It’s that time of year when things start to go bump in the night! I’ve recently fallen in love with YA horror books (as long as they’re not too scary) and usually devour them in just a few sittings.

Since I know I’m not the only person that adores a chilling YA book, I decided to put together a roundup of some of the most exciting YA horror books to read this fall. I’ve included content information on the books I’ve already read. The rest of this reading list is in a stack on my nightstand, waiting their turn.

In this batch of books, you’ll find some fantastic YA horror books to add to your TBR stack this Halloween. From whodunnits to spooky steampunk tales of witches and jack o’lanterns, you’ll definitely find something to get you into the Halloween spirit!

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9 YA Horror Books to Devour this Fall

The Lantern’s Ember by Colleen Houck

If you’re looking for something creepy, romantic, and super addictive, you need this book on your shelves! Jack is a lantern — a guardian of the crossroads between the mortal world and the Otherworld, a realm filled with vampires, werewolves, and maniacal doctors (among other monsters). When a beautiful young witch slips past his guard and into the Otherworld with the help of a dashing vampire, Jack abandons his post and goes after her. Fast-paced and completely engrossing, The Lantern’s Ember will keep you reading all night long. I could seriously gush about this book for DAYS!

Content: Perilous situations, spooky scenes, and non-descriptive violence.

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A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs

If you love the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series, then you’ll be thrilled to see the latest installment. The fourth book in the series takes place in the United States and is full of secrets, mystery, and creepy vintage photos sprinkled throughout the story. It’s a definite must-read for fans of this series!

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Mother Knows Best by Serena Valentino

Who doesn’t love a Disney villain? I know I sure do. And Mother Gothel from Tangled is a fantastic one. Mother Knows Best explores Gothel’s long life as a young witch with sisters and a mother. Superbly creepy, this novel follows Gothel through her long life as one disaster after another befalls her and twists her into a crazed and bitter woman. I devoured this novel!

Don’t miss the rest of the books in this series! They’re all spooky and perfect to read at Halloween.

For the best experience, read them in this order: Fairest of All, The Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul, Mistress of All Evil, Mother Knows Best.

Content: Pretty clean, but it’s very spooky and contains violence and perilous situations.

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Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

Calling all Hocus Pocus enthusiasts! If you faithfully watch the movie every year and secretly added “I’ve Put a Spell On You” on your playlist, then you need this book in your life. Told in two parts, Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel is the YA novelization of the original movie followed by an all-new story set twenty-five years later. Old characters, new characters, and the witches we all love — it’s all on the pages of this eerie Halloween read.

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A Sorrow Fierce and Falling (Kingdom on Fire #3) by Jessica Cluess

Oh boy, if you want to dive into a dark fantasy series that borders on straight-up horror (yet still manages to stay pretty clean) then snag this series from your local library or add it to your Amazon cart. The third book just arrived in bookstores, so you can binge the entire series at once. You’ll race through the pages at a break-neck pace as you read about magic, monsters, and magicians. With heart-pounding romance and terrifying creatures on every page, you’ll fall head-over claws for this dark series.

Content: Somewhat clean, but there is some innuendo, kissing, violence, gore, and perilous situations.

Read the first two books in the series: A Shadow Bright and Burning and A Poison Dark and Drowning.

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The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

I’m a pretty big fan of Kiersten White so I have to mention her newest novel, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. It’s a faithful retelling of the original tale of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, from Elizabeth’s point of view. While still just as bone-chilling, this story gives us a look at the story from another angle.

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The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

This author is a master of whodunnits and thrillers. She wrote The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters. The Cheerleaders is her newest book and it’s the perfect YA mystery to devour this fall. The Sunnybrook cheerleading squad was disbanded after five cheerleaders died within a few weeks of each other. Now, the younger sister of one of the dead cheerleaders starts finding clues that connect the girls’ deaths.

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Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This Southern thriller is like Gilmore Girls meets Pretty Little Liars. Sawyer’s grandmother shows up at her apartment and offers her an insane amount of money to participate in the debutante season. Soon, Sawyer is thrust into the glittering world of Southern society—deep, dark secrets and all.

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A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma

Bina runs away from her dysfunctional home to the city where she checks into a young women’s residence called Catherine House. But the house is far more sinister than Bina bargained for and soon, she isn’t sure she’ll be allowed to leave — ever. If you love spooky mysteries, dark secrets, and a “Hotel California” vibe, pick up this YA horror novel to read this Halloween!

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Do you read YA horror books or YA thrillers? What’s your all-time favorite? Let me know in the comments!