BOO! Here Are the 10 Best New Horror Books for Spooky Season in 2024

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Hey, reader — you've come to the right place if you're looking for the best horror books to set the mood this spooky season. As summer winds down, it's time to trade in those sun-soaked romances for something a bit darker — something that sends chills down your spine. Spooky season is nearly here, and you deserve one of the best horror books of the year to get you in the spirit.

Don't get us wrong, we're serious fans of those classic horror thrillers. Don't get us started on Stephen King. But 2024 has blessed us with some of the finest new horror books we've seen in years, and we're eager to sink our teeth into this fresh batch of terrifying tales.

From families that mysteriously appear on a couple's doorstep, claiming they once lived there only for things to take a terrifying turn, to haunted Twitch streams where confessing your darkest secret invites a demonic doppelgänger into your life, these are the best new horror books you need to read this season. These picks are more than just the flavor of the moment — they've earned their places on the list by chilling readers to the bone and redefining what modern horror can be. Just take a look at the reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads — they're proof that these are the standout horror books of the year.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

$24 $30

In June 1993, a group of young filmmakers created a disturbing art-house horror flick, Horror Movie, which only released three scenes but still gained a cult following. Now, thirty years later, Hollywood wants to reboot the film, and the only surviving cast member, who played "The Thin Kid," is haunted by the tragic events that occurred on set. As he agrees to help remake the movie, the line between reality and fiction blurs, forcing him to confront the dark secrets buried within the original. Horror Movie is a chilling, psychological masterpiece that builds to an unforgettable, mind-bending conclusion.

You Like It Darker: Stories by Stephen King

$19 $30

Stephen King, otherwise known as the "King of Horror," has released a new one this year: You Like It Darker, a collection of twelve short stories that are sure to send you spiraling. From tales of fate and mortality to the eerie folds in reality where anything can happen, King's mastery of the short story form shines through. Each story, whether it's a sequel to Cujo or a mind-bending journey with a Vietnam vet, is packed with his signature blend of terror and exhilaration. King proves once again that his ability to surprise, terrify, and captivate remains unmatched — so if you like it darker, you're in for a treat.

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

$19

While its release is slated for September, one of the new horror books we're looking forward to this season comes from Tatiana Schlote-Bonne. Viv isn't known for her honesty, but she's not lying about the evil doppelganger stalking her in the ultra-thrilling new novel Such Lovely Skin. After a summer of guilt over the accident that killed her sister, Viv returns to Twitch streaming, hoping success might atone for her sins. But when she confesses her secret to an NPC in a horror game, she accidentally summons a demonic mimic. Now, with no one believing her, she must confront the consequences of her lies, with only Ash, a former victim of her bullying, on her side.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

$25 $28

In Incidents Around the House, eight-year-old Bela's family is her world — especially her mother. But, there's a sinister presence she calls Other Mommy, who relentlessly asks, "Can I go inside your heart?" As eerie events escalate, Bela realizes that if she doesn't say yes, her family might suffer. Other Mommy grows stronger and more impatient, while the cracks in her parents' marriage threaten the safety Bela relies on. This chilling, unique horror tale delves into a family as haunted as their home.

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

$21 $28

In Diavola, Anna's survival strategy for the annual Pace family vacation is simple: Keep your head down and make it through. But when you're the odd one out in a family where everyone else falls in line — like her go-with-the-flow twin Benny or her controlling older sister Nicole — that's easier said than done. This year's destination is a remote villa in Monteperso, seemingly the perfect place to endure the family chaos. But when strange noises, eerie warnings from villagers, and the villa's violent history start to surface, Anna realizes this vacation might be more dangerous than she ever imagined.

A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories by Mariana Enriquez

$26 $28

While it's not quite Stephen King, here's another collection packed with chilling short stories on the horizon for release this September: A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez. Set in Argentina, Enriquez's twelve mesmerizing tales explore the lives of ordinary people, especially women, whose worlds unravel when they encounter the terrifying and surreal. From a neighborhood plagued by ghosts to a faded hotel haunted by a tragic spirit, Enriquez blurs the line between reality and the supernatural in ways that are both hypnotic and unsettling. Translated by award-winning translator Megan McDowell, this collection masterfully blends the literary with the horrific, proving why Enriquez is a rising star in contemporary fiction.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

$19 $29

If you're looking for yet another chilling read, this one's sure to keep you up at night: Charlie and Eve, a young, queer couple who flip houses, can't believe their luck when they snag an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. But when a man arrives with his family, claiming they used to live there and asking for a quick tour, things take a dark turn. Eve, always eager to please, lets them in — only to have their home descend into chaos. A child goes missing, ghostly figures appear in the basement, and the family refuses to leave. When Charlie mysteriously vanishes, Eve begins to question her own sanity. Is the house cursed, or is Eve losing her mind?

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

$21

Here's another one you have to check out this season. In 1989 in Lamesa, Texas, a small town where oil, cotton, and gossip fuel the community, Tolly Driver is just trying to survive the teenage wasteland with his best friend, Amber. They've always stuck together, outsiders in a place that doesn't know what to do with different. But one night at a party at Deek Masterton's house, everything goes horrifically wrong. A gruesome series of murders turns Tolly's world upside down, leaving him to realize that some killers are made, some are born, and some are just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi

$13 $28

Andrew Larimer thought he'd left Kingsport behind for good, building a new life in New York with a booming legal career and a baby on the way. But a late-night call drags him back to his crumbling childhood home and the old friends he left behind. Together, they'll confront the dark secret they've buried for 20 years — a secret that's far from dead in a town with its own haunted past.

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

$20

We've got one more for you later this season: Compound Fracture, a fierce Appalachian thriller that's as raw as it is political. It follows Miles Abernathy, a trans autistic teen who, after coming out to his parents, sneaks off with evidence that could finally expose the corrupt sheriff tearing apart his town. But when he's beaten nearly to death by the sheriff's son, Miles is forced into a deadly game rooted in his family's past. Haunted by ghosts and hunted by the living, he must decide if he's willing to risk everything to end the cycle of violence. This one's not for the faint of heart, but it's perfect for anyone ready to fight for a better world.

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