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Halloween season is all around us, friends. And if you’re like me and can’t handle jump scares (I’m a 27-year-old wuss, what can I say?) you may be feeling a little left out that everyone around you has been getting into the spooky groove while you’re still rewatching Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus. But don’t worry, movies aren’t the only way to tickle your horror bone if you’re not one to see things popping out at you on your TV. You can still get into spooky season by reading horror books.
Now before you pull out your tattered copy of It by Stephen King for the 200th time, it’s time to expand your palette. Horror is such a huge genre in books and there’s so much more than the the usual suspects for you to explore. Whether you’re into thrillers or psychological horrors, there’s something out there for everyone. And if you need a little help, look no further. Here are some super scary books to add to your Halloween reading list. I’d just suggest reading them under the safety of your covers.
Room for Rent by Noelle W. Ihli
If you’ve ever got a shady room in a rundown place, this book will send you to a super scary place. Room for Rent will keep your heart pounded and your nose stuck to the pages as you follow along its creepy twists and turns.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
If you’re more into the murder mystery side of horror, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the book for your this spooky season. Follow along as Pippa tries to uncover what really happened to the popular girl who was killed five years ago. And the scariest thing about this book? It’s set in high school. BOO!
Holly by Stephen King
Even though It and The Shining are classics that weren’t included in the list, we couldn’t do a horror roundup without the king (Stephen King, to be exact) himself. Holly is one of Stephen’s more recent novels as it even features a plot embedded within the pandemic. It’s full of spooky surprises because, what else would you expect from Stephen?
Sundial by Catriona Ward
If you’re into dark family secrets, psychological thrillers, and “imaginary friends,” Sundial has it all for you. Follow along as a mother and daughter travel back to the mom’s hometown and unveil some freaky family skeletons in the closet.
The Forgotten Child by Melissa Erin Jackson
Did you enjoy classics like Children of the Corn and Annabelle? If yes, then creepy kid stories is where it’s at for you. The Forgotten Child is just that and more — a murder mystery, conversations with spirits, and a haunted ranch.
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
This one may hit a little too close to home considering all of the recalls lately but this dystopian novel is about a society where all the animals have been affected by a virus… so the people decided to become cannibals. Does it get any spookier than that?
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
This is a different kind of horror story, but a scary one nonetheless. Lone Women has themes of adventure, suspense, and what it means to be a Black woman. Oh and randomly disappearing people, of course.
Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert
Unfortunately you might not be able to “sleep tight” after this one — but it is a great read for the spooky crime girlies. A survivor of a serial killer has to use his experience to catch a copycat killer.
