I love Halloween. The chilly weather, the crunchy leaves, and of course, the opportunity to get scared out of my New Rocks. Or ballet flats, depending on how I’m feeling.

One of my favorite things about the Halloween season is that I can finally get into reading horror again. Sure, a good scare is great any time of the year, but there’s something special about curling up in an over-sized chair in front of a picture window, the full moon shining through the glass, your pages lit by candlelight. So I thought I’d share with you my favorite books for Halloween reading.

Some of these are scary, some are just a little eerie. Some are a little more grown up, while others could be classified as young adult. But all are perfect for this time of year!

1. IT by Stephen King

You’ve seen the movies, but have you read the book? I warn you, it’s all kinds of terrifying. If you’re one of the six people left in the world who hasn't come across either book or film, here’s the gist: outcast underdogs battle evil clown (among other spooky-scaries.) Trust me, there’s a reason readers and watchers alike are raving.

2. Bird Box by Josh Malerman

I went through something of a four-year reading slump for a while, and Bird Box was one of the first books I picked up when I finally started dedicating more time to reading. By the end of the book, I was so excited about reading, I immediately read it all over again. In Bird Box, a woman and her two children attempt to row down a river in order to find safety after our world seemingly becomes invaded by creatures that can turn people homicidal just by being looked at. Definitely a must-read.

3. The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey

Zombies are the new vampires, it seems (although considerably less romantic, in my humble opinion.) I never really jumped onboard the zombie train, but Carey’s novel is the exception to my rule. It’s brilliantly written and easily the most original zombie fiction I’ve come across.

4. Night Film by Marisha Pessl

I’ll warn you right now: if you pick this book up, prepare to be disappointed by the ending. I certainly was. However, it’s a testament to just how good the rest of the book is that I’ve included it here. Night Film is about a disgraced journalist investigating the supposed suicide of a cult filmmaker’s daughter, and for the most part, it’s perfectly eerie and just right for a fall read. Do yourself a favor and skip the last chapter, though. You’ll be happier for it.

5. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

In Nevermore, Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying stories come to life. It starts innocently enough when cheerleader Isobel and goth boy Varen get paired up to work on a school project, but this book quickly becomes less cutesy and a lot more creepy. You’ll get swept up with the heroine in trying to figure out all of Varen’s secrets. You won’t, but hey, that’s what the surprisingly excellent sequels are for.

6. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

If you’ve read Frankenstein, then you already know how great it is for a chilling Autumn read. If you haven’t read it, then you have no idea what you’re in for. Put aside everything every film adaptation has ever told you about Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Written during the cold summer of 1816, Frankenstein warns against pushing limits of humanity and embraces the wonder of nature. If you’re looking for feels along with scares, Shelley’s masterpiece is for you.

7. Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

I know, I know, you’re all sick of vampires. Even years after the Twilight vampire boom, people still aren’t interested. But trust me, this one’s worth your time. Written 26 years before Stoker’s Dracula, Carmilla is the original Gothic vampire tale. It warrants a read for that at the very least, and also because it’s the only lesbian vampire fiction I’ve seen...anywhere. Plus, it’s super short. What’s not to love?

8. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray is excellent for this time of year. Something about Dorian Gray’s debaucherous lifestyle just seems perfectly in place during this time of slinky costumes, masks, and mischief. It’s the story of a man who finds that, while his face and youth never seem to change, a portrait of himself begins to take on the grotesque wrinkles and scars of all the wicked things he’s done. Do enjoy.

9. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

This one is a collection of short stories told in comic form. The stories themselves are spine-tingling, but the art really takes them over the top. It’s so short, I can’t tell you much, but if you’re looking for a shorter read with all the chills, Through the Woods is an excellent choice.

10. The Call by Peadar O’Guilin

If you think fairies are tiny and sweet, think again. This book will take your preconceived notions about fairies, chew them up, and spit them into the Grey Land, a world inhabited by fairies (or Sidhe, as they’re called here) in which every child is forced to spend one day in their youth, fighting for survival. In addition to the chills, this book is also jam-packed with awesome heroines. I’ve never read anything like this book, and I doubt I ever will again...at least until the sequel comes out.