Imaginary Friend (novel)

2019 psychological horror novel by Stephen Chbosky

Imaginary Friend

First edition cover

Author| Stephen Chbosky
Audio read by| Christine Lakin
Cover artist| gray318
Language| English
Genre| Horror fiction
Set in| Mill Grove, Pennsylvania
Publisher| Grand Central Publishing

Publication date

| October 1, 2019
Publication place| United States
Media type| Print (hardcover and paperback), e-book, audio
Pages| 705
ISBN| 978-1-5387-3133-8 (hardcover)
OCLC| 1082178078

Dewey Decimal

| 813/.54
LC Class| PS3553.H3469 I43 2019

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. It is Chbosky's long-awaited follow-up to the 1999 international best-seller The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

## Critical reception

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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 Variety's Top 10 books of 2019.[7]

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

## References

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1. ^ "Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Oct. 20, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
2. ^ "Stephen Chbosky's New Horror Novel Is a Far Cry From 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'". Time. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
3. ^ Macneal, Elizabeth (2019-10-07). "20 Years After 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky Has a New Novel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
4. ^ IMAGINARY FRIEND | Kirkus Reviews.
5. ^ Sheehan, Bill. "Review | Twenty years after 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky delivers a thrilling surprise". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
6. ^ "In 'Imaginary Friend,' Stephen Chbosky Squeezes Horror From Everyday Life". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
7. ^ Zukin, Danielle Turchiano,Meg; Turchiano, Danielle; Zukin, Meg (2019-12-05). "The Best Books of 2019". Variety. Retrieved 2021-10-18.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ^ "District Reconsideration List". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-09-28.

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Works by Stephen Chbosky

Novels|

* The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999)
* Imaginary Friend (2019)

Films directed|

* The Four Corners of Nowhere (1995)
* The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
* Wonder (2017)
* Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
* Nonnas (TBD)

Films written only|

* Rent (2005)
* Beauty and the Beast (2017)

TV series created|

* Jericho (2006–08)

Category
*[OCLC]: Online Computer Library Center number
*[LC Class]: Library of Congress Classification
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