Horror fiction has long been a popular genre among young adult readers, and recent years have seen a surge in the number of YA horror books hitting the shelves.
YA Horror Books that will give you Heebie Jeebies!!
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Publish Date: Jan 30, 2024
Looking for a spine-tingling read that will keep you up all night? Look no further than this darkly seductive witchy thriller, where three girls must navigate the dangerous world of the occult to solve a series of gruesome murders. With a cast of complex characters, including a girl who refuses to accept her sister’s death and a billionaire’s daughter cursed by a demon, this story weaves horror, mystery, and fantasy elements to create a truly reputable read. As the body count rises and the stakes become higher, will these girls be able to work together to stop the killer before they become the next victims? Find out in this page-turning tale of magic, obsession, and redemption.
Dead Girls Walking: A Novel by Sami Ellis
Publish Date: March 26, 2024
Get ready for a chilling adventure in Sami Ellis’s Dead Girls Walking, a YA horror novel that combines the classic elements of Friday the 13th and true crime stories. When Temple Baker’s father, a notorious serial killer, confesses to murdering her mother, she sets out to find the body and clear his name. But things take a dark turn when she discovers a summer camp for queer, horror-obsessed girls on the former hunting grounds of her father, and a camper turns up dead. As Temple navigates the woods and tries to uncover the truth, she realizes that there may be a copycat killer on the loose, or something far more sinister. With a unique blend of horror, mystery, and LGBTQ+ themes, this book is worth reading in one sitting.
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
Publish Date: April 2, 2024
Looking for a thrilling and twisted romance then read this Young Adult Horror novel, where loyalty, fate, and the darkest parts of ourselves collide. When Wyatt inherits her family’s farmhouse, she plans to burn it down, but a shocking discovery in the basement changes everything. Peter, her former best friend, is found strung up in chains, left for dead, and trapped in a cycle of ritualistic deaths and rebirths. The only way for him to break free is to kill Wyatt, but can she trust him despite his oath to destroy her? As dark forces gather in the nearby forest and the past comes back to haunt them, Wyatt and Peter must work together to survive, or risk tearing each other apart. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with its blend of magic, horror, and forbidden love.
Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury
Publish Date: Feb 27, 2024
Get ready for a thrilling and unpredictable ride in this YA horror novel, where family secrets and bloody murders threaten to destroy everything. When Sunny’s mother dies, she leaves behind a cryptic message: “Take care of Dom.” But her youngest brother is accused of murder, and Sunny is determined to prove his innocence, even as more bodies pile up. As she delves deeper into the darkness, she uncovers her family’s deepest secrets and must choose between preserving their legacy or protecting the brother she barely knows. With a tangled web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, this book will keep you up all night, guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of “The Taking of Jake Livingston” and “Ace of Spades”, this psychological thriller will leave you breathless.
A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat
Publish Date: January 16, 2024
Looking for a chilling and a novel with horror atmosphere, give a shot to this contemporary gothic horror story, where a teen girl and her family move into a beautiful but sinister old house with a dark history. The house is full of strange and ominous signs, from bugs crawling across the walls to towering stained-glass windows with insect-like designs. Rumors of disappearances and mysterious masked séances only add to the sense of unease. As Libby tries to uncover the secrets of the house, she begins to question her own sanity and the true nature of the masks that surround her. Will she be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will she succumb to the darkness that lurks within the house’s walls? With its eerie atmosphere and themes of mental illness, family secrets, and the power of masks, this book is sure to keep you hooked.
The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee
Publish Date: August 13, 2024
This YA horror debut by Wen-yi Lee is perfect for fans of “She Is a Haunting”, Stephen King’s “IT”, and “The Haunting of Hill House”. Art student Isadora Chang returns to her hometown of Slater after the death of her abusive father, only to find that her childhood friends were murdered by a supernatural entity. Teaming up with Mason, the son of the local medium, Isa must confront her past and face the evil force head-on. Strange songs on the wind and eerie artwork filling her sketchbook are just the beginning – Isa soon realizes that whatever is waiting in the shadows of Slater’s valleys, it’s been waiting for her. Will she be able to escape its grasp, or will she become its next victim? With its creepy atmosphere and themes of trauma, loss, and the power of art, this book will keep you eager to find out what happens next.
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
Publish Date: February 20, 2024
Melissa Albert’s latest horror novel, The Bad Ones, is a gripping and unsettling tale of four mysterious disappearances in a town with a dark history of magic and superstition. When Nora’s estranged best friend Becca goes missing, Nora embarks on a desperate search for answers, uncovering a trail of cryptic messages and local legends that hint at a malevolent force at work. As Nora delves deeper into the truth, she discovers a sinister plot that threatens to consume her and her town, forcing her to confront the razor-thin line between reality and fantasy. With its blend of horror, fantasy, and coming-of-age themes, this book is a must-read for fans of YA horror looking for a thrilling and unnerving experience.
The Black Girl Survives in This One by Desiree S. Evans
Publish Date: April 2, 2024
Looking for a hair-raising read that celebrates black girl power? Look no further than The Black Girl Survives in This One, a YA anthology featuring 15 chilling tales of black girls battling monsters, both human and supernatural. With contributions from some of the biggest names in YA literature, this collection places black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who refuse to back down in the face of terror. From eerie ghost stories to pulse-pounding adventures, these stories will keep you up all night, rooting for the courageous and resilient black girls at their core. Edited by the renowned Tananarive Due, this anthology is a must-read for anyone looking to indulge in the thrill and excitement of Young Adult horror.
Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
Publish Date: October 29, 2024
CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror novel is a gripping and unsettling tale of obsession, monsters, and the dark side of creativity. High school senior Andrew Perrault finds solace in the twisted fairytales he writes for his friend Thomas Rye, but when Thomas’s abusive parents disappear and he becomes increasingly secretive, Andrew suspects something is amiss. Following Thomas into the forbidden forest, Andrew discovers that his friend’s artwork has come to life and is wreaking havoc on their town. As they fight to stop the monsters, their bond grows stronger, but Andrew starts to fear that the only way to defeat the creatures may be to sacrifice their creator. The story is a blend of psychological tension, supernatural threats, and complex relationships.
Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer
Publish Date: April 2, 2024
In this gripping and romantic post-apocalyptic debut novel, two teen girls must navigate their complicated past and the dangerous present after a virus brings the dead back to life and society is rebuilt. Seventeen-year-old Mara, once a Tick, is now a recovering patient in an experimental resettlement program and is sent to live with her former best friend and first love, Rory. However, Rory’s struggles with PTSD and grief threaten to tear them apart, especially as the Island’s fragile peace is threatened by the return of the Ticks. As the girls fight to survive and reconcile their feelings for each other, they must also confront the monsters that lurk both inside and outside their community.
My Throat an Open Grave by Tori Bovalino
Publish Date: February 20, 2024
In this haunting and eerie atmosphere novel, a young girl named Leah must journey into the depths of the Lord of the Wood’s domain to retrieve her baby brother after she unwittingly wishes him away. The price of his return is a song, but the process of creating it reveals dark secrets about her hometown and the town’s history. As Leah navigates the treacherous landscape of the Lord’s territory, she must confront her own fears and the judgments of those around her. The novel is a unique blend of folklore and psychological horror.
Do you want to explore more horror books released this year, then don’t forget to read “21 Most Anticipated Horror Books of 2024“
The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington
Publish Date: July 30, 2024
In this thrilling Young Adult horror novel, a group of friends must fight to choose their own fates when a demonic force begins hunting them down in a series of gruesome murders straight out of a horror movie. The twist? The demon is acting according to horror movie rules, and the characters are aware of the tropes and are determined to subvert them. As the body count rises and the remaining survivors become more desperate, they must use their knowledge of horror movies to turn the tables on the demon and become the hunters instead of the hunted. Will they be able to overcome their personal issues and work together to survive the summer, or will their best summer ever be their last?
