I’m not going to lie. This book was a total cover acquisition. Just look at it. 80s Horror perfection, and I adore how much it reflects the contents too. Beware crimpers!! 

This is a perfect Halloween read but I’d say it was more creepy with a slow building tension than out and out horrific. Although a few scenes may turn your stomach! Personally I found Gretchen’s mother’s attitude to books the most horrific thing in the book. 

What I loved about this book was the friendship. The back tagline suggests MBFE is a cross between Beaches and the Exorcist and OMG the Beaches vibe totally hit and left me a sobbing mess at the end. 

Abby and Gretchen first meet at Abby’s ET themed 10th birthday party, to which Gretchen is the only class member to turn up. Their friendship develops from there until the fateful night where everything changes. Don’t do drugs ladies or you’ll get possessed by a demon. 

Can skittles lure a demon too?

After a failed acid trip Gretchen turns from sour emo to grade A bitch. Think Heathers on steroids. But Abby stands by her and gradually works out what is going on with the help of someone whose demon vision is super-powered. The exorcist is a beefcake called Brother Lemon who reminds me of Edgar Frog from The Lost Boys in his intensity. Are he and Abby successful in saving Gretchen against all odds? You’ll just have to read to find out. 

This was a witty, fun and surprisingly emotional read. Definitely one for ‘Be Kind Rewind and Read Again’.

Perfect for fans of the 80s, of Stranger Things and for people that enjoy reading about the power of female friendship. Each chapter heading references an 80s song and there’s even a Spotify playlist available. I just need this to be a movie now. 

Thanks to Jamie-Lee and Quirk for the copy for the purposes of review. All the flailing above is my own.