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4 Books Behind Our Halloween Reading List

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Pin graphic titled 'Halloween Books to Read: Spooky, Not Scary' showing the covers of Ninth House, Practical Magic, Mexican Gothic, and The Ex Hex.
Pinned from The Mom Mode Mindset

I want Halloween to feel cozy, not like something out of a horror movie, and that carries over to what I read this time of year too. These four books hit a spooky mood without actually scaring me. A witchy classic, a slow gothic novel, a paranormal romantic comedy, and one dark academia pick if you want something moodier.

  1. Book cover of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, 25th anniversary edition with a black boot and crescent moon on a gold background.

    Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

    The witchy classic everyone references at some point, two sisters, real magic, and a small town that both loves and fears them.

    $12.53 paperbackShop it
  2. Book cover of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, showing a woman in a dark red gown against a green patterned background.

    Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    A slow-burn gothic novel with a genuinely creepy old house at the center of it, good for the reader who wants atmosphere over jump scares.

    $12.63 paperbackShop it
  3. Book cover of The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, with teal type and a couple on a broomstick against an orange moon.

    The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

    A paranormal romantic comedy about an accidental curse and an ex you can't quite shake, light and fun if the other two feel too heavy.

    $9.73 paperbackShop it
  4. Book cover of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, with white serif type and a snake illustration on a black background.

    Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

    Dark academia with real teeth, secret societies and something genuinely unsettling underneath the Yale campus setting.

    $19.99 paperbackShop it

Pick whichever one fits how spooky you actually want to feel this year, and let me know what you're reading.

Common questions

Are any of these too scary to read at night?
Mexican Gothic and Ninth House lean more atmospheric than jump-scare, so they're fine for most readers. Practical Magic and The Ex Hex are on the lighter side.
Which one should I start with if I don't usually read spooky books?
The Ex Hex is the easiest entry point, it reads more like a rom-com with a Halloween setting than a horror book.
Are these part of a series?
The Ex Hex and Ninth House both start a series if you want more once you finish. Practical Magic and Mexican Gothic stand alone.