Goodreads' Top 15 Most Read Horror Books Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

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There are so many great horror books are on shelves right now, it's almost scary. But what's actually terrifying is the thought of wasting time on a book that's as chilling as a hot pumpkin spice latte over one that'll have you sleeping with the lights on. To help you avoid that nightmare, we weeded out the dreadful duds to bring you the haunting horror novels Goodreads users are actually loving.

We picked out the 15 highest user-rated horrors (each book has a rolling score out of 5.0 stars) featured on Goodreads' 2026's Most Popular Mysteries and Horror Novels (So Far) compilation. For our list, we considered what readers had to say about the horror elements in their reviews, taking into account which selections left a memorable impact. In instances where one or more books had the same user-given score at the time of writing, we placed the novel with more ratings higher.

"A Box Full of Darkness" by Simone St. James is the second in the "Fell, New York" series, following "The Sun Down Motel." Released in January of this year, it's already a hit with fans, as it has a 3.74 user given Goodreads score from over 21,800 ratings. The dark tale takes readers back to the town of Fell where a series of very mysterious, sad events keep happening. That includes the disappearance of Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie's younger brother. Following the horrific tragedy, the sisters become magnets for terror and start seeing scary visions. Years later, the sisters decide to reunite in Fell after being lured back with the promise of answers from a ghost.

"Darkly atmospheric, unsettlingly moody, & deliciously haunted!" one Goodreads user wrote of the story. "It is one of those reads where the unease settles in early and never fully lets go," they added. Another wrote, "This is a slow burn paranormal mystery that came with a dark atmosphere and had an intriguing plot!"

"Greedy" by Callie Kazumi hit shelves in February and has over 2,700 ratings and a 3.77 average score at the time of writing. We meet Edward Cook in this delicious horror, which is ideal for those who love disturbing thriller books. Edward has put his family in mortal danger because he can't pay back his debt to a dangerous group, so he's desperate to earn as much money as he can as fast as possible. He takes on a chef job for a mysterious socialite named Hazeline Yamamoto. Hazeline is hardly sweet and kind though and Edward soon finds his new workplace, Hazeline's lavish mansion, is nothing more than a fancy slaughterhouse.

One impressed Goodreads user gushed over the dramatic final twist and wrote, "The modern, fresh and well paced storytelling, combined with a hapless central character you cant help but root for, makes this a dark and addictive read!" Another reader stated in their four-star review, "[It] explores themes of security, the forbidden, greed and appetite, and identity. This novel made me feel tense, emotional and shocked."

At the time of writing, "The Dorians" by Nick Cutter, which released in May, has a 3.77 average score from more than 3,300 Goodreads ratings. The sci-fi horror novel is set on a remote island where a group of older people with various ailments are urged to take part in a revolutionary trial that aims to stall their biological clocks. It could even reverse them, which potentially means the group could keep death at bay indefinitely. But it soon becomes clear that playing God, or at least trying to, comes with serious consequences.

One review claimed the book wasn't as heavy on the gory horror and was slower paced than some of Cutter's other novels, but noted, "It still has some crazy body horror which [Cutter] is known for." A third review stated, "The atmosphere was creepy, the body horror was disgusting in the best way, and the whole story really makes you think about mortality, survival, and how far humans will go to escape death. Such a wild ride."

Claire Fuller's "Hunger and Thirst" debuted at the top of the summer and has a 3.79 score from more than 2,000 ratings at the time of writing. Our protagonist, teenager Ursula, has had a tough life. She grew up in care under difficult circumstances, but believed she'd finally found a friend in a renegade named Sue. One fateful night, Sue encourages Ursula to do a terrible dare that leads to a dark disappearance which changes Ursula's life forever. Over three decades after that fateful day, Ursula is dragged back into her childhood trauma when a documentary maker starts sniffing around and she's forced to face the terrible facts about what really happened all those years ago.

In one five-star review, a Goodreads user wrote, "It's horrifying, insane, eerie, and deeply gothic. It makes your blood run cold, delivers real jump scares, and has you sleeping with the lights on while your imagination runs wild." Another complimented Fuller for the book's depth, writing, "Not only has the author created a real horror of a mystery but it also includes thought provoking issues."

Released just ahead of this year's Pride month, "Bone of My Bone" is an LGBTQ+ horror love story by Johanna van Veen with a 3.79 Goodreads score, at the time of writing, from more than 3,000 ratings. We meet nun Sister Ursula and lowly Elsebeth, who take shelter in a forest amid war. There, they find the magical gilded skull of a saint. It's long been claimed that if someone reunites the skull and its skeleton, they'll be granted a magical wish. With that in mind, the two take on a treacherous quest — but there are dark spirits ready to stop them at every turn.

"This is such an excellent blend of Historical, Religious and Folk Horror. The setting is rich with detail, gritty and brutal. There's dirt, grime, gore, blood, and everything in between," wrote on Goodreads user. Another praised van Veen's writing in their review, noting, "'Bone of My Bone' is the kind of horror that seeps into your skin."

"Marion" from Leah Rowan has over 5,200 ratings and an average score at the time of writing of 3.80. It's a creative alternate version to the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho." Only, in this book (movie spoiler alert!) Marion doesn't die. Her new acquaintance Norm Billings still tries to stab her to death, but Marion gets in first and she kills her would be murderer before he gets chance to harm her. Knowing she'd previously stolen money to help her sister escape her abusive husband and has now killed someone, she has no choice but to go on the run.

One Goodreads user noted they couldn't predict the horror book's multiple twists and turns, while another praised the novel's feminist themes. "Rowan does an excellent job building atmosphere while putting a fresh spin on familiar material," they wrote. "Clever, original and a fresh spin on a horror classic, this was such a fun thriller," another said. And there are plenty more creepy thriller books about killers out there if that's your thing.

"Trad Wife" by Saratoga Schaefer, at the time of writing, ranks slightly higher than "Marion" with a 3.81 average score from over 17,700 ratings. The book has a lot to say about the trad wife internet phenomenon, where influencers show off their traditional roles on social media. Our trad wife here is Camille Deming, who has an impressive online following. She believes that to complete her image, she needs to become a mom. Desperate, she makes a wish into a strange well. It's not long before thrilled Camille falls pregnant (even if her husband isn't quite so happy), but things take a dark turn when the expectant mom to be gets a ravenous craving for raw meat while her belly expands at an alarmingly rapid rate.

"If you don't like blood, guts, pregnancy horror, body horror or cannibalism, you probably don't wanna be reading this," one Goodreads user noted. "But if you can appreciate an unhinged, campy, satirical horror-comedy with social commentary, and a dash of getting freaky with a demon, you should 100% give it a go," they added. Another gave the freaky story four stars and wrote, "It's full of gore and death and antiquated gender roles, and I both loved and hated just about every moment of it."

Chuck Tingle's "Fabulous Bodies" has been rated on Goodreads more than 6,100 times and amassed an average of 3.83 at the time of writing. Though the glitzy title and beach read-esque cover may not scream horror, the storyline certainly does. Poppy Stringer is that unusual combination of fashion influencer and grave robber. When famous rockstar Eddie Michaels dies suddenly, macabre Poppy decides to steal his body. But things don't exactly go to plan, because Eddie isn't as dead as his fans were led to believe.

One Goodreads review noted the book was different from most other horrors on the market and wrote, "This book is so wild and bizarre, full of gore, hunger and body horror that just bedazzles the story with sprinkles and sparkles. [It's] over the top grotesque, queer and it's fabulous." Another wrote, "'Fabulous Bodies' was really, REALLY graphic and did not shy away from being gross—far more than what I would comfortably read. Proceed at your own discretion, as once the first body drops...it only gets more and more brutal from there." But don't worry if you're looking for a more classic gothic horror book, because we've got you covered there too.

"Odessa" from Gabrielle Sher has amassed more than 2,500 ratings and a 3.89 average Goodreads score at the time of writing. The historical fiction tells the story of the murder of a young girl named Yetta, who is killed in a religiously motivated attack. Her desperate dad uses magic to resurrect her and, surprisingly, it works. But the girl who returns isn't the sweet, unassuming Yetta he once knew. Yetta 2.0 has learned the dark secret her family have been hiding and, after years of wondering, she finally knows why her parents tried to stop her socializing with her peers for all those years.

"'Odessa' is a harrowing and intense read," said one Goodreads reviewer, who revealed they were hooked from the first page. "Simply but beautifully written, heartbreaking and bloody this is one book that lived up to its amazing cover!" a second person commented. "Deeply profound and utterly heartbreaking," read a third review, which also praised the novel's originality.

"Japanese Gothic" by Kylie Lee Baker just edges out "Odessa" at the time of writing, thanks to its 3.89 score from over 26,500 ratings since appearing on shelves back in April. The horror is told from two perspectives and includes several nods to Japanese mythology. We meet Lee Turner in 2026, a man who has just murdered his roommate. But he has no idea why. Turner then flees New York and heads to Japan to be with his dad, but finds there's a woman with a sword who stands outside his father's house every night. We also meet young samurai Sen, who's living in hiding back in 1877 because she knows she and her family are in serious danger at the hands of imperial soldiers. But, (twist alert!) either Lee or Sen is a ghost, and their stories are more intwined than either could imagine.

In a five-star Goodreads review, one user wrote, "A mind-exploding, bone-shivering gothic nightmare wrapped in Japanese mythology, samurai legacy, and time-bending terror — this book is an exquisitely strange, intoxicating, and utterly original experience." In another five-star review, a second reader gushed, "If you're looking for a book that fills you with a sense of impending doom where you constantly feel like something terrible is going to happen, look no further!!"

Released at the start of 2026, Maria Tureaud's "This House Will Feed" has a 4.02 score at the time of writing from over 4,200 Goodreads ratings. The horror thriller is set during Ireland's Great Famine. Desperate to get through the impossibly hard time, Maggie O'Shaughnessy lands a job at a manor house. The lady of the house, Lady Catherine, then urges Maggie to pretend to be her late daughter in order to obtain her pension. But while Maggie is willing to go along with the ruse on the promise thousands of people will benefit from the lies (including her), there's a spanner in the works when the strange house starts to come alive with spirits and she begins experiencing odd dreams.

"If you love historical fiction, gothic horror, folklore, mysticism, multiple time lines, and rage then this one is for you," wrote a Goodreads user. In a four-star review, another reader stated, "A historical horror done right!! This book was so atmospheric and will literally chill you to your bones."

"Honeysuckle" by Bar Fridman-Tell was a spring release that now has over 3,700 ratings and a 4.06 average score at the time of writing. This fantasy horror introduces us to young Rory. He's so desperate for a friend that his sister uses magic and materials to make him one — but there's a catch. His new friend, Daye, falls apart at the end of every season. Though she can usually be woven back together, there's no telling if it could be for the final time. Rory and Daye grow up together and eventually fall in love, but while Rory is desperate to keep Daye alive forever, she begins to wonder if Rory repeatedly playing God is what she actually wants.

"This delicate morphing of young love unfolds into something more sinister gradually as a flower blooming, constantly pulling me forward into the melancholic abyss," wrote one reader. They were also complimentary of the dark novel's satisfying ending. A second noted in their review, "Fans of botanical horror, character-driven stories, and folklore, this is not one to miss."

T. Kingfisher's "Wolf Worm" has been rated on Goodreads over 22,400 times for an average score of 4.06. The gothic horror, which released back in March, is set in 1899 when Sonia Wilson gets a once in a lifetime offer from Dr. Halder to illustrate the insects he's been collection for years. But when she gets to his the recluse's odd house, she realized things aren't quite right. Sonia begins to question what happened to Dr. Halder's wife (who had the job before her) and why it seems the whole community is deeply suspicious of this nonconformist inset enthusiast who loves to conduct dark experiments.

"This book is well written and suspenseful and kind of horrifying in parts," wrote one reader in their Goodreads review, noting the book worked as a slow burn. "I feel like this book literally crawled under my skin, devoured my brain and unsettled me from beginning to end. I need therapy," wrote another fan in a their five-star review.

At the time of writing, "The Curse of Hester Gardens" from Tamika Thompson has a 4.12 Goodreads score from more than 800 ratings. In this March release, mom-of-three Nona McKinley is struggling. She has an imprisoned drug dealer husband and lost her 18-year-old son to gun-related violence, but has so far kept her other children on the right track. However, things take a turn when her good boys appear to be taken over by dark spirits that change their personalities and wreak havoc on their town. Nona's biggest concern? That her sordid affair may be the reason for the dark shadow hanging over her family — and the whole town.

"It's brilliant, it's horrifying, it's devastating," one Goodreads user said. "The story mixes real-life struggles with eerie, paranormal moments, and while it sometimes felt like two separate stories were unfolding, I ended up loving how they connected," wrote another, while a third shared, "This was a real, raw and devastating book."

Taylor Adams' "Her Las Breath" has an average score of 4.14 and more than 43,300 ratings, officially making it the highest rated horror book of 2026 (so far) on Goodreads at the time of writing. In this novel, we follow childhood best friends Allie and Tess as they decide to go caving together. But as they star their journey, they're interrupted by a man. Allie calls him out, and he hits back by trapping Tess. Thankfully, Tess survives the ordeal. But when law enforcement starts investigating what really happened, it soon becomes clear that there's a lot Tess doesn't know about Allie. And she may not be out of danger yet.

"This is a pulse-pounding, adrenaline-fueled story that terrified me. It reaches down to our deepest fears and doesn't let go. The suspense and tension never let up," wrote one Goodreads user, who was also highly complementary of the novel's twists, in their five-star review. Another review stated, "Not only did the horror movie-esque jump scares keep me on the edge of my seat, but the well-developed characters added depth to the plot." Once you've made your way through the hottest horrors of the moment, give your nervous system a break by checking out Goodreads' top 15 most read mystery and thriller books of 2026 (so far), ranked by reviews.

Given the sheer number of horror novels on the market, curating a list of the best ones is no easy feat. In order make it onto our exclusive ranking, each book had to be included on Goodreads' 2026's Most Popular Mysteries and Horror Novels (So Far) list and horror had to be listed as one of its primary genres on its Goodreads landing page. Much like when we ranked Goodreads' top 15 most read romance books of 2026 (so far), in instances where more than one novel had the same user-given score at the time of writing, the one with more ratings was positioned higher.