Ghouls, ghosts, guts, and gore: these are all markers of the scariest time of the year. Now that spooky season is just around the corner — or maybe it’s already arrived for some of you — the perfect way to get in the mood is with a heart-pounding, creepy read. So light some candles, grab your favorite pumpkin treat, and get ready because here are five books that are guaranteed to give you spine-chilling tingles.
When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya de Becerra
This horror novel is about two sisters, the house they grew up in, and the different kinds of ghosts that haunt them from childhood. Layla became famous for her amateur horror film, which unwillingly starred her younger sister, Sophia. But now that Layla’s gone missing, Sophia puts their strained relationship aside and returns home. She sets out to find her sister while navigating love, ghosts, nightmares, and Layla’s cryptic clues.
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Rory’s hometown reminds her too much of her trauma. Despite this, she moves back home to help her twin sister, Scarlett, when she finds out she is pregnant and alone. Rory reconnects with an old flame after a night out at the bar, but then she’s attacked. She starts to feel different, especially under a full moon. In this new, dangerous, and powerful wolven form, Rory must decide if she should leave to keep her loved ones safe or embrace the beast and learn to wield it instead.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
Benji, a transgender teenager, escapes from the cult that not only raised him but killed off half of the world’s population. With the help of the ALC, an LGBTQ+ center, he finds a safe space to hide out. Nick, the handsome autistic leader of the ALC, learns that Benji has actually been mutated by the cult in hopes that he’ll use the beast inside to destroy the world for good. As long as Benji follows Nick’s rules and learns to tame his inner monster, he’ll be safe. Or so he hopes.
The Gateway in Apartment 8 by Chisto Healy
Travel back to 1987 in this eerie horror novel. Having recently moved into the Sunnyvale Apartments, a queer Asian-American college student named Sarah quickly learns from her girlfriend that the building is haunted. Not only that, but her closet is a portal to 1987, where a serial killer is on the loose. Sarah becomes obsessed with trying to unravel the secret behind this gateway and won’t stop until she knows the truth about the killings and the ghosts it left behind.
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller
Wendy is going through a tough break-up and looking to get more involved in her queer community in Arizona. Her plans aren’t going smoothly, though, since she finds out her ex is sleeping with some of her friends. However, it all comes to a halt when a zombie infection starts spreading through her town. Wendy has to team up with her friends, and even her ex, to try to stay alive, find the reason behind this sudden outbreak, and hopefully put a stop to it for good.
From mysteries, scary twists, and psychological surprises, you’ll be able to find something here that screams “spooky season.” While these books might not help you relax after a long day, they’ll surely keep you on your toes and get you excited for Halloween.
Looking for a horror read based on real life? Check these out!
Check out even more recommendations at Bookstr Team Recs on Bookshop.org!
