Horror Aficionados discussion

Read books that involve various fun activities and other things associated with summer months. Choose however many themes you like, and discuss and keep track of your books here.
You can sign up for the challenge at this link:
https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...
or under Challenges on the HA home page.

Have a happy and horrific time reading this summer!

Horror on a island - Point Nemo
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation - The Deep
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - The Last Time I Lied
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - Benighted
Horror on a road trip - The Rules of the Road
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - Tomb of Gods
Horror under the stars - A Graveyard of Stars
Horror involving sporting events - The Island by Michael Bray
Horror in/on the water - Cult of the Kraken
Horror while hiking/climbing - Matterhorn
I'll see how many I can read this summer. Should be a good one!

Hello, I am going to do this one! :) I'm aiming at reading all 10. Some look like they might be tricky though!

Start Date: May 16, 2025
End Date: August 31, 2025

Completed: 4/10

Horror on an island
Castaways
On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island
Paradise Club

Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Summer of Night
Paradise Club
Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse

Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Slashtag by Jon Cohn 6/27/25

Horror involving heat or stormy weather

Horror on a road trip
Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones 8/3/25

Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
Beach House
Horror under the stars

Horror involving sporting events
The Bright Lands by John Fram 8/5/25

Horror in/on the water
Chlorine by Jade Song 8/8/25

Horror while hiking/climbing
The Ritual

Not big on sporting events, but I've found one for each of the other nine that I'm going to try for. :)

I know the Sporting Events horror might tough to find but any type of sport is ok and it doesn't have to be the entire book, maybe it's just a little bit of some sport during part of the story.
I'd love a summertime book that had a group playing beach volleyball where the ball turns into a head. Wouldn't that be gruesomely cool? ;)

Another idea for sporting event horror could be a book like The Island. It's about a reality show contest (and it has dinosaurs!) and while not technically a sport like football or baseball, it is a competition. Oh! and it's set on an island so it could also work for Horror on an Island.

Looks fun! :D Going to attempt all of them! Only one I'm not sure about is the Under The Stars prompt...

_________________________________________________

-Horror on a island: Island of the Dolls by Jeremy Bates

-Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation: Savage Island by Brian Moreland

-Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground

-Horror involving heat or stormy weather: Virus: A Novel by S. D. Perry

-Horror on a road trip

-Horror set in a place you'd like to visit

-Horror under the stars

-Horror involving sporting events

-Horror in/on the water

-Horror while hiking/climbing : The Ritual by Adam Nevill

I’m slow, so please help a sister out. When I click on the link in the first post, I just go to my own 2025 Reading Challenge to date list. When I go to the HA page, then to Challenges, then click on the Summer challenge, I just get the list of messages. I’m not getting the list of the actual challenge tasks either place. I’m clearly doing this wrong?!

Erin wrote: "I’m slow, so please help a sister out. When I click on the link in the first post, I just go to my own 2025 Reading Challenge to date list. When I go to the HA page, then to Challenges, then click ..."

Not sure about the issue with the link to the challenge, but on the main page, where the challenge is, just scroll to the bottom of that section - under the dates of challenge should be :
I want to read [white box] books for this challenge.
Enter a shelf name for this challenge: [white box]

You should be able to just enter a number of books you intend to read in the first line box, and a name for the shelf (i.e. "2025 summer horror", or whatever you want to call it) in the second line box.

5/10
Horror on a island
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water
Horror while hiking/climbing

Sounds interesting. Hoping for 10 but say 7..

Horror on a island -
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation-

Horror in a Hotel ,resort or at a campground-

Horror involving heat or stormy weather -

Horror on a road trip -
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit -

Horror Under the stars -
Horror involving sporting events -
Horror in/on the water-
Horror while hiking / climbing - Bishop ( Candace Nola)

Can I get clarification on the "under the stars" category? Thanks!

Michelle wrote: "Can I get clarification on the "under the stars" category? Thanks!"

Horror that happens mostly at night, or in outerspace among the stars or whatever you think fits the idea. :)

I told myself I wasn't going to do any reading challenges this year, but this is the second one I'm joining. This group has too many fun ideas.

Horror on a island – The Forgotten Island (David Sodergren)
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation – The Honeys (Ryan La Sala)
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground – Midwestern Gothic (Scott Thomas) (Short stories, one takes place at a summer camp.)
Horror involving heat or stormy weather – No Road Home (John Fram)
Horror on a road trip – The Rules Of The Road (C.B. Jones)
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit – Strange Houses (Uketsu)
Horror under the stars – Spin A Black Yarn (Josh Malerman)
Horror involving sporting events – Shredded: A Sports And Fitnesss Body Horror Anthology (Eric Raglan)
Horror in/on the water – Moon Lake (Joe R. Lansdale)
Horror while hiking/climbing – This Wretched Valley (Jenny Kiefer)

WendyB wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Can I get clarification on the "under the stars" category? Thanks!"

Horror that happens mostly at night, or in outerspace among the stars or whatever you think fits the idea. :)"

Got it! Thank you. :)

I'm already doing a lot of challenges (including one I host on my horror blog), but I couldn't resist a summer horror challenge.
I'm going for eight.
*Don't think I'm going to make it!

5/8
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation - Diavola, Jennifer Thorne✅
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - The Haunted Halls, Glenn Rolfe
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - Ten, Gretchen McNeil
Horror on a road trip - The Toll, Cherie Priest
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - Tomb of Gods, Brian Moreland✅
Horror under the stars - In Those Fading Stars, Andrew Najberg✅
Horror in/on the water - Loch Ness Revenge, Hunter Shea✅
Horror while hiking/climbing - Mastodon, Steve Stred✅

I've not decided a number, let's see how this one goes:


Horror on a island
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water The Lake
Horror while hiking/climbing

Could only find the list by going to my laptop...could never get it to work using my iPhone. Stupid GR/Amazon!

Anyway, haven't decided on a number, but going to post here and see what other people are reading and see what I can think of before I decide. The only "sporting event" that comes to mind is Stephen King's THE LONG WALK, which I've already read (and loved.)

Horror on an island - THE FACELESS THING WE ADORE - Hester Steel
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - THE DEAD OF SUMMER - Ryan LaSala
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water
Horror while hiking/climbing

Such fun! I love me a challenge! I'll create a shelf for this one.

Current lineup, though with some that may be more thriller than horror:

Horror on a island: "Hemlock Island" by Kelley Armstrong
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation: "The Resort" by Bentley Little
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground: "The Guide" by Peter Heller
Horror involving heat or stormy weather: "The Elementals" by Michael McDowell
Horror on a road trip: "Memorials" by Richard Chizmar
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit: "The Lighthouse Witches" by C J Cooke
Horror under the stars: "The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood
Horror involving sporting events: "The Swell" by Allie Reynolds
Horror in/on the water: "Fathomless" by Greig Beck
Horror while hiking/climbing: "The Troop" by Nick Cutter

My spot!

✅Horror on a island: Creep: A Love Story by Emma van Straaten (set in England, not the kind of island meant here, but still an island.)
✅Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation: Beta Vulgaris by Margie Sarsfield
✅Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground: The Last Session by Julia Bartz
✅Horror involving heat or stormy weather: Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist
✅Horror on a road trip: When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
✅Horror set in a place you'd like to visit: House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias
✅Horror under the stars: Root Rot by Saskia Nislow (Puerto Rico)
✅Horror involving sporting events: The Gaia Chime by Johnny Worthen
✅Horror in/on the water: The Off-Season: An Anthology of Coastal New Weird by Marissa Van Uden
✅Horror while hiking/climbing: This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

And, I'm in!

2025 Summer Horror Challenge


Read: 5/10

Horror on a island
📚
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
📚
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
📚 The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay - 05.31.2025
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
✅ Dracul by Dacre Stoker - 06.04.2025
reason: multiple storms and lightning strikes
Horror on a road trip
✅The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo - 05.18.2025
reason: FNS nurse Leslie visits a remote Kentucky town when things begin to go sideways
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
✅ Goth by Otsuichi - 06.01.2025
reason: I'd like to visit Japan
Horror under the stars
📚
Horror involving sporting events
📚
Horror in/on the water
📚
Horror while hiking/climbing
✅This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer - 05.27.2025
reason: Both hiking and climbing feature prominently in this book.

I'm going for 7!

Start Date: May 16, 2025
End Date: August 31, 2025

3/7

CURRENTLY READING

Horror on an island
The Island

Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Summer Rental COMPLETED 6/18/25- 1 STAR

Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Off Season

Horror on a road trip
Five Survive COMPLETED 6/17/25- 2.5 STARS

Horror set in a place you'd like to visit- Australia
Pest

Horror in/on the water
Pressure COMPLETED 7/10/25- 3 STARS

Horror while hiking/climbing
Stolen Tongues

Signing up with a four-book goal. Only four because I'm not sure I'll even be able to find something workable for me for the remaining items ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Updated my goal to all 10 books because I found at least one story for each item (even if a couple might be a little stretched, and a third I'm taking a gamble on), and even two for some! So, fingers crossed!
Couldn't make it to 10 books, updated my challenge widget thing to reflect that, but also keeping the goal here for reference.

08 / 10 items as of August 31st.

Horror on an island
La Isla (Eclipse nº 63)

Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Las ruinas

Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Off Season

Horror involving heat or stormy weather
El yeti

Horror on a road trip
El acoso

Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
Briardark (Cascadia/Pacific NW)

Horror under the stars
Skinner Box

Horror involving sporting events
The Night Cyclist

Horror in/on the water
They Bloom at Night

Horror while hiking/climbing
This Wretched Valley

little question: could someone confirm for me if Justin Cronin's The Passage takes place in Oregon (I read it does in a Reddit post)?
or if you can't or if it isn't set there, could I get some recs of horror books set in the Pacific Northwest/Cascadia region, please?

In for as many as I can.

Horror on a island ✔️
When Devils Sing
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation✔️
Devil Sharks
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
The Presidential Suite: A Short Story
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
How to Survive a Horror Story
Horror on a road trip
The Salt Grows Heavy
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit✔️
Dearest
(For a road trip reading challenge – the only traveling I will be doing this year🙄 )
Horror under the stars ✔️
Overgrowth
Horror involving sporting events✔️
Daphne
Horror in/on the water ✔️
The Fisherman
Horror while hiking/climbing ✔️
The Ruins

7/10 complete

I'm in for all 10! DONE!

Horror on an island - Guillotine 7/9/25
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation - Off Season 7/7/25
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - Camp Slaughter 7/3/25
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - This Is Where We Talk Things Out 7/15/25
Horror on a road trip - The Rules of the Road 7/15/25
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - Scotland - Maggie's Grave 6/30/25
Horror under the stars - Overgrowth 7/28/25
Horror involving sporting events - Shredded: A Sports and Fitness Body Horror Anthology 8/31/25
Horror in/on the water - The Deep 5/28/25
Horror while hiking/climbing - This Wretched Valley 7/1/25

C.E.C. wrote: "little question: could someone confirm for me if Justin Cronin's The Passage takes place in Oregon (I read it does in a Reddit post)?
or if you can't or if it isn't set there, could ..."

Been forever since I read it, but at least a good part of it takes place in Cali - not sure if it's N Cali?
Michael Marshall's Bad Men takes place in the PacNW, and S.A. Harian's Briardark takes place in N Cali.

Let's see how many I can read!

Horror on a island- Hemlock Island
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - Camp Damascus
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - This Cursed House
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water
Horror while hiking/climbing - This Wretched Valley

I'm in! I won't officially sign up but will just see how many I can read that fit the themes.

Horror on an island - Cage of Souls ✅
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - Don't Go to Wheelchair Camp
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - Witchcraft for Wayward Girls ✅
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - Strange Pictures or The Eyes Are the Best Part
Horror under the stars - The Stars Are Legion
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water
Horror while hiking/climbing

Horror on an island


Island of the Flesh Eaters

Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation


Devils That Prey

Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground


The Summer Job

Horror involving heat or stormy weather


Island of Bones

Horror on a road trip


The Woods are Dark

Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - California coastline


Haunted

Horror under the stars


Blooding Night

Horror involving sporting events - bowling


Maggie's Grave

Horror in/on the water


Jaws

Horror while hiking/climbing


Mastodon

Challenge accepted!!! I'm in for full 10!!!

Edit: challenge completed!

Hopefully helpful news….NEVER FLINCH, Stephen King’s new book, has a big softball game as a central part of the whole big deal at the end. Counting it as my sporting event book.

Yes please. I'm going for all ten.
1/10


Horror on a island
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - They Came with the Snow by Christopher Coleman A never ending snowstorm in May sounds like a summer horror story to me!
Horror on a road trip
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - The Tommyknockers by Stephen King - I have wanted to visit Maine ever since I started reading Stephen King.
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water - A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman This one is more creepy than horror, but I'm counting it!
Horror while hiking/climbing

Alan wrote: "C.E.C. wrote: "little question: could someone confirm for me if Justin Cronin's The Passage takes place in Oregon (I read it does in a Reddit post)?
or if you can't or if it isn't se..."

thank you very much! I ended up deciding on Briardark to be on the safer side 😊

I am in for 10
10/10

Horror on a island On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island ****
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation Jedi Summer **** The Honeys ****
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground The Compound ****
Horror involving heat or stormy weather The Last Storm ****
Horror on a road trip Walk the Darkness Down ****
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit New York Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng *****
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events Never Flinch ****
Horror in/on the water Sea Sick ***
Horror while hiking/climbing The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon ***

Hey there! I was wondering if it was okay for me to share this challenge (or at least the items list of the challenge with credit) with a Tumblr community? Since it's a horror movie community, who knows, maybe someone would like to join in on the fun, even if they're not into Goodreads and whatnot?

I'm in! Gonna try for 10, thinking more like 7.

Horror on a island : Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson - 05/25/25
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground : The Shining by Stephen King
Horror involving heat or stormy weather : Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Horror on a road trip Road Of Bones by Christopher Golden
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit : The Lost Village by Camilla Sten/ Alexandra Fleming
Horror under the stars : The Hunger by Alma Katsu
Horror involving sporting events : Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
Horror in/on the water : Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
Horror while hiking/climbing: This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

Good luck to all!

C.E.C. wrote: "Hey there! I was wondering if it was okay for me to share this challenge (or at least the items list of the challenge with credit) with a Tumblr community? Since it's a horror movie community, who ..."

Feel free to share it. And thank you for thinking enough of this challenge to want to share. :)
I hope everyone enjoys it.

I got really into the groove and I am FINISHED! As I said, I do love a challenge, plus some of my ARCs fit into the themes.

Horror on an island - THE FACELESS THING WE ADORE - Hester Steel
Horror on summer holiday or vacation - HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET - Darcy Coates
Horror in a hotel, resort or campground - SECURITY - Gina Wohlsdorf
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - “August Heat” - W.F. Harvey
Horror on a road trip - THE RULES OF THE ROAD - C.B. Jones
Horror set in a place you’d like to visit - THE DEAD OF SUMMER - Ryan LaSala (it’s a fictional island, but it sounds great!)
Horror under the stars - NIGHT & DAY - Ellen Datlow, editor
Horror involving sporting events - NEVER FLINCH - Stephen King
Horror in/on the water - THE HAUNTING OF PAYNE’S HOLLOW - Kelley Armstrong
Horror while hiking/climbing - THE RITUAL - Adam Nevill

This was lots of fun! Thank you so much, and I’ll be back to see what everyone else chose.

Just going to keep track here to see how many I complete.
7/10
Horror on a island - How Bad Things Can Get
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation - Burnt Offerings
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground - Breathe In, Bleed Out
Horror involving heat or stormy weather
Horror on a road trip - D7
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - THE AULD MITHER: A Scottish folklore novella
Horror under the stars - The Film You Are About to See
Horror involving sporting events
Horror in/on the water - Infestation
Horror while hiking/climbing

I set a goal for 4/10 because I have work and school and am starting late!

Horror on an island: The Troop - Nick Cutter
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation: The Cabin at the End of the World - Paul Tremblay
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground:
Horror involving heat or stormy weather:
Horror on a road trip:
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit:
Horror under the stars: Root Rot - Saskia Nislow
Horror involving sporting events:
Horror in/on the water: The Deep - Nick Cutter
Horror while hiking/climbing:

I am going to try for 10…but can’t get to the actual sign up on my iPad

Almost missed this one! Aiming for all ten.

Horror on a island
Horror set on a summer holiday or vacation - Nightmares & Dreamscapes ("Rainy Season")
Horror in a hotel, resort, or at a campground
Horror involving heat or stormy weather - Rain
Horror on a road trip - The Bazaar of Bad Dreams ("Summer Thunder")
Horror set in a place you'd like to visit - Strange Houses (Japan)
Horror under the stars
Horror involving sporting events - Maggie's Grave (Bowling)
Horror in/on the water - Moon Lake
Horror while hiking/climbing

Summer is at end (in the Northern Hemisphere).
How did you do on your Summer Horror Challenge?

Now it's time to say hello to Fall.
Coming in the next few weeks, a new spooky season challenge.
I just love this time of year! 🎃

WendyB wrote: "Summer is at end (in the Northern Hemisphere).
How did you do on your Summer Horror Challenge?

Now it's time to say hello to Fall.
Coming in the next few weeks, a new spooky season challenge.
I ..."

Oh my gosh, can't wait for the Halloween spookies! 🎃😈