7 of the best books to read this Halloween 2024

Halloween is the perfect time of year to read a spooky book – whether you love horror, a cosy witchy comedy or a thriller. I’ve compiled a list of seven books to get you in the seasonal spirit.

The Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Mika Moon hides her magic from the world. But when given the chance to help young witches learn about their own powers, she jumps at the chance and moves into their unconventional home. There are a lot of lighthearted and fun moments in this book. It also deals with loneliness and focusses on found family. This is a great novel that will fill you with so much joy – without all the scary, gory elements a lot of books recommended this time of year have.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Eleanor and Theodora are invited to Hill House one summer by Dr Montague who aims to uncover the truth about the house with an experimental approach. There with the heir of the house, Luke, they uncover the chilling secrets of the house and why many can’t escape its clutch. This horror is definitely one to creep inside your head and keep you up all night. You won’t want to put it down.

Bunny by Mona Award

Mona Award can always be trusted to get you into the Halloween mood. Bunny is an instant classic. Set in a university in New England, Samantha likes to keep to herself. But one day she’s invited to join three other women who call each other “Bunny” where she learns all about the cult’s rituals and dark secrets. This dark academia, horror is the most bizarre, funny, psychedelic book you’ll ever read but it’s totally worth the hype.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley is known for her unique storytelling, mixing the thriller genre with a slight horror setting. Set on the opening night of a countryside retreat, the rich clientele and new luxury establishment – complete with spa – causes a negative reaction from local town folk. Multiple narrators jump back and forth from past, present and the future – making the whole experience quite trippy for the reader as the puzzle pieces for what happens during the retreat and the solstice supper start to fit together. It’s quite a spooky tale – great for this time of year.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Signa, a 19-year-old orphan, moves in with her uncle at Thorn Grove Manor. For a while, Signa blames herself for the death of her aunt, who she previously lived with, but soon learns that something is seriously amiss. With the help of Death, she joins forces to uncover the truth about the tragic loss of her aunt and what they believe to be a murder. This gothic tale is a gripping start to the three-part romantasy series.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Nothing describes Halloween better than vampires, werewolves and demons. City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series where the author has created a unique magical system in a dystopian New York City. This follows Clary, who witnesses a man being murdered one evening. She can’t do anything about it, or call the police because the body disappears into thin air. She goes on a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about the dark secrets of the city and those she loves the most.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Another dark academia to sink your teeth into is Where Sleeping Girls Lie. This is a young adult story set in a boarding school, as the new girl – Sade Hussein – tries to uncover the mysterious disappearance of her roommate. This is a fast-paced gritty novel filled with twists and turns. There are also a lot of unlikeable characters in this book which makes for a good time.

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What book would you recommend this Halloween? Let me know in the comments below.

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