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Whether it is the fall season or a hot summer night, nothing is better than some spooky romance books to get your heart racing and your paranoias rising.
From remote boarding schools shrouded in mystery to abandoned, recently inherited mansions to gloomy seaside towns home to sinister superstitions, this list houses some of the spookiest romances, so you should have no problem finding a page-turner here.
Read on to find your next favorite spooky romance.
Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fiorina
Following a particularly unsettling correspondence from her grandfather, Fallon Grimaldi returns to Weeping Hollow, a town she has not stepped in for 24 years. Upon her arrival, Fallon learns that the stories from her childhood are true: witches exist, Weeping Hollow might have a mind of its own, and magic is not simply a thing of fairy tales.
The one person Fallon never saw coming was Julian Blackwell. As one of the four Hollow Heathens, Julian suffers from a wicked curse that demands he wears a mask at all times, lest he wants to scare a person to death.
Magical, dark and mysterious, Hollow Heathens is a spellbinding witch romance filled with cursed boys, warring covens, and forbidden love. You do not want to miss this eerie read because it is one of the best spooky romance books.
Fallen by Mia Sheridan
When single mother Scarlett Lattimore becomes the new owner of the dilapidated Lilith House mansion, she plans to restore it to its former glory. With her seven-year-old daughter Haddie in tow, the two venture off to their new home and move in, unaware of its dark history.
Eerie, mysterious, and spine-chilling, Fallen is a pulse-pounding page-turner that is undoubtedly one of the best spooky romance books of 2020. If you dare crack open this haunting read after dusk, prepare for a sleepless night.
The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton
When Levi Black finds out his boyfriend is a good-for-nothing cheating scumbag, he packs up his bags and moves to York, where he has recently inherited a house. Desperate for a fresh start, he makes himself at home in the old house despite the mysterious history surrounding the house.
Nicknamed the murder house, none of its residents ever stay for long, and Levi soon learns there may be some truth behind the rumors. And with help from the blue-haired ghost tour guide Blue Billings, Levi may be able to survive the house and its ghostly occupants.
For a night of spooky fun, I recommend jumping into The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings. Featuring a haunted house, a blue-haired ghost tour guide, and spooktacular scares, Lily Morton’s mystery is a spooky romance that will get you into the Halloween mood.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
While in Monte Carlo working as a lady’s maid, a young girl of twenty years or so is swept off her feet by the dashing and mysterious widower Maxim de Winter. As their whirlwind romance comes to a close, Maxim realizes he’s not ready for it to end.
Now, as the new Mrs. Maxim de Winter, our fresh-eyed narrator is excited for what the future holds. It is only when she arrives at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow the late Mrs. Maxim de Winter has cast over Manderley and its inhabitants.
Shrouded in lies and deception, Manderley becomes a prison . . . with Rebecca de Winter as its warden. An ominous and haunting gothic read that will send you running the other way whenever Mrs. Danvers is near.
Rebecca is a spine-chilling must-read that will live in your mind long after you turn the last page. It is undoubtedly one of the best gothic horror romance books out there.
Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton
Sawyer Bennett is on the run.
For six years, men have been nothing but a means to an end for the 27-year-old fugitive. They get a night of mind-blowing sex, and she gets a new identity in conjunction with extra funds. Despite the inherent danger of her lifestyle, nothing could have prepared her for the disastrous outcomes of her last-minute decision to book a flight to Australia.
When fate bestows her with a panty-melting male specimen that exudes danger, she knows a tumble between the sheets with the sexy devil is the last thing she should do. Because if there is anyone who could shatter Sawyer’s defenses, it is the man who swims with sharks: Enzo Vitale.
H.D. Carlton did not pull any punches with her 2022 bestseller Does it Hurt? Teeming with off-the-charts steam, heart-pounding suspense, and endless emotion, Does it Hurt? is undoubtedly one of the best dark romantic suspense books of the year.
Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake
On the moors of a small seaside town sits Blackthorne Manor, a modern-day castle shrouded in mystery and secrets. There lives the Devil of Bonesalt, Lucian Blackthorne, a man that is both feared and shunned by the residents of the town.
At nineteen, Isadora Quinn is no stranger to superstitions or hardships. Desperate to escape the nightmare that has become her life, she accepts a job offer to work as a companion for Lucian’s ailing mother. Unbeknownst to Isa, the second she enters Blackthorne Manor is the moment that unequivocally alters the rest of her life.
Darkly atmospheric, hauntingly complex, and incredibly sexy, Master of Salt & Bones is a highly readable gothic romance overflowing with suspense, heat, and intrigue.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Lowen Ashleigh is on the brink of financial ruin when she gets the chance of a lifetime. Hired by Jeremy Crawford to complete the final books to his injured wife Verity’s successful series, Lowen uproots her life and travels to the Crawford home.
While sifting through mountains of chapter outlines and notes, she discovers something unexpected: an unfinished autobiography penned by Verity. Within the pages of Verity’s most personal work yet, Lowen uncovers disturbing admissions and unsettling thoughts that force her to question Verity and whether she is truly injured or if it is all an act.
Disturbing, sinister, and twisted, Verity is an unputdownable psychological thriller overflowing with wicked twists and turns that will make your head spin. Despite not being a typical Halloween read, this is undoubtedly one of the scariest books on this list. Trust me when I say you will want to sleep with the lights on after you finish this masterpiece.
A Light Amongst Shadows by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood
Following his exile, James finds himself swept off to Whisperwood, a remote and supposedly haunted boarding school for boys. There he quickly finds a place for himself. Despite the gloomy atmosphere and eerie sounds at night, he could not be happier. And to make matters better, there is a boy who has caught James’ eye.
But when a friend of his disappears, James learns that Whisperwood has some sinister secrets of its own – secrets that he will have to uncover if he ever hopes for him and his friends to survive.
For a spooky MM ghost story, I recommend A Light Amongst Shadows, a chilling tale that will keep you up well past your bedtime. And as one of the best YA historical romance books, you cannot go wrong with this one.
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
The Broken Girls jumps between the 1950s and present-day Vermont. In the fifties, Idlewild Hall stood, a boarding school that housed troubled girls. There, four girls forge an unbreakable bond that would be felt for decades to come.
In present-day, journalist Fiona is still reeling from her sister’s murder twenty years prior. Despite her sister’s boyfriend being convicted, Fiona still has questions. When she learns that Idlewild Hall, the location of her sister’s death, is reopening, she is determined to get those answers.
For an eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you jumping at every little creek, The Broken Girls is the book to read.
The Sceptic by Lily Morton
Will Buchanan has long since accepted the existence of the paranormal, seeing as he is the best friend of a psychic. So when the charming, risk-taking cameraman Jem Dawson recruits him to investigate a haunting alongside a ghost hunting team, he can’t help but say yes.
What should be a quick and easy three-day investigation turns deadly when they find themselves targeted by a sinister and menacing entity that hungers for vengeance. Amidst a haunting backdrop of terror and danger, Will must decide whether this attraction is worth losing his heart and life.
The Sceptic is a captivating MM paranormal ghost romance that will have you swooning over Will and Jem’s cuteness one second and then anxiously questioning whether the creak you just heard was from your (friendly) neighborhood ghost the next.
Deliciously creepy and hauntingly romantic, I recommend adding this must-read to your TBR list and cracking it open on a dark and stormy night when the ghouls come out to play.
Gothikana by Runyx
Following her mother’s passing, Corvina Clemm receives an admission letter to the eerie University of Verenmore, an invitation that could not have come at a better time. But the university is shrouded in murder, lies, and deceit, and the more Corvina slowly uncovers, the more dangerous the grounds become.
Gothikana is an atmospheric romance overflowing with all things spooky: a mysterious university with an underground tunnel system, sinister woods, a creepy lake, and secrets never meant to be unburied. As one of the best spooky romance books, you cannot go wrong with this if you are looking to get into the Halloween mood.
Malum Discordiae by Ashlyn Drewek
Forever jaded by the deaths of their loved ones, the Corbin necromancers and the Hewitt weather witches remain locked in a bitter, centuries-long blood feud with no end in sight. Nothing and no one could ever hope to unite the two families.
That is until now.
When Cassius Corbin returns home six years after his mother’s murder, his plans include finding the long-lost magical folio stolen from his family and attending Tennebrose University: Not getting cozy with the enemy.
Ever since the night Graeme Hewitt unwittingly got in bed with the enemy, the moody, blue-eyed boy has taken up residence in his mind rent-free, to his complete and utter disgust. Unable to stay away, Graeme finds himself in an impossible situation that can only spell trouble for the star-crossed lovers.
Hauntingly beautiful, intensely eerie, and highly readable, Malum Discordiae is an unputdownable enemies-to-lovers, dark academia, paranormal MM romance overflowing with dark magic, forbidden love, and intense passion. Between Drewek’s intricate world-building and multi-dimensional characters, this must-read is undoubtedly one of the best spooky MM romance books of 2022.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Noemí Taboad is sent to the High Place, a secluded mansion in the Mexican countryside, to check on her newlywed cousin Catalina after receiving a disturbingly odd message regarding her wellbeing. Uncertain of what to expect, Noemí is weary of what she will find in the eerie estate.
Upon her arrival, Noemí receives a frosty welcome from Catalina’s husband Virgril along with the rest of the Doyle clan and their staff. Still, Noemí refuses to be intimidated by the unusual family or their sinister home. Plagued by ghostly apparitions, bouts of sleepwalking, troubling dreams and odd encounters with the occupants of the house, Noemí must keep her wits about her before it’s too late.
Lovecraft meets Rebecca in this chilling gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico. If you’re looking for a slow-burn horror that will shock you with its grotesque imagery and prose, you should check out Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic.
Gypsy Blood by Kristy Cunning
Violet hails from an ancient line of gypsies, allowing her to see ghosts and interact with all the supernatural creatures haunting the world. When she learns of her mother’s murder, Violet follows the murderous breadcrumbs to a small town where her mom conducted business.
Soon Violet discovers that she is clearly out of her depth when she learns werewolves are real, Van Helsing monster killers get off on bloody battles, incubi aren’t just the things of legends, and vampires exist outside the story of Twilight.
What’s a girl to do besides set their world on fire with help from her thirsty ghosty sidekick Anna?
Longing for a paranormal reverse harem romance with four powerful alphas and a talented, albeit ignorant, gypsy with many hidden tricks up her sleeve bra? Look no further than Gypsy Blood, one of the best reverse harem books to date. You’ll be in for a sweet treat.
The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb
On the coast of Lake Superior sits an old home stuck in the past.
Remodeling her old family home into a B&B is proving to be the challenge of a lifetime for Tessa Bell, especially when she unwittingly unearths a hidden art studio housing never-before-seen paintings from her late grandfather. What should be a fun discovery is soured when she notices the sinister undertones within the pieces.
Despite being in her grandfather’s studio, Tessa cannot ignore the fact that none of them bear any resemblance to his renowned pieces. The alarming canvases force Tessa to ask questions. Determined to get the answers to her questions, Tessa sets out to dig up her family’s history and uncover the mysteries of her life.
As far as spooky romance books go, The Stroke of Winter should be a winner when it comes out on the 1st of November.
The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
When a long-deserted circus is resurrected, Cora Glass’s simple life as a bank-teller is ripped off its hinges and flipped upside down. There is a price to pay for those who enter the circus, and Cora’s may be more than she expected.
Dark, mysterious, and macabre, The Contortionist is a must-read overflowing with twisted villains, obsessions, and deadly payments. As far as spooky romance books go, this is one you do not want to miss.
Darkhouse by Karina Halle
Between a job she hates, her sucky dating life, and ghosts that refuse to leave her alone, twenty-something Perry Palomino is having trouble finding her place in the world. When she stumbles upon amateur ghost hunter Dex Foray in the old, abandoned lighthouse by her grandparent’s home, the two share a terrifying experience that pushes them into a fragile partnership.
Darkhouse sets the stage for Perry and Dex’s adventures and all the terrors that are bound to arise throughout the Experiment in Terror series. I recommend you read this so you can get to the terrifying ghost hunts to come in these spooky romance books.
The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith
When tragedy strikes, Amber and her sister Nicci find themselves motherless, jobless, and soon-to-be homeless. With promises of a better future, she secures two tickets on Earth’s first colony-ship. But when Amber wakes up in a demolished ship lightyears away from home, those dreams of a better life are shattered.
Now stranded on an alien planet with no means of returning home, the elements will become the least of the survivors’ concerns.
The Last Hour of Gann is a captivating sci-fi alien romance centered around a heroine with an indomitable spirit and a hero with an unbreakable will. You will not regret checking out this enthralling page-turner.