I couldn't wait. Which is why I was so delighted to be given this ARC for his upcoming novel Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.

Fern, not her real name, is 15 and pregnant. The year is 1969 and her father is taking her to a home for unwed mothers, where she can be hidden away until she gives birth before returning to her life as if nothing happened, while the baby is adopted. Fern's body is turning into something she does not recognise and she is treated by those around her as simultaneously a stupid child and a careless woman, She is subjected to confusing medical examinations and treatments and emotionally manipulative meetings with social workers, finding herself entirely at the whim of adults who believe they know what is best for her. But no one is asking her. When a strange book is given to her by the mobile librarian, Fern and some of the other girls living in the home are given the chance to claim power for themselves... but magic demands a price.

I loved the premise of this book, as I always love Hendrix's horror premises and I think he executed this one really well, especially considering the fact that sometimes when male authors decide to discuss women's bodies they can end up being a little... strange. This definitely wasn't the case here though. I thought Hendrix did an excellent job depicting the ways in which the body changes during pregnancy and the ways the girls were feeling regarding their confusion and lack of control while also using it as the setting of a horror novel. He portrayed the situation as terrifying rather than implying pregnant women's bodies were monstrous which I think was very well done. I also really liked the way he engaged with witchcraft, using it in its more violent and scary form rather than the cozy approach which is often utilised. Witchcraft in the novel, is not black and white (pun somewhat intended), and it is complicated which I think was a good way of doing it. He does delve a little into the reasons which result in girls being sent to a home like this one, but I think it could have been explored a little more, but overall I do see why he approached it as he did.

One of the best things about having read Hendrix's work for many years is that I get to see him grow as a writer and master elements that previously were not his strong suits, namely in previous novels his characters could be a little wooden but it hardly mattered because the concepts were so strong. I noticed in his previous novel, How To Sell A Haunted House, that this has definitely changed and I'm so glad to say that that trend has continued in this novel. The characters in this novel are fun, sympathetic and interesting all while retaining the trademark Hendrix humour and use of archetypes.

I really enjoyed this book and it more than met my expectations and highly recommend it.

This is the first book I truly don’t know how to rate. I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed reading it, as there were horrific birth scenes, and the true horror was how realistic they were. It was very uncomfortable and even painful for me to read about women struggling during labor, but the story as a whole was very touching and I even teared up at the end. The witchcraft in this book is not the main theme; it wasn’t even witchy until the 20% but after the witch was introduced, thigs got very interesting. I loved the characters - Zinnia was my favorite girl, she was the voice of reason and Rose was the rebel one that I needed to be more in the book than she actually was. Fern as a main character was relatable, but there were moments of repetitiveness where she was constantly thinking about her family and her normal life that it was a bit boring to me. Overall I think this book is very special and is not the typical comedy horror that Grady Hendrix writes. Heavy triggers for pregnancy, child abuse, birth.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with the ARC.

what a fun read. I giggled through the entire book. Thank you for the opportunity to review i really enjoyed it.

This book is ideal if you want to scare teenagers from having underage sex. I don't think I would have had them if I'd read the hospital birthday chapters!

Set in the 70s, Fern is a 15 year old girl who falls pregnant and is sent away by her family so as not to bring shame upon their family name. It tells the story of her struggles and friendships whilst in her last trimester, in a group home for pregnant children.

It is 90% wayward girls and 10% witchcraft. I think if you go into it with that in mind, you will enjoy it.

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.