October is here. Leaves are falling. Ghosts are haunting houses. They’re doing the mash. The Monster Mash. The Halloween countdown has begun, and with it, the beginning of frighteningly fun festivities to get in the spirit of spooky season.
Whether it’s watching horror movies, making delicious treats, or costume prep, everyone is starting spooktacular activities. Some may even be looking to start a scary good time with a book. So sharpen your fangs as I present to you 13 books to sink your teeth into.
1) Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Genre: Children Fantasy and Horror
Coraline is a children’s fairy tale with horror elements. The story follows young girl Coraline after her family moves to a new home. A house split into three separate apartments, with the other units occupied by two eccentric former actresses and a man who claims to be training mice for his own mouse circus. One rainy day, as Coraline explores her apartment, she finds a little door in the wall of her living room. By day, the door leads to a brick wall. But by night, the door leads to another world. Similar to her own world, but elevated. There’s even another version of her mother, called the Other Mother, with button eyes. Coraline is dazzled by this other world, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Buy on Amazon or ThriftBooks
2) How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Genre: Psychological Horror and Thriller
After the recent death of both of her parents, Louise finds herself back in her hometown with her brother Mark. Who she dreads seeing again. But the two need to temporarily put their differences aside to clean out and sell their parents’ house. The house is filled with childhood memories and also with multiple puppets—Louise’s mother’s specialty. As Mark and Louise get the house market ready, it becomes clear that someone or something isn’t keen on putting the house on sale.
Buy on Amazon or ThriftBooks
3) Dracula by Bram Stoker
Genre: Classic Supernatural
The classic tale of an estate agent traveling to Transylvania to sell a reclusive count’s London property. The locals call the count a demon. Jonathan only ever speaks with the count at night and never sees any of the castle. As time goes on, Jonathan realizes he’s no longer a guest but a prisoner. This story is told through various journal entries and logs. A tale that has inspired thousands of vampire stories since its publication, Dracula is a timeless piece of literature.
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4) Tender Beasts by Liselle Samsbury
Genre: YA Mystery
Sunny doesn’t really know her youngest brother, Dom. Even though they’re siblings, he feels like a stranger to her. But after the death of their mother, it becomes Sunny’s responsibility to take care of him. That becomes a lot harder when people start dying around Dom. To protect him, Sunny needs to find the real killer and fast. As they continue their investigation, the skeletons in her family’s closet spill out, making everything more complicated for Sunny.
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5) Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
Genre: Supernatural Horror
There’s a demon in the house. That’s what Clio’s mother, Alex, used to say about the house they moved into after her parents’ divorce. After Clio and her sisters were taken away from her by child services. Alex was adamant that the house was possessed. She even wrote a book about it. Now, after her death, Clio is flipping the house for some contest online. The painful memories linger in the halls and practically whisper into her ear. Or maybe Alex wasn’t all that crazy after all…
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6) Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Robert Hack
Genre: Supernatural Graphic Novel
An inhabitant of the Archie comics universe, Sabrina Spellman is not exactly your girl-next-door type. In fact, she’s on the road to reaching her full potential as a witch. But doing so means leaving all the mortals she’s become attached to behind. Matters are further complicated when an old family nemesis comes to bloody the water. Literally. Follow Sabrina in her adventures as a young sorceress in these teen-targeted comics.
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7) The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Genre: Open Door Romantasy
Mika has been alone her whole life. Something that has made survival as a witch easier for her. All she needs to do is lie low. Not draw too much attention to herself. But a little TikTok, “pretending” to be a witch, is all in good fun, and it won’t make things difficult for her. Right? Well, when she is contacted about teaching three young children how to control their burgeoning powers, Mika goes against her better judgment and offers her help. Surrounded by a ton of interesting characters, including one infuriatingly attractive librarian, Mika suddenly feels a little less alone. When danger looms, the question becomes, will Mika protect her new friends, or will her self-preservation instincts kick in?
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8) Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery
A children’s Halloween party gets dark fast when a young girl is found dead. Drowned in a barrel of water as apples bob around her head. Who could want to kill young Joyce? Sure, she was rough around the edges, but she was only thirteen. Although she did admit to witnessing a murder recently…Perhaps famous detective Hercule Poirot can solve this two-for-one murder mystery.
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9) Fear Street Cheerleaders: The First Evil by R.L. Stine
Genre: YA Horror
Bobbi and Corky Corcoran are new to Shadyside and desperate to get onto the cheerleading squad. Cheerleading is a familiar comfort amid all the new things to adjust to. But after they join the squad, a series of gruesome murders begins. Cheerleaders drop like flies. The two sisters must work to figure out who or what is doing all of this.
Buy on Amazon or ThriftBooks
10) Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Gothic Horror
Noemí receives a mysterious letter from her recently married cousin begging her to come out to her new home: High Place. Though a little unnerved and unsure why her cousin contacted her, Noemí makes her way to the house. There she meets her cousin’s husband, the patriarch and the youngest son of the family. The house itself infiltrates her subconscious mind, and something definitely seems to be wrong. Just what is going on in High Place?
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11) Another by Yukito Ayatsuji
Genre: Horror Manga
Based on the light novel of the same name, Another is set in 1998 and follows a new student at Yomiyama North Middle School, Koichi Sakakibara. Koichi notices the bizarre behavior of all of his classmates and is warned to leave his peer, Mei Misaki, alone. It turns out that Class 3-3 is cursed, and to prevent the curse from taking effect, the entire class must ignore one student. Interacting with this student has deadly consequences. Can Kiochi get to the root of this curse to break it, or will things continue as they have? And how many will die before he finds the answer?
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12) The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
Genre: Noir Suspense
Mario becomes a hitman out of necessity. The bills keep piling up with his daughter’s illness, and his marriage cannot take any more strain. It’s a violent job, but he can’t deny that the money is good. Then the time comes for Mario to take his final job: interceding with a cartel drug delivery. It’s a dangerous gamble. Either he gets the money or dies trying. He takes on the mission, but there are things at play that defy explanation. When all is said and done, can Mario ever be the man he once was?
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13) The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Genre: Closed Door Romance
Ghostwriter Florence Day no longer believes in love. Which is a problem when you’re the ghostwriter for a bestselling romance author. Yikes. She tries to make the best of things until she is denied an extension on a book deadline that just might get her fired. On top of that, her father has died and she needs to return to the family funeral parlor in the town that felt too small for her. Yeah, things aren’t going great. Oh wait. Her editor also just died, she’s seeing his ghost, and she must complete the unfinished business that is preventing him from moving on. Right. What else could happen?
Buy on Amazon or ThriftBooks
Beware of papercuts!
Tread carefully as you tear through these books; they just might bite you back.
Hopefully at least one title stood out as the perfect way to kick off October. If you’re looking for more recommendations of the TV variety, check out this wicked Trill Mag article “8 Anime To Get You in the Halloween Spirit.” You may even find some great costume ideas.
Happy reading!
Mia B
October 5, 2025 at 7:29 am
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