I never liked to read anything scary — in fact, I would actively avoid reading anything that threatened to keep me up at night or made me afraid of what lurked in the dark. Then, a few years ago, I picked up a copy of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones and realized “Oh, that’s what a good scary story can do.”
Whether books are flat-out horror, psychological thrillers, or fiction just eerie enough to leave me unsettled, a whole new door had opened for me as a reader. It has made me realize that, as long as I can stomach it, scary stories are jam-packed with metaphor, social commentary, and trope subversion. Their purpose isn’t only to terrify you — at least not the ones I tend to read.
As spooky season comes to a close, here are some recommendations that you’ll still be able to enjoy year-round. I’ve already read most of them, though a handful are sitting on my bookshelf or at the top of my TBR. Rest assured, there’s something here for everyone — even for readers like me who assume that spooky stories aren’t their cup of tea.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Since Stephen Graham Jones’ books were my introduction to horror, it makes sense for me to start this list off with his most recent release. The incredibly talented SGJ is known for his slasher books, particularly the Angel of Indian Lake series, but his latest book tackles the genre in a new way — from the perspective of the slasher. Here, 17 year old Tolly Driver writes his own autobiography.
The story starts in 1989, in the small west Texas town of Lamesa, small enough that everyone knows everyone else’s business. It is a town driven by oil and cotton, reminiscent of the town SGJ himself grew up in. Tolly is an outsider, but he’s a good kid with a lot of potential, though he doesn’t always apply himself — until he’s cursed to kill for revenge. The gore in these slasher books is certainly not for the faint of heart, but if I could stomach it, maybe you can too — it’s worth it for the way Stephan Graham Jones’ books play out like a movie in your head.
Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta
I finished reading this novel a week ago, and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. In a small Italian village, rumors of a monster in the local cave system are just legends. Aren’t they? When Angelina finds herself possessed by this snarky, sarcastic, archaic monster who shows up at the worst possible times, she realizes the stories might be more true than she realized.
And it doesn’t help that her brother’s ex-girlfriend Jagvi is back in town, and Angelina’s decade-long feud with her means they can hardly stand to be around one another. That is, until they both realize that keeping Jagvi close is the only thing that keeps the monster possessing Angelina at bay… You bet those enemies turn into lovers in this one. Terrifying, darkly funny, and hauntingly sexy, Feast While You Can is definitely making it onto my list of favorite reads for 2024.
Chlorine by Jade Song
What if you don’t like horror, and you’d rather read a memoir or a fairytale? You’re in luck, because Chlorine has just enough of a blend of genres to suit multiple kinds of readers. On its surface, it’s a coming-of-age story about a preteen swimmer, struggling to fit in as a child of Chinese immigrants.
But dig a little deeper, and it becomes a story of obsession, a dark determination to become the fastest swimmer, to escape and outrun the limits of human ability. To become the kind of mermaid she’d read about in fairytales — not magic and sparkly, but ruthless, man-eating. Reality blends with metaphor in this bold, unflinching story of transformation — with a tasteful amount of body horror. I am dying to find out if this one will get made into a movie. As I said in my review, “Chlorine is worth diving into. You just might emerge from this book dripping sweat, blood, and pool water, completely transformed.”
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
Think you can only handle a little bit of spooky this Halloween? I have good news: this novella is only 160 pages. The bad news? It’s only 160 pages, and it’s so good I wanted 200 more. In 1920s Appalachia, Leslie has made his way to Spar Creek on orders from the Frontier Nursing Service. He’s tasked with vaccinating the town, assisting with births, and providing healthcare to anyone who might seek him out under cover of night — even against the rules.
Upon arrival, he is met with coldness from the townfolk who are set in their religious ways and don’t take kindly to a stranger whose existence threatens the status quo. But something haunts Leslie outside his cabin at night, and when he stumbles upon a strange altar in the woods, the darkness of the town grows ominous. His attempts to save a young person from the town’s wrath put both of their lives in danger until, at last, the monstrous thing from the woods reveals itself. This historical horror novella is about fighting tooth and claw to live as yourself — whatever that may look like.
Please Stop Trying to Leave Me by Alana Saab
Author Ruth Madievsky says that this book “feels like clawing your way out of the belly of some monster, rib by rib, only to find that the monster is you.” A lot of “scary” books depict mental illness in a way that plays into harmful tropes, and I hesitated to include this book in this list, for fear that I’d give that (wrong) impression. To be clear, this book is a raw, real and honest portrait of mental illness, inspired by the author’s own life. And I think this puzzling, stream-of-consciousness, meta piece of literary fiction works on this list, despite the fact that it isn’t horror or psychological thriller. Because anyone with a fear of existentialism who has experienced dissociation will be deeply unsettled by the panic, fear and dread woven throughout the novel. Sometimes our own minds can be more terrifying than any outside force.
Norma is 27 years old and having a mental breakdown. Instagram is telling her to break up with her girlfriend, Google ads are giving her panic attacks — and Oblivion is taking hold. Determined to do whatever it takes to finish her manuscript, Norma meets with her therapist, who tells her she’s experiencing a textbook case of Depersonalization/ Derealization disorder. But Norma can’t differentiate between what’s real and what’s fiction, even in her own life — and neither can the reader.
All the Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper
I haven’t read this one yet, but I am dying to get my hands on a copy. Gothic horror meets the paranormal in this fresh twist on local folklore. Ivory finds the body of Cabrina Brite washed up on shore, in what appears to be a failed attempt to swim to Ghost Cat Island. Haunting stories and local mysteries surround the island, and the poem that washed up with Cabrina is only another mystery to solve.
Soon, Cabrina’s ghost appears before Ivory, and the apparition is visible to Cabrina’s friends. And what happens when you let a ghost into your life? I can’t wait to find out. Based on the cover and the very minimal research I’ve done (I like to be surprised), I’m hoping this is a mix of werewolves, vampires, and sea creatures… I’ll be ready for whatever kinds of frightening dangers this one promises.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
If you’re looking for a book that has more creeping eerieness than flat-out terrifying scenes — this one is for you. Unless, of course, you’re claustrophobic or afraid of the open ocean. Miri’s wife Leah left months ago on a routine research expedition on a submarine. The submarine sunk to the sea floor, and Miri wasn’t sure if she would ever hear from Leah again. But one day, Leah returns, and all is well. Right? Wrong.
Something about Leah is off, and Miri can’t quite figure it out. But Leah has stopped eating, wanders the house at night turning the taps on and off, and spends days in the bathtub. What happened to Leah under the ocean? What did she see, and who or what is she becoming? At once tender, devastating, and unsettling, this book is the perfect dive into the “came back wrong” trope. After this, you’ll want to read Armfield’s collection of eerie short stories: Salt Slow. And, her upcoming King Lear retelling, Private Rites. She knows how to tell a good, haunting, water-logged story.
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
A book for teens probably can’t be too scary, so I’m ready to give Compound Fracture a shot. I haven’t read it yet, but there’s so much great folklore and a rich history of storytelling in Appalachia that makes for a compelling story. This one is dark, political, and follows a trans, autistic teen ready to fight for the rights of the rural poor.
There’s a blood feud plaguing Twist Creek, and it’s left Miles’ dad injured and others killed, setting Miles on a mission to expose the truth about the county sheriff’s crimes. But Miles’ efforts towards rebellion put him at the center of the generations-old feud, and things get deadly. In the hospital, a soot-covered ghost visits Miles, leading him to grow more determined to fight for his cause. With the help of other locals, he’s ready to unseat the sheriff and finally free Twist Creek from centuries of cruelty.
Old Soul by Susan Barker
This book comes out in January 2025, but I have the ARC sitting on my shelf and I’m desperate to dive in soon. Take this summary: “Part horror, part western, part thriller, Old Soul is a fearlessly bold and genre-defying tale about predation, morality and free will, and one man’s quest to bring a centuries-long chain of human devastation to an end.”
When two strangers meet and realize they’ve both lost loved ones, they feel connected. But when they uncover that their loved ones crossed paths with the same mysterious, evasive woman, they know there’s a darker truth to uncover. Traveling across the globe, Jake seeks information from strangers who report seeing the mystery woman across decades, until he stumbles across a man who might hold all the answers. If there’s one thing I love, it’s a monstrous anti-heroine.
English (US) · 