Best Horror Books I Read in 2021

If you know me, you know I LOVE the horror genre. I read a lot of amazing horror stories in 2021 and wanted to highlight some of my favorites. I have been a horror fan forever, and just recently decided to write reviews so that I can connect with other readers and aid in their selection process. Like everyone else, I'm busy, and I try to not spend my time on sub-par stories, so I tend to select books that I already know I’m going to love, meaning my reviews definitely skew positive. I hope these reviews bring some delightful fright and spice to your reading list! 


I worked hard to curate this list before I even read the books. I am glad I read all of them, and I recommend them all, but some are definitely better than others. This post should help you get the vibe of all the stories and pick out the ones you want to get into.


(This post only focuses on my reading experience with and impressions of these stories. For a full synopsis of the stories, I have linked each book title to its page on Goodreads.)

 

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

AND

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Gerald Brom

These two had a bit of overlap, so I’m writing about them together.

These books are really similar in that they are witch stories set in a puritanical society, and they have a strong female protagonist that likes to stir shit up (because they’re totes witches). The Year of the Witching had a handmaid’s tale vibe, and Slewfoot was similar but much more fantastical. The folksy mythos in Slewfoot is rich and unique. Both satisfy my dark love for a good vengeance story. I think if you like one, you will like the other. I haven’t seen anything about Slewfoot on the blogs and bookstagrams I follow (I just found it in my local bookstore), so if you want to read something that is lesser known, check it out!

 

Final Girls Support Group by Grady Hendrix

This book won the best horror book of the year on Goodreads, and I’m not mad about it. It appeals to many different horror troupes and has it all. Slashers, mystery, and demented and unpredictable personalities. Hendrix does such an amazing job of appealing to readers who love classic horror films and he’s quickly become one of my favorite authors. You’re in for an intense and insane ride with this book. The plot is about as wacky and simultaneously captivating as successful horror can be.

 

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

This book was somehow lovely and delightful, despite all of the spiders. I loved the female friendship angle that this witch story took. This story is unique and I want to describe is as cute horror. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it will when you read it. 

 

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

I loved this gothic horror story. It was just the right amount of magic and gore (mostly medical gore, but like old-timey medical so it gets gnarly), with a bit of romance. It explores some really cool ideas within the realms of fantasy and magic. 

 

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

This book was excellent. You go into it not knowing what it’s about, because the book jacket is relatively vague. I was hesitant to buy it because of this vagueness, but, I promise, the less you know going in, the better. It’s full of twists, and I highly recommend it.

 

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

This was a cool story of a generational affliction that’s attached to a place. I loved the idea of the story more than the execution. However, it was still a fairly immersive reading experience. I didn’t feel the depth of characters that I was hoping for, but I think my opinion may be tainted by the hype I read about this author beforehand and I haven’t read any of her other works. This book is solid, good, but not amazing.

 

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

This book was a quick and immersive read full of mystery, ghosts, curses, drugs, queer love, and academic strife. I loved the setting and atmosphere of this story and how the author mixed the southern elite academics with drug-fueled locals on the outskirts of a college town. And the author is currently getting their PhD at UK (where I earned my graduate degree)! Definitely worth a read if you like stories about non-conventional relationships and spooky ghosts.

 

Later by Stephen King

Short, quick, and entertaining read. Has a sort of Sixth Sense/Shining vibe but is also its own thing. Nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s a good ol’ reliable Stephen King story! 

 

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

This is a really unique book. Metafiction written like a true crime memoir. It includes information about the author’s real life, hometown, and upbringing, with an added fictional serial killer spin. Definitely recommended for any true crime fanatic. This story wasn’t as immersive for me, likely because it feels and was meant to feel more like non-fiction. So, not my favorite just because it’s not the kind of reading experience I most enjoy.

 

You can’t go wrong with any of these books.

I’m already well into my horror selection for 2022 and I’m currently on a fantasy/romance streak! I’m thinking my next post will be about the fantasy books I’ve read this year, but if you want to hear about something else, put it in the comments or drop me a line through email or Instagram (@lauriekeet) <3

To hold you over in the meantime, my recommendations in horror from what I’ve read so far this year are The Only Good Indians  by Stephen Graham Jones and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix.

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