Firstly thank you so much Pan McMillan and netgalley for allowing me to read this early!!

Overall I’m going to rate it 4.5 stars!!

I originally dnf’d it at 16% but something kept popping into my head to go back and actually give it the chance it deserves (I never dnf so early) and by damn I am so glad that I went back to it!!

This story was one of the most compelling stories I’ve ever read the every single character was so well constructed they’ll be sticking with me!

We’ve recently found out my nanny back in the day went through something similar to this (minus the witchcraft) so the story definitely took me by surprise when I first started to read it as I wasn’t expecting that to be the plot of the book!

What I would have liked more if there was more witchcraft in the book I think that would have made it a solid 5 star!!

Thank you to the UK publishers and Netgalley for an Advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Grady Hendrix read. I was expecting real horror vibes. There were a couple of moments, but for the most part this was a book about attitudes to young mothers in decades gone past and the horrors they had to endure.

I was much more interested in the stories of the girls and their plight. That was the strongest part of this book in my opinion. If you go in with those expectations, I think you can really enjoy this read. However, the witchcraft section of the book felt weaker to me. I wanted more, and I wanted scarier.

The second half of the book was much stronger. I would recommend this read.

I probably would have loved this book more if I wasn’t expecting a horror novel. I’d heard again and again, Oh Grady Hendrix is a master of horror, so that’s what I expected, and Witchcraft for Wayward Girl is many things, but it is not horror. It is a compulsive read, to be sure. Pregnant girls sequestered in a home far from anyone they know, forbidden from sharing their real names, forbidden from comfort, forbidden from kindness.

And what’s truly horrible is the real stuff, the stuff that happened in the decades before now (and, sometimes, still), and that Fern could be any of thousands of girls stripped of their humanity because they got pregnant. Hendrix is a storyteller par excellence, and he finds a way to write in the way an old photo album might look, in sepia, or grainy old film.

So, I enjoyed it - but I kept waiting to be frightened out of my boots, and that did not really happen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this book to read and review.

I've never cried when I finished reading a Grady Hendrix book before, so today is a new one for me because I sobbed like a baby when I finished this one.

The entire book from start to finish was exaclty what I have come to expect from Hendrix, a book that will continue to haunt me for the next few weeks, a book that has burrowed into my brain and made itself at home, a book that has ruined the next several books for me.

Everything about this book was superb, from the characters who were so beautifully written and came across on the page as if they were girls you knew, to the clever atmospheric weaving of the occult throughout the story.

As always the writing was excellent, I felt as though I was in the book, and it consumed me. I couldn't put this book down, I was absorbed by it.

And the story itself? One of the best stories I've ever read, how a topic that shouldn't be scary was made to feel so eerie and frightening? Just absolutely one of the most immersive and haunting stories I've ever read.

Review of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix 3.5⭐️

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a novel that left me feeling conflicted. The story follows Fern, a fifteen-year-old girl sent to a home for unwed pregnant mothers in the 1970s. Under the oppressive rule of Miss Wellwood, Fern forms bonds with the other girls while enduring harsh, conditions. A glimmer of hope appears when a librarian introduces her to a book on witchcraft, seemingly offering her a way to reclaim her power. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that power comes with consequences.

Grady Hendrix’s depiction of the 1970s is vivid and realistic, shining a light on the mistreatment of women and the oppressive societal norms of the time. The character work is a highlight, I genuinely felt for Fern and the other girls. However, the pacing is uneven. The first quarter is frustratingly slow, and the witchcraft element doesn’t appear until nearly a third of the way through. Even when it does, the supernatural aspects are sparse and fail to live up to the expectations set by the title.

The novel also includes graphic content, particularly two lengthy childbirth scenes that are deeply uncomfortable. While I understand that this book is meant to be unsettling rather than traditionally “enjoyable,” the explicit scenes felt excessive at times.

Overall, this was one of Hendrix’s slowest and least thrilling books, at least for me. It reads more like a commentary on 1970s politics and women’s oppression than a horror novel. While these themes are important, the lack of mystery and suspense left the story feeling flat.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc and an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this book. Initially, I struggled to get into the book. Besides being a lenghty book, it started a little bit slow for me. However, as I kept reading it, it became more and more engaging.
Starting with the characters, I felt they effectively captured the essence of a teenager dealing with the challenges of pregnancy and how the society reacts to it. They were very deep and well developed, which make them relatable and compelling. Regarding the plot, the first half of the book felt somewhat weak and predictable, even though it kept me hooked. Although the ending was predictable, it still managed to touch my heart with its powerful message.
While this wasn’t one of the best books I’ve ever read, I would recommend it, and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author.

Neva (Fern), fifteen years old, was dropped by her family to Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, a home for unwed mothers where they will have their babies in secret and give the babies up for adoption.
At The Home, those girls are not allowed to use their real name, not to discuss their origin and their personal life back at home. 
No family is allowed to visit them. They are their own new family now at The Home. The outsider that they see every two weeks is only a librarian lady from a mobile library. 

One day, the librarian lends a special book to Fern. It's a book of witchcraft. While the story starts slow at the beginning, it gets interesting when the girls start experimenting with the spells written in that book.

The whole premise and the characters in this book are great, but I feel  the plot is just too lengthy, too many details are written so descriptive that I found myself skimming a few paragraphs here and there. I also expected something more spooky, but you won't find it in this book. Unfortunately, it's always a hit and miss for me with this author's books.

This is a book about unwed teen mothers who are sent to a special home to stay until the birth of their child, which is then given up for adoption. A few of the girls in the home come across a book about witchcraft, and decides to try out some spells… and then the story truly begins.

This book touches on important topics - the oppression of women and their bodily autonomy. And I think Hendrix did this really well (I did have some doubt in the beginning, considering he’s a male author).

It has some gory scenes (for example quite graphic birth scenes), so if you’re easily squeamish or have triggers, definitely check before picking this one up.

All in all I thought this was a great empowering read that was hard to put down. If I could give half stars I’d have given it 4.5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan | Tor Nightfire for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Grady’s writing was so entrancing I could not put this down. I found myself constantly reaching for it and thinking about it. I also felt like I was in the home myself with Fern and the rest of the girls. I could visualise every single thing, the house itself, the surrounding woods, the lake, the storm. Absolutely brilliant writing.

I didn’t know what to expect with this one and it kept me guessing the whole time but the reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because I felt the ending was a little rushed. It was all leading up to that big moment and it felt like Miss Parcae was just a-bit like, okay then, bye Fern without a real fight for her.

I will say I did enjoy the final chapter with the girls meeting again and finding out what happened with their babies.

Overall this is one I will be recommending.

Let me set the scene. It's the 1970s, and unwed mothers are being shipped off by their families to birthing homes, out of sight and mind, under various guises of 'going on holiday' or 'looking after a distant aunt,' where they are to give birth and are forced to give their babies up for adoption.

It doesn't matter the situation; if the pregnancy was simply an accident at a time when birth control or abortion weren't readily accessible, or was the outcome of something more malicious, all the mothers (not the fathers) are to blame for being sinful and un-pure.

After they've given birth, they can go home like nothing ever happened and their 'little mistake' will never to be spoken of again. If they're lucky (sarcasm), the doctors will even secretly give them an extra stitch, so their future husband will never know they weren't virgins. And there's absolutely nothing the girls can do about it.

Or so it seems.

Despite not having an abundance of supernatural elements, Grady Hendrix's "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" is such a successful horror story in my eyes because of the realism of the situation. Birthing homes, such as the one in the story, existed and were commonplace. There's no sugar-coating the topic or reading this with rose-coloured glasses; the story left me feeling equal parts helpless and furious for our main characters. It was raw and graphic, and the 'female rage' I felt was set to 100.

Sprinkle in some blood letting, hexing, and witchcraft - and you've got yourself one hell of a horror novel.

[This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion]

My experience reading this was the opposite of many I've seen- I sped through the first third of the book, loving the character development and world building. It was once the witchcraft elements were introduced that my interest waned and things started to slog for me. I think approaching this as a horror read didn't do any favors. The real horror of the book is how the children were treated, and I think the 'magical' aspects paled in comparison to the realities written into the book. This is my first Grady Hendrix novel, and I know he has a strong following, but based on this novel alone, I will be slow to pick up another of his books.

The first half of the book is infused with a lighthearted hopelessness, skillfully maintaining a delicate balance that keeps it from becoming a slow, dreary read. The reader is constantly reminded of the shame these girls face from every direction, as this shame evolves into reckless desperation for escape. Grady excels in using fear, not just of the supernatural, but also of the very things that should feel most natural. The story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, pulling at your heartstrings, provoking anger, and seamlessly integrating witchcraft into the mix. It’s a compelling and thought-provoking read that lingers long after you’ve finished, leaving you wanting to hold each of these girls.


“They hate us enough. Don’t let them make you hate yourselves, too.”

I enjoyed this read.
I found it a little slow paced to start
However the characters definitely kept my attention the emotions you feel for the girls in this book are very real. I thought the story explained itself well and I liked the magical elements in this also.
Thank you so much for allowing me to read this

such a raw, haunting and gruesome story. my heart broke for all of those girls but the ending put the pieces back together. a whirlwind of a book but a phenomenal nonetheless.

This was my first Grady Hendrix book and I'm happy to say it will not be my last!

The atmosphere was dark, enticing, goring and felt drenched in the trauma of these girls. I felt like I could feel the pain through the pages, which helped me understand and empathise with the characters.

It did start a bit slow, but definitely picked up.

Overall, this was a powerful and though provoking read

This is a story about taking back power. How someone will do whatever they can to control their destiny.
This story revolves around girls who were treated abhorrently because they 'dared' to get pregnant out of wedlock and were taken to a 'home' against their will until the baby was born and then adopted out. As our protagonist Neva states, she and the others were described as "bad girls, neurotic girls, needy girls, wayward girls, selfish girls,..girls with pasts, girls from broken homes, girls who needed discipline, girls desperate to fit in, girls in trouble, girls who couldn't say no.", a veritable smorgasbord of all the harmful tropes you can attach to a young woman. You can feel the girls' rage at being dismissed by society through the pages; you rage with them as they are denied a voice, as they edge ever closer to their due dates and are treated like incubators and nothing else - manhandled at doctor appointments, gaslit into thinking their concerns were invalid, not even in control of whether they can use salt on their food. It is no wonder they took it when they were given a (magical) lifeline.
It takes a while for the magical element to bed into the story, and I'm not sure quite where I expected the story to go with it, but I didn't see it taking the route it did! Once the magic starts, it really does build to a crescendo.
Living in Ireland, this story of Mother and Baby Homes is familiar and horrific. It isn't that long ago that the last one closed here, and we are still learning about the bigger-scale impacts of these homes and how awful they were. They thrived on society's wish to ostracise those who did not 'fit' into their ideal, and the people running the homes used their power to terrible effect.
It is a big move for a male author to write a story about women's lack of bodily autonomy, but he pulls it off. The vivid descriptions of labour and the various accompanying procedures made me squirm, as they were so realistic; as per his genre style, these medical events are written so viscerally that they border on the horrific. There is a detachment to them - we can tell those performing the procedures see the body in front of them in a medical manner, opening and cutting and stitching as necessary. However, having spent however many pages getting to know the person in that body, it is challenging reading! I definitely would not advise someone currently pregnant to be reading this.
My main concern with the tale is that certain characters felt like caricatures; Hagar and her sister Miriam, who work in the home, are the very clearly black characters who, of course, know all about how to both birth babies and save everyone from evil magic. At one point, one of the girls even comments when looking for Hagar that they can ask their black taxi driver, as essentially, all black people must know each other. It is a bit baffling how Hendrix can take one marginalised group (the unwed mothers) and portray them well, and then write such stereotypical characters for this other marginalised group.

Grady Hendrix is one of my auto buy authors. I will read anything he writes and I love that each of his books seems to follow a different supernatural theme. Witches, you say? Fabulous, yes please!

I adored how human Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was. Hendrix has done a brilliant job bringing these girls to life. Their struggles and their friendships were perfectly written and, though I have no medical knowledge, those birth scenes were also incredible. The witchcraft element was brilliantly done, allowing the girls to feel some control and power in a situation where they previously had none. I really rooted for them and was completely satisfied with the ending.

In summary, this was a perfect supernatural escape, balanced with real emotion and love. It’s a story you’ll be thinking about after putting the book down and I can’t wait to read what Hendrix writes next.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this one!

A powerful witchy feminist story that will leave you rooting for the main characters but also raging at the injustice of it all.

I did not enjoy this book and stop reading at 40% of the book because it almost took 30% for the plot to start.
It may be my fault for not reading the synopsis properly but i did not enjoy reading about a creepy doctor lurking on young pregnant girls and the people were all fucked up in a way. but more than that the beginning is really long and we get introduced to a bunch of people but not a lot of them stand out and have a real personality. the plot is almost non existant before 30% and when it finally start it still so dragged out that i had to give up

“Whatever you wanted to call us, we were children. And we had to make terrible choices.”

The type of gut-stabbing unsettling horror that only comes from something steeped in truth. Witchcraft for Wayward girls was a story I’ll never forget and I am happy I read it. It was not an easy read, but it was powerful and emotional and magical. It had a mobile library, witches, unwed mothers, blood, pain, storms and mercy. I hadn’t read a Grady Hendrix book before but I will be trying his other books after this. Definitely recommend, even if (like me) you aren’t always a massive reader of the horror genre. As a side note, I liked that all of the girls were given botanical names from the home- it further removed the people they were in that moment from the rest of their lives, despite them never forgetting what had happened.

💜I received an ARC of this book and am leaving an honest review voluntarily💜