15+ Best Horror Books for Beginners 👻

Today I'm sharing my top recommendations for the best horror books for beginners! If you're looking to get into the horror genre, but you don't know where to start, or if you've started reading some horror and are looking for more beginner recommendations, this is the video for you!

COMMENT and let me know if you have any additional recommendations for great horror books for beginners to the genre. Also let me know if you'd like to see any more videos like this!

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:46 The Stephen King Experience
4:13 Horror Novellas
8:11 Borderline Thriller/Horror Books
12:48 Young Adult Horror Books
15:23 Atmospheric Horror Books (not super scary)
19:27 Psychological Horror Books
22:57 Intro to Body Horror/Gore
26:44 Summary

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[emperorcupcake]

This is a great list, I've read and enjoyed so many of these! Another author I'd definitely recommend is Jennifer McMahon, I'd start with either The Invited or The Winter People. I've been reading horror for a long time, but her books got me back into it after a long absence, and I think she'd be great for beginners too!

[christinacampbellbooks]

My first foray into the horror genre was C. J Tudor's The Chalk Man, which I liked. And later, The Burning Girls, which I loved. And Alex North too. Really enjoyed The Whisper Man and The Shadow Friend. So I'm definitely going to check out some of the others you mentioned. Great recommendations here ☺

[loganbrown]

Thank you for sharing your recommendations! I’m definitely a thriller guy, but I’d like to read more horror books. It looks like Halloween season will be fun with some of the books you’ve recommended. 🙂

[samanthajimenez]

I’ve always been intimidated by Stephen King books and have wanted to give them a try but ive never known where to start so thank you for recommending the shining! Definitely gonna try that one first!

[Msangiewow]

I think you’d really like King’s Misery! This is one of the better recommendations videos I’ve seen in a while!🕷🕸

[sh]

Not a book rec but if you can get your hands on the 1990’s The Shining tv mini series definitely give it a watch! It was very well done and I might even like it more than the original. King liked the mini series much more than the classic movie.

Another “SK Experience” book that would be great for beginners and experienced horror readers alike is December Park by Ronald Malfi. It’s a fantastic coming of age “group of kids battle a supernatural (or maybe not?) force and return to their childhood town” type book. So good!

[NahomysLibrary]

needed this for the 24hourhorrorathon!

[brysonadams]

My first time reading horror I read Dracula I loved it

[nibeditamishra]

You doing a really good job with the constant contents. Keep up the good work. I love your videos 😄💜

[jhernx]

Thanks this was a great list got so many great recs will come back to comment when I read a few.

[leslienope]

I love how much thought you put into these recommendations 🕷🕸

[lauramichelle]

Sundial is one of my favorite reads of this year. I haven’t read Needless Street yet but I’m excited to!

[Nanito]

I just subscribed! I enjoyed your description of all these books. I will definitely be checking some of these out. I am a beginner for reading thrillers and horror. Thanks so much!

[sharonhill]

This was a great video as I haven’t read much horror, but would like to. It was very helpful and my TBR list thanks you 😀

[leezirkle]

I would love to see another intro to horror video if you have more recommendations. These all went on my TBR because I'm just starting to get interested in reading it.

[DawnOtto]

Super great video, thank you for all the recommendations!

[michalh]

Love you're videos, thanks for the timestamps!
Carmilla should be in your list!!! It's a great read, I highly recommend it!
🕷 🕸 🕷 🕸

[M.elissa.M]

Hi Ashley 👋🏻. Great video thank you! I have read the Fisherman and agree it’s a good intro to grief and cosmic horror. Thank you for mentioning Sundial, I had forgotten about it and now it’s on my TBR. I think another good intro to Stephen King would be Salems Lot. It is spooky and creepy but not overwhelmingly so. 🕷

[britalyson]

Thank you for this! For some reason, I have a hard time getting into horror, but I love thrillers. Great recommendations!

[lilfannyflapjack]

I loved Dracula. I listened to the audiobook while I read the book and it made it easier for me.