Spooky Reads for Halloween
Books for Life is where I share bookish lists, recommendations, and favourites. You can also catch me talking about non-bookish things here, as well as my life outside of blogging. Today I’m talking about…
perfect books to read on halloween
Even though Halloween isn’t really that big over here in Australia, I still like it because it’s all about spooky things like witches and black cats and horror movies. I could list horror movies for days but today I thought I’d share some books that I think would be perfect to read on Halloween, and here they are:
murder mysteries
Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas: As if any recommendation post written by me is not going to include Dangerous Girls. This book is perfect if you want that murder mystery feel for Halloween, plus bonus points for being about bi girls.
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard: I was mildly obsessed with this series when I was a teen, and even though I guessed who the killer was, I was second guessing myself a lot over the course of the story. Great if you’re wanting heaps of teen drama mixed in with impostering and a whodunnit.
Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger: Honestly, this book is worth reading if only for the ending. I loved it, and read this whole book in one night *muscled arm that looks like a chicken leg emoji* Perfect if you’re looking for a book where teens go to a secluded cabin in the woods like it never ends badly.
paranormal shenanigans
Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace: This one is mild horror about a girl who wakes up as a zombie!! And goes on a really weird journey to find out more about, well, everything. This also has murder mtstery vibes becuase how the heck did the main character end up a zombie? Bonus points for the MC being bi and no romantic plot.
Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike: This girl sees the heckin’ future! But she’s not allowed to interfere. So what does she do when she sees the death of one of her classmates?
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey: BOY WITCHES! I REPEAT: BOY WITCHES. And rich people being powerful and awful. And forbidden romance! Bonus points for the MC being gay.
get me out of here
A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann: This book features a group of teens who are stuck in a murder house with horrible traps and creepy rooms that try to kill them. So of course I would recommend this for Halloween. Also: dead people.
the crème de la crème
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire: If you’re worried that this book is the second in a series, don’t be. It can easily be read on its own since the goings-on in this book actually happen before the first book. This book is horror personified, with lots of creepiness, blood, and murder. Bonus points for one of the MCs being queer.
The Diviners by Libba Bray: Not only is this the greatest book of all time, but it is more than appropriate for Halloween. Creepy demon ghost guy! Murders! Teens with powers! 1920s New York! This book is very creepy, and that’s why it’s perfect for Halloween.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Mara Dyer survived when her friends didn’t and now boundless creepy shit is happening. People are dying, Mara sees dead people, Mara questions her sanity, Noah Shaw is there. I’ve read this book twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times, and think it gives off major Halloween vibes.
What books are you reading for Halloween? Any of these?
Hi! Is The Lying Game by Sara Shepard a part of the PLL series? Can it be read as a standalone?
Hey! The Lying Game is completely unrelated to PLL and can be read without having read PLL :)
Yay for Dangerous Girls! I don’t think I’ve ever known a book frustrate me in such a good way :) I still need to read Dangerous Boys and I’m hoping it’s as good as Dangerous Girls :)
Dangerous Girls is EVERYTHING. I didn’t like Dangerous Boys nearly as much but I also feel like I put a lot of pressure on it because I loved DG so much!
I don’t celebrate Halloween as such but I’m always up for a spooky read! Dangerous Girls still remains one of the best books I’ve ever read. Just the sinister nature of the characters and an unreliable narrator, it makes you second guess yourself. The Mara Dyer series is another I absolutely love, although I haven’t read the continuation of the series from Noah’s point of view. Have you read those yet? I still love Anna Dressed in Blood which isn’t all that creepy in comparison. Shallow Graves is really calling to me because zombies? Yes please! Thanks so much for sharing Chiara, going to check a few of these out ♡♡♡
Neither do I but I love that spooky things finally get their time :D I’m glad you love Dangerous Girls and Mara Dyer as well. They’re so good. I actually hated the first book in the Noah Shaw trilogy :( I will try the second book but I don’t have very high hopes. I really need to read Anna Dressed in Blood! Everyone says it’s creepy so sign me up :D Shallow Graves is awesome, Kell! I hope you like it ^.^
I also enjoyed the Witch Eyes series. I’m actually doing a re-read right now. Well, in between my other books.
Thanks for the other recommendations!
I’m glad you like it! I don’t see enough love for it, to be honest. No worries! I hope you find some good reads :D
I do really love Dangerous Girls and Three Truths and a Lie. I also really love The Diviners, which I FINALLY read last year around this time. I still need to read the third book though. I love all the spooky reads – I wish October is longer so I could read them all during the Fall, but oh well, Winter isn’t a bad time to read these type of books either.
-Lauren
You should try and read Before the Devil Breaks You for Halloween! I think it’s the creepiest of The Diviners books so far so perfect for the spooky season. I wish we were going into winter after Halloween but alas it will be summer for me :(
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is an unexpectedly creepy book!
100%! I love its horror elements :D
I love The Diviners series and definitely agree with it being a great read for Halloween! Down Among the Sticks and Bones and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer are also great, creepy reads for this month!
I wish I had the time to re-read them for Halloween this year! Hopefully 2019 will give me more time for them, haha. I’m glad you agree with my picks :D
Down Among the Sticks and Bones sounds so good! I really want to read this series but I’ve been resisting buying it because I know the first book is in my library if I actually made the time to read it. Same goes for The Diviners, which I feel like has been on my TBR forever. This sounds like a super spooky list and I’ll definitely be checking some of these out! Thanks Chiara!
It really is! Though I recommend reading The Diviners first because it’s my favourite series :D I hope you have time to read them both soon, Helia!