Aliens, monsters, and ghosts, oh my! This week’s edition of Three to Read brings you three debut horror books sure to send shivers up your spine. From extraterrestrial invasions to nightmare-inducing bedtime stories and haunting small-town secrets, these selections have something for every horror lover. Without further ado, let’s dive into our picks — if you dare.
HOT PICK
You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
Trigger Warning: This book contains depictions of infanticide, cannibalism, stillbirth, abortion, suicidal ideation, self-harm, sexual assault, domestic abuse, transphobia, and graphic violence. Please exercise personal care while reading.
SYNOPSIS:
In rural West Virginia, hives of worms and flies have taken over, offering a select group of humans a fresh start they can’t refuse. Among them is Crane, who has found a strange sort of peace amidst the hive. He’s been able to transition, he no longer has to speak, and he’s even found a partner who treats him like the man he is — for the most part. But then Crane gets pregnant, and the hive forces him to carry the child against his wishes. To reclaim control over his body and his life, Crane may just have to destroy the very community that saved him.
WHY:
Andrew Joseph White’s adult debut is a gruesome yet tender exploration of survival and identity. It offers an unflinching look at the hostility, alienation, and dysphoria Crane experiences as an autistic trans man, communicating the reality of marginalized existence with a splatterpunk twist. In light of recent rollbacks in reproductive rights, You Weren’t Meant to Be Human is a horrifyingly apt read for the modern moment.
COFFEE SHOP READ
Bedtime Stories That Will Terrify Children: And Keep Them Awake All Night Long by Randolph B. Schiffer
Trigger Warning: This book contains depictions of human and animal death. Please exercise personal care while reading.
SYNOPSIS:
In the waning days of his life, a father sits his sons down to listen to a series of nightmarish bedtime stories, each a parable with a valuable life lesson to impart. From carnivorous plants that feast on humans to beastly creatures that lurk outside your window at night, the entities that haunt these terror-inducing tales will make sleep elusive. The scariest part? These monsters aren’t make-believe; they live inside us all — in our memories, and in our minds.
WHY:
Randolph B. Schiffer’s heart-pounding short story collection touches on timeless themes of mortality, legacy, and the power of imagination. These eight allegorical tales utilize fear as a teaching tool, priming readers for life’s scariest moments. A tribute to Schiffer’s own kids, Bedtime Stories That Will Terrify Children serves as a parent’s parting gift — that of curiosity, self-reflection, truth, and the will to confront one’s darkest fears.
DARK HORSE
Red Rabbit Ghost by Jen Julian
Trigger Warning: This book contains depictions of homophobia, alcohol and drug abuse, and kidnapping. Please exercise personal care while reading.
SYNOPSIS:
Eighteen years ago, Jesse Calloway, then just an infant, was discovered on a riverbank next to his dead mother. Jesse has searched for answers about his mother’s death his entire life, and now, an anonymous source is promising him the truth he seeks. The only condition? Jesse must return to Blacknot, North Carolina, the hometown he’d vowed to leave behind forever. As his investigation intensifies, Jesse realizes that Blacknot is even more dangerous than he knew — and that some secrets are better left alone.
WHY:
Jen Julian’s debut small-town horror novel is a striking interrogation of the places that shape us, for better and for worse. Populated with deeply flawed yet compelling characters rendered in arresting prose, this Southern Gothic is enrapturing from start to finish. Atmospheric, immersive, and chillingly beautiful, Red Rabbit Ghost exposes the ways in which we’re all haunted.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Three to Read. Join us next week for more curated recommendations!
Click here to learn about last week’s Three to Read selections!
Find these books and more chilling reads on our Three to Read shelf on Bookshop!
