October is the best reading month of the year. The days get shorter, the evenings colder, and all you need is a good book, a warm blanket, and an atmosphere that fits the season. Welcome to spooky season.
Whether you love psychological thrillers, prefer gothic romantasy, or just want a book that keeps you up at night: this Halloween reading list has something for every reader. And don't forget: your reading accessories can be just as spooky as the book itself.
1. Verity — Colleen Hoover
The most talked-about thriller on BookTok and the perfect spooky season starting point. Lowen Ashleigh is hired to finish the books of famous author Verity Crawford — and discovers a manuscript that turns her world upside down.
The ending of Verity has divided BookTok for years: real or fake? That question will keep you awake. And that's exactly what spooky season demands.
The film starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson will be released in cinemas on October 2, 2026 — perfectly timed for Halloween.
Genre: Psychological thriller
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃
2. The Witch — Freida McFadden
The most anticipated thriller of spooky season 2026. Julia Barlow returns to the Pemberton family mansion and uncovers the dark history of a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692.
Freida McFadden and Halloween are a match made in heaven. The Witch will be released on October 6, 2026 — and the timing is no coincidence.
Genre: Gothic psychological thriller
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
3. The Haunting of Hill House — Shirley Jackson
The classic of the gothic horror genre and essential reading for spooky season. Four people spend a summer in the notorious Hill House — and the line between what is real and what is imagination blurs with each page.
For readers who enjoyed the Netflix series: the book is even scarier.
Genre: Gothic horror
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
4. Mexican Gothic — Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A glamorous socialite travels to a secluded mansion in Mexico to save her cousin — and discovers something far darker than she expected. Mexican Gothic combines gothic horror with Mexican folklore in a setting you'll never forget.
Genre: Gothic horror
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃
5. The Cruel Prince — Holly Black
For the reader who prefers their spooky season in a fantasy setting. Holly Black's dark fae courts have a gothic atmosphere that perfectly suits October — dangerous, atmospheric, and with a morally grey love interest who both fascinates and unnerves you.
Genre: Dark romantasy
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃
6. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder — Holly Jackson
A teenager reopens a closed murder case in her town — and discovers that someone desperately wants the secrets to remain hidden. Holly Jackson's series has the true crime energy of a podcast and the plot twists of a good Halloween movie.
Genre: YA thriller
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃
7. Rebecca — Daphne du Maurier
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." One of the most famous opening lines in English literature — and the beginning of a gothic romance that will captivate you. Rebecca is the direct literary predecessor of Wuthering Heights and everything that came after it.
Genre: Gothic romance
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃
8. Haunting Adeline — H.D. Carlton
For the reader who wants to combine their spooky season with dark romance. Haunting Adeline has the gothic setting and terrifying suspense of a horror novel — but with a twisted romance that kept BookTok buzzing for months.
Genre: Dark romance
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
9. The House in the Cerulean Sea — TJ Klune
For the reader who prefers a cozy spooky season. The House in the Cerulean Sea has magical creatures, a warm community, and a romance that slowly blossoms — exactly the autumn vibe without the nightmares.
Genre: Cozy fantasy
Spooky level: 🎃
10. Once Upon a Broken Heart — Stephanie Garber
Evangeline makes a dangerous bargain with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. Stephanie Garber's dark fairy tale magic has the gothic atmosphere that perfectly suits October — dangerous, atmospheric, and irresistible.
Genre: Dark romantasy
Spooky level: 🎃🎃🎃
Choose based on your spooky preference
| Your preference | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Psychological thriller | Verity or The Witch |
| Gothic horror | The Haunting of Hill House |
| Dark romantasy | The Cruel Prince or Once Upon a Broken Heart |
| Dark romance | Haunting Adeline |
| YA thriller | A Good Girl's Guide to Murder |
| Cozy yet autumnal | The House in the Cerulean Sea |
Complete your spooky season
👻 The perfect Halloween reading set:
✔ Halloween bookmark — for your spookiest pages
✔ Halloween stickers — decorate your Kindle or reading journal
✔ Spooky Bookish Nights Sticker Sheet (€5.99) — complete Halloween vibe in one sheet
✔ Boo-tiful Dreams Sticker Sheet (€5.99) — dreamy and spooky
✔ Blind Date Book (Thriller) — let yourself be surprised with a spooky thriller
✔ Fall bookmark — for cozy autumn pages
✔ Glass Can — for your iced coffee or matcha while reading
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Happy reading this spooky season! 👻🎃📚
Frequently asked questions about Halloween books
Which book is best for spooky season?
Verity by Colleen Hoover and The Witch by Freida McFadden are the most recommended titles for Halloween 2026. For gothic horror, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is the classic choice.
Are there spooky romantasy books as well?
Yes — The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber have a dark, gothic atmosphere that perfectly suits spooky season. Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton is the dark romance option.
When will the Verity movie be released?
The Verity movie starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson will be released in cinemas on October 2, 2026.