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daijahsbookworld's reviews
803 reviews
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
actual rating: 4/5 stars
the final chapter january 2025 bookclub pick: https://www.patreon.com/daijahsbookworld
witchcraft for wayward girls by grady hendrix is a bold, unsettling read that combines horror with sharp social commentary. set in 1970 at a florida home for unwed pregnant teens, it offers a chilling look at the way society treats women, especially when it comes to bodily autonomy. the story follows fern, a terrified 15-year-old who, along with other girls in her predicament, is controlled and manipulated by a cruel system. everything from what they eat to what they’re allowed to talk about is monitored, and the horrors of this system feel all too relevant today.
hendrix does an excellent job of illustrating the trauma and rage of women throughout history and still today. by focusing on the ways these girls are silenced and stripped of agency, the book forces readers to face the raw reality of denying women control over their lives. the inclusion of witchcraft adds a supernatural element that feels both empowering and dangerous. it's an avenue for these girls to reclaim some control, but as the book warns, power comes at a steep price.
the 1970s setting is also wonderfully done, transporting you into a time where women’s rights were heavily restricted, and the world was on the verge of major social change. the grotesque horror moments are gripping, and while the witchcraft elements are intriguing, i do think they could have been explored more deeply. some readers may take issue with how witchcraft is portrayed, but i don’t think the book is necessarily meant to be an accurate representation of real-life witchcraft.
while hendrix’s characters, including the bipoc characters, feel a bit flat and could have had more depth, this wasn’t a major issue for me. it’s clear that the characters serve more as a vehicle for the story’s deeper messages rather than being fully fleshed out individuals. for some this might be a drawback, and i do think it prevented the book from getting a full 5 stars from me, but it still stands strong without more fleshed out characters.
overall witchcraft for wayward girls is a haunting, thought-provoking read that delivers a strong social message wrapped in a compelling horror story.
thank you to berkley publishing group, grady hendrix, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
the final chapter january 2025 bookclub pick: https://www.patreon.com/daijahsbookworld
witchcraft for wayward girls by grady hendrix is a bold, unsettling read that combines horror with sharp social commentary. set in 1970 at a florida home for unwed pregnant teens, it offers a chilling look at the way society treats women, especially when it comes to bodily autonomy. the story follows fern, a terrified 15-year-old who, along with other girls in her predicament, is controlled and manipulated by a cruel system. everything from what they eat to what they’re allowed to talk about is monitored, and the horrors of this system feel all too relevant today.
hendrix does an excellent job of illustrating the trauma and rage of women throughout history and still today. by focusing on the ways these girls are silenced and stripped of agency, the book forces readers to face the raw reality of denying women control over their lives. the inclusion of witchcraft adds a supernatural element that feels both empowering and dangerous. it's an avenue for these girls to reclaim some control, but as the book warns, power comes at a steep price.
the 1970s setting is also wonderfully done, transporting you into a time where women’s rights were heavily restricted, and the world was on the verge of major social change. the grotesque horror moments are gripping, and while the witchcraft elements are intriguing, i do think they could have been explored more deeply. some readers may take issue with how witchcraft is portrayed, but i don’t think the book is necessarily meant to be an accurate representation of real-life witchcraft.
while hendrix’s characters, including the bipoc characters, feel a bit flat and could have had more depth, this wasn’t a major issue for me. it’s clear that the characters serve more as a vehicle for the story’s deeper messages rather than being fully fleshed out individuals. for some this might be a drawback, and i do think it prevented the book from getting a full 5 stars from me, but it still stands strong without more fleshed out characters.
overall witchcraft for wayward girls is a haunting, thought-provoking read that delivers a strong social message wrapped in a compelling horror story.
thank you to berkley publishing group, grady hendrix, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
read for reading cozy books reading vlog: coming soon
this book had so much heart and made me emotional
this book had so much heart and made me emotional
Reenu-You by Michele Tracy Berger
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
i loved the conversations this had around hair, i loved the time period, i loved the mixed media elements, and i loved seeing a group of black women coming together from all different generations but on the other hand this didn't really feel like a complete story. there really was no ending at all and i don't know really what the author was trying to do with this. there were no real plot points or anything. i enjoyed a lot of things about this story, but the actual story itself didn't really exist.
Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
read for reading cozy books reading vlog: coming soon
these stories are so emotional, hopeful, and meaningful objectively, i just don't feel emotionally impacted because they're so short
these stories are so emotional, hopeful, and meaningful objectively, i just don't feel emotionally impacted because they're so short
Saga, Vol. 11 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this one felt like a bit of a filler volume but i still NEED the next volume 😩 at least i only have to wait a couple months
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
read for reading cozy books reading vlog: coming soon
this was so cute and cozy! i love cozy mysteries that incorporate a unique element. giving zootopia but set in stars hollow and a sprinkle of cottage core.
this was so cute and cozy! i love cozy mysteries that incorporate a unique element. giving zootopia but set in stars hollow and a sprinkle of cottage core.
The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
read for my boyfriend picks my books vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsDuMDrMiU
this was such a good crime thriller! i had a great time reading this one. i think it was very well constructed and really focused on the investigation elements of the story which i loved but ik not everybody is a fan of that. plus i lovedddddd following a black woman detective. i do think it was a bit longer than it needed to be and it lowkey felt like a second book in a series, not the first, but regardless this is one of my favorite crime thrillers i've ever read.
this was such a good crime thriller! i had a great time reading this one. i think it was very well constructed and really focused on the investigation elements of the story which i loved but ik not everybody is a fan of that. plus i lovedddddd following a black woman detective. i do think it was a bit longer than it needed to be and it lowkey felt like a second book in a series, not the first, but regardless this is one of my favorite crime thrillers i've ever read.
Finding Me by Viola Davis
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
read for my boyfriend picks my books vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsDuMDrMiU
“my biggest discovery was that you can literally re-create your life. you can redefine it. you don’t have to live in the past. i found that not only did i have fight in me, i had love."
every memoir i've read has been phenomenal and this one is no exception. this was an incredibly inspiring, heartbreaking, sad, and joyous recounting of viola davis' life. she is truly a visionary and one of the best actors of this generation and seeing her go through struggles that people in my personal life have also experienced, was deeply moving. what struck me the most was her ability to convey both pain and triumph with such authenticity. this is an absolute must-read.
“my biggest discovery was that you can literally re-create your life. you can redefine it. you don’t have to live in the past. i found that not only did i have fight in me, i had love."
every memoir i've read has been phenomenal and this one is no exception. this was an incredibly inspiring, heartbreaking, sad, and joyous recounting of viola davis' life. she is truly a visionary and one of the best actors of this generation and seeing her go through struggles that people in my personal life have also experienced, was deeply moving. what struck me the most was her ability to convey both pain and triumph with such authenticity. this is an absolute must-read.
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
read for my boyfriend picks my books vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsDuMDrMiU
this was an extremely fast read that kept me engaged the whole time. i think the main twists in this story, while a bit surprising, is reminiscent of twists i've seen before multiple times in movies and books but that epilogue had me shook and added an extra half star. it was a fun time but not anything that i will remember in detail even in a couple months from now
this was an extremely fast read that kept me engaged the whole time. i think the main twists in this story, while a bit surprising, is reminiscent of twists i've seen before multiple times in movies and books but that epilogue had me shook and added an extra half star. it was a fun time but not anything that i will remember in detail even in a couple months from now
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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i have officially been converted into an emily henry girlie
i have officially been converted into an emily henry girlie