the monstrous-feminine
in the first edition of ‘the monstrous-feminine’, barbara creed challenges the dominant representation of women in horror films as victims, arguing that patriarchal ideology constructs women as monstrous because of their sexuality (or lack thereof).
later, creed reinterprets the monstrous-feminine as a being who embraces her body and reclaims her otherness. in line with this contemporary vision, these are books which use horror to redefine notions of ‘womanhood’.
recommendations welcome!






books your pretentious friend has heard of






Hauntology: Folk Horror and the Echoes of the Past
Hauntology is the philosophical concept, as quoted by Mark Fisher from his article taking a deeper look into Derrida's philosophical work, that "the present is always haunted by the ghosts of the past and the unfulfilled promises of the future." From generational trauma to dark histories to dying Old World pagan traditions, these elements persist throughout the wide genre of folk horror. These books explore deeply into the hauntings of the past and the instability of the future.






mod-goth (modern gothic novels)
We all love gothic classics, but what is new when it comes to the gothic genre (from the last 20 years or so)?! For fans of Dracula, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, etc. Please comment with suggestions to add!






NPR’s Books We Love 2025
Books We Love from NPR began in 2013, always boasting over 200 books (almost 400 in recent years) featuring genres from memoirs, to cookbooks, to graphic novels, to children’s literature, to nonfiction, to novels. Check out NPR’s website to filter this massive list.
The list is in reverse alphabetical order directly from NPR.






Cover Porn: The Horror Edition
Horror books to read just for the aesthetic






It’s okay to judge a book by it’s cover!
Beautiful books for when your monthly reading roundup needs a little facelift 😉






“I am no man”
Feminism and female empowerment in fantasy and speculative fiction, inspired by the always iconic Éowyn. Only the first book in a series listed unless there’s something specific about a later book, and suggestions welcome!






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






Female Rage: The Library
Social commentary under patriarchy






Bite Size Historical Fiction
Dive into these historical fiction books that are shorter than 300 pages! Selections here tried to stay away from historical fiction with fantasy or magical realism elements.
As always, open to any suggestions for additions to this list! 🙂






When the Fit Check Doesn’t Lie
Books that are just as good as the cover promises. AKA: Fantastic book covers that also happen to be fantastic books! List will be added to in the future because I can’t leave well enough alone. (Suggestions welcome, leave it in the comments.)






fucked up summer vibes
mostly horror or disturbing books that include big bodies of water, are set during the summer, or overall just give fucked up summer vibes!
can also be used as a rec list for summerween if you participate :)
🌊🪼🏖️🌞🪸🐚🧜🏻♀️
any recs are welcome!!






Little Leggies’ Cutemunity Book Club 2026
Book Club for @littleleggies twitch community Jan - Days at Morisaki Bookclub Feb - And Then He Sang a Lullaby Mar - Redwall Apr - The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers May - Portrait of a Thief June - Hungerstone Jul - When Women Were Dragons Aug - Atmosphere Sept - The Sea Gives Up the Dead Oct - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter Nov - The Hounding Dec - Seasons of Glass and Iron






weird and wonderful
weird. strange. off putting. confusing. despite this you cannot put these books down.






books that share custody of one oil painting
have I read them all? there is literally no way to know. #whoworeitbetter






woman, unraveling…
books that fall in the “woman unraveling” subgenre. life is so much, and sometimes the only way we know how to react is to spiral…. for better or worse !






Weird Girl Horror
Just some horror loved by a weird girl






Good Reads Choice Awards 2025
Nominees and winners of every category of the Good Reads Choice Awards for the year of 2025. Some books overlap so they were only entered once.






Strange Transformations: Canid Style
Fiction featuring humans turning into dogs* wild and domestic (animals including dogs, coyotes, wolves, foxes, jackals) — and vice versa.
This is not a werewolf or shapeshifter list.
SISTER LISTS: Strange Transformations: Insect Style | Strange Transformations: Avian Style | Strange Transformations: Small Mammal Style





