It’s October 31, and you’ve completely forgotten that brilliant costume idea you had back in July.
Luckily, you don’t have to look too far or break the bank for a clever costume, especially if you’re a book lover. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite book covers so you can steal their look for a perfect last-minute literary Halloween costume. These literary ensembles can be pulled together using items you already own so you can head to that party with confidence.
Book Cover: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Steal the Look: All you need for this one is a gray t-shirt or sweatshirt, some red yard or red thread, torn up strips of paper, and voila! You’re the murder-board-inspired book cover of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder! You could even make it a group costume of every book in the series. All you need are some red-stained broken headphones, white masking tape, and a red shirt or sweater for Good Girl, Bad Blood and a black shirt or sweater with some duct tape for As Good As Dead. If all three of you stand together, you could say you’re the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Complete Series Boxed Set!
Book Cover: American Royals by Katharine McGee
Steal the Look: Want to go as a princess but don’t have a crown? No problem! Steal the look from the cover of American Royals with your classiest set of sunglasses and your most elegant dress. Pair it with some patriotic nail polish and jewelry and just like that, you’re an American royal! Need more inspiration? Check out the covers for every book in the American Royals series and accessorize your look to match. We’re especially fond of the heart-shaped sunglasses on the cover of American Royals IV: Reign.
Book Cover: Ryan and Avery by David Levithan
Steal the Look: Need an easy last-minute couple’s costume? Why not go as Ryan and Avery! One of you wears a jeans with a yellow sweater and sprays pink hair dye in their hair (or you could wear a pink hat if you’re short on time) while the other wears jeans with a green jacket and either sprays blue hair dye in their hair or wears a blue hat. We don’t know if you’ll win any best costume awards, but you’ll certainly make the cutest couple.
Book Cover: The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven
Steal the Look: Take a darker spin on the classic school girl look by going as a student from the elite Carvell Academy of the Arts from The Society for Soulless Girls. If you already have a private school uniform, all you need to do is wear that with a few splatters of fake blood on it and you’re done. Carrying a red book with a gold moth on it is extra credit.
Book Cover: The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
Steal the Look: For those of you who prefer to go wild with the hair and makeup, this is the look to steal. Your outfit can be whatever formal dress you’ve got on hand (even better if it’s red), and then you can match your hair and makeup to the book’s cover with gold eye shadow, big curls, and the telltale (fake) blood dripping from your hairline. It’s simple, yet scary.
Book Cover: My Father, The Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
Steal the Look: This is for those of you who really waited until the last minute. Grab a white t-shirt and some high-waisted jeans and you’re done! You’re Jane from My Father, The Panda Killer. If you have a stuffed panda bear at home, you could carry that around to really sell it.
