Imaginary Friend (novel) explained

Imaginary Friend is a psychological horror novel by American author Stephen Chbosky. It was published on October 1, 2019 by Grand Central Publishing and was an instant New York Times Best Seller.

Critical reception

A departure from his debut novel, Imaginary Friend was very well-received and debuted as a New York Times Best Seller.^[1] The review from Time^[2] stated it evoked "echoes of Stephen King" and "well worth the time for those who dare," with additional positive reviews from The New York Times,^[3] the Kirkus Review,^[4] the Washington Post,^[5] NPR^[6] and numerous others, as well as being named one of Varietys Top 10 books of 2019.^[7]

In 2023, the book was banned, in Clay County District Schools, Florida.^[8]

References

1. News: Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Oct. 20, 2019 - The New York Times. The New York Times. 2020-04-08. en-US. 0362-4331.
2. Stephen Chbosky's New Horror Novel Is a Far Cry From 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'. Time. 26 September 2019 . en. 2020-04-08.
3. News: Macneal. Elizabeth. 20 Years After 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky Has a New Novel. 2019-10-07. The New York Times. 2020-04-08. en-US. 0362-4331.
4. Book: IMAGINARY FRIEND Kirkus Reviews. en.
5. News: Review Twenty years after 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky delivers a thrilling surprise. Sheehan. Bill. Washington Post. en. 2020-04-08.
6. Web site: In 'Imaginary Friend,' Stephen Chbosky Squeezes Horror From Everyday Life. NPR.org. en. 2020-04-08.
7. Web site: Zukin. Danielle Turchiano, Meg. Turchiano. Danielle. Zukin. Meg. 2019-12-05. The Best Books of 2019. 2021-10-18. Variety. en-US.
8. Web site: District Reconsideration List . 2024-09-28 . Google Docs . en-US.