Reader Beware, You’re in for a Scare

I recently bought and read a book just because the concept reminded me of my favorite childhood books, Goosebumps. There has to be some kind of Goosebumps to Stephen King reading, Halloween obsessed, horror movie afficionado pipeline. We were the weirdos reading about demon worms by moonlight, and now that we have adult money, sometimes, we’re the weirdos reading about demon everything but now with a regular light. (Cause we aren’t hiding our late night reading from our parents…or was that just me?)

So what books should the discerning, adult, Goosebumps fan check out?

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Hendrix is an excellent choice for horror fans. His books combine all of our favorite horror tropes and situations with a heavy dose of humor. How to Sell a Haunted House has everything a grown-up horror reader could ask for. Sure, it takes place in a spooky house, but there is also a haunted puppet! Looking at you, Slappy! Both hilarious and nostalgic, this one is a great time. Bookshop.org Amazon

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Incidents is told entirely from the perspective of a young girl. It really puts you into that place of childhood innocence where anything can be real and the things that scared us haunted our bedtime. The horror in this one is incomprehensible, making it all the scarier. Bookshop.org Amazon

Episode Thirteen by Graig DiLouie

Ghost hunting TVs shows are everywhere. I’m guilty of watching several over the years, both on TV and (mostly) YouTube. There is something fun about watching everyone freak out and I love seeing the locations. The only one I’ve personally been to is the Farnsworth House in Gettysburg, and it is even more fun to actually go on a ghost hunt. 10/10 recommend. Episode Thirteen is a Ghost Hunting show gone wrong. This time, the terror is real and we are witnessing all the behind-the-scenes moments. Available on Kindle Unlimited! Amazon

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

It’s horror in space! Claustrophobic, and with a heavy sense of urgency, this one is creepy. It’s a ghost ship, but as a spaceship and everyone knows, space makes everything scarier. With creepy sci-fi vibes, this isn’t a book to miss. Available on Kindle Unlimited! Bookshop.org Amazon

Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates

This is the book that made me nostalgia for my Goosebumps days. Ghost Camera is a collection of short stories. This was a little hit and miss for me, but the stories that were good were great. Each one is easy to read in an evening and you never need to wait to find out how it ends. Something that I have never been good at, hence the 2 am moonlight reading. This short form horror is fun and there is a story to match everyone’s fears. Bookshop.org Amazon

If you haven’t read any of these, check them out. Remember, reader, beware!

If you’re still looking for more to add to your tbr check out these books releasing in September 2024.

Links are in each section to pick up the book. Amazon links are affiliate links.