With it’s cover styled to look like a classic 80’s VHS cover, My Best Friend’s Exorcism is  playful nostalgia for the 80’s era, it’s music, TV, fashion, and most of all, it’s dodgy horror films. And it’s absolutely delightful.

In the fourth grade, Gretchen moves to town and soon becomes Abby’s best friend. Best friends ever since, they think that nothing will ever come between them. That is until the night that Gretchen takes LSD, wanders into the woods, and comes out a completely different person. As things spiral out of control, Abby wonders if their friendship can save her best friend from the demon that only she knows has taken over her best friend.

When I saw the cover of this book, I had to buy it. I loved the title and the style of the cover. It seems like a joke book, in a way, but it’s more than just a nostalgia trip. The plot itself is really fun. It has plenty of horror and gross out moments, and sense of growing dread that keeps you guessing as to where it’s all going. In tone, it’s a bit like Heathers (1998) meets The Exorcist (1973), but in the end, the book has a little bit of heart in it’s focus on the girls, and especially the importance of best friends. It creates a world and a life for Abby and Gretchen, making sure that you’re invested and care about what happens to them. And in the end, it’s that loyalty and love that is the thread and the solution of the story.

But that said, it really is a lot of fun. Each chapter heading is a classic 80’s tune, and there are loads of references to culture of the time. It’s often really hilarious, and a homage to those bad/wonderful late 70’s and 80’s horror novels, and 80’s horror films. I had so much fun reading it. Dare I say, it’s totally rad?

Read It If: you love bad 80’s horror films, it’s hilarious, gross and an absolute riot.