What better way than to spend your holiday break than spending time reading some short horror books and novellas? Even if you aren’t reading them for holiday break, these are great books if you are the main parent at home taking care of the kids. I say that because these are quick reads that you can read during nap time or in your spare time.
So if you’re needing some short but sweet books, then look no further! This should be a good starter list for those of you who are ready to jump in and get to them.
Short horror books and novellas
Before you start reading some of these books, I would highly suggest that you look into trigger warnings before starting them. That is, if you have any. There are quite a few on this list that I have not read before, so I don’t know if there is something that you should be aware of.
Crossroads
If you haven’t read Crossroads, then please go read this one! Laurel Hightower is an amazing author, and her work is completely worth reading.
In fact, I’ve been seeing her books on TikTok a lot. Trust me, this story is creepy yet heartbreaking. There’s no telling what we would do to keep the ones we love around.
The good thing is that this is one of the short horror books and novellas that many of you could probably finish in a day.
Here is what Crossroads is about.
Chris’s son dies in a terrible car crash, and now her world is falling to pieces. Her walls start to close in on her until a cut on her finger changes her world.
A drop of blood from her finger falls onto her son’s roadside memorial, and later, Chris thinks there’s a ghost outside of her house. But is it her son’s ghost? Or is it something more sinister?
Penpal
I’m going to be honest. Penpal wasn’t one of my favorite short horror books and novellas. So why exactly am I including it in this list?
I see so many people on TikTok and Instagram raving about Penpal. So, that’s got to say something, right?
Even though I really wasn’t a fan of this one doesn’t mean you won’t be, though. I highly suggest checking this one out from the library and seeing if it’s for you or not.
Here is what Penpal is about.
Penpal is a story that follows a man who investigates the strange occurrences of what happened as a child. This is his way of trying to understand it. As you follow his story, you’ll realize the events that happened are what shaped his entire life.
Queen of Teeth
Queen of Teeth is one of the short horror books and novellas that I actually haven’t heard of. Why exactly haven’t I heard of this one!?
I know many say that horror seems to be repetitive and the stories are all the same, but I think you’re going to find Queen of Teeth a bit different than a lot of them.
I can’t wait to try and read this one soon!
Here is what Queen of Teeth is about.
In just two days, Yaya goes from finding teeth between her legs to being hunted by a powerful corporation.
She assumes that this is a side effect of a possible rare genetic condition that was caused by AlphBeta Pharmaceutical. This was decades ago, when she was still in her mom’s womb.
When they turn her life upside down, she realizes that the secondary teeth just might be evidence of a new experiment, and she just so happens to be the furthest along. As things worsen for Yaya, she starts to sprout horns, tentacles, and a mind of its own.
As she’s on the run, she’s also transforming. She just might be their greatest success or possibly their scariest failure.
And then I woke up
And Then I Woke Up is one of the short horror books and novellas that I actually just checked out from the library. I’m hoping this is one that I will actually like. *fingers crossed*
If you want to keep in touch with my review on this, then make sure you join my newsletter so you can see what I thought!
Here is what And Then I Woke up is about.
This is a world trying to survive a weird plague. Some monsters lurk on the streets while armed survivors travel in packs. But something different may be happening. When diseases can affect how we see reality, then it’s hard to be certain if anything is real.
Spence is “cured” and living at a rehabilitation facility. He’s haunted by guilt, and he will not face the changed world. That is, until an inmate challenges him ot help her. But if he’s not able to tell the difference between truth and fiction, how will he know that he didn’t just make things worse?
Dark Harvest
Dark Harvest is another I have been meaning to read. Also, I’m pretty sure there has been a movie released over this one.
But this is definitely a finished-in-one-day short horror book.
Here is what Dark Harvest is about.
It’s Halloween 1963, and they call him the October Boy along with a few others. Whatever someone calls him, everyone in this small town knows him. They know the legend of how he comes from the cornfields every Halloween. He has a butcher knife and works his way towards town. This year, there is a gang of teenage boys who wait for their chance to confront him.
Pete knows that killing him is his only chance of getting out of this small town. If he stays, he’ll have a dead-end future. He is completely willing to risk everything to be the winner. Before it’s all over, Pete will look him in the eyes only to realize the scary secret of the October Boy.
The Taking of Jake Livingston
The Taking of Jake Livingston is one book that has been sitting on my bookshelf for a while. I know it’s about time that I actually pick this one up and read it.
Here is what The Taking of Jake Livingston is about.
Jake is one of the only black kids at St. Clair Prep, and unlike his brother, he struggles to fit in. What makes things worse for him is being able to see the ghosts. He sees ghosts all the time. For the most part, they are harmless and stuck in a loop of their death. But then he meets Sawyer. Sawyer is a teen who killed six kids and then himself just last year. Now he’s powerful and a vengeful ghost. He has plans for the afterlife that ultimately include Jake. Now, everything he thought he knew completely changes. Sawyer begins to haunt him, leaving bodies in the neighborhood. Now, high school has become even more of a survival game, and Jake isn’t even sure if he’ll be able to win.
The Murders of Molly Southbourne (short horror books and novellas)
Soooo, this is definitely a unique take on things, and I love the premise of it. Which is exactly why I went ahead and put it on hold at my library. I couldn’t resist it.
Hopefully, you join my newsletter so you can read my review of it when it comes out!
Here is what The Murders of Molly Southbourne is about!
It’s simple… don’t bleed.
It has been happening for as long as Molly can remember. When she bleeds, another Molly is born. They are identical in every way, and the new Molly is determined to kill her.
She knows all the ways to kill herself, but as long as she is alive, she will be hunted. Even if she follows the rules well, the Mollys will find her eventually. Is there a way for her to stop this? Or will she die at the hands of a woman who looks exactly like her?
Nothing but blackened teeth
Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of Nothing but Blackened Teeth. So why did I put it on the short horror books and novellas list?
Well, that’s a good question. I added it because I did at least see some positive reviews about it. And I mean, the story is quite short.
Here is what Nothing but Blackened Teeth is about.
There’s a mansion that’s been abandoned. It rests on the bones of a bride, and the walls are packed with girls who were sacrificed to keep her company.
To a woman about to get married, it’s the perfect time to get married.
After a night of fun, everything turns into a nightmare. The ghost bride is lurking in the shadows with a creepy smile and a heart full of hunger.
It’s hard not to get lonely down in the dirt…
Scanlines
Scanlines is another book that I really want to get my hands on, though. I love the premise of it, and I’m sure many of you will too!
Here is what Scanlines is about.
Back in 1987, Congressman Benjamin as been accused of multiple things. Ultimately, he kills himself on live television. Years later, there are multiple rumors of a recording being surfaced in trading groups and urban legend chat rooms. The tape is now called the “Duncan Tape,” named after the deceased cameraman. The rumors surrounding the tape are that if you watch it, you’re driven to suicide.
At least that’s how the story goes. No one has ever seen it, and they all assume it doesn’t actually exist.
For Robby and his friends, this is the last thing on their minds. It’s a boring Friday night, and this is their chance to download porn. When they turn something on, it turns out not to be what they want and is much more graphic and disturbing. Afterwards, they realize that sometimes the craziest urban legends just might have a bit of truth to them.
Viral Lives (short horror books and novellas)
Vital Lives is a book that’s on Kindle Unlimited, and I will definitely be picking this one up and reading it. Let me know in the comments what you think of this one!
Here is what Virul Lives is about.
Simon thinks of himself as a Gore Reporter. His nights are spent in terrible places in hopes of recording violence. It’s all for a fee, though, and is usually sold to the highest bidder. Then one night, he stumbles on a man who is bloody and dying. He knows that this video would go absolutely viral on the dark web, so instead of helping, he films it.
The video has brought him to a whole new level, and life is good for him. But there’s something wrong with his phone. His alarm keeps going off when he never even set it. Text messages are being sent to his loved ones, and he doesn’t remember sending them.
Simon ultimately convinces himself that he has just been hacked. The alternative is unimaginable.
We Need to Do Something
So I’m not a huge fan of natural disaster books or movies. I don’t know what it is about them that kind of bores me a little bit.
But I do know that I’m a weirdo in this regard. I’m sure there are a bunch of you who would actually enjoy We Need to Do Something.
If you have already read then let me know in the comments if it’s more than just a natural disaster book!
Here is what We Need to Do Something is about!
We Need to Do Something follows a family who is already having problems and now finds themselves stuck in the bathroom during a tornado warning.
Conclusion to short horror books and novellas
This is a great start to short horror stories and short horror books to read if you want something quick to read. I’ve seen quite a few of these being recommended, and some of them just might be new to you!
Let me know in the comments which ones you have read and if you liked them or not!