Happy Halloween my lovely bookworms. 🎃 All of this week I have been right in the Halloween mood. I have been rewatching The Scream and Halloween franchise movies as well as other horrors. I have been reading horror/thriller YA books and been chilling with pumpkins, some sweet treats and ASMR rooms.
It’s been a while since I blogged and I thought after having a great reading week so far, I thought I would share some of my favourite reads perfect this spooky season, from spine tingling thrillers to chilling atmospheric horrors that you won’t be put down. You will notice that a lot of these to have an ode to certain movies I mentioned above.
My favourite YA Horrors and Thrillers so far…
The … no Signed, no Win…..Well anything by Cynthia Murphy
I couldn’t choose between them all as they are all 5 star reads and perfect spooky season reading. They are also an ode to classic slasher movies, but with Cynthia I feel I know who is until I really don’t. I had that experience with her first book Win Lose Kill Die, which I only finished this week as that alongside Keep Your Friends Close are both set at Mortan Academy.
Cynthia is for me the Queen of YA Horror/Thrillers.
Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood
Meet your next nostalgic Scream x Scooby Doo YA horror you all need to read.
This book gave me all of the supernatural, horror, Mystery Inc. nostalgic vibes. We have the classic horror movie tropes, small town vibes, new girl, friends to lovers, found friendship, library research scene, and the scooby doo crew. We also have the slasher serial killer with an ode to Scream which for me was some of the best scenes. This book just had it all. It was creepy, haunting, and atmospheric.
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis
Quite possibly one of the most chilling, haunting YA Horrors I’ve ever read. I read this back in 2020 and it’s like The Conjuring or Annabelle in movie terms. Puppets are quite possibly the worst and best vessel for a horror book or movie and I felt the hairs stand on end throughout the entirety of this book. The atmosphere and skill in writing this horror book is second to none. I’m about to read her latest The Devouring Light which I can’t wait for.
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Just over 200 pages long, this one is pacey, edge of your seat Halloween (Michael Myers) vibes Horror that you won’t be able to put down. Easily read in one sitting kinda book.
I really enjoy the latest Halloween Movies and partial to Scream as well. This book has the atmosphere, and chills like those Horror movies which I’ve never read in a book before.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
Whilst this is set at the wrong time of the year, this is another book that was chilling to the bone.
The novel turns the idyllic summer camp setting into a site of creeping dread. Sunlight and nature, initially inviting, become eerie and threatening. The horror builds gradually, moving from unsettling hints to outright frightening and shocking revelations. A group called The Honeys, summer camps royalty cult, filled with corruption and menace.
I am not a lover of horror stories, but I know many are and will appreciate your suggestions.