I’m really liking this list of Goodreads Most Popular Horror – it has, so far, had a fairly good mix on it, and it’s showing me books I wasn’t aware of, which is always a plus. I’m going through the Goodreads Most Popular Horror books to see which I’ve read, which I want to read, and maybe which ones I haven’t heard of but probably now wish I could read.
These books are Adult Horror published between October 2017 and September 2022, and popularity is measured by shelving – books from readers’ Read and Want to Read, and overall star ratings.
The Last House on Needless Street
By Catriona Ward
Published: March 18th, 2021
Status: Want to Read
I have heard so, so many great things about this book, I really do want to read it. It sounds intriguing and something I’d really enjoy, and by all accounts Ward is an excellent writer. I’m not surprised it’s on this list.
The Shadows
Alex North
Published: July 7th, 2020
Status: Hadn’t Heard Of
This sounds interesting enough, and if this ended up crossing my path I’d likely read it, but it’s not one I’d be rushing to buy anytime soon. It seems to have decent reviews, but the storyline – something awful happens in a small town, man leaves town, man returns as adult and has to confront past – feels like it’s one of those cliché things in horror by now, exhausted a little bit by Stephen King, and when I see that formula, I need to know there’s something additional to the story to make it different. I don’t get that kind of vibe from this. For now, this lingers in that in-between space of maybe one day I will, maybe I won’t.
Baby Teeth
By Zoje Stage
Published: July 17th, 2018
Status: Hadn’t Heard Of
I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of this, but also kind of not, as I wasn’t as involved in horror – or the book world, really – as much as I am now. But this…sounds intriguing, and messed up, and I feel like I haven’t seen “evil kid is evil” for a long while. I think I want to try and read this, at some point.
My Heart Is a Chainsaw
By Stephen Graham Jones
Published: August 31st, 2021
Status: Want to Read
I already know I want to read this one. Largely because I previously read The Only Good Indians, and I’m really keen on reading more by Stephen Graham Jones. I also have this on my NetGalley TBR – hopefully it won’t be too much longer before I get to it!
Plain Bad Heroines
By Emily M. Danforth
Published: October 20th, 2020
Status: Want to Read
This is another on my NetGalley TBR, and definitely one I really do want to read. It’s just a matter of finding the time, but I am trying to work through the backlog so hopefully it won’t be too much longer until I can dig into this. It sounds really good, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.
It makes me really happy to see more and more books I haven’t recognised, and I find that rereading the summaries for the books I have is making me more keen to read them. They’re definitely getting bumped up the TBR. If you’ve read any of these, definitely let me know what you think, and if you agree with them being placed on this sort of list!
Unwrapping Words 