It’s a wrap on Summer of Horror 2026! I had a lot of fun, and it was even more fun having so many bloggers participate this year. Thank you thank you to everyone!
This summer I read and reviewed thirteen horror books, which I’m very happy about. Below are those books and links to my reviews. I was also surprised that I was able to come up with so many lists and cover love posts, since I didn’t really have any specific plans going into the event. Those are also linked below.
Keep reading for some ideas I have for next year’s event! I hope to be much more organized!
Horror books read this summer:
Worry Box by Chris Panatier
The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus
Carry Me To My Grave by Chistopher Golden
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
The Summer Fun Massacre by Craig DiLouie
The Calamities by Chuck Wendig
It Came From Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo
A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-young
Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman
If We Survive the Night by Jo Salazar
Bestiary by Patrick Rutigliano
Headlights by C.J. Leede
Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose
Horror lists:
Five Horror Themed Bookstores I’d Love to Visit
Strange Appetites – Horror Books With Cannibalism and Other Questionable Easting Habits
Best Horror Books of 2026 So Far
Eight Horror/Thriller Books Set In Motels
Workplace Horror – Twelve Books Where the Characters Wonder “Why Did I Take This Job?”
20 Upcoming Queer Horror Books for June Pride Month 2026
Eight Books With The Haunted/Possessed Doll Trope
Cover Love:
Bloody Good Covers – Horror Covers With Dripping Blood
A Bunch of Upcoming Horror Books With Yellow Titles
Horror Books With the Word “Ghost” in the Title
Fifteen Horror Books With “Handwriting Font” Titles
What to expect in 2027:
You would think I’d be exhausted after three months of concentrating on horror, but I’m already making plans for 2027! This year didn’t have much structure, it was sort of “do whatever you want that’s horror related.” Next year I’d like to have some more structured plans so participants can have a roadmap if they want. Here are some things I’d love to add to the event:
Read Along – I would love to have a group book (or two!) to read together. I’m not sure how that would work, since I’ve neither hosted nor participated in a read-along myself, but it sounds like fun! Maybe we could do one classic horror book and one more contemporary horror book. I may even ask for a volunteer to help me manage it! Let me know if this sounds like a fun thing to do! And I think it would be fun to have participants suggest and vote on the final books.
Horror bingo – I did this last year, and I’m bringing it back next year for sure!
Specific prompts for book lists and cover love lists – Another thing I did last year was “Color Cover Love,” where I chose a color each week and made a list of books with covers in that color. I kind of missed it this year, so next year for sure I’m bringing it back, probably with a schedule so it’s easier to plan ahead.
Sign-ups and links for posts – I’m definitely going to organize these two things better next year. I was surprised by all the participation this year, and I wasn’t prepared for how much time it would take to round up links for everyone’s posts each Sunday. I’m going to explore “linky” software and see if there are any good ones.
And more! Let’s see what else I can think of in the next nine months:-)
Other books read in August:
Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
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