My Best Friends Exorcism

by Grady Hendrix

The year is 1988 and Abby Rivers has just started her sophomore year of high school in South Carolina. She's glad to have her best friend Gretchen Lang at her side, as they have been inseparable since they met at Abby's 10th birthday back in 1982. Gretchen was the only one to come to Abby's E.T. themed birthday party at the skating rink and their friendship was cemented ever since.

The novel then goes through their relationship from that point on, which includes singing into hairbrushes to Madonna, getting their hair braided in Jamaica, and dealing with the awkwardness of growing up, whether it's bad acne or overprotective parents. They even try LSD with their friends Glee and Margaret at Margaret's lake house - a decision that results in Gretchen disappearing into the woods and returning a few hours later. Her friends are concerned, but Gretchen claims that nothing happened. Her actions belie her words, as she begins acting increasingly more erratic, prompting Abby to suspect that Gretchen might actually be possessed by a demon.