Spooky Reads for Halloween

Spooky, scary, skeletons! It’s officially spooky season, and here at BaM, we are loving all things ghost, vampire, and witch. Whether you’re in the mood for something classically scary, or if you’re looking for something a little cozier, we' have recommendations for you. Read on to find your perfect fall read!

Motherthing, Ainslie Hogarth

This is a horror novel, yes (and a great one at that!), but really it is about hurt, broken people and how they harm one another. Through manipulation, obsession, etc, they all abuse and gaslight, leaving you wondering who exactly the monster is here. The answer, of course, is none and all of them.

—Lindsay

Ghost Eaters, Clay McLeod Chapman

This book is not for the faint of heart! It confronts power, friendship, god complexes, hauntings, drugs, early adulthood, and grief all in one super creepy and gross ghost story. Protagonist Erin’s descent into delusion is so visceral that you will get carried away in its tide and deposited shocked and grossed out at the end. But like…in a good way.

—Jacs

Comfort Me With Apples, Catherynne M. Valente

This is a demented parable. Catherynne M. Valente is a master of beautiful, vivid prose, and I was a big fan of her middle-grade series, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in Ship of Her Own Making. In this creepy story, a woman has a number of eerie encounters in her gated community that lead to a grim and shocking end. Comfort Me With Apples is wonderfully made. It's short, concise and perfect to read right before bed, if you can handle it.

—Aatia

My Heart Is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones

Do you want a novel that reads like a movie? Think of the teen angst (and homoeroticism?) of Jennifer's Body, and a devotion to horror cinema like Tabby from Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. The love I have for this book, for Jade, the girl at the center of this story, is so real.

—Aatia

Ravenfall, Kalyn Josephson

I couldn’t put this wonderfully spooky book down! Ravenfall is a story of found family and learning to ask for help, amidst a delightful and atmospheric setting. I loved that the house was just as much a character as our two plucky protagonists, and I can’t wait for book two. The perfect book for Halloween season!

—Julia

Yellow Jessamine, Caitlin Starling

Yellow Jessamine follows Evelyn Perdanu, a powerful and ruthless shipping magnate, who is suddenly at risk of losing everything when one of her ships brings a deadly illness back to port. Soon, Evelyn, with the help of her loyal companion, Violetta, discovers that this mysterious disease is actually looking for her…

—Lindsay

From Here to Eternity, Caitlin Doughty

First of all, Caitlin Doughty is the queen of my heart, she is the BEST. In this book she travels the world and chronicles different death practices. She thinks about how a culture's response to death is a reflection of their values and dives deep into each. It has incredible illustrations and is serious and reverent but also the perfect amount of silly. It will make you think about your relationship with death (and life) very differently.

—Jacs

Bunny, Mona Awad

Awad lifted me up and dropped me in another world with this one. Bunny follows a writer at her MFA program who befriends a horrifying group of sorority girls whose traditions and routines are eerie and oftentimes, go too far. Is it a trip? Is their obsession with boys and bunnies real? Highly recommend this mind-bender of a novel!

—Isabella

Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman

Blackbird House may not be a typical spooky read--it is not scary or disturbing--but it brings me the cozy vibes I am looking for in Autumn. Hoffman's books all have subtle elements of magic and the character relationships cut deep. This is a perfect book to read snuggled up under a blanket with your favorite fuzzy socks and a warm cup of tea.

—Lindsay

Dowry of Blood, S.T. Gibson

Bisexual polyamorous vampires!! Lush and beautiful, atmospheric and indulgent, just the perfect book—especially for spooky season!

—Jacs

Coraline, Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell

This reimagining of Coraline is full of creepy red-eyed rats, a mother who’s face resembles the outline of a skull and other horrifying imagery that will keep you up at night.

—Isabella

Blood Like Garnets, Leigh Harlen, illustrated by Maria Nguyen

Scary, gory, fun, short and sweet—this is my favorite spooky short story collection! It will take you no time at all to read but will stick with you for a long time afterward. The second story is my fave but they're all great, and are accompanied by super cool art!!

—Jacs