5 Horror Books that Deserve the Book of the Year in 2026

I have read a seriously great batch of horror books this time around. I have already talked about some of these books in separate articles, but I feel like I have to mention these stories again. I think these five books are probably the best horror novels I have so far this year. 

From monster stories, serial killers, and supernatural elements, these stories are so entertaining from beginning to end. 

This is one of the few times where it took me a long time to finish five novels, because one of these books was so freaking long, but I was determined to finish the book before writing my review. This particular novel is hands down the best vampire novel ever written.

5. You Shouldn't Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose

This novel was one of the best books written by Rose. We follow the story of a young woman named Grace, who decides to visit a random small town. She stays in a Airbnb home, where she meets a handsome young man, who is her host. We follow both points of view, learning so much about the two main characters, and the secrets they both hold. 

It's crazy how toxic this small town was, especially when it came to one character that irritated me to another level. Almost every single character in the small town is holding some kind of connection to Grace's love interest, and things only continue to get weirder once the ending comes along. 

The twist ending was pretty genius, and I think if it hadn't been for this twist, I still would have enjoyed the book, but the ending took the story to a whole other insane direction I never would have predicted. 

4. Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer 

This novel will satisfy any horror fan. We follow the story of a young woman who dreams of starting a successful online vlog, showing off her family to the world. The only problem is that she hasn't gotten pregnant yet, and it doesn't help that her husband is showing signs of not wanting to be with his wife anymore. 

She becomes determined to have a child, and she gets her wish when she meets a demon, who gives her a child. Despite the pregnancy being uncanny, she is happy, and gives birth to a little girl that she names Sweetheart. Her baby needs flesh to survive, and her mother is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure her baby will be fine. 

This story is also so sad, because it took a demon to notice the main character. She is constantly rejected or ridiculed by the people in her life, including her own husband, who doesn't seem to give a damn about her. This demon literally gives her a way out of her sad life, and she embraces it head on, with their demon child. 

This story is surprisingly violent too, and it made me queasy in several parts of the book!

3. The Green Mile by Stephen King

It's been years since I read this book. I decided to read this book again for the hell of it, because I did forget so much of what happened in this story. We follow a man who is working in a prison, who looks after some pretty ruthless prisoners before they are sent to the electric chair. 

The main protagonist meets one prisoner named Coffee, who has committed one of the most sickest crimes within the prison. However, there is something about this guy that doesn't sit well with the guards. They eventually learn that he has supernatural abilities of healing, and the guards later find out that perhaps Coffee wasn't the one who committed this sick crime. 

The ending reveal is pretty shocking, and this story will also leave you feeling depressed by the time you get to one specific scene in the book.

2. Our Winter Monster by Dennis Mahoney

This is one of the best monster books ever written, the story is beyond original, and I love how we never get all the answers by the time the book ends. We follow the story of a young couple who is facing problems in their relationship. They believe going on a trip around Christmas time is a good idea, and then during the trip through heavy snow, they get into an accident, but it isn't the snowstorm that makes the couple crash. 

The couple slowly learns that a winter monster is appearing out of thin air whenever the couple is alone or together, but they learn that they are somehow conjuring up this creature, and a lot of people in a small town are getting killed or heavily injured. 

The couple struggle to control this monster, and the madness they cause throughout the town really satisfied my love for horror. 

1. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons 

This is hands down the best vampire story you will ever read. We follow the story of several characters who are pulled into a war among multiple powerful vampires, who are able to control the human race to do whatever they wish. The main characters decide to work together to exact revenge for the people they lost, or to make sure these monsters will never hurt anyone ever again, but their choices come at a high cost throughout the book. 

It's crazy how many people are killed during this war. These vampires literally control anyone in the novel, making them commit the worst crimes imaginable, or using them to take down each other as the war continues on. No one is ever given mercy, and the most tragic part, is that the chances of snapping out of the control are quite low, and some victims remain brain dead after they are controlled for long periods of time. 

The final battle among the vampires and the main characters was so intense. It was such an original battle sequence, and it felt like I was watching a television show. 

That is how GREAT the story was. This story needs a live action adaptation ASAP!

I'm planning to do another 5-book review once I go visit the bookstore again!

---

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn