Horror Reads For This Halloween
are you ready?
The weekend is nearly here, so let’s take it easy and savor the moment! Today, focus on doing something that makes you feel relaxed, happy, and ready to unwind.
And for your task of the day:
📌 Plan one fun activity for the weekend, whether it’s a movie night, a cozy morning coffee, or a walk in the park
Setting aside time for a fun activity helps you switch off from work mode and unwind, which is essential for recharging mentally and emotionally. Plus, relaxing activities lower stress hormones, making you feel refreshed and more resilient.
Now, let’s start with the day…
Let me help you get into the Halloween spirit with these chilling reads
If you’re craving a spooky vibe for the weekend, I’ve got you covered! Horror’s not just about scares - it’s about confronting our wildest fears, almost like holding up a creepy mirror to reality.
It’s a genre that lets us dig into the darker side of things, follow our anxieties to their scariest conclusions, and then, thankfully, close the book when it gets a bit too real.
So, if you’re ready to jump in, I’ve lined up a list of spine-chilling reads to keep you on the edge of your seat.
📌 Dead Animals
Let’s start with Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes - a haunting, twisted tale about a narrator struggling between the trauma of her past and a new, intense relationship with Helene, someone who’s as captivating as she is mysterious. Stuckes takes you on a journey where reality starts to fray, machines come alive at odd hours, and mold on the walls seems to take on sinister forms. Is it all in her head? Or is there something darker at play?
📌 God of the Woods
If you’re a thriller fan, this one’s a must. God of the Woods takes us to a summer camp in upstate New York, where two mysterious disappearances occur. But it’s not just another whodunnit. Think of it as part murder mystery, part family drama, with a big dollop of class tensions and dark secrets, plus an escaped serial killer on the loose for that essential Halloween vibe. It’s beautifully written, too – you won’t just get lost in the mystery; you’ll be swept up by its layered characters and the immersive world Moore creates. If you could erase your memory and reread it again for the first time, trust me, you’d do it!
📌 The Empusium
Not quite ready for full-blown horror? Then you’ll want The Empusium. Nobel laureate Tokarczuk offers an unsettling story set in a health resort in 1913, where protagonist Mieczyslaw Wojnicz is hoping to recover from tuberculosis. But soon, reality starts to twist in surreal ways, and a creepy sense of foreboding takes over. It’s the perfect book for those who want something spooky and thought-provoking without the outright terror.
📌 All Down Darkness Wide
This one is haunting in a completely different way. It’s a memoir about love, mental health, and the fear that comes when someone you love changes before your eyes. Hewitt writes about his boyfriend’s battle with depression in prose that’s heartbreakingly beautiful, capturing both the horror and the sorrow of loving someone as they struggle. It’s a book full of ghosts, both literal and metaphorical, exploring faith, loneliness, and queer identity. You might not find monsters here, but the story will stay with you just as deeply.
📌 The Shards
If you’re ready for a full-on disturbing experience, The Shards is calling. Ellis takes us to LA, where a serial killer is on the loose, and high school senior Bret (yes, a fictionalized version of the author) is navigating a twisted, nightmarish year. It’s graphic, unsettling, and will have you gasping in shock – but it’s also somehow seductive and strangely glamorous, like a dark love letter to the grittiness of LA in the ’80s. Be warned: this book isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if you’re up for a wild ride, it’s absolutely unforgettable.
So, there you have it! A little something for everyone, whether you want subtle creepiness or full-on terror. Grab a cozy corner, your favorite blanket, and maybe a candle or two to set the mood. And remember: if it ever gets too scary, you can always close the book… or can you? 👀
That’s it for today. See you again next week 👋
