I am in pre-autumn preparations. Currently, I am deciding what books I am going to read, looking forward to all of the pumpkin-flavored foods I am going to eat, and planning my fall decorations. I am in the mood for fall, which is why I have been craving some horror. But it’s still summer so I need some horror books set in the summer!
I mean, it is the first day of summer, can you believe that! The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer. The perfect weather to read outside with a smoothie in hand!
And what better book to read during this time of year than horror! Horror books set in the summer are my absolute favorite! They are so fun and they keep me motivated until fall finally arrives.
Because all of the books on this list are horror, I would definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading. There are some strange and wild things in the horror genre, make sure you are keeping yourself safe!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission through these links with no impact on your purchase. For more information, click here!
Horror Books for a Summer TBR
The Toll by Cherie Priest
Title: The Toll
Author: Cherie Priest
Genre: Gothic, Horror
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Click here to add this book to your Goodreads TBR!
Click here to purchase this book from Amazon!
In The Toll by Cherie Priest, Titus and Melanie Bell are on their honeymoon, on their way to a canoeing trip. On the way there, they come across a tiny, rundown bridge. Later, a tow truck comes across the same bridge. However, this time the driver finds Titus laying in the middle of the road and Melanie nowhere to be found.
If there is one thing I love, it is book descriptions that give me little to nothing about the book. I love walking into a story with no prior knowledge. So this ominous and mysterious book summary makes me thrilled to read this book!
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
Title: The Saturday Night Ghost Club
Author: Craig Davidson
Genre: Young Adult, Horror
Publisher: Knopf Canada
Release Date: August 14, 2018
Click here to add this book to your Goodreads TBR!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
In the same vein as Stranger Things, this book is set in Niagara Falls in the 1960s, where Jake and two of his new friends are brought into his strange uncle’s club called the Saturday Night Ghost Club. The three friends thought this would be a fun activity for the summer, however, the longer they are involved, the scarier things get.
I am a massive fan of Stranger Things, so I am excited by the concept of this book. This feels like it will have incredible summer vibes!
Affinity by Sarah Waters
Title: Affinity
Author: Sarah Waters
Genre: Historical, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Release Date: January 8, 2022
Click here to add this book to your Goodreads TBR!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
Affinity by Sarah Waters is about Margaret, who is trying to recover from her recent suicide attempt. As a part of her rehabilitation, she starts volunteering at a prison nearby where she meets Selina, who was imprisoned after a séance she did left an old woman dead and a young woman permanently affected. Despite all of this, Margaret becomes intrigued by Selina and starts to hatch a plan to get her out of prison.
One of my favorite types of horror novels is paranormal. I love anything that has to do with the supernatural and ghosts. So, this plot summary has me hooked!
Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen
Title: Tastes Like Candy
Author: Ivy Tholen
Genre: Young Adult, Slasher Horror
Release Date: October 19, 2020
Click here to add this book to your Goodreads TBR!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
One of my favorite types of horror films is slasher movies. Although they are usually all very similar in plot and characters, there is something so fun about a good slasher film. This is why I am so excited about Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen. In this story, a group of teenagers sneak into a carnival for a scavenger hunt. However, once they are in, a masked killer shows up and begins taking out the group one by one.
This book seems similar to Scream, There’s Someone Inside, and every other slasher movie out there. These are the movies I love watching during the summer months so I can’t wait to read this book.
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Title: The Invited
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Click here to add this book to your Goodreads TBR!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
In search of a simpler life, Helen and Nate move to a large fixer-upper house in a rural town. However, when they get there they learn of a dark history which includes a woman dying on the property. Helen becomes obsessed with the home’s past, even incorporating artifacts into the design. However, the longer they stay on this property, the more haunted things become.
This feels like the perfect ghost story for the summer! Who doesn’t love a good haunted house story!
I think I just finished off my TBR for the summer! There are so many fun horror books set in the summer on this list, I can’t wait to dive in and forget the hot weather and bugs.
Comment down below if you have any more horror book recommendations set in the summertime. I love this subgenre of horror, I can always use more spooky fun!