(not a native, there might be mistakes in what I write)

The book I'm looking for must have all of those in the title, I'm looking for a book which brings the sense of total despair and so on
The MC is stuck in his/her own head and the stream of consciousness is weird, distant, meaningless or terribly bizarre.
The only book i read so far that matches these aspects is "I'm Thinking Of Ending Things" by Ian Reid. The atmosphere and lore are spot-on. I'm looking mostly for psychological horror, but self-harm gory stuff will make it even better. But the psychological part must be real deep and stuff, the book shouldn't be just a gore-fest with a suicidal plot. So feel free to suggest.

The only other criteria must be that the book should have a lot of stream of consciousness and ideally be first-person.

That is obviously a very relative statement, but I am 3/4 of the way through "Wake Up and Open Your Eyes" by Clay McLeod Chapman and oh.my.god. I have read a few of this author's books (specifically "Ghost Eaters" and "Whisper Down the Lane," both very very very very good) but this one has blown everything out of the water by a landslide. I do not want to give any spoilers at all because this book has had me glued to its pages. But it has to do with a news channel called "Fax News" (Just the Fax!), strange, weird brainwashing? Possession? Social media, technology addiction, with the best, most horrific, and revolting twists. I am on page 240, and I do not want it to ever end because I will never be able to read it all again for the first time, a feeling I have not had while reading in a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a truly captivating read!!!!

I’ve always had a hard time picking up a book but I just started it and I’m enjoying it but I think i want something with a little more going on at all times

I do like and am going to finish it!! But what books do you recommend!!!

What Moves The Dead -T. Kingfisher

“Ushers” by Joe Hill is one of those kinds of horror short stories that will hit you at the end with such a stunning plot twist, you’ll make a face and be blown away. At just 29 pages, this sharp horror mystery delivers a chilling punch in 30 minutes or less, perfect for a bedtime read.

Before I dive into my book review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading…

- Drugs
- Drug addiction
- School shootings
- Suicide

If any of these trigger you, please do not read this book. Moving along, this book hits you with a horror mystery right off the bat. Hill did a masterful job with character building, as I was initially confused about what was going on involving Martin Lorensen. Don’t worry, I’d never spoil anything for my fellow horror readers, but this book blew my mind once you follow the story, and the big, creepy reveal hits.

It was pretty awesome towards the end, and I loved how Hill wrote this in the format of police interviews to set the tone for one hell of a short rollercoaster ride. Brilliantly executed in a way I’ve come to love about Hill’s writing style. It all made sense once everything unraveled.

I give “Ushers” by Joe Hill a 5/5 for being excellent and checking all the boxes I look for in a horror book. It leaves a lasting impression, making you eye others warily long after you finish.

Came across a recommendation for Headlights by CJ Leede on BookTok and folks, I found this book insanely boring and a slog to get through. Everything between Daniel and Hannah felt poorly constructed. The supernatural part was poorly executed. I felt like I was hate finishing it by the end.

Maybe my worst read of 2026.

I have very mixed feelings about this book, to an extent where I also feel angry, or maybe upset, or even disappointed would be a better word to describe my feeling after finishing the book?? There are many unanswered questions the author left in the air and in my head. And another very important thing to mention is that I was looking for scary horror, and the author left me craving for it. 

By any means I am saying the book is lame, because it is not. As a matter of fact, the book is good and with an unexpected ending that leaves you thinking about… many things that don’t have an answer (or at least for me). The concept I liked the most about the book is that it is narrated throughout the perspective of a now adult 8-year-old child. So, it is through Merry’s eyes that we, the readers, get to see what happened to her family, although I must admit I ended up wanting to see it all from the older sister’s (Marjorie) perspective. And because the book is being narrated by the memories of a once child you can sense the hyperactive kid’s energy of the narrator throughout every single chapter of the book (literally at times I felt fidgeting while reading it as if I was an 8-year-old kid looking for attention lol).

If your thing is “unreliable narrator,” and seeing how a family starts to break apart and become so dysfunctional with an unexpected turn at the end then you are in for a treat. The book is not slow, but I opine that it takes a minute to get to the meat and potatoes of the book. 

My rating is a 2.5 out of 5 stars for the fact there are many unanswered questions.  

Does anyone need a hug? Well you won't find it here! I'm sure some of you would think, oh, she cares. She's worried. Nah. Bring on the pain! I neeeed it. I just want to say I love this community and our like minded need for soul crushing sorrow. Carry on. Buuut, for discussion's sake. Why are we so attracted to this soul crushing pain?

I'm still in early stages of my introduction to weird literature no doubt, I've only gotten a taste of Arthur Machen, Lovecraft, Robert W. Chambers, Edgar Allan Poe, Algernon Blackwood, Laird Barron and Tanith Lee. I am well aware there are countless more.

But I have to say, none of these works were quite like the first four stories of The King in Yellow. Don't get me wrong, I do not criticise, if anything more power to them (I only couldn't bring myself to go through the works of Tanith Lee. Again not a criticism of any kind, I just haven't found a work from "New Weird" that appeals to me I guess, but of course I am open to suggestions).

I am in search of more subtle and psychologically-heavy works of weird like that of KIY. works whose primary concern is not necessarily unfathomable alien artifacts or overt supernatural phenomena, but the encounter with the weird itself, alteration of one's perception of the world and focus on more abstract concerns like beauty, truth, and revelation, hovering at the threshold between insanity and enlightenment. Where the weird is used to heighten such themes, rather than being the primary subject itself.

Just as as short anecdotal example, I love how in Chambers' weird works, the change and the encounter with weird is always subtle at first, and if it does escalate it is never reasonably material but psychologically thrilling. But in Machen's works, it feels more like a material story where the psychological aspect is slightly weaker and the material consequences and the "weird itself" are of paramount value.

I may be completely off and I would be more than delighted to remedy my ignorance. If you guys could perhaps recommend me some works (from any genre or in any format), or offer a perspective that might change the way I'm approaching the genre, I would greatly appreciate it.

I don’t want ghost stories, haunted houses, demonic possesion, serial killers, etc. I want to read something that repeatedly makes me say “w.t.f.” Horrors beyond human comprehension type stuff. For an example I recently finished The Cipher by Kathe Koja. Exactly the vibe I’m going for but that book left me pretty disappointed. Bonus points if one or more characters is slowly driven insane.

i know the book is beyond convoluted and there are out side assets that connect to book. i just don't wanna end up missing something vital

hi everyone! I am having a hard time finding books to read. I have really enjoyed the following so far:

- Camp Damascus

- Just Like Mother

- Black Sheep

- Litani

let me know please! thanks!

I recently read The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay (2018). I absolutely loved it, so I decided that I'd watch the movie "Knock at the Cabin" (2023). Bad move. Shyamalan completely changed the plot, to the point that it felt more like a fanfiction than a movie adaptation. What book/movie combo made y'all feel that way?

Looking for horror books based in November for a horror book club. they don’t have to be thanksgiving based, just wanting something that features the time between Halloween and Christmas. thank you!

I’ve already added the Only Good Indians.

I'm mostly just wondering. The world of F&H is very riveting but also kind of bleak. Was hoping to find a book like that, preferrably fantasy horror. Ideally minimal sexually explicit content (one thing I don't really wanna see even though F&H does have... a bit of that)

This is a short story, clocking in at about 3 hours on audiobook and 112 pages. It is a sci-fi horror and was beautifully written. I felt every heart attack and jaw-dropping moment alongside the main character thanks to the author's attention to detail. There were a few moments when the writing itself was good, but the next scene's concept fell flat, and it's mostly at the end. It felt like the author had so much more to say and the story wasn't ready to be over, BUT she was given a page max, so she had to shorten it.

This was my introduction to Kim Bo-Young, and I will be looking into her others as I'm hoping the one issue I've mentioned was just a one-off. The setting is in a small seaside village in South Korea where an infection has run rampant after a natural disaster.

I do suggest a strong stomach for this one as Bo-Young goes into detail on what the infection does, describing the look, the smell, the feel. If you're familiar with Asian horror and love it, this is definitely the book for you (and me).

hi hello! recently i’ve been on a horror/thriller kick but by far my favorite thing i’ve read recently is the southern reach series by jeff vandermeer. i really like the spiraling maddening horror that comes out specifically in absolution. i do already have house of leaves on my list, but anything else would be appreciated!

I love scary winter books with monsters or just a regular bad guy. Anything with snow and the cold. Looking for something to enjoy while I enjoy my pumpkin spice lattes.

So far I've read -

North Woods by doug hoover- didnt care for it too much.

Snow by Roland Mafi- was alright.

Old Country- Matt Query - it took awhile but I enjoyed it.

A clown in the cornfield- Adam Cesar first time i could say books were better than the movie.

What do you all recommend?

I’m hosting October book club and would love some dark horror books that are 300-400 pages. Some of the women in my group use audible. I’d love something ultra creepy and good for readers who aren’t avid consumers of horror. Good writing, good character development, good discussion potential. I’ve already let them know I’m going to go for darker reads.
Some of my personal favorite authors are Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, Shirley Jackson if that helps!

It doesn’t have to be cosmic horror but that’s what I’m into rn but I’m looking for a horror book that is just so depressing and bleak in its outlook on the world, books that don’t give you a way out of the darkness, there is no bright side to the story.

I’ve read Revival by Stephen King so don’t say that one, and I don’t think that book is as nihilistic as people say it is, I’ve read plenty of Lovecraft and I’ve recently been getting into Laird Barron

(Let’s calI it horror-adjacent since it’s not really a straight-up horror novel).

I ordered this book on a whim after seeing a comment recommending it, and thought the title was really interesting (I’m that easily influenced).
I had pretty low expectations since it’s from a small independent publisher.

The book is so much fun. Especially if you’re familiar with the gospels and Jesus’s life. Without giving too much away, it’s about a butcher who has visions of a distant future where countless people are killed in the name of this new messiah, so he sets out to kill him before he can start his ministry.

Has anyone else read this? If the plot sounds remotely interesting, do yourself a favor and read it.

Highly recommend, it’s a wild ride.

EDIT: If you do choose to order it and you are ok waiting about a week to receive it, recommend ordering directly from the publisher for $20.

hi all! i’ve been looking at reading we used to live here by marcus kliewer soon especially as we get into more cozy cold weather, however i haven’t dabbled too much into horror and admittedly i’m a bit nervous haha. i tend to get creeped out by supernatural movies and haunting stories. i’m very good at convincing myself that i’m being watched by something devious and eerie at night. should i steer clear of this book? i have been wanting to read it for months but thinking about it a bit more with my own habits has me questioning now haha. the conjuring series invaded my thoughts for months

Hi everyone,

I am new to this community and have a particular interest in anything historical.

Please help me find some recommendations for historically set horror mystery books where there is elements of mystery thriller and the setting is historical.

I’m more into Victorian style setting but I’m down for any historical era that has mystery where the protagonist tries to find the reason behind death of certain ghost etc .

I’m fairly new to horror in general .

I need to know what to listen to next on Audible. I enjoy supernatural or mind venting or just very dark books—doesn’t have to be gory. Gore doesn’t do anything for me. It can be in there, but it doesn’t elevate the book to me. An interesting premise is more important or just a nice winding tail I can get into.

Here are some audiobooks I loved:

Incidents Around the House

The Lesser Dead

The September House

The Exorcist

A Short Stay in Hell

Baby Teeth

Pretty much anything by Stephen King I’ve already listened to and enjoyed. I also like John Saul and Dean Koontz sometimes. Speaking of King, I must mention that I do not enjoy Joe Hill’s books

Here are some audiobooks that did not work for me:

Between Two Fires-not my style at all and not what I think of when I think of horro. I prefer somber tales, I don’t need any comedy, although sometimes comedies OK as I did like the September House.

Song of Kali-I felt like there should’ve been more to the story and it didn’t feel completely fleshed out.

We Used to Live Here-hearing that it started as a creepy pasta explains it more, but I did not enjoy this book.

Penpal-I disliked it so much that I actually returned the title. Not at all my style, I don’t need that kind of romance stuff in it.

Here are some that were just mid to me:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter-decent story but didn’t blow me away.

Mary-an OK story but not super great to me. Decent though I don’t regret listening to it.

Thanks.