Horror lovers know that the electric shock of a good jump scare or the creeping shiver down your spine as you read a scary story in the dark is the kind of thrill that spooky season is all about. One of BookTok’s favorite genres, horror has been flying off the shelves at bookstores everywhere all year, and will certainly see a boost as readers get into the Halloween spirit. Classics like Frankenstein, American Psycho, and Dracula are annual favorites, with Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches books enjoying new fans this year after their adaptations into AMC streaming shows.
New horror authors continue to set trends and chart high on bestseller lists. Grady Hendrix and Riley Sagar have made their mark as modern horror aficionados with hits like The Final Girl Support Group and The House Across the Lake, respectively. Queer horror picks like Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, Tripping Arcadia, and Hell Followed with Us are trending high as one of this year’s favorite subgenres. Meanwhile buzzy new releases like the Jordan Peele edited Out There Screaming and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest release, Silver Nitrate, have fans on the edge of their seat.
Don’t miss out on these terrifying favorites. See our highlights below, and then click through the title lists to browse even more classic horror along with modern bestselling and trending horror genre titles!