Imaginary Friend (novel)
{{Short description|2019 psychological horror novel by Stephen Chbosky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Imaginary Friend
| image = Imaginary Friend (Stephen Chbosky).png
| alt =
| caption = First edition cover
| author = Stephen Chbosky
| audio_read_by = Christine Lakin
| cover_artist = gray318
| country = United States
| language = English
| genre = Horror fiction
| set_in = Mill Grove, Pennsylvania
| publisher = Grand Central Publishing
| pub_date = October 1, 2019
| media_type = Print (hardcover and paperback), e-book, audio
| pages = 705
| isbn = 978-1-5387-3133-8
| isbn_note = (hardcover)
| oclc = 1082178078
| dewey = 813/.54
| congress = 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.
Critical reception
A departure from his debut novel, Imaginary Friend was very well-received and debuted as a New York Times Best Seller.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2019/10/20/hardcover-fiction/|title=Hardcover Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Oct. 20, 2019 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The review from Time{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5686830/imaginary-friend-review/|title=Stephen Chbosky's New Horror Novel Is a Far Cry From 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'|magazine=Time|date=26 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}} 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,{{Cite news|last=Macneal|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/books/review/imaginary-friend-stephen-chbosky.html|title=20 Years After 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky Has a New Novel|date=2019-10-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} the Kirkus Review,{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stephen-chbosky/imaginary-friend-chobsky/|title=IMAGINARY FRIEND {{!}} Kirkus Reviews|language=en}} the Washington Post,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/twenty-years-after-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-stephen-chbosky-delivers-a-thrilling-surprise/2019/10/01/f737cb6e-e453-11e9-a6e8-8759c5c7f608_story.html|title=Review {{!}} Twenty years after 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' Stephen Chbosky delivers a thrilling surprise|last=Sheehan|first=Bill|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}} NPR{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/28/765134717/in-imaginary-friend-stephen-chbosky-squeezes-horror-from-everyday-life|title=In 'Imaginary Friend,' Stephen Chbosky Squeezes Horror From Everyday Life|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}} and numerous others, as well as being named one of Variety{{'}}s Top 10 books of 2019.{{Cite web|last1=Zukin|first1=Danielle Turchiano, Meg|last2=Turchiano|first2=Danielle|last3=Zukin|first3=Meg|date=2019-12-05|title=The Best Books of 2019|url=https://variety.com/feature/best-books-of-2019-stephen-king-ali-wong-margaret-atwood-angie-thomas-celia-amrie-1203417437/|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
In 2023, the book was banned, in Clay County District Schools, Florida.{{Cite web |title=District Reconsideration List |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iP1nVObzc_x1LgOUTEwf7w_t9Q7j4zRXan_mTL_6k0I/edit?gid=369888666#gid=369888666 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}