Roller Skates and Bibles

Abby Rivers, a lonely ten-year-old in 1982, throws a roller-skating birthday party that no one attends—except for Gretchen Lang, the new girl, who brings an unwanted Children's Bible as a gift. Despite the awkwardness, the two girls bond over their mutual outsider status and a shared sense of humor. This moment marks the beginning of a deep, formative friendship, one that will define both their lives. Their connection is immediate and intense, rooted in the pain of exclusion and the joy of being chosen by someone else. The girls' friendship becomes a sanctuary from the pressures of family, school, and the social hierarchies of their Charleston, South Carolina community.

Friendship Forged in Pain

Abby and Gretchen's friendship deepens over the years, weathering the challenges of adolescence, family dysfunction, and the shifting alliances of girlhood. They share secrets, sleepovers, and the rituals of best-friendship—watching movies, sneaking into forbidden places, and supporting each other through parental fights and personal insecurities. Their bond is tested by class differences, parental expectations, and the cruelty of other girls, but they remain each other's anchor. The girls' loyalty is fierce, and their friendship is a bulwark against the loneliness and confusion of growing up.

The Acid Test

In the summer of 1988, Abby, Gretchen, and their friends Margaret and Glee experiment with LSD during a sleepover at Margaret's family's country house. The acid doesn't seem to work, and the girls grow bored and restless. Seeking excitement, they decide to go skinny-dipping in the creek at night. Gretchen, impulsive and eager to prove herself, jumps into the water and disappears into the darkness. When she doesn't return, the others search for her in mounting panic, but she is lost in the woods overnight. This night marks the beginning of a terrifying transformation.

Lost in the Woods

Gretchen is found the next morning, naked, filthy, and traumatized, with no memory of what happened. She is cold, disoriented, and uncharacteristically foul-mouthed. The girls are shaken, but try to move on, rationalizing Gretchen's behavior as a bad trip or shock. However, Abby senses that something is deeply wrong. Gretchen's demeanor shifts—she becomes withdrawn, irritable, and plagued by strange physical symptoms. The friendship group begins to fracture under the strain, and Abby is left to navigate the growing darkness alone.

Gretchen's Change

Gretchen's behavior grows increasingly erratic and disturbing. She suffers from insomnia, hallucinations, and a persistent sense of being touched or watched. Her hygiene deteriorates, she lashes out at friends, and she becomes obsessed with dark, conspiratorial ideas. Abby tries to help, but is rebuffed by Gretchen's parents and teachers, who blame Abby for Gretchen's troubles. The other girls, Margaret and Glee, distance themselves, leaving Abby isolated. Gretchen's suffering intensifies, manifesting in self-harm and a mysterious, foul odor that permeates her room.

Unraveling at School

At school, Gretchen's decline becomes public. She has violent outbursts, accuses classmates of touching her, and vomits strange substances—white liquid and black feathers—on the lawn. Rumors swirl, and the administration blames Abby for leading Gretchen astray. The friendship group implodes, with Margaret and Glee turning on Abby. Gretchen's parents subject her to humiliating medical exams, convinced she is sexually active or on drugs. Abby's attempts to seek help from adults are met with suspicion and hostility, deepening her sense of helplessness.

Isolation and Despair

Abby is ostracized by her friends, teachers, and even her own mother, who warns her not to get involved in Gretchen's problems. As Gretchen's condition worsens—marked by self-mutilation, paranoia, and a growing malevolence—Abby becomes convinced that her friend is possessed by a demon. She tries to document Gretchen's behavior, but is accused of theft and drug use. The school administration threatens to expel her, and her parents are overwhelmed. Abby's world narrows to a desperate mission: save Gretchen, no matter the cost.

The Devil Among Friends

The demon inside Gretchen begins to manipulate and destroy those around her. She engineers Glee's public humiliation and suicide attempt, poisons Margaret with tapeworms, and seduces Wallace, Margaret's boyfriend, sowing discord and pain. Abby uncovers evidence of Gretchen's actions in her daybook, but when she tries to expose the truth, she is framed for stealing a fetus from a medical lab and becomes a pariah. The demon's goal is clear: isolate Abby and destroy every bond of friendship and trust.

Failed Interventions

Abby seeks help from a series of adults—school officials, parents, and finally a group of Christian bodybuilders known as the Lemon Brothers. Chris Lemon, the youngest, agrees to perform an exorcism. The ritual is brutal and ineffective, involving salt, vinegar, and physical violence. Gretchen is tortured but the demon remains, mocking their efforts. Chris Lemon eventually abandons Abby, leaving her alone with Gretchen and the demon. The failure of institutional and religious authority underscores Abby's isolation and the inadequacy of conventional solutions.

The Exorcist Arrives

With no one left to turn to, Abby resolves to save Gretchen herself. She kidnaps her friend and takes her to a deserted beach house, determined to perform an exorcism using the only tools she has: love, memory, and the rituals of their friendship. The confrontation is harrowing—Gretchen is physically and spiritually ravaged, and Abby is battered by supernatural forces. The demon, Andras, taunts Abby with her failures and threatens to destroy everything she loves.

Salt, Vinegar, and Violence

Abby's exorcism is not a battle of faith or ritual, but a test of endurance and love. She invokes the memories and symbols of their friendship—the Go-Go's, roller-skating, inside jokes, and shared pain. The demon fights back with illusions, violence, and psychological torment, but Abby refuses to give up. In a final act of defiance, she declares her love for Gretchen, insisting that their bond is stronger than any evil. The power of their friendship becomes the force that drives the demon out.

Abby's Stand

The exorcism climaxes in a storm of supernatural fury, but Abby's unwavering love and refusal to abandon Gretchen breaks the demon's hold. Gretchen is freed, and the two girls are found by the police, battered but alive. Abby is arrested and blamed for the chaos, but the truth of what happened remains hidden. The exorcist, Chris Lemon, takes the blame and is imprisoned, sacrificing himself to save Abby. The girls are separated, their friendship seemingly destroyed by the trauma and the lies of adults.

Love as Salvation

Despite the distance and the scars, Abby and Gretchen find their way back to each other. Letters, phone calls, and shared memories sustain their bond through years of separation, college, marriages, and the challenges of adulthood. Their friendship endures, not because it is easy or perfect, but because it is rooted in a shared history of pain, loyalty, and love. The trauma of their youth becomes a source of strength, and their connection outlasts the forces that tried to destroy it.

Aftermath and Exile

Abby's life is forever altered by the events of 1988. She is exiled from Charleston, her reputation ruined, and her family fractured. Gretchen struggles with guilt and the lingering effects of possession, but finds solace in Abby's unwavering support. The exorcist, Chris Lemon, is released from prison and finds peace in a new life. The girls' friendship becomes a testament to survival, forgiveness, and the power of love to overcome even the darkest evil.

Reunion and Reckoning

Years later, Abby and Gretchen reunite, confronting the ghosts of their past and the unfinished business of their friendship. They acknowledge the pain they caused each other, the failures of the adults around them, and the ways they have changed. Their bond is not perfect, but it is real—tempered by time, loss, and the knowledge that they are each other's only witness to the truth of what happened.

The Long Haul of Friendship

Abby and Gretchen's friendship endures for seventy-five years, weathering the storms of life, distance, and change. In the end, it is Gretchen who sits by Abby's side as she dies, the last and truest friend. Their story is not one of easy answers or simple victories, but of the messy, painful, and ultimately redemptive power of love. The demon is defeated not by faith or ritual, but by the stubborn, ordinary miracle of friendship.

Characters

Abby Rivers

Abby is the emotional heart of the novel—a working-class girl whose fierce loyalty and sense of justice drive the narrative. Her friendship with Gretchen is both her greatest strength and her deepest vulnerability. Abby is resourceful, stubborn, and willing to sacrifice everything to save her friend, even as she is abandoned by adults and betrayed by her peers. Her psychological journey is one of isolation, self-doubt, and ultimately, self-acceptance. Abby's love for Gretchen is the force that overcomes evil, but it also exposes her to pain, loss, and exile. She is a survivor, defined by her refusal to give up on those she loves.

Gretchen Lang

Gretchen is Abby's best friend and the novel's central victim. Initially kind, intelligent, and idealistic, she becomes the host for a demonic entity after a night lost in the woods. Gretchen's possession is both literal and metaphorical—a manifestation of trauma, alienation, and the pressures of adolescence. Her transformation is harrowing, as she is isolated, abused, and ultimately saved by Abby's love. Gretchen's journey is one of suffering, guilt, and redemption. She is both the battleground and the prize in the struggle between good and evil, and her survival is a testament to the power of friendship.

Margaret Middleton

Margaret is the wealthy, domineering member of the friend group. She is competitive, status-conscious, and often cruel, but her bravado masks deep insecurities. Margaret's downfall comes at the hands of the demon, who exploits her obsession with thinness by poisoning her with tapeworms. Her relationship with Abby and Gretchen is fraught with jealousy and betrayal, and she is ultimately left damaged and estranged. Margaret embodies the dangers of privilege without empathy, and her fate is a cautionary tale about the costs of cruelty and denial.

Glee Wanamaker

Glee is the sweet, naive member of the group, always eager to please and avoid conflict. She becomes a victim of Gretchen's demonic manipulation, driven to a public breakdown and suicide attempt. Glee's suffering is a stark reminder of the collateral damage inflicted by evil, and her disappearance from the narrative underscores the novel's themes of loss and the limits of rescue. She represents the vulnerability of those who are overlooked and underestimated.

Chris Lemon (The Exorcist)

Chris is a Christian bodybuilder and amateur exorcist who becomes Abby's unlikely ally. His faith is sincere but simplistic, and his methods are brutal and ultimately ineffective. Chris's failure to save Gretchen is a turning point, forcing Abby to rely on her own strength. He redeems himself by taking the blame for Abby's actions, sacrificing his freedom to protect her. Chris embodies the limitations of institutional religion and the importance of personal responsibility.

Mr. and Mrs. Lang

Gretchen's parents are emblematic of the failures of adult authority. They are more concerned with appearances and social standing than their daughter's well-being, subjecting her to invasive medical exams and blaming Abby for her troubles. Their inability to see or address the real danger facing Gretchen is a central critique of the novel, highlighting the dangers of denial and the abdication of parental responsibility.

Wallace Stoney

Wallace is Margaret's boyfriend and a symbol of the entitled, predatory male. He is both a victim and a perpetrator, manipulated by the demon and complicit in the group's dysfunction. Wallace's relationship with the girls is marked by aggression, insecurity, and a desperate need for validation. He represents the dangers of unchecked male privilege and the ease with which evil exploits weakness.

Major (School Principal)

Major is the principal of Albemarle Academy, more concerned with the school's reputation than the well-being of his students. He dismisses Abby's concerns, threatens her with expulsion, and enables the culture of silence and denial that allows evil to flourish. Major is a critique of institutional authority and the failure of adults to protect the vulnerable.

Abby's Parents

Abby's parents are loving but unable to protect her from the forces arrayed against her. Her mother is practical and exhausted, warning Abby not to get involved in Gretchen's problems. Her father is emotionally distant, retreating into silence and small repairs. Their limitations highlight Abby's isolation and the challenges faced by those without privilege or power.

Andras (The Demon)

Andras is the demonic force that possesses Gretchen, sowing chaos, pain, and division. It is a shapeshifter, exploiting the weaknesses and fears of its victims. Andras is both a literal supernatural entity and a metaphor for the destructive forces of adolescence—trauma, alienation, and the loss of innocence. Its defeat is not achieved through faith or ritual, but through the stubborn, ordinary miracle of love.

Plot Devices

Possession as Metaphor

The novel uses demonic possession as both a literal and metaphorical device, representing the alienation, pain, and transformation of adolescence. Gretchen's possession is a stand-in for the traumas—sexual, emotional, and social—that haunt young women. The supernatural elements heighten the stakes, but the true horror lies in the failures of adults, the cruelty of peers, and the isolation of those who suffer.

1980s Nostalgia and Pop Culture

The story is saturated with references to 1980s pop culture—songs, movies, fashion, and brands—which serve as both comfort and commentary. These references ground the supernatural horror in a familiar, nostalgic world, making the terror more immediate and the friendships more poignant. Pop culture becomes a language of connection and resistance, a way for Abby and Gretchen to assert their identity and fight back against evil.

Failed Authority and Adult Abdication

The novel systematically dismantles the authority of parents, teachers, doctors, and religious figures, showing how their failures enable evil to flourish. Abby's journey is one of increasing isolation, as every adult she turns to either blames her, ignores her, or makes things worse. This critique of institutional authority is central to the novel's horror, emphasizing the vulnerability of children and the necessity of self-reliance.

Friendship as Salvation

The central plot device is the power of friendship to overcome evil. Abby's love for Gretchen is the force that breaks the demon's hold, not faith, ritual, or violence. The exorcism is not a battle of dogma, but a testament to the endurance of love in the face of suffering. The novel insists that ordinary, flawed, persistent love is stronger than any supernatural evil.

Narrative Structure and Foreshadowing

The story is framed by Abby's adult perspective, looking back on the events of 1988 with a mixture of nostalgia and pain. The use of flashbacks, pop song chapter titles, and recurring motifs (roller skates, Coke cans, the Go-Go's) creates a sense of cyclical time, emphasizing the enduring impact of childhood trauma and the ways in which the past shapes the present.

Analysis

My Best Friend's Exorcism uses the supernatural as a lens to explore the real-life horrors of adolescence—alienation, betrayal, and the failures of adult authority. Grady Hendrix's novel is both a loving homage to 1980s pop culture and a sharp critique of the institutions that abandon vulnerable children. At its core, the book is a celebration of the messy, painful, and redemptive power of friendship. Abby and Gretchen's bond is not perfect, but it is real—rooted in shared pain, loyalty, and the refusal to give up on each other. The novel insists that love, not faith or violence, is the ultimate weapon against evil. In a world where adults fail, institutions betray, and evil wears many faces, it is the ordinary miracle of friendship as salvation that saves the day. The story's enduring lesson is that we are not alone, and that even in the darkest times, love can be the force that brings us back from the brink.

Last updated: July 17, 2025