We all know that I don’t do well with scary stuff, but because I am terribly slow at reading this month and I want to give you some bookish content, I thought it would be best to make a list of spooky books – that didn’t give me nightmares? Which, just to be clear, is what I want in books. Mildly spooky or full of ghosts or whatever, but not something that will leave a mark of terror on me. So, beware that this is a very tame list and obviously a very subjective one.
*If you click on the title, you will get redirected to my full review, which includes trigger warnings!*
The Taking of Jake Livingston
I’ve seen opinions differ on this one, but I really enjoyed reading it. First of all, it’s a very short book. Some might say that the fast pacing hinders an emotional connection, but I teared up at some of Jake’s revelations, so I really don’t think that was a disadvantage for me. In addition to that, I liked the dual POV, even if bits of it felt disjointed. This is totally something you can read in one sitting!
Spooky elements: ghosts, relived deaths, possessions
My rating: 3.5 stars
Dark and Shallow Lies
The setting and the atmosphere for this one was great. As a supernatural thriller, it did keep me guessing in part, while I figured out a lot (gut feeling is rarely wrong) early on. It especially focuses on grief and how irrational we can become because of it. While I would have wished for some aspects to be explored further, I liked the vibes of this one.
Spooky elements: supernatural predators, swamp legends, potential mysterious serial killers?
My rating: 3.5 stars
Don’t Tell a Soul
I like books that teeter the line between ghosts and people just imagining things in their terror. This book was alright and definitely handled the creepy atmosphere well, however, there were a lot of characters that could have been explored deeper. Because of the main character being so closed off and us only getting secondhand information on everyone, it wasn’t easy to connect to the different players.
Spooky elements: haunted house, ghost girls
My rating: 3 stars
This Is Not a Ghost Story
This book surprised me, to be completely honest. I can see how the voice of the narrator/main character might not be for everyone, but I liked it. The ending is also very controversial, so I’d understand if people disagreed with me, but I had a grand time reading this one. It flowed nicely, gave me little scares, but resolved it in a way that felt very human.
Spooky elements: haunted house, spirits and danger everywhere
My rating: 4.5 stars
Watch Over Me
I’m a huge Nina LaCour fan and this was not my favorite book, but it’s still fantastic in its own way. I get that she can write beautiful stories that evoke emotions in you, this was no exception, but somehow it felt less polished than the others I have read. As always, it was whimsical and filled with grief and heart. LaCour just knows what she’s doing.
Spooky elements: trauma, ghosts
My rating: 3 stars
Ninth House
This book was a lot. I do prefer Leigh Bardugo’s other series, but she still has me hooked on some of the characters here (I so fell for Darlington and Dawes). I like the world she built, I’m also curious how it continues, but it’s very heavy in parts – both in terms of content and descriptions. This is a field day for Yale fans, but I could have done with a little less campus talk.
Spooky elements: ghosts, secret magical society (with loads of sinister occult activities)
My rating: 3.5 stars
Burn Our Bodies Down
I went into this book with completely wrong expectations. I thought it was going to be a mere family drama, but oh no – it is creepy! I didn’t end up enjoying this one very much, but I know others loved it, so it seemed fitting on this list.
Spooky elements: buried secrets (literally) – anything more would be spoilers
My rating: 2 stars
Life and Other Disasters 
I love this list because I don’t want to be spooked too badly. One I would add would be The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James. Creepy enough, but not scary.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one! I have no intention of being terrified by the contents of a book haha
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I’ve only read one of these books, and you know which one, as well as how I felt about it. As for mildly spooky books, I guess Carrie is the only one I can think of. Maybe the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Other than that, I think most of my horror reading is intermediate horror.
Unless you count Goosebumps, that is.
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Huh, I didn’t even include any vampire books haha there’d probably be more on here if I did.
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Maybe that can be another post.
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I just watched Night Teeth yesterday, so I’m in a very vampire-y mood.
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Oh, I totally forgot to watch that! How was it?
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It was aesthetically pleasing, campy vampire stuff. I thought the cast was either cute or super stylish – no in between. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Not terrible, then.
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I liked it, but it had potential for more. I definitely didn’t understand why they promoted it with Megan Fox and Sydney Sweeney.
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Ah, the mysteries of life.
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The only book you mentioned that I’ve read is Ninth House, which I really enjoyed. I totally get why a lot of people couldn’t get into it, but the heavy parts didn’t bother me too much.
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It wasn’t so much the heaviness as the heavy descriptions that bothered me personally. I thought it slowed down the story, but I didn’t dislike it as a whole 🙂
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I love the idea of this post, Kat 💕 Spooky books are great but I can’t handle too much terror! I have been meaning to read Watch Over Me as I’m curious about the ghost element of the story! Same with Ninth House, there was so much hype but I still haven’t read it 😅
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Thank you, Caro! I just knew I could provide anything full horror haha I could never read that myself.
I think Ninth House is completely overhyped, but it’s a nice read. Not great, but not terrible either.
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I prefer books to be dark and scary. There more to horror then just being scare.
For a books that is books that is spooky, not scary and has lots of ghost I would recommend The Nigh Tourist by Katherine Marsh.
Here a link for the book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1239219.The_Night_Tourist?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=D4JdgKqHH5&rank=1
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Sounds like we’re quite opposite then! I’m such a scaredy cat, I don’t like feeling terrified.
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I have to say it: the cover for Don’t Tell A Soul give me chills ahah, I don’t know there’s something about it I don’t like aha. Based on your comments here, I’m intrigued about Jack Livingston and Dark and Shallow Lies, but you know me: I like spooky and not tooooo spooky either, haha. i’ll have to check these out and see if they inspire me! 🙂
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They’re both … spooky haha I have the full list of trigger warnings in the posts with the full reviews and I would definitely consider checking them out. They were both good, but not brilliant? If that makes sense? I’d still love for you to read The Atlas Six … which I ALMOST put on that list as well haha
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