Young Adult Horror and Mystery Books for a Terrifying Summerween
Just like the residents of Gravity Falls, we find it hard to wait until the “Ber” months to celebrate scary season. That’s why we’re in full Summerween mode! For those new to Summerween, it’s a read-a-thon during summer where we binge on mystery, thriller, and horror stories. It’s easy to participate – just sit back, relax, and reach for a chilling read. If you need a little help getting started, here are 17 scary books to get you started. We’ve got you covered from haunted houses with vengeful spirits to suspenseful whodunits with endless twists.
PS: Leave the light on, these are some frightful stories!
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Add to BookshelfHatchet Girls
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
In this Lizzie Borden meets Supernatural novel, Tessa Gomez’s brother is accused of killing his girlfriend’s parents with an axe, just like the legendary Lizzie Borden over a hundred years earlier. Tessa knows he’s innocent, but no one believes him. It’s up to her to prove that her brother is innocent before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Rivetingly creepy, terror lurks at every corner in this twisted horror mystery.
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2
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In Nightfall
by Suzanne Young
When snarky Theo and her brother, Marco, were banished to their grandmother’s beachside town of Nightfall, Oregon, they thought it meant the most boring summer ever. The small town has one major rule: Always be home before dark. But Theo and Marco have always been rebellious. When their paths cross with a group of locals, it’s not long until they learn the terrifying truth about Nightfall.
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3
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There’s No Way I’d Die First
by Lisa Springer
Noelle Layne is a major fan of scary movies. But she never thought she’d be caught in a crazy game of tag involving a murderous clown. Now, she has to use all her horror knowledge to survive the night. Will she be the real-life Final Girl? Or will this night be her last? Brimming with horror movie references, this nail-biting story is full of twists and turns that are both terrifying and fun.
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4
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Snowglobe
by Soyoung Park
In a world of constant winter, only the citizens of the climate-controlled city of Snowglobe can escape the bitter cold — but this perfect society is hiding dark and dangerous secrets within its frozen heart. The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called “The Hunger Games meets Squid Game.”
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5
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Holly Horror #1
by Michelle Jabès Corpora
Buckle up, it’s going to be a frightful ride! When Evie Archer moved to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, she’d hoped for a fresh start. Instead, she ended up moving into the Horror House. A dark past haunts her new home, a former resident disappeared in the middle of the night and was never seen again. Now, Evie can’t help but feel that she’s haunted. With no shortage of scary moments and spookiness, this chilling read takes Holly Hobbie and gives it a dark reimagining.
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6
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The Dare
by Natasha Preston
#1 New York Times bestselling author and queen of suspense, Natasha Preston, is back with a new can’t-put-down thriller. Senior pranks take a deadly turn when four friends accept a treacherous dare and end up in an accident. With their futures at stake, will they be able to keep the dangerous secret to themselves? Fast-paced and nail-biting, this is one book you won’t be able to put down until the very end.
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7
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Royal Scandal
by Aimée Carter
Slowly, Evan Bright is getting used to life with the royal family. As the illegitimate child of the King of England, she knew not everyone would be happy with her sudden appearance. But as the threats turn deadly, she has to wonder if someone within the royal ranks wants her dead. Dark and full of unexpected twists, this book is perfect for royal lovers!
PS: Don’t forget to catch up with book 1, Royal Blood!
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8
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Come Out, Come Out
by Natalie C. Parker
A spine-tingling LGBTQIA+ YA horror about queer teens who accidentally invoke a twisted spirit who promises help but delivers something sinister. This delightfully dark and pointed novel calls out the systems that erase gay and queer and trans identity, giving space to embrace queerness and to unleash the power of friendship and found family against the real monsters in the world.
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$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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9
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Maren Stoffels Box of Horrors
by Maren Stoffels
Fancy a shorter read with no shortage of terror? Three of horror sensation Maren Stoffels’s frightening reads are now available in one paperback boxed set! Deliciously terrifying and packed with mysteries and plot twists, these totally addictive stories will leave you scared and wanting more.
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$33.97Buy from Other Retailers:
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10
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Kill Her Twice
by Stacey Lee
When silver screen star Lulu Wong’s body is found, no one takes her murder seriously — not the police or the press. The Chow sisters, friends, and fans of the late movie star take it upon themselves to find the killer. Through alternating POVs, this murder mystery is bursting with Old Hollywood glamor, and 1930s Chinese American culture, and explores social injustices, grief, and family dynamics in a riveting whodunit manner.
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11
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Seasick
by Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn
New York Times bestselling authors Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn have teamed up to give us a memorable maritime mystery that’ll keep readers guessing until the very end! This propulsive story follows Naya and Yana, recent high school graduates and ex-best friends who board an exclusive luxury yacht for a celebratory trip to Bermuda. Things take a dark turn when one of their classmates is found murdered, meaning they’re stuck at sea … with a killer.
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12
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The Corpse Queen
by Heather M. Herrman
In this twisty feminist historical thriller set in the 1850s, a teenage grave robber quickly becomes entangled in a murderer’s plans.
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13
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Monstrous
by Jessica Lewis
Are you craving a revenge story? Jessica Lewis, author of Bad Witch Burning, has you covered! Latavia isn’t excited to spend the summer with her aunt in Sanctum, Alabama. The cute girl working at the local ice cream shop is one of the few small bright sides. But the small town has one big rule: Never go into Red Wood. Other than that, it’s a normal town, right? Right?! Murder, monsters, queer romance, this paranormal horror has it all!
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14
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The Diablo’s Curse
by Gabe Cole Novoa
From Gabe Cole Novoa, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Bargain and Most Ardently, comes another action-packed adventure. Demi might be a demon, but they’re determined to become human again. The only thing that stands in their way is a deadly curse. Quick-paced, energetic, and romantic, this fantasy story features diverse characters, witty banter, and death-defying escapades that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
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15
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Go Hunt Me
by Kelly deVos
Calling all Dracula lovers! Set in a gothic castle, this eerie thriller follows seven horror movie buffs who head to Romania to shoot a short film together. When one of them ends up missing, they realize there’s something sinister lurking in the shadows of this mysterious palace, something with fangs. With its dark setting and jump scares, this vampire horror takes suspense to the next level and will leave you with goosebumps.
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$18.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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16
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Murder Between Friends
by Liz Lawson
Two years ago, the murder of a neighbor tore three best friends apart — now the killer is going to walk free and the ex-friends are going to have to face the past — and each other — in another twisty thriller from the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Agathas.
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17
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Together We Rot
by Skyla Arndt
This amazing blending of horror and romance follows Wil Greene, a girl trying to find her mother’s killer, and her former best friend, Elwood Clark, who’s on the run from his cult-leading family. As they work together, they unearth decades-old dark secrets, led by Elwood’s family. With satanic rituals, blood sacrifices, and teenage romance, this unputdownable read has it all!
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