In addition to watching all my favorite scary/Halloween-ish movies (Hocus Pocus anyone??), I like to try and plan some themed reads around Halloween — either something scary/creepy, atmospheric, or just something, to me, that screams HALLOWEEN or FALL!!
So here’s what I plan on reading to get in the Halloween spirit and I love for you to tell me which ones you think should be my TOP PRIORITY. I would LIKE to get through all of them but I’m just not sure that will happen. And I’ll leave you a link if you want to know some Jamie-approved Halloween reads. If you want to know what I plan to read IN GENERAL this Fall, check out my top ten books I want to read this Fall!
1. Rooms by Lauren Oliver — GHOST STORY! It doesn’t sound super scary but I kind of feel like you can’t get more Halloween than ghosts?? Also really excited to see what LO can do in the adult fiction realm!
2. Welcome To The Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz: This looks like uber-scary horror! Creepy things happening as seven teens have to stay in a house to get a sneak peek at a famous horror director’s new project — people start missing. And I hear there is an element of having to face your deepest darkest fears. I hope it’s as scary as it sounds!
3. The Fall by Bethany Griffin: This book is a re-imagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s, The Fall of The House of Usher. Anything POE related automatically gets an add to my list. Especially since it’s described as a “literary psychological thriller”…SO up my alley!
4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: I’ve heard nothing about AMAZING things about this book! I’m intrigued by the mixed media but AH THE CREEPY KID ON THE COVER GET ME EVERY TIME. A teen finds the ruins of an old orphanage and finds that there may have been a good reason why the island was abandoned and there was somethings seriously peculiar about these children that were there.
5. Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill: I read this a long time ago..well when it came out…but that was a lot of books ago. To be honest, I don’t remember much about it because I read it while still in college and I was always very distracted if I DID try to read a non-school book. It’s Stephen King’s son! It’s about a rock star who is totally into weird, macabre things and he has a collection of those things. He finds out about a ghost for sale and bids on it. The ghost is a vengeful spirit and wants to destroy the rock star for personal reasons.
6. The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman: All I know about this one is it is a creepy fairytale retelling!!
I’d LOVE for you to drop some Halloween reading recs for me in the comments! Also, let me know which ones should be my TOP priority in the event I don’t get through all of them. If you plan on doing any Halloween-themed reading, let me know what you are reading!
Stacy says
I have a pile of books that I’ve been waiting to read in October. I passed on Welcome to the Dark House when I was in Barnes and Nobles the other day.
Enjoy your scary reads
Jamie says
What’s in your pile?? *is nosy*
Stacy says
I’m giving myself a lot of options. I have 10 books in my October pile.
Here’s what I want to read: IT and The Shining, Psycho, The Fall (book 2 in the Strain series), The Monstrumologist, Mary: The Summoning, Sanctum, Amity, The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor, and The Strain Graphic Novel Vol. 1
Megan C. Stroup says
WAIT, ROOMS IS OUT ALREADY?? Why hasn’t my library copy come in yet?? #struggle
Jamie says
YES! I think it just came out yesterday actually!
Trina says
I just did a post on my Halloween theme reads! The Fall was on my list, but then I took it off because I overburdened myself! I think I might be most looking forward to A Monster Calls. Have you read Anna Dressed in Blood? I read it around Halloween 2 years ago and it was def in the spirit of the season, lol.
Jamie says
I haven’t read Anna Dressed in Blood but I *think* I have it on my Kindle!! DAMN IT. I didn’t even check my Kindle when I made this post haha. Off to check out your post!
Charlotte says
I’m going to read The Fall and maybe A Monster Calls. I quite like the sound of Welcome to the Dark House. I didn’t think Miss Peregrine was particularly dark or scary but I did enjoy it!
Jamie says
I need to check out A Monster Calls! I’m hoping Welcome to the Dark House is scary..at least a little bit haha. It sounds kind of teen slashery. I guess I’ll have to manage my expectations re: the scariness of Peregrine’s — THAT COVER THO. It makes it look terrifying haha
Celine says
Oooo, how fun! I love Halloween reads. To prepare for my Halloween event next month I read Asylum, and anything Joe Hill/Stephen King always works. The pictures in Miss Peregrine’s are super creepy, though the story isn’t that scary.
I’m hoping to read The Fall as well this October, and I’m planning to read House of Leaves which scared the hell out of almost anyone that I’ve seen so far. 😀
Kara @ Great Imaginations says
This is a good list but you have to add Night Film by Marisha Pessl to it! If ever there was a Halloween read, it’s that one!
Andrea @ Bookish says
I read The Fall a couple weeks ago and it was amazing! It was definitely a thinker and creepy. I liked it more than her Masque of the Red Death Series, and I loved those two books. The ending of it too is great – I think you’ll love it!
Kimmy says
YES Hocus Pocus!! Ahem, as for books…I just read and loved The Glass Casket, so I definitely recommend that one! The Fall is definitely on my list, along with another Joe Hill book (Horns).
Also, I agree with Kara re: Night Film! It’s big but it was wonderfully creepy.
Becca Lostinbooks says
I am reading The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero right now. It is creepalicious!
Tanya Patrice says
Rooms is definitely on my list too. Also Broken Mobsters by Lauren Beukes because her last book which I read around Halloween last year was creepy so I guess I’m making it a tradition.
Rosie @ Rosie Reads says
EEP! The Fall is a Poe retelling?!?! Must read!!! I love Edgar Allan Poe! I also want to read Rooms and Welcome to the Dark House! And I still need to read Miss Peregrine’s… That would probably be a good choice for October!
Some other bloggers and I are hosting a Halloween read-a-thon throughout the month of October! We’ll be reading Inferno Park (J.L. Bryan, which is supposed to be about a haunted, abandoned amusement park!), Anna Dressed in Blood (Kendare Blake), This is Not a Test (Courtney Summers) and Perception (Viviana Ware). I’m really excited to read all of them!
xo Rosie
Shannon says
I’m adding The Fall and The Glass Casket to my list. Thanks. I’m a HUGE fan of Patrick Ness and A Monster Calls, but for me it wasn’t creepy scary. It was heart breaking and hit me very close to home, but the monster wasn’t Halloween scary to me. It’s such an amazing story. I’m jealous you guys get to read it for the first time!
Kristen@My Friends Are Fiction says
I’ve not read any on your list but I’m most excited about The Fall. Sounds amazing. I typically don’t read scary stuff so I don’t have any recs–but with Halloween coming up I plan on reading a few 🙂
SarahClare says
Oh I love a spooky read!
And hey look! You’ve made a list for me to hit the bookshops with. 😉
Hocus Pocus was, and is, one of my favourite films.
‘Remember Winnie, Remember!’
Your post has got me excited for the Halloween run up!! 😀
Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally says
I’m doing a psuedo-Halloween theme this month as well and reading books that are either Supernatural or Thrillers. Rooms is on my list as well! I’m so excited for it! I read Miss Peregrine’s last October and it wasn’t the creepy and scary I was hoping for but it was still really good. Hope you enjoy!
Stephanie says
Such a fun idea! 🙂
Rebecca @ The Library Canary says
The Fall is super creepy!!! Perfect Halloween read! And I really want to read Miss Peregrine’s House for Peculiar Children mostly bc Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi are the cutest couple ever. But also bc I’ve heard amazing things. Lol
Brandie says
I had some of these on my list and then took them off. But now I may need to rethink it! I’m curious how you’ll like Rooms – I can’t wait to see your thoughts on it so I can decide if I’m going to try it.
The Fall…read that one first!! I think that’s going back on my list. I LOVE this time of year and reading scary books in October. I’m going to read the new RL Stine (takes me back to my childhood and how much I loved his books) and hopefully fit in a couple other suspenseful books. Going to go check out your recommended Halloween reads right now!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Ok, so I know you don’t want to hear about Harry Potter again…but since you’re on book 2 anyway (and I read them all in an epic re-read pretty recently), I wanted to say that Chamber of Secrets is DEFINITELY a Halloween book – there’s a lot of creepy stuff, way more than the other books, so October might be the perfect month for you to read it.
Other than that…I don’t have a lot of recs because I don’t really read scary books (other than RL Stine and Christopher Pike when I was young). The scariest book I read recently was last year, and it was Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson, which I do recommend if you’re looking for something fearsome.
As for your books…I keep meaning to read Miss Peregrine myself, so that would be my choice. Enjoy!
Holly U says
I’ve seen so many people making a Halloween TBR, and it sounds fun. It feels so perfect for October. I don’t read horror/scary books often, but I want to start (I do love psychological thrillers). Miss Peregrine’s would definitely be on my list, as well as Amity by Micol Ostow and Creed by Trisha Leaver. Okay, now I’m totally doing this; I need to make myself a scary reading list!!
Jenn @ Give a Hoot Read a Book says
I have Miss Peregrine on my to-read shelf, so I’ll probably try to get to that one first. And I added like 3 other books from the comments to my list! 🙂
I would suggest Haunted by Eileen Maksym…it’s a first book for her and I read it back in March from a friend’s suggestion, but it is very well suited for spooky time! Also, the Dark Carousel series by Anya Allyn…I’ve only read the first one so far, but it was super creepy & I’ve already purchased the rest of the series.
I also like to make my classic a month a spooky one for October. Last year I read Frankenstein and it wasn’t scary at all, to me. I’m going to try Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde this year. Or maybe Dracula, I haven’t decided yet.
Jenn @ Give a Hoot Read a Book says
Forgot to add, I usually end up rereading a Christopher Pike book from my teen years in October too. Love him! 🙂
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words says
Heart Shaped Box is one of my all-time favorite horror novels… super creepy! Enjoy!
Nadia says
I say Anna Dressed in Blood, Another Little Piece and This is Not a Test.
I’m dying to read The Glass Casket!
Justine says
I am trying to read Miss Peregrine’s this October too! I am eager to check out your list of Halloween approved reads.
Morgan @ Gone with the Words says
The Glass Casket!!! It was so much creepier than I expected (in a good way), definitely perfect for Halloween. It reminded me of The Village mixed with a fairy tale. And I’m really curious about The Fall!
You HAVE to add Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough to your list, I’m pushing it on everyone this time of year! It is one of the creepiest, most atmospheric books I’ve ever read. Really loved it. It made my skin crawl at parts. The Thirteenth Tale is great too, dual timeline, very gothic and tense atmosphere. Plus the cover is so perfect.
If you haven’t read Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan I’d add that too! It’s funnier than the rest of this list but it’s full of magic and darkness and really great for fall. Sort of a Hocus Pocus vibe (oh how I LOVE that movie).
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library says
I see a lot of books I want to try in that stack! I didn’t find Miss Peregrine’s particularly scary. I found it fascinating and weird but not super creepy. I hope you enjoy it. The cover is creepy enough to make up for the lack of creep in the book. If you get time and haven’t read it yet try The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I just reread it and really enjoyed it!
Reno @ Falling Letters says
I second this comment! I also recommend my favourite book, White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (not scary, exactly, but definitely has the right atmosphere), and The Man in the Picture or The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Lindsey says
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a really good book and slightly creepy, but if you’re looking for a truly scary read, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Liza @ Reading with ABC says
You should try The Mostrumologist or Rot & Ruin 🙂
DanaSquare says
I haven’t read any of these, but Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children and The Fall are both on my TBR for this fall! I am really excited to read paranormal and horror books this October. I am actually cohosting a Halloween week readathon too. I need to get a lot of reading done!
Lu says
I’m on hold at the library for ROOMS and I can’t wait!!! I love a good ghost story. That’s why this is one of my favorite months for reading. I get to indulge in ALL the ghost stories I want.
Pili says
I haven’t read any of those but I feel like The Fall and Miss Peregrine’s (after reading the reviews I’ve read) are both fantastically creepy!
I’m hoping to read a few creepy books during Halloween week and of course watch Nightmare Before Xmas on Halloween day!
Dana @ The Nerdy Journalist says
I don’t mind dark, perplexing, suspenseful stories with a bit of creepiness, but I’m definitely not a horror fan. Horror movies keep me up all night, so I’m terrified of what a horror book would do to my mental state.
Miss Peregrine’s is on my TBR. I’ve heard so many good things about it! I don’t think it’ll be too creepy for me.
I really really want to read Of Metal and Wishes, but I’ve heard that there are some really scary, gory scenes. I also heard that there were killer metal spiders. Eeek!
Sara says
So far, my October TBR includes Anna Dress in Blood and the sequel and Ten by Gretchen McNeil.
Lowen says
I want to read Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children this month too, it’s been on my shelf for too long now! Also I plan on reading Wakening The Crow by Stephen Gregory this month too which you should check out if you’re into Edgar Allan Poe stuff this is the Description
‘Oliver Gooch comes across a tooth, in a velvet box, with a handwritten note from 1888 to say it’s a tooth from the boy Edgar Allan Poe. He displays it in his new bookshop, and names the store Poe’s Tooth Books.
Oliver took the money from his small daughter Chloe’s accident insurance and bought a converted church to live in with his altered child and wife. Rosie hopes Chloe will came back to herself but Oliver is secretly relieved to have this new easy-to-manage child, and holds at bay the guilt that the accident was a result of his negligence. On a freezing night he and Chloe come across the crow, a raggedy skeletal wretch of a bird, and it refuses to leave. It infiltrates their lives, it alters Oliver’s relationship with Rosie, it changes Chloe. It’s a dangerous presence in the firelit, shadowy old vestry, in Poe’s Tooth Books.
Inexorably the family, the tooth, the crow, the church and their story will draw to a terrifying climax.’
I got an ARC copy of it and it’s out November 11th
prettybooks says
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a perfect choice!
I’ll definitely be watching Hocus Pocus too.
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
Yayyyy excellent choices, J! I just read The Fall and really enjoyed it! It was the perfect amount of creepy for me because I’m SUCH a chicken haha!! I totally forgot I had an egalley of Rooms! I should read that one too. Happy Haunting! 🙂