If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys a good scare, sleeps with one eye open, and checks the closet twice just in case, welcome, my dark-hearted friend. Horror isn’t just about jump scares and creaky floorboards anymore. In 2025, it’s smarter, creepier, and dare I say—emotionally damaging (in the best way). Whether it’s psychological suspense that makes you question your sanity, supernatural terrors that haunt your dreams, or quiet, creeping dread that builds like your student loans, this year’s best horror books are out to get you in a good way.
Now, let’s be honest: horror as a genre has always had its icons. Stephen King still reigns supreme, but a new wave of authors is clawing their way onto the bestseller lists with twisted tales that will make you clutch your blanket and question every noise in the house. From haunted houses and cursed towns to terrifying cults and deeply unsettling characters, these stories aren’t just spine-tingling; they’re also trending horror books of 2025 that are making waves on Goodreads and Amazon.
So if you’re hunting for the best horror books of all time (or at least this year), you’ve landed in the right graveyard. We’re counting down the top 14 horror books in deliciously dark descending order because let’s face it, the deeper we go, the scarier it gets.
Ready to lose sleep? Let’s dive into the shadows.
14. Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
Why You Should Read It
Because slashers are alive and well—and possibly hiding in your closet. Stephen Graham Jones turns up the fear and the feels in this sequel that slices deep.
What We Liked
Smart horror. Strong female lead. Ice-cold killer on the loose. It’s like a snowy scream-fest and we loved every shivering second.
What We Don’t Like
It works best if you’ve read the first book. Also, if you’re squeamish… maybe read with the lights on. And a support group.
Book Review
Jade Daniels returns to her hometown just in time for a blizzard and a fresh serial killer problem. Classic Proofrock. Dark Mill South, a convicted murderer, escapes during a prison transfer and heads straight for Jade’s snowy little nightmare town. Jones cleverly balances nostalgia, Native identity, trauma, and good old-fashioned gore. Jade is still an outsider, still brilliant, and still somehow the only one who notices when bodies start dropping like snowflakes. It’s a book that knows horror—and loves it enough to mess with it.
14 Best Books for Teens to Read in 2025
13. The September House by Carissa Orlando
Why You Should Read It
It’s a haunted house story… told by someone who refuses to leave. The horror? Yes. The humor? Also yes. The ghosts? They’re aggressive, thank you very much.
What We Liked
Haunted house meets passive-aggressive domestic survival. It’s like The Haunting of Hill House got fed up and said “I pay rent too.”
What We Don’t Like
Some might want more jump scares, but honestly? The slow unraveling is what makes it deliciously creepy.
Book Review
Margaret just wants to live in her forever home. Too bad it’s bleeding walls, screaming halls, and demonic residents all year round. While her husband wisely leaves, Margaret stays behind because hey—it’s her house. Carissa Orlando serves up a horror-comedy with brains, guts (literally), and emotional weight. Margaret’s daughter arrives, asking all the normal questions like “Why are you still living here with the ghosts?” and things begin to spiral.
There’s horror, yes, but it’s also a brilliant look at emotional endurance and trauma. Margaret isn’t a typical horror heroine. She’s relatable, stubborn, and weirdly inspiring in how she just… coexists with the horrifying. This is one of those best horror books of 2025 that proves scary can also be surprisingly funny.
12. The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
Why You Should Read It
Because generational trauma and demonic possession are the ultimate power couple. Also: La Llorona is not just a bedtime story anymore.
What We Liked
A Latinx horror tale that’s equal parts emotional and horrifying. Think family drama… but with ancient spirits watching.
What We Don’t Like
Some parts hit heavy. Don’t expect this to be a casual spooky read—it’s more like therapy with jump scares.
Book Review
Alejandra is a mother, wife, and woman quietly drowning in a life that doesn’t feel like hers. She starts seeing a ghostly woman crying in the shadows—and no, it’s not her reflection on Monday mornings. It’s La Llorona, the legendary weeping woman, and she’s more than just a scary story. Alejandra’s quest to understand this haunting takes her deep into her family’s past and the generational pain passed down like an unwanted heirloom.
V. Castro doesn’t hold back. This book mixes mythology, horror, and a deeply moving exploration of mental health and identity. It’s terrifying, yes, but it also speaks loudly to anyone who’s ever felt lost or trapped by roles they didn’t choose. It’s like The Babadook met a telenovela and had a terrifyingly beautiful book baby.
11. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Why You Should Read It
Grady Hendrix, aka the king of horror-comedy, is back—and this time the haunted house comes with creepy puppets. Because of course it does.
What We Liked
It’s funny. It’s freaky. It’s family drama plus haunted real estate. What more could you want?
What We Don’t Like
Puppets. Just… puppets. Nope. Nope forever.
Book Review
When Louise’s parents die, she returns home to sell their house. But there’s a slight issue—it’s very haunted. Also, her brother is the worst. Also also, their mom had a whole collection of puppets that might not be… inactive. This book takes sibling rivalry, grief, and possession and throws them in a blender with sarcasm and carnage.
Grady Hendrix manages to make you laugh and wince at the same time. The horror hits hard, but so do the emotional truths about family, resentment, and unresolved pain. It’s not just haunted dolls doing the Macarena in the attic (though that vibe is present). It’s layered, fast-paced, and absolutely unputdownable. One of the most trending horror books 2025 and for very good (terrifying) reason.
10. A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Why You Should Read It
Because nothing says “good bones” like buried secrets, creepy vultures, and a grandma with possibly sinister intentions. HGTV, but haunted.
What We Liked
It’s eerie in that slow-burn, simmering way. Plus, Kingfisher’s signature humor sneaks in like a sarcastic ghost.
What We Don’t Like
You’ll never look at Southern charm the same way again. Also, bugs. So many bugs.
Book Review
Sam Montgomery visits her mom’s house only to find everything weirdly… sanitized. Like Stepford-wife levels of unsettling. The once cozy, cluttered home now feels stiff and wrong. And why is her mom acting like she’s auditioning for a horror-themed etiquette class?
What unfolds is a tale of ancestral secrets, ghostly vultures (yes, they’re real and they’re not here for sightseeing), and Southern Gothic dread. Kingfisher masterfully balances creepy atmosphere with dry humor, giving us a protagonist who is both skeptical and scream-worthy.
This book takes its time, letting the horror seep in slowly until it practically drips off the walls. It’s a weird mix of heartwarming and horrifying—perfect if you like your horror served with sass and sarcasm.
9. Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Why You Should Read It
Because if a child starts drawing creepy pictures of ghostly murders, your “it’s just a phase” excuse won’t hold.
What We Liked
The visuals! Drawings included. Also, it starts like a wholesome nanny story and then veers into full-blown horror.
What We Don’t Like
It lures you in with warm fuzzies, then kicks you in the fear. You’ll be emotionally tricked. And it’s glorious.
Book Review
Mallory, fresh out of rehab, gets a new start as a nanny to a sweet little boy named Teddy. Things seem fine. Idyllic, even. Until Teddy starts sketching violent, detailed drawings that look a lot like a murder that happened years ago. What starts off as quirky and cute slowly turns into a sinister mystery involving ghosts, possession, and buried truths.
Rekulak does a brilliant job of building tension with an unreliable narrator you can’t help but root for. The illustrations (yes, there are actual drawings in the book) add a creepy visual layer that makes the horror pop off the page. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and surprisingly emotional.
This is one of those horror books that creeps up on you. You think you’re reading a redemption story, then BAM—ghosts. It’s a crowd favorite on Goodreads for a reason.
8. The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Why You Should Read It
It’s part gothic horror, part murder mystery, part “what the heck is happening in this creepy house.” Basically, all the good stuff.
What We Liked
A mute old woman accused of murder? A decaying mansion on a cliff? A nurse with questions? We’re sold.
What We Don’t Like
A little slow at times, but that tension build-up is worth the payoff. Stay patient.
Book Review
It’s 1983 and Kit McDeere, a disgraced caregiver, is sent to work with Lenora Hope—an elderly woman believed to have murdered her family decades ago. Lenora can’t speak. She can only communicate by typing. And oh boy, does she have things to say.
The book is atmospheric, dripping in secrets, and constantly keeps you second-guessing everyone’s motives. Riley Sager’s writing style keeps things moving even when the plot simmers, not sprints. The gothic vibes are strong, with plenty of mysterious rooms, thunderous storms, and family secrets more tangled than a pair of old earbuds.
If you like psychological tension, big reveals, and settings that are basically characters themselves, this one’s for you.
13 Best Classic Books to Read in 2025
7. Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
Why You Should Read It
Because horror involving apples? Finally, a reason to be scared of something besides carbs and deadlines.
What We Liked
Wendig’s brand of slow-creep dread is deliciously unsettling. Also, apples have never been more sinister.
What We Don’t Like
It’s a bit of a slow burner and goes heavy on folklore, so be ready to savor it like a cursed cider.
Book Review
A small town discovers a long-forgotten strain of apple that’s rumored to bring beauty, success, and power. Of course, they start growing them. Of course, things get weird. Turns out the apples come with strings attached…and possibly ancient curses. Whoops.
As the town becomes obsessed, strange transformations start happening. People act differently. Secrets surface. And nature itself seems to rebel. Wendig spins a cautionary tale of desire, addiction, and the cost of perfection—with a side of orchard horror. The writing is lush, detailed, and layered like the world’s most haunted apple pie.
This isn’t jump-scare horror. It’s more like “slowly losing your mind while staring at a fruit basket” horror. And it totally works. If you love folklore-inspired creeps, this is easily one of the best horror books to read in 2025.
6. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Why You Should Read It
Because fungi-fueled terror, creepy rabbits, and a reimagined Fall of the House of Usher are the trifecta of nightmares you didn’t know you needed.
What We Liked
It’s weird. It’s witty. And it’s gorgeously grotesque. Gothic horror with a hallucinogenic twist.
What We Don’t Like
It’s short. You’ll want more after the final page—mostly therapy, but also more story.
Book Review
Meet Alex Easton, a retired soldier called to the crumbling estate of their childhood friend, Madeline Usher. Madeline’s not doing well. Her house isn’t doing well. And the wildlife around the house is doing way too well. Everything is dying—or alive in the wrong ways.
T. Kingfisher’s rewrite of Poe’s classic adds gender fluidity, mushrooms, and a heaping dose of body horror to a timeless tale of decay. The prose is clever and unsettling. The pacing is tight. And the imagery? Absolutely not okay (in the best possible way). It’s like The Last of Us wandered into Downton Abbey and everything went horrifyingly fungal.
This isn’t your typical haunted house—it’s something worse. It’s a slow descent into rot and madness, and by the time you realize how deep it goes, the spores have already taken root. Highly recommended if you like your horror beautiful, bizarre, and very, very spore-heavy.
5. Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Why You Should Read It
Werewolves. Emotional baggage. And that awkward moment when your inner beast is more literal than metaphorical.
What We Liked
Rachel Harrison brings humor, heart, and horror to the table—and then flips the table over mid-transformation.
What We Don’t Like
Might be too quirky for diehard fans of ultra-dark horror. But for the rest of us? Pure gold.
Book Review
Rory Morris returns to her hometown to help her pregnant twin sister and ends up hitting a huge animal with her car. It bites her. Then, weird things start happening—rage, enhanced senses, hair in weird places. Yeah… it’s a werewolf situation. But it’s also a story about trauma, transformation, and accepting parts of yourself you’d rather deny (especially the furry ones).
Rachel Harrison does something special here. She blends feminist themes, dark humor, and horror without ever letting one overshadow the others. Rory is relatable, stubborn, and surprisingly tender—even while gnawing through emotional and literal flesh.
This is horror that makes you laugh, cringe, and reflect—all in one go. Such Sharp Teeth sinks its fangs into you and doesn’t let go. If you’ve ever wrestled with your inner demons or wanted to bite someone in traffic, you’ll feel seen.
4. Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Why You Should Read It
Because historical horror is having a moment—and Victor LaValle is leading the charge with prairie terror, mysterious trunks, and buried secrets.
What We Liked
Atmospheric, richly written, and centered on a strong Black female protagonist. Horror meets frontier survival? Yes please.
What We Don’t Like
The slow pace won’t work for everyone. But it builds such a chilling mood, it’s worth the wait.
Book Review
Adelaide Henry is running from her past in early 1900s America. She heads to Montana to start fresh as a homesteader. But she’s not traveling light—she brings a locked trunk that must never, ever be opened. Spoiler: someone opens the trunk.
LaValle masterfully blends horror, history, and race in a story that’s both chilling and meaningful. The stark landscapes feel like they’re watching. The isolation is suffocating. And the horror? It’s slow, psychological, and entirely original.
Adelaide’s journey is about survival in every sense. She’s navigating suspicion, societal judgment, and something very monstrous that follows her wherever she goes. The fear comes not just from what’s in the trunk, but from what happens when secrets can no longer be contained—by lock, land, or conscience.
This is one of the best horror books for readers who want something that lingers. Like a ghost. Or a very sinister trunk.
3. Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
Why You Should Read It
It’s Rosemary’s Baby meets Hollywood gossip—and it’s as terrifying as it is timely.
What We Liked
Creepy pregnancy horror plus sharp commentary on the way society treats women’s bodies? Yes. A thousand yeses.
What We Don’t Like
If you’re pregnant or trying to be, maybe skip this one. Or read it and prepare to question everything.
Book Review
Actress Anna Alcott is trying to get pregnant. She finally does. And then things get very weird. Her doctors say the baby is fine—but she feels otherwise. People around her keep disappearing. And worst of all, no one believes her. Classic horror setup? Yes. But with a sharp, modern twist that hits disturbingly close to home.
Danielle Valentine taps into the terror of losing bodily autonomy, the dismissal of women’s intuition, and the sheer horror of being gaslit while your body betrays you. It’s smart, suspenseful, and full of moments that make you want to throw the book—and then pick it back up because you need to know what happens.
The writing is crisp. The fear is real. And the parallels to current real-world conversations? They hit harder than a haunted ultrasound. It’s no wonder this book inspired the new season of American Horror Story. It’s scary for all the right reasons.
13 Best Coffee Table Books to Elevate Your Living Room in 2025
2. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Why You Should Read It
Because if you want to be genuinely disturbed by a house, a man, and a cat, this book’s your dark, twisted ticket to mind-bending horror.
What We Liked
It’s a psychological rollercoaster with so many twists, you might get whiplash. And the cat? Let’s just say, the cat’s involved.
What We Don’t Like
The ending is divisive. It’s the type of twist that’ll leave you screaming—in both horror and awe. Also, it might make you rethink any future trips to the woods.
Book Review
This book begins with Ted, a reclusive man living in a decaying house by a dark forest, and an utterly unreliable narrator in the form of a cat (yes, the cat is crucial). It’s a tale about memory, identity, and terror, and it will leave you questioning every single thing you thought you knew.
Catriona Ward brings a sinister atmosphere with a sense of dread that’s palpable. But here’s the catch: nothing is what it seems. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, the ground drops out beneath you. And trust me, it’s not the kind of drop you see coming.
The book is meticulously constructed, with the horror creeping up from the depths of human minds rather than jumping out at you with cheap scares. This one will haunt you long after you finish reading it. It’s not just a book—it’s a mindfreak.
1. The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
Why You Should Read It
Because nothing says “intense horror” like being held hostage in a remote cabin by people who may—or may not—be trying to save the world.
What We Liked
The tension. The stakes. The unbearable weight of making impossible choices. Tremblay delivers terror like a punch to the gut.
What We Don’t Like
You’ll be mentally scarred for days. It’s heavy, and not in a “let’s have a cup of tea” kind of way.
Book Review
Wen and her fathers are enjoying a quiet vacation in a remote cabin when a group of strangers arrives, claiming the world is on the verge of apocalypse. The catch? Wen’s family must choose one person to sacrifice in order to prevent the end of days. No pressure, right?
Paul Tremblay’s story is relentlessly tight and suffocating. The plot unfolds with shocking rapidity, keeping you on the edge of your seat—wondering if humanity has any real chance of redemption. The stakes are high, the characters complex, and the decisions they face? Unthinkable.
The horror here is psychological and raw, and you’ll feel each and every choice as though it’s your own. This is a story about survival, morality, and the collapse of safety. It’s not just a horror novel—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. Be ready to grapple with the difficult questions it raises, long after the last page.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! From the haunted houses of Kingfisher and Ward, to the gut-wrenching moral dilemmas in Tremblay and Harrison, these 14 Best Horror Books to Read in 2025 will keep you up at night—whether from fear, fascination, or the sheer thrill of it all.
Whether you’re a fan of slow-burn tension, psychological terror, or monstrous creatures lurking in the shadows, this list has a little something for everyone. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions, scares, and creepy, crawly, unexplainable horrors. Enjoy!
1 thought on “14 Best Horror Books to Read in 2025”