13 Scary YA Books to Read on Friday the 13th

When Friday the 13th falls in October, you know it’s going to be extra creepy. That makes it the perfect day to read a scary YA book! If you’re craving a bone-chilling story that will send shivers up your spine, we’ve got you covered with this list of scary YA books to read on Friday the 13th. On this reading list, you’ll find stories about ghosts, monsters, witches, spells, and murderous villains. These YA books are perfect to read by the campfire or under a blanket with a flashlight. Get ready for some hair-raising fun!

The Haunting

By Natasha Preston

#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Preston is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!

Haunted by the past . . .

Those We Drown

By Amy Goldsmith

An ocean-drenched, atmospheric horror debut! Liv’s best friend disappears on their first night aboard their dream semester-at-sea program—but is he really sick, like everyone says, or is something darker lurking beneath the water?

Wilder Girls

By Rory Power

“Wilder Girls is so sharp and packs so much emotion in such wise ways. I’m convinced we’re about to witness the emergence of a major new literary star.” –Jeff VanderMeer, New York Times bestselling author of Annihilation

New York Times Bestseller • A feminist Lord of the Flies about three best friends living in quarantine at their island boarding school, and the lengths they go to uncover the truth of their confinement when one disappears. This fresh debut is a mind-bending novel unlike anything you’ve read before.

Fright Night

By Maren Stoffels

When three friends sign up for Fright Night, they’re hoping for some spooky fun in the woods. But the game is more frightening than they bargained for. Confronted with unexpected connections and disturbing secrets, these teens will face their deepest fears before the night is over. This spooky YA book will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Haunting the Deep

By Adriana Mather

If you loved How to Hang a Witch, you’ll want to curl up with this ghostly sequel. Samantha is having eerie dreams and visions about the Titanic and the people who went down with the ship. As her visions become more realistic, Sam knows she’s under a spell. With the help of her friends, she must find the source of the spell and break it before it’s too late.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

By Kiersten White

If you’re ready for some epic chills, pick up this retelling of Frankenstein told from Elizabeth’s point of view. When Elizabeth goes to stay with Victor Frankenstein, she is determined to become part of the family, no matter what it might cost. This dark, twisted tale will make your skin crawl!

There's No Way I'd Die First

By Lisa Springer

A spine-tingling contemporary horror-comedy novel that follows a scary-movie buff as she hosts an elaborate Halloween bash but soon finds the festivities upended when she and her guests are forced to test their survival skills in a deadly game, from debut author Lisa Springer.

Monstrous

By Jessica Lewis

Forced to spend her summer in her aunt’s strange small town, a teen girl discovers dark secrets hidden in the woods. From the author of Bad Witch Burning comes another pulse-pounding novel perfect for fans of Supernatural and Lovecraft Country.

Hatchet Girls

By Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Set more than one hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive, supernatural thriller imagines what might happen if history were to repeat itself today. Perfect for fans of Kara Thomas and Courtney Summers!

Win Lose Kill Die

By Cynthia Murphy

A high-school slasher with a lethal twist, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson! The students at Morton Academy are high-achievers, selected based on academic excellence. So when a series of murders target the school’s best and brightest, the pressure is on.

Failure is fatal…

The Wicked Unseen

By Gigi Griffis

The new girl in town is having trouble fitting into a community that believes there’s a secret Satanic cult conducting rituals in the woods. When her crush goes missing, she starts to wonder if the town’s obsession with evil isn’t covering up something far worse. Perfect for fans of Fear Street!

Stranger Danger

By Maren Stoffels

From horror powerhouse author Maren Stoffels comes the next pulse-quickening read! There’s nowhere to hide when three teens find themselves in the middle of nowhere, with no internet and a killer hunting them down.

Don’t think you can get rid of me so fast. . . .

Never Coming Home

By Kate M. Williams

The escapist read you have been dying for! When ten of America’s hottest teenage influencers are invited to an exclusive island resort, things are sure to get wild. But murder isn’t what anyone expected. Will anyone survive?

The Black Queen

By Jumata Emill

Nova Albright was going to be the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High—but now she’s dead. Murdered on coronation night. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Other Black Girl will love this unputdownable thriller.

In Nightfall

By Suzanne Young

In the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn’t the dark you should be afraid of—it’s the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.

13 Scary YA Books to Read on Friday the 13th

The Haunting

By Natasha Preston

Those We Drown

By Amy Goldsmith

Wilder Girls

By Rory Power

Fright Night

By Maren Stoffels

Haunting the Deep

By Adriana Mather

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

By Kiersten White

There's No Way I'd Die First

By Lisa Springer

Monstrous

By Jessica Lewis

Hatchet Girls

By Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Win Lose Kill Die

By Cynthia Murphy

The Wicked Unseen

By Gigi Griffis

Stranger Danger

By Maren Stoffels

Never Coming Home

By Kate M. Williams

The Black Queen

By Jumata Emill

In Nightfall

By Suzanne Young

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