Recs if you like Your Beloved Remains...

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.

We should all be reading queer, all year, but this list is full of upcoming queer books of all makes and models coming out in 2026. If you have a rec to add, just please keep in mind we’re looking for 2026 releases!

dark academia books with queer and trans MCs

A selection of contemporary Southern Gothic titles exploring the decay, despair, and trauma of the reconstructed American South. Come for the palpably atmospheric settings and descriptions, stay for the literary commentary on the legacy of the South's oft-romanticized past.

As a note: I did not include the most well known writers in the genre, e.g. Truman Capote, Harper Lee, William Faulkner, etc. as the list is more focused on the resurgence of Southern Gothic in contemporary literature.

collecting all 2026 releases featuring sapphic romance!!

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.

Horror books to read just for the aesthetic

Call me a monster? Have it your way 🤷‍♀️ Queer characters who become something wild, feral, misunderstood--and maybe also a literal creature.

Suggestions welcome!

Horror and other darker themed novels/novellas being released in September and/or October of 2026–perfect for planning your Spooky Season TBRs!

I’m really fascinated by cover trends in publishing and this one has felt inescapable this year so I decided to make a list of them all! I feel like I personally see this most often in horror & lit fic, but I’d love to hear if you’ve seen this trend outside those genres or if there’s another trend you see!

A list of what I'm most looking forward to in the second half of 2026, with a focus on mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. If you have any recs, please share, particularly if they are queer! 💖

Personally my favourite time of year is the autumn, when the evenings are dark, I can curl up with a blanket, whack the fairy lights on, and play Stardew Valley while listening to gothic / spooky / dark academia fiction. These are the books for that.