22 New and Upcoming Horror Books to Keep You Up at Night

Posted by Marie on September 30, 2019
Celebrating Horror 2019


A sinister institute for "extranormal" children. A couple whose dream home attracts unsettling guests. A woman who becomes well-acquainted with the monsters lurking in the woods. These are just a few of the year's most foreboding frights that are haunting our readers' dreams.

Fans will recognize many favorites in this roundup, including Stephen King (of course), Joe Hill, Paul Tremblay, and Robert R. McCammon. We also have Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, venturing into the world of supernatural suspense with Imaginary Friend. And just how did we narrow down our list?

We took a look at the most popular horror novels, novellas, and short story collections published this year so far as well as upcoming releases (we've included their publication dates below). Then we focused on the number of additions to Goodreads members' Want to Read shelves to measure buzz and anticipation.

Which of these spine-tingling tales will you be adding to your bookshelf? Tell us in the comments!
Release: February 5
Release: February 19
Release: March 13
Release: March 19
Release: April 4
Release: April 9
Release: April 20
Release: April 30
Release: April 30
Release: June 4
Release: June 4
Release: June 11
Release: June 18
Release: July 2
Release: July 2
Release: July 9
Release: September 10
Release: September 24
Release: October 1<
Release: October 1
Release: October 1
Release: October 29<

Which of these books are you most excited to check out? Let us know in the comments!

Check out complete coverage of Horror Week:
Meet the Rising Stars of Horror
50 Most Popular Horror Novels on Goodreads
Victor LaValle Examines Lovecraft's Long-Lasting Influence


Comments Showing 1-50 of 58 (58 new)


message 1: by Tanya (new)

Tanya Loved The Institute, thought it was the best newer King in years.

Full Throttle is great as well, some nice stand-outs, pick up that one when it's out!

And I've started reading Imaginary Friend this morning. Intriguing so far...


message 2: by Vickie (last edited Sep 30, 2019 11:33AM) (new)

Vickie Read Invited and really enjoyed it!

Getting ready to read The Institute, looking forward to it.

Would like to also read Malerman's Inspection and Hill's Full Throttle.


message 3: by Janet (new)

Janet Martin I've already read a few of these and enjoyed them, but a notable gap is "Stoker's Wilde," a debut by Stephen Hopsaken and Melissa Prusi. Set in late Victorian years and featuring a number of real folks including Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde as monster hunters, and a whole group of literary supernaturals--fun and funny, and one of the best horror reads of this past summer.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* I plan on getting The Institute

I have the first two of McCammon's Matthew Corbett series, can't wait - he's an excellent writer and I keep procrastinating starting on these.

Hm, some of these I haven't heard of and need to check out.


message 5: by Cheyenne (new)

Cheyenne Full Throttle! I was fortunate enough to win an ARC and plan on reading it right after I'm finished with Jeff Dunham's biography.


message 6: by Lilith (new)

Lilith Wounds was bloody marvelous! Best book I've read this year. Looking forward to devouring this entire list.


message 7: by Robin (new)

Robin I'm reading as many of all the Horror Week books as I can get my hands on! *gimme gimme hands*


message 8: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa I'd really like to read The Institute obviously, but I have Imaginary Friends lined up to go first because I loved Stephen Chbosky's first book and am intrigued to see how he gets on with horror!


message 9: by TMR (new)

TMR I’d love to read the institute (for obvious reasons haha)!


message 10: by Leona (new)

Leona I have read a few.


message 11: by Denise (new)

Denise Ellis I have added the following to my booklist of want to reads: The Invited, The Ninth House, The Twisted Ones, and Wakenhyrst. Book list is getting longer and longer!


message 12: by Jan (new)

Jan To add:

The Need by Helen Phillips
Bunny by Mona Awad


message 13: by Louise (new)

Louise I have been most excited about The Institute. I am reading now. I am a dedicated Stephen King fan and would not miss any of his books when they come out. I am also looking forward to Full Throttle by his son, Joe Hill. My TBR pile grows bigger by the day!


message 14: by Jim (new)

Jim why are some of the book pictures BIGGER?!?!?
:)


message 15: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Reading The Institute right now and loving it, just received an ARC (my first ever) of Imaginary Friend, looking forward to that. Honestly, though, I want to read every single title on this list!


message 16: by Pat (new)

Pat Robinson I was an avid king fan in his earlier days but I stopped reading him because his books didn't interest me. I'm now back as his new writing sounds great. Glad to be back


message 17: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Carter I read an early copy of Inspection and it was AWESOME!


message 18: by Christy (new)

Christy Weightman You are all so lucky, we have to wait a bit longer here in New Zealand to get some of these books, especially into our libraries and even then you have go on long waitlists to get them. I have The Institute (life long fan of SK) and Joe Hill on order along with several suggestions from above now. Some unfortunately aren't available in our local library yet.


message 19: by Plum-crazy (new)

Plum-crazy Some great suggestions that will take me to Halloween & beyond 👻


message 20: by Erin (new)

Erin I loved The Institute and thought it was right up there among King’s best work.

Perks is actually one of my all-time favourite stories, so I am very eager to read Imaginary Friend. I try and read at least 1 horror book every October - this is my one for this year.


message 21: by Alexandria (new)

Alexandria I cant wait to read the institute by stephen king and the invited by jennifer mc.mahon .wow just in time for halloween love the 22 New and Upcoming Horror Books to Keep You Up at Night list .


message 22: by Bethan (new)

Bethan Forrer I'm just a little confused. Are the release dates for 2020 or have some of them been released earlier this year?


message 23: by Megan (new)

Megan So many books! So little time to read them. So far I've here's ones I've gotten recently as I am a horror/speculative fiction junkie.

Full Throttle, Inspection, Growing Things, Wanderers, The Turn of the Key, The Institute, The Need, Recursion, Last Ones Left Alive, The Nobody People, The Quelling, The End and Other Beginnings, North American Lake Monsters: Stories, The Last Astronaut, Within These Walls, The Best Horror of The Year Volume 11, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, Confessions, HEX, The Luminous Dead, In the Shadow of the Spindrift House, Wastelands: The New Apocalypse, One of Us Will Be Dead by Morning, Middlegame, My Sister, the Serial Killer, The Hunger, Kingdom of Needle and Bone.

I haven't started Full Throttle, or The End and Other Beginnings. As I'm currently reading The Institute. But there are books up there that I've thought about buying, but hesitated. Toll, The Twisted Ones, and Songs for the Unraveling of the World. But maybe (through more likely not) my library will get them.
Anyway, I hope I everyone enjoyed the recs. ✌


message 24: by Angela (new)

Angela Newton Christy wrote: "You are all so lucky, we have to wait a bit longer here in New Zealand to get some of these books, especially into our libraries and even then you have go on long waitlists to get them. I have The ..."

At my local library in Sydney I can reserve a book before it's in the library if it says it is "on order".You might be able to beat those long waitlists!


message 25: by Alfred (new)

Alfred Weber Ah, just what I needed, more books added to an insurmountable reading list. Looks like a lot of good stuff in this list.


message 26: by Christy (new)

Christy Weightman Angela wrote: "Christy wrote: "You are all so lucky, we have to wait a bit longer here in New Zealand to get some of these books, especially into our libraries and even then you have go on long waitlists to get t..."

Yes we have that in Whangarei too however there are a lot of other people also on the waiting list for the new books; especially Stephen King! I am patient though. Good things come to those who wait. And one of the books I've ordered was ready for collection the same day so am looking forward to getting stuck into Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones! Just have to finish my current book first!


message 27: by Claudia Marcela (new)

Claudia Marcela Song for the unraveling of the world, The Invited, Wanderers and Wakenhurst, definitely!


message 28: by Judy (new)

Judy Where are the Rose Willow books ? Excellent books.


message 29: by Katherine (new)

Katherine I am a huge fan of Stephen King. I've heard a lot of good things about The Institute, so I'm looking forward to reading it soon.


message 30: by Jim (new)

Jim Leyshon You could check out Betty Cries... as well. I like it.


message 31: by Steven (new)

Steven Hopstaken Janet wrote: "I've already read a few of these and enjoyed them, but a notable gap is "Stoker's Wilde," a debut by Stephen Hopsaken and Melissa Prusi. Set in late Victorian years and featuring a number of real f..."

Thanks, Janet. You'll be happy to know that the sequel, "Stoker's Wilde West," will be coming out in the summer of 2020 from Flame Tree Press. Oscar and Bram find themselves hunting vampires in the American wild west.


message 32: by Pappy (new)

Pappy Drake Recently finished Wanderers by Chuck Wendig and loved it. The storyline is superb with interesting characters. For a book of 800 pages it was never a chore. Big surprise ending.


message 33: by Amber J (new)

Amber J I was only missing 5 books from my tbr shelves. They are all added now. I love horror.


message 34: by Steve (new)

Steve Dustcircle A good collection of short stories in two volumes is The Frightful Fifty. Classics to modern.


message 35: by Julia (new)


message 36: by Connie (new)

Connie Flory "The Institute", Stephen King, longtime fave author.


message 37: by Debra Smith (new)

Debra Smith The invited looks promising.


message 38: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Payne Picked out several especially The Institute. Also Bleak Creek and the resurrectionists.


message 39: by Julie B. (new)

Julie B. Loved Wounds, and currently reading Skidding into Oblivion, which I can't help but slowly savour every story because I really don't want it to ever end.
Looking forward to a Song for the Unraveling of the End of the World!


message 40: by TMR (new)

TMR Christy wrote: "You are all so lucky, we have to wait a bit longer here in New Zealand to get some of these books, especially into our libraries and even then you have go on long waitlists to get them. I have The ..."

Well I get what you’re saying. It takes almost a month at times to get the book you want, especially if it’s in demand. I’ve been there before.


message 41: by Noel (new)

Noel Penaflor Always a fan of Joe Hill


message 42: by Joy (new)

Joy The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek, I've been waiting for it forever it seems. Really excited to see what Rhett and Link wrote.


message 43: by Robin (new)

Robin i read the invited a month too early but it was a good creepy ghost story and i am looking forward to reading a few others on this list.


message 44: by Patty (new)

Patty Julia wrote: "Wax Works"

Based on your recommendation, I've added Wax Works to my TBR list. Thanks.


message 45: by donna (new)

donna backshall I just got my hands on a signed copy of T. Kingfisher's The Twisted Ones and am excitedly bracing for all the horror!

From everything I've heard, this will "scare the everything" out of me, and I can't wait.


message 46: by Carol (new)

Carol As a ghost story junkie...I say just bring them all on !


message 47: by Lynne (new)

Lynne The Twisted Ones was an amazing slow burn of a read!


message 48: by Chad (new)

Chad I've read Inspection, The Institute, The Invited, Growing Things and a good portion of Full Throttle. Maybe a third of it.

Inspection was really good. The Institute was also quite good. The Invited? Not so much. It started out well, but then became really bland, boring and forgettable.

Growing Things is also a high quality collection of stories.

Full Throttle has been great so far.

Looking forward to starting Imaginary Friend soon. I got it from the library, but am kind of worried about its length versus its reviews.


message 49: by Sabrina (new)

Sabrina Kaye Fox I got a copy of Break the Bones, Haunt the Bodies and it was the single most weird, yet satisfying book I've read in the past year.


message 50: by Becky (new)

Becky Tanya wrote: "Loved The Institute, thought it was the best newer King in years.

Full Throttle is great as well, some nice stand!!!!!-outs, pick up that one when it's out!

And I've started reading Imaginary Friend t..."



how coincidental!! I loved the first two and just downloaded Imaginary Friend !!!


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