In June, I journeyed to Stamford, CT, for one of my favorite events, StokerCon, the Horror Writers Association's annual conference. A fun mix of people, including writers, readers, publishers, and library professionals, make up the gathering. Everyone gets to enjoy a variety of writing and genre-focused panels, as well as special events like Librarians' Day, the Final Frame Film Competition, and the Bram Stoker Awards Ceremony. Here are the trends I learned at the conference, and reading suggestions to match each trend.
Trend #1: Horror and Romance
While horror and romance may seem like opposites to some, both genres are all about emotions, making them more like different sides of the same coin. It's clear that horror is feeling the love, and the blending of horror and romance, or “horromance” as some call it, was a buzzy topic. Not only were there panels on the topic, such as "Bleeding Hearts: Where Horror Meets Romance," but this genre blend, mixing the chills and scares of horror with the love and steam of romance, is one I hear horror fans and writers discussing with excitement. Want to get to know horromance a little better? Check out books like:
- Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
- Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements
- Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
- Direct Descendent by Tanya Huff
Trend #2: Mental Health and Horror
Mental health and horror have a deep connection, which likely surprises few. The genre has long explored the inner lives of its characters and depicted mental health experiences of both protagonists and villains. Horror is also an outlet that provides catharsis and understanding for readers going through their own struggles. In recent years, grief and trauma have specifically boomed as themes in both books and media. These stories not only haunt or terrify readers, but they also share insight into the human condition. Want your horror to tackle challenging, real-life problems? Try these books that examine grief, trauma, or mental health through the lens of horror:
- Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
- What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman
- At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca
- Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
Trend #3: Cursed Objects and Texts in Horror
Librarians' Day traditionally has a panel centered on a theme or trend happening in the genre. This year, the panel "This Book is Haunted: Cursed Objects in Film and Literature" discussed one of my favorite trends: cursed objects. While I'm particularly partial to cursed movies, TV shows, or other media formats, the concept of a curse is one that'll likely make me pick up a book. This is certainly not a new theme in the genre, but we've seen an increase in options to choose from, with several cursed film books released within the last few years. Not afraid of a little curse? Dive into these books featuring cursed objects or media:
- Piñata by Leopoldo Gout
- How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
- Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
- Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Our talented LibraryAware designers created a flyer in honor of "These Books are Haunted," which you can download for free.
Download this free flyer from LibraryAware!
Trend #4: Varied Representation in Horror
I've written about increased diversity in the horror genre before, and I'm happy to say that representation is thriving. For the 2024 Bram Stoker Awards (awarded in 2025), the Superior Achievement in Poetry award nominees were all BIPOC writers. The nominees for Superior Achievement in an Anthology were mainly women or LGBTQIA+ authors and editors. There were historic wins this year, including the first winner of Mexican Descent (Pedro Iniguez) and the first transgender man to win for Long Fiction (Sofia Ajram). As someone who works with horror, it has become increasingly easier for me to ensure my selections have varied representation, and I love that. Want to enjoy the increased variety of representation in horror? Try these standouts:
- Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
- The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
- Devils Kill Devils by Johny Compton
- All the Hearts You Eat by Hailey Piper
Use NoveList to Stay Up to Date with Horror
Looking for more horror resources and tools to stay up to date with the latest in the genre? NoveList offers several options to help you explore and appreciate horror.
Our curated lists provide a selection of titles hand-picked by NoveList Librarians across various genres, themes, and trends. For horror, one go-to list is Must-Read Horror, which shares buzzy, well-reviewed, recent horror options.
Do you need an overview of horror to help you get, or stay familiar with it? Then the Genre Guides you'll find in NoveList are a must! Each guide contains a brief definition of the genre, books and authors to know, common traits, themes, plot points, and tips for helping fans. We have horror guides for adult, teen, and middle-grade readers, so that you can help horror readers of any age.
You can also sign up for our NextReads newsletters, through LibraryAware, if you want great picks delivered straight to your inbox. The Horror NextReads newsletter is a personal favorite, and I always love to see what our experts have chosen to highlight.
Horror is a varied, rich genre, and we're living in a renaissance. If you're already a fan, don't be afraid to explore authors you've never read. And, if you've never tried horror, it's a great time to take a look and find the right scare for you!
Yaika Sabat is the Manager of Reader Services at NoveList. She's currently reading The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones.
