Kylie's Reviews > A Head Full of Ghosts

How the hell do I even start? This was a book that I needed to sit with for a few days before I could write the review. I’ll begin with a synopsis to try and clear the book hangover I still have from reading this novel. Marjorie is a 14-year-old teenager who’s starting to act differently. Visiting the psychiatrist doesn’t seem to be helping, so Marjorie’s dad, John, calls on the local priest to help his daughter out. Before anyone knows it, a film crew is setting up inside the family home to document a reality show following the possession and exorcism of Marjorie.

This book is told from the perspective of Merry, Marjorie’s younger sister. We jump to different times in the book, from the present day where Merry is an adult and being interviewed by an author trying to turn this tragic tale into her next novel, to 8-year-old Merry trying to navigate the confusing world of teenagers, adults, and demons as they all seem to fill up her home. There’s also a few passages from a horror blogger, Karen, who is writing a review of the reality show. (Side note: Tremblay did a fantastic job writing from the perspective of a female. It felt authentic the whole way through).

Writing the book from Merry’s perspective was such a great choice. Can we trust how she interpreted the events when she was 8, or how she’s remembering them now as an adult? The Karen scenes help point out how the reality show may be doctored, but it’s all speculation. It’s up to the reader to decide what’s the truth and what’s a mis-remembered story.

The ending of this book just absolutely ripped my heart out and gutted me. You think Karen spoils the ending in her blog (I was thinking seriously did she just casually mention that?!) but that’s how Tremblay tricks you! You, the reader, think you have it all figured out and then good ol’ Marjorie turns it over on you. I finished reading this during my lunch break at work and I couldn’t function the rest of the day. This book sucked me in from page one and then spat me out at the end. If you like horror, you must read this one.