Want to Read Horror? Here’s Where to Start
Interested in dipping your toes into some horror, but not sure where to begin? Here are my recommendations on some recent novel titles that, in my opinion, would be great introductions to the genre. I selected a variety of different subgenres and styles, so if you don’t enjoy one, try another! I’ve included adult, YA, and middle grade options.
ADULT NOVELS
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Date Published: 2014
Series: Bird Box #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: Malorie tries to keep her two children alive in a dystopian world where monsters make you go crazy if you look at them. They try to find a place of safety, blindfolded against an enemy they cannot see and know nothing about. The story includes flashbacks, so we learn more about what happened before the world went to pieces and how Malorie came to be the sole protector of two children. It is super creepy and intense!
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
Date Published: 2014
Series: Southern Reach #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: Four women—an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist, and a biologist—are sent on a mission to Area X, a region where nature has gone berserk. Previous expeditions have gone missing or, in some cases, members have come back “wrong” and died soon after.
The biologist narrates the story, and what’s weird is that none of the characters give their names—she just calls them by their occupation—and they all seem to be keeping secrets from each other. It is bizarre and creepy, with a lot of weird nature scenes and some body horror.
The Outside by Ada Hoffmann
Date Published: 2019
Series: The Outside #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: After an autistic scientist develops an energy drive that warps reality, the AI gods who rule the galaxy force her to help them find her vanished mentor. It’s got weird mathematics, queer and disabled characters, cosmic horrors, angels, gods, an oppressive religion, and technology that defies the laws of physics.
This is the first novel I read that made me realize I might actually like horror.
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Date Published: 2025
Summary: Running away from an abusive partner, Selena ends up in a small, desert town that’s strangely beautiful, and several of the townspeople help her out so she can stay. This was surprisingly cozy for a horror, with themes of found family and learning to stand up for yourself. Oh, and did I mention the ancient, creepy roadrunner god who’s obsessed with Selena and out for vengeance?
If you like this, you’ll probably also like Kingfisher’s other horror novels, including The Hollow Places and What Moves the Dead.
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
Date Published: 2025
Summary: The spaceship Demeter is just trying to do her job and shuttle passengers between Earth and Alpha Centauri, but monsters keep coming on board and killing all her passengers. This is a queer, funny, horrifying delight—a sci-fi novel featuring vampires, werewolves, mummies, and more.
As someone who loves stories about sentient spaceships , I especially appreciated how it shows the unique lives of A.I.—how they have to obey humans, how they have little autonomy, how they experience time differently as they can be shut off for years, etc.
More Exceptional Adult Horror:
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020, historical/gothic)
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco (2022, paranormal)
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (2024, queer/contemporary)
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (2025, contemporary/thriller)
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (2025, monster/romance)
YOUNG ADULT NOVELS
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Date Published: 2018
Series: Dread Nation #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: This is an alternate history novel in which the Civil War is interrupted by a zombie apocalypse. The Native and Negro Reeducation Act require children of colour to attend combat schools in order to be the front line against the undead. Jane McKeene is training to be an attendant to protect wealthy people, and she gets involved in a political conspiracy and many zombie fights.
Zombies aren’t my thing, and I still loved this.
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Date Published: 2019
Summary: A plague consumes the teachers of the Raxter School for Girls, and then the students start to become infected. The school is isolated and the surrounding woods are dangerous, so the girl have to fend for themselves as they wait for a promised curse from the outside. But when Hetty’s friend goes missing and she breaks quarantine to find her, she discovers a horrifying secret.
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
Date Published: 2022
Summary: Hark is a scavenger who dives for ancient relics left behind by gods. There’s toxic friendship, sea monsters, and dangerous artifacts in this deep sea adventure that straddles the line between YA and middle grade.
I particularly liked how sign language was common in this world.
The Honeys by Ryan Sala
Date Published: 2022
Summary: Mars attends the high-end summer camp where their sister died, facing prejudice for being genderfluid and uncovering the secret of what really happened to their sibling.
This is so creepy and weird, and yes, there are terrifying bees involved.
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Date Published: 2024
Summary: This is about three teenage girls desperate to do what it takes to achieve their goals. Zara wants to revive her dead sister; Jude wants to break her painful curse; Emer wants to solve the mystery of why her clients are dying. The girls strike an alliance and horror ensues.
More Exceptional YA Horror:
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (2013, paranormal)
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig (2019, fairy tale)
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (2019, historical)
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (2021, contemporary)
Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews (2024, dark academia)
MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS
Nightbooks by J.A. White
Date Published: 2018
Series: Nightbooks #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: A witch lures Alex into her home and keeps him prisoner, forcing him to tell her scary stories each night to keep her entertained. But soon he’ll run out of stories and then she won’t have a use for him anymore.
I’d categorize this at a medium scare level. It’s creepy and adventurous, with dark fairy tale vibes.
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Date Published: 2018
Series: Small Spaces #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: Ollie learns about the “smiling man,” who makes deals with children, from a strange book. Then, when her school bus breaks down after a field trip, the odd bus driver tells them to start running, because something will come for the children at nightfall. Only Ollie and two classmates listening, beginning a hair-raising dash through forests and dark fields of scarecrows.
This one is extra scary, and I loved it.
Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White
Date Published: 2022
Series: Sinister Summer #1
Number of Books in Series: 5
Summary: When their aunt leaves siblings Theo, Alexander, and Wil at a waterpark, the children discover something weird is happening there. The slides look like gargoyle tongues. The employees are creepy. And people are disappearing.
This one is creepy, but not as scary as some, so a good starting point if you’re not sure how much horror you (or your kids) can handle.
The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien
Date Published: 2023
Summary: Bailee wants to win the creepy game that sixth grades play on Halloween by running into the woods and ringing a bell before a “ghost” catches you. But she gets more than she bargained for in the woods, uncovering the secret about a kid who disappeared there years ago.
This one is extra scary, and I loved it.
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
Date Published: 2024
Summary: Violet and her family move into a new house, and her new bedroom in the attic is shadowy and unsettling with its yellow wallpaper covered in vines and flowers. When Violet gets sick after moving in, no one can figure out what is wrong with her, and Violet starts to suspect there’s something in the room with her.
I adored the chronic illness representation in this. This one is more unsettling and creepy than outright scary.
More Exceptional Middle Grade Horror:
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (2018, paranormal)
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker (2019, fantasy/short stories)
The Circus of Stolen Dreams by Lorelei Savaryn (2020, adventure/mystery)
The Devouring Wolf by Natalie C. Parker (2022, paranormal)
The Clackity by Lora Senf (2022, paranormal)
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, so if you click through and purchase any of the books linked in this article, I will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie book store!
