Recs if you like Japanese Gothic...

When the narrator(s) makes the book even better. For new listeners and audiobook elites, here is a range of different genres and narrators that excel at audio perfection.

are you sick of being recommended stephen king when you ask for a horror novel? have you picked up a book expected to be scared, but the scariest thing about it was a woman being needlessly tormented and gaslit? have you read 4627473 books about a man in a haunted house and need something different?

if so, this list is for you :)

a masterlist of horror by anyone who isn't a straight cis white man, started in 2022 and brought to pb in 2026.

books that fracture, remake, and defy the rules of time, space, memory, and idea.

Horror stories (in all of its forms/subgenres) from Asian authors!

Recs welcome!

A genre-inclusive and diverse list of horror releases coming in 2026. If I missed any or you have suggestions, please let me know. I will update periodically as new books are announced and release dates are solidified.

Source for a lot of the data for this list came from readjumpscares.com, which is a website you should absolutely check out. I’m sure data will come from other places along the way, as well.

was curious, so did some research and found loads and loads!!! happy reading, folks!

Horror books to read just for the aesthetic

featuring loosely "gothic" inspired stories from outside of the european / western literary canon (by no means a rigid, all encompassing list or academic designation.)

as always welcome to suggestions !

Every single Aardvark Book Club book pick since its inception. Updated monthly!

books about time slips, loops, travel, and alternate realities

If being an unreliable narrator was a crime, these characters would be in trouble

Hii, everyone ♡ I am a very big fan of the booktuber @caricanread so I thought I would make a list of all the books she has read this year! ✰

Book list for the Anti-Brain rot challenge with Boundless press

hold on tight as we explore a myriad of alternate realities and multiverses

Yes, we’re judging (and celebrating!) the most creative and interesting book covers released this year. Mostly featuring cool typography, stunning illustrations, and exciting colour palettes. Not limited by genre but sticking with young adult and adult books. (This is an anti AI cover list)

lit fic and horror, mainly, and mostly books by women, nonbinary & trans writers, basically mostly non-cis-men

a collection of books im interested in which are releasing this year (2026). no particular order

Books with titles that start with the most uncommon letters to begin words: X, Q, Z & J.

I wanted to join the fun in doing an alphabet challenge and am currently adding X and Z to complete my alphabet of books :) Here’s some recommendations if others want a similar challenge!

Natalie Naudus has narrated hundreds of audiobooks so bear with me as I try to get them all on this list!

All those books that have a place name and the word Gothic. In case you need a little bit of Gothic closer to home (or farther away...)

Note that I haven't read all of these