Fall has arrived and that means that horror books are back in fashion. And to celebrate that, we decided to make a list of some great horror novels for fans to read. So, keep reading to find out the best horror books to read for Halloween 2025!

For many people like myself, fall is the best season (depending on where you live) and it is a great respite from the summer heat. And you can’t help but notice that stores are selling Halloween themed stuff and bookstores are showcasing horror novels as soon as you walk in.

I love horror novels and movies and love getting into the spirit of Halloween, no pun intended. That means reading classic and newer horror novels that I have in my to be read list or favorites that I will be revisiting.

And there are so many great novels to choose from. That led to us making a short list of some of our favorite horrors novels and favorite authors. And while I added the classics that everyone needs to read, there are also some of my favorite horror books that I have read recently!

Horror Books to Read for Halloween 2025

It is impossible to discuss a list of horror novels without mentioning some classics. This list has novels that have been popular for decades and even centuries. Frankenstein is a novel that fans of horror novels definitely should read alongside with The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

These novels are not the scariest books but they were for their times. But if you prefer true chilling novels that may keep some readers up late into the night, then you are in luck. Classics like The Shining by Stephen King, The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson are novels fans will love.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia gothic horror novel book review
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia book review

You may have noticed that I included three novels from Silvia Moreno-Garcia and that’s because she is my favorite modern horror writer. She is a great blend of old and new horror and her writing style is refreshing and innovative in a genre that tends to rely on the same old techniques.

Mexican Gothic was the novel that put Moreno-Garcia on everyone’s radar but it is her other novels that will make you a true fan of the writer. Her novels tend to take place in South America and she does an amazing job of making the setting come to to life. The plots are fresh and the characters are likable and interesting.

Conclusion

Celebrate Halloween this year with some of the best and scariest horror novels ever written. Our list includes new and old novels that are beloved any many and are great ones to revisit even if you have read them before. What horror books are you planning to read this Halloween season? Let us know in the comments below!

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