Imaginary Friend - Book Review

‘Imaginary Friend’ by Stephen Chbosky is an absolutely remarkable book. Somehow, Chbosky managed to combine his style of rich, heartfelt writing with a horror novel, and the result is a complete thrill from beginning to end. I sat down to read ‘Imaginary Friend’ in the early afternoon and even though I knew I would need to stop well before bedtime so that I could read something light before bed, I was barely able to force myself to put ‘Imaginary Friend’ down until I had finished it. This book scoops you up and never lets you down, even after you have finished reading it. During an event Chbosky held to speak about ‘Imaginary Friend’ on November 12th 2019, he hinted at a sequel to ‘Imaginary Friend’ and I certainly hope that sequel is released sooner rather than later, so that I can dive back into the world Chbosky created in this compelling tale.

‘Imaginary Friend’ tells the story of Christopher, a young boy who has recently moved to a new town with his mother as she flees an abusive relationship. At first, this town seems like a fresh new start for Christopher and his mother, but as Christopher is struggling to fit into a new school and this new scene, the trouble begins. After making an imaginary friend and following this new friend, Christopher disappears for six days. When he returns, he is vastly different, and as he and his mother adjust to life after his disappearance, he has only one goal in mind; build a tree house, before it’s too late. As the story goes on, we are introduced to all sorts of horrors, horrors that are both real and imaginary, physical and psychological. For fans of Chbosky’s first novel, ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower,’ this new story might be a bit of a shock, but there is consistency in Chbosky’s way of writing intensely complex characters, and extremely interwoven storylines. Chbosky acknowledges Stephen King as a great influence over Chbosky’s personal preference and this novel in particular, and after reading ‘Imaginary Friend’ I can certainly see the influence. Much in the same way that Stephen King writes, ‘Imaginary Friend’ is a horror novel that also manages to incorporate the vast expanse of humanity, and every inconsistency that comes with being human. If you are looking for a novel that will tug at every chord and linger with you long after you have read the last page, pick up a copy of ‘Imaginary Friend’ and settle in for an amazing read, just remember to finish reading with plenty of time left before bedtime.