Spooky TBR 2024
We did it you guys.
We made it to October.
And since we have finally arrived in the designated spookiest month of the year it’s time to decide what to read that will be the perfect mix of scares and cozy, creepy Halloween vibes. So I’ve put together my spooky tbr list for 2024 which includes some classics, some newer releases, a short story anthology, and even a little nonfiction cause why the hell not? (Oh, and if you can’t get enough of my October book recs be sure to check out the 2022 edition here!)
This year’s list consists of seven (SEVEN) different books I’d love to get through this month but I’m wholly realistic in the fact that I likely will only get through MAYBE half (ya girl still has library loans she’s gotta work through too,) but goals are good, right? Anyway, let’s get to the list!
Trick of Treat: A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton
“Every year, children and adults alike take to the streets dressed as witches, demons, animals, celebrities, and more. They carve pumpkins and play pranks, and the braver ones watch scary movies and go on ghost tours. There are parades, fireworks displays, cornfield mazes, and haunted houses—and, most important, copious amounts of bite-sized candy. The popularity of Halloween has spread around the globe to places as diverse as Russia, China, and Japan, but its association with death and the supernatural and its inevitable commercialization has made it one of our most misunderstood holidays. How did it become what it is today?
In Trick or Treat, Halloween aficionado Lisa Morton provides a thorough history of this spooky day.”
Why’d it make my list?
How could I resist reading all about the ins and outs of Halloween just in time for the big day? This one’s in my top 2 must reads on this list just for how very topical it is for the season.
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
“Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. The carnival rolls in sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. A calliope’s shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. Two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors; two friends who will soon know all too well the heavy cost of wishes…and the stuff of nightmares.”
Why’d it make my list?
I’ve heard about this book for years and since I’ve never really picked up any Ray Bradbury before (no, not even Farenheit 451) it seemed like as good a place as any to start. From what I know it sounds a lot like Stephen King’s Needful Things and that might be my favorite of King’s novels so that gets me more excited to pick this one up. Plus it’s fantasy and horror mixed together AT THE CARNIVAL! I love horror books set in an amusement park or carnival! I don’t see how this one could be bad.
Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
“At a Halloween party, Joyce—a hostile thirteen-year-old—boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub.
That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the `evil presence'. But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer…”
Why’d it make my list?
Hallowe’en Party made my spooky tbr list in 2022 but I never managed to get around to it in time so it’s back. I did watch the not great Kenneth Branagh film last year that was allegedly LOOSELY based on this novel and I’m hoping the book proves to be much better.
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
“Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into Ian, an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked.
Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver—and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else—something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance?”
Why’d it make my list?
Rachel Harrison and I have a bit of a complicated relationship. I loved The Return, the first of her books I had ever read, but I’ve read two others since and felt meh about both of them. But dammit I’m determined to like her so I’ll keep trying until she gives me reason not to.
Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt
“Strang isn’t the small, quaint town it appears to be. It’s haunted every night by a creature the townsfolk refer to as Halloween. Once the sun sets each day, Halloween emerges to collect its treats: a small, live offering from each household. The residents comply because no one wants to be the target of Halloween’s tricks. But the nightmare of residing in Strang is nothing compared to the yearly ritual Halloween demands of the citizens on All Hallows’ Eve.”
Why’d it make my list?
I read a few chapters of this last year but then Halloween passed and it felt like a missed opportunity to read it outside of the holiday so I put it away and saved it for this year. I love the idea of Halloween being an entire entity not just a single day and look forward to seeing just what the yearly ritual consists of!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
“Set in a decaying mansion, [We Have Always Lived in the Castle] follows the lives of the Blackwood sisters, Merricat and Constance, who live in isolation after a family tragedy. The story unfolds through the lens of Merricat's peculiar perspective, revealing a tale of dark secrets, societal ostracism, and the eerie atmosphere of a town marked by suspicion.”
Why’d it make my list?
If there is one book I’m determined to finish from this list it’s this one. I purposely bought this book with the intention of reading it for the Halloween season and here we are. I read Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and other Short Stories at the beginning of the year and read The Haunting of Hill House years ago so I’m generally familiar with her style but We Have Always Lived in the Castle is completely unknown to me so I’m looking forward to seeing how it shakes out plus I love the cover art for this version.
The Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino
“A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.
Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. “
Why’d it make my list?
I’ve had this book for a few years and decided if for some reason I can’t get through any other book on this list, since this one’s a short story anthology, I can at least read a story a day and still get my spooky book itch scratched by the end of the month.
And just for kicks, here’s a couple extra books that I’ve already read but highly recommend for you to add to your Halloween reading list:
All Hallows by Christopher Golden
“It’s Halloween night, 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, and two families are unraveling. Up and down the street, secrets are being revealed, and all the while, mixed in with the trick-or-treaters of all ages, four children who do not belong are walking door to door, merging with the kids of Parmenter Road. Children in vintage costumes with faded, eerie makeup. They seem terrified and beg the neighborhood kids to hide them away, to keep them safe from The Cunning Man.
There’s a small clearing in the woods now that was never there before, and a blackthorn tree that doesn’t belong at all. These odd children claim that The Cunning Man is coming for them...and they want the local kids to protect them. But with families falling apart and the neighborhood splintered by bitterness, who will save the children of Parmenter Road?"
Why should you read it?
I read All Hallows last Halloween season and absolutely loved it! I personally found it pretty scary and also kinda sad which I think is a pretty good combo for an October book. Since it takes place on Halloween night you get all of the vibes associated with haunted trails and trick or treating every time you pick the book up. There’s a supernatural mystery to unfold but also very real world dangers happening to the families on Parmenter Road so I think this could be a good one for a variety of readers into different horror elements.
The Halloween Moon by Joseph Fink
“Esther Gold loves Halloween more than anything in the world. So she is determined to go trick-or-treating again this year despite the fact that her parents think she is officially too old. Esther has it all planned out, from her costume to her candy-collecting strategy. But when the night rolls around, something feels...off.
No one is answering their door. The moon is an unnatural shade of orange. Strange children wander the streets, wearing creepy costumes that might not be costumes at all. And it seems like the only people besides Esther who are awake to see it all are her best friend, her school bully, and her grown-up next-door neighbor.
Together, this unlikely crew must find a way to lift the curse that has been placed upon their small town before it’s too late. Because someone is out to make sure Halloween never comes to an end. And even Esther doesn’t want to be trapped in this night forever.”
Why should you read it?
Of all the books on this list this is easily the most kid friendly since it’s a middle grade novel but don’t let its intended young audience fool you, this book still has a creep factor and can get your heart racing at times. It’s also written by Joseph Fink, one of the co-creators of the Welcome to Night Vale podcast so you know this guy understands how to make things weird, creepy, but also just the right amount of heart warming. It’s good for the kids in your life and the adults! Make a Halloween book club for the family out of this one!
What books have made your reading list for October? Are you going full horror? Looking for general cozy autumn vibes? Thinking about checking out one of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments!