I read a total of 183 books this year and it was very hard to narrow it down to just 20 books. I read a wide variety of books and genres, but I always ended up back at horror, or horror adjacent books. The horror umbrella is big and I seem to gravitate towards the mash ups (historical fiction/horror, fantasy/horror, etc.)
Please consider adding any (or all) of these books to your TBRs. Personally, I think you won’t regret it and maybe it will help you discover a new favorite author.
Top Books for 2025:
We’re going to go in reverse order this time – make you work your way down to the top pick for 2025!
20. POLYBIUS – Collin Armstrong: Urban legends, 80’s vibes, government conspiracy theories, arcades, and a wonderful spree of violence to make this well-balanced plot and character driven novel a memorable addition to your TBR.
19. ONE BAD NIGHT & OTHER STORIES – Isabel Armiento: This horror story collection from Aardvark Book Club was PHENOMENAL. If the cover doesn’t entice you, then the lineup of authors will! Kay Chronister, Del Sandeen, Kylie Lee Baker, Rachel Harrison, CJ Leede, Jennifer Marie Thorne, S. A. Barnes, and Stephen Graham Jones. Top three stories? I’d have to say Red Tide by CJ Leede (more reasons to just avoid the ocean), 47 Pineview Way by Jennifer Marie Thorne (eerie and creepy in a suburban setting), and One Bad Night by Stephen Graham Jones (this one felt like a gutt punch, such an incredible way to end this collection)
18. ROSE OF JERICHO – Alex Grecian: This is a hard one to review for the simple fact that it is a sequel, and I 100% recommend that you pick up Red Rabbit. This one takes place about a decade after the events of book one, and we’re back with some of our beloved characters that survived last time. Bloody, violent, exciting, witchy, suspenseful, some cosmic elements, ghosts, angels/demons, and characters you become attached to, made for a fun read and I’m hoping we get more from these characters in the future.
17. KING SORROW – Joe Hill: This one took me a few days to finish up and it was worth every second! While the length of the book might seem intimidating (896 pages, to be exact), it is equal parts enchanting, gripping, dark, horrifying, and imaginative. His first book in a decade and I was just as blown away as I was with his other books. The characters, the relationships, the horror, the fantasy – this book is one you won’t soon forget!
16. TELL ME WHAT YOU DID – Carter Wilson: Now, we have a thriller, and our main character, Poe, runs a podcast. I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets tired of the podcast format, but I promise you this one isn’t like the others. Her podcast is one of the more popular true crime ones out there. She doesn’t just look at cold cases or examine serial killers – she has guests call in anonymously and confess their crimes. I don’t know about you, but I’d listen to that one! I had a lot of fun with this book! It’s such a fast read, and before you know it, you’re already halfway through. Wilson hasn’t disappointed me yet, and this one is up there with Mister Tender’s Girl as a favorite!
15. THE HOME – Judith Sonnet: Prepare for some gore, supernatural elements, some great scares, HP Lovecraft vibes, and a creepy new entity, with an even creepier name – Mr. Friendlyman. Alright, I love anything to do with urban legends and entities. Your boogeyman, slenderman, and other similar unnerving characters. I love the variety of back story some can have but can sometimes be vague and up for interpretation. Not Mr. Friendlyman. He has a fully fleshed out origin and this thing is the thing of nightmares. Soul-sucking, cosmic, shapeshifting creature of the worst parts of your imagination.
14. BEASTS OF CARNAVAL – Rosalia Rodrigo: The beautiful prose, the lush world building and lifelike setting, the likable and complex Sofía, and the incredible Taíno folklore and mythology were woven intricately into the story to add a rich history to the story. I loved falling under the spell of this intoxicating island, but it’s so much more than just what lies on the surface. The layers to this story are all equally immersive, and despite the pacing being a little slower at times, I still went through this in two sittings! I saw in other reviews that the audiobook is incredible and highly recommended!
13. HOW TO SURVIVE CAMPING: THE MAN WITH NO SHADOW – Bonnie Quinn: If you like folklore, creepy, campy, and at times almost cozy, then this will be perfect for you. It’s quick and fun and I’m really hoping there will be more. The perfect book to end out the summer with the camp vibes and leading into fall.
12. UPON A STARLIT TIDE – Kel Woods: Part retelling, part historical fiction, folklore, mythology, fantasy, and a dash of romance made for a beautifully captivating read. Not just one fairytale but a combination of The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and a sprinkling of Bluebeard. I love retellings and the combination of the three made for a unique story that still felt almost nostalgic at the same time.
11. NOCTURNAL BY NATURE – Nick Roberts: There’s a little something for all the horror fans in this creepy little collection. The range in stories and the way the writing captivates you from start to finish made this such a pleasure to read! Horrifying, nightmare enducing, and gives you the chill down your spine with each story!
10. FUTILITY – Nuzo Onoh: Chaotic, bloody, mild touches of cannibalism, full of feminine rage and dark humor, terrible men, and takes a good look at the beauty standards women face. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be giving soup a side eye from now on.
9. TOXIC LOVE – Kristopher Triana: Plenty to have you cringing, and you find yourself right there with Mike as he comes to terms with the choices he makes by involving himself with Sage’s depravity. I liked being solely from his POV, although I think Sage would have been a mind we may not have survived. It always makes you wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” When say you enjoy books like this. But here we are with another win from Triana!
8. YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE – Ashley Cullins: If you love the Scream franchise, if you love slashers, horror films, and behind the scenes into the film industry, then you need this book. From the iconic opening scene, to the rules it writes for itself, to the gore, the fun, and everything that makes this franchise so loved, this book is a true love letter to Ghostface and the whole series.
7. KING OF ASHES – S.A. Cosby: This book. Violence and family bonds. How far will you go to protect your family, no matter how stupid and reckless they may be? Cosby’s books are gritty, heart wrenching, and he shows us how cruel and raw the world can be. The character growth in Roman – you find yourself on his side in the beginning, and as the story evolves, you see a man changing and making you almost reevaluate your feelings. I love when books do this and really make you feel and connect. If you want a reading experience, pick up anything by Cosby!
6. AMERICAN RAPTURE – C.J. Leede: This got intense, there’s a lot of real religious trauma she must face, the horrible acts she witnesses aren’t too graphic for horror (with the exception of an animal death), and seeing the character transformation was truly a thing to experience. This is VERY different from Maeve Fly. The storytelling, the pacing, there’s more depth and world building in this one, and the heavy themes really packed a punch. I can’t wait to see what Leede does next!
5. THE WOLF COMES HOME – Nat Cassidy: Cassidy gives us a way to look at fear and how it can shape us into who we are and how we perceive things – events, relationships, friendships, everything. How it manifests in our lives, how we cope with it, and eventually face it. I loved Jess. She isn’t without her flaws, but she does her best to help the boy and take care of him. There were parts with some humor and levity to break up the darkness. Cassidy knows how to create memorable characters, and I won’t forget about anyone in this for a while!
4. SLASHED BEAUTIES – A. Rushby: If you don’t like gothic horror, then this probably won’t be for you. It has a slower pace but nothing that drags on. The tension builds and keeps pulling you along with these dolls and finding out how they intertwine with Alys. We get historical fiction, tension that keeps you unsettled and dying for more, a tale of revenge, witchcraft, and a look at the bonds between these women. Complex and fully formed characters you want to both hate and root for. This is so much more than wax, life size dolls coming to life to kill deserving men.
3. SALT BONES – Jennifer Givhan: I loved everything about the Latin and Indigenous folklore. Give me any and all of it from all cultures. While I wouldn’t consider this terrifying, it does heavily contribute to the horror experienced. I loved the more magical realism approach with these memorable legends. I loved the inclusion of Spanish throughout the book. Please, please, please don’t let that deter you because there’s enough context for you to follow along if you aren’t as familiar with the language. The writing was beautiful, and the author perfectly captured how truly complex the relationships can be between a mother and daughter.
2. THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER – Stephen Graham Jones: Historical fiction and horror are two genres that I love, especially when the historical elements and events are equally,if not more horrifying than the fictional horror. Stephen Graham Jones brings us another unique and haunting tale coming out of the old American West. I highly recommend looking up the Marias Massacre of 1870, as this is a focal point of the story. This is dark, haunting, emotional, truly full of trauma and loss, and it was something I couldn’t stop reading. I know with a slower pace that this might not be for everyone. There is a heavier presence of historical fiction with the horror woven in, and the manuscript of the early 1900’s might not be for everyone, but I loved this combination and it cemented Jones as a continued auto-buy author.
Top Book of the Year: THE MIDNIGHT KNOCK – John Fram: Don’t worry, my full review is below!
I was lucky enough to get to beta read this last year and it was fun being able to read this copy and experience it all again. Jeremy likes to refer to this book as the one that tricked me into thinking something was wrong with my Kindle – once you start, you’ll understand. Both times, from start to finish, I was locked in and didn’t want to put it down.
Eight strangers are stranded at the Brake Inn Motel and discover it isn’t safe to leave once the sun goes down. There’s something off about the motel and especially the twins who run it. When one of the guests ends up dead, everyone tries to figure out who among them is the killer. They all soon discover that they all have some connection to the woman who was killed. Who had the most to gain, or to hide, that would cause them to commit murder? Tensions are high and with an unknown horror lurking in the darkness people are becoming desperate.
Despite the large cast of characters, everyone had their moment and they all were so distinct. Each one complex, each with their own backstory, some more tragic than others, and they all have their secrets and are wary of the other motel guests. I loved the twists and turns that this took. I can honestly say that I would not have been able to guess how everything was going to end and where each reveal was going to take us. I cannot recommend this book, and his others, enough! Make sure you have some time open in your schedule, settle in, and get ready for an exciting, creepy, and genre bending read.
Jessicamap Reviews 
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