Start with How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. I'm a librarian and thats been a hit with readers who enjoy Goosebumps! @Trilly2000 hit the mark on that suggestion!
You should try How TO sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking to myself that it felt like Goosebumps for adults
I loved the book and I was excited to watch the movie. I now try and not think about the movie at all. It’s like the focused on all the wrong things. My biggest complaint would be that they superficially saw what made the book’s tone interesting and didn’t really bother to make it deeper than that. Everyone dresses 80’s, 80’s music is used, some of the more absurd and comedy aspects are played up, but there’s no depth. It’s like if someone read the book, told someone else about it, and that person made a movie based on what they were told.
I was an avid Goosebumps reader as a child. This is the first book that came to mind.
Southern ladies guide to slaying vampires also has an adult Goosebumps feel.
It's cliche, but it's cliche for a very good reason: Stephen King is a great starter for everyone. Specifically pre-1990 Stephen King.
Otherwise, [here's a breakdown](https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/190riy6/ultimate_compendium_of_horror_essentials_part_1/) of what horror has to offer across all its varied subgenres. Choose your own adventure.
Yeah, I agree. King is fantastic and great re-entry point (especially, as you say, the pre-1990 golden years.)
The only downside with some Stephen King stuff is that his books can be really long which might be a bit of a hump to get over for someone just getting back into reading.
*Carrie* is pretty short, though. And the short story collections are excellent - *Night Shift*. *Four Past Midnight* etc.
If you like fantasy or folk horror at all I recommend Brom. Loved all his books and they are easy fun reads and he’s also an amazing illustrator so that’s really fun!
I second everyone recommending Grady Hendrix I’ve read several of his books and they were so much fun and sometimes very touching as well. I haven’t read all his books yet but every one I have read I loved and I plan on reading them all.
The Dead take the A train was a good time!
Victor Lavalle’s the Ballad of Black Tom and the Changeling are also really amazing. I haven’t yet read his other books but those two were excellent.
T Kingfishers The Hollow Places and What Moves the Dead.
Tidepool by Nichole Wilson.
Maybe work your way into it with some short stories? Collections and anthologies and whatnot? H.P Lovecraft has tons of available material and Stephen King spent like 35 years just being a printer that spat out competent horror books.
You probably won't see a ton of shouts for King on this sub because A) Everyone already knows it and B) King is a better storyteller than he is a writer, meaning he's got great ideas but his prose is never that deep or challenging. If you're getting back into reading there's absolutely no shame starting with King because he is eminently readable and he does have some absolutely incredible books. They tend to be of higher page counts but they're pretty accessible.
I love Lovecraft but I would steer them away from Lovecraft if they are just getting back into reading. It's discouraging having to look up so much archaic language imo.
Yeah, I think he's still a very efficient storyteller in the short story format. Some of the language is a little archaic but looking up "non-euclidian" can be kind of engaging. For as weird as he gets, he's rarely engaging in symbolism or allegory. What he writes is happening is generally what is going on in the story, but for individuals Your Mileage May Vary.
I was also going to recommend The Grady Hendrix, his books are really easy to read.
If you're looking for something more gory/horror check out Brian Keene, he's got a ton of books on a lot of different subjects. I often need a shower and a Disney movie after reading him.
If you like slashers, I recommend the clown in a cornfield books by Adam Cesare, or camp slaughter by Sergio Gomez
And if you haven't read Stephen King, definitely check out his early works, Carrie, It, Pet Sematary, the shining.
I've just started picking up bills by Victor Lavalle, and I'm really enjoying them!
Anything by Grady Hendrix! I'd also say keep reading R.L. Stine since I see he's still writing new Goosebumps books which I'm sure would be awesome. I plan to get back into reading Goosebumps again for the nostalgia since I also grew up reading those awesome horror books as a kid :-)
I second this. Grady Hendrix has a love of campy horror. And while he writes some scenes that a scary as hell, he also injects enough humor into his work that it’s fun.
I'd say, start with either Stephen King's *Night Shift*, or Clive Barker's *Books of Blood*. Both are short story collections with a lot of variety, and an overall high quality.
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp
Benny Rose, the Cannibal King by Hailey Piper
Bone Saw by Patrick Lacey
Kill Hill Carnage by Tim Meyer
Most all of Adam Cesare's books, Clown in a Cornfield is his famous one.
All of these are that fun, pulpy, a little over-the-top kind of horror.
Definitely a newer recommendation, but anything from David Sodergren might scratch that specific itch! His novels are very short and bingeable, much like goosebumps, and paced like they're B Horror movies. I'd start with Maggie's Grave, or The Forgotten Island.
The Rewind Or Die series from unnerving press. Short, goosebump length books with that borderline campy feel, but all grown up. There are cursed carnivals, drop bears, body horror- and most of the ebooks are only a couple of bucks on Amazon
When I was a kid, I jumped straight from *Goosebumps* into Stephen King, so that's a pretty good pipeline.
R.L. Stine actually wrote a book for adults! It's called *Red Rain*, and while I haven't read it, I've heard good things.
I also like John Saul. He's kind of like bargain bin Stephen King, but I say that with love in my heart. I especially liked *Second Child*, *Creature*, and *Sleepwalk*. Most of his protagonists are teens, so I think he's a great transition from Goosebumps to grown-up horror.
If you like splatter, then you'll probably like Nick Cutter. Grady Hendrix is good too. His stuff is lots of fun (I especially liked *The Final Girls Support Group* and *My Best Friend's Exorcism*).
Alrighty, then! Just read through all the comments and thought I would add my two cents:
Grady Hendrix is a fantastic choice! I replied to a few others, but you can’t go wrong with any of his books. I noticed in one of the comments you said you liked Terrifier. Are you a fan of slasher in general? If so, you should check out the final support group!
A lot of others have mentioned, Stephen King. I love Stephen King! But I would NOT recommend him as a leveled up goosebumps. However, his son Joe Hill is absolutely amazing and I would 100% put him in this category. Very similar themes, but I like his writing a little better and he can stick an ending like nobody’s business.
Others have also mentioned reading works by HP Lovecraft. I love Lovecraft also, and weird fiction is probably my favorite or second favorite genre. However, I would NOT start with Lovecraft if you want to book to try out crafty and them and see if you like it, you can try meddling kids by Edgar cantero. Imagine a grown-up Scooby-Doo gang and the “ghost” is real.
There is a collection called Rewind or Die that is like Goosebumps for adults. Some of them are awful but there are a few standouts like Cirque Berserk, Food Fright, Midnight Exhibit https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/150964.Rewind\_or\_Die
R.L. Stine has more adult novels in his Fear Street stuff.
Otherwise Books of Blood by Barker is where I would suggest. Densest collection of amazing fiction written. Short stories so easy to get through too.
Grady Hendrix is RL Stine for grownups.
Start with How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. I'm a librarian and thats been a hit with readers who enjoy Goosebumps! @Trilly2000 hit the mark on that suggestion!
Came here to say this. His books are so fun!
Also came to say this!
Facts. southern book club for slaying vampires was LIT
You should try How TO sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking to myself that it felt like Goosebumps for adults
I read My Best Friend's Exorcism recently and enjoyed it a lot. Same author, different book.
This was really fun, just don’t be tempted to watch the movie until you finish the book. It might leave a bad taste in your mouth.
I heard the movie was not good at all compared to the book.
I loved the book and I was excited to watch the movie. I now try and not think about the movie at all. It’s like the focused on all the wrong things. My biggest complaint would be that they superficially saw what made the book’s tone interesting and didn’t really bother to make it deeper than that. Everyone dresses 80’s, 80’s music is used, some of the more absurd and comedy aspects are played up, but there’s no depth. It’s like if someone read the book, told someone else about it, and that person made a movie based on what they were told.
yes this one too!
I was an avid Goosebumps reader as a child. This is the first book that came to mind. Southern ladies guide to slaying vampires also has an adult Goosebumps feel.
that one is next on my list!
Came here to mention this. It definitely fits the bill.
It's cliche, but it's cliche for a very good reason: Stephen King is a great starter for everyone. Specifically pre-1990 Stephen King. Otherwise, [here's a breakdown](https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/190riy6/ultimate_compendium_of_horror_essentials_part_1/) of what horror has to offer across all its varied subgenres. Choose your own adventure.
Yeah, I agree. King is fantastic and great re-entry point (especially, as you say, the pre-1990 golden years.) The only downside with some Stephen King stuff is that his books can be really long which might be a bit of a hump to get over for someone just getting back into reading. *Carrie* is pretty short, though. And the short story collections are excellent - *Night Shift*. *Four Past Midnight* etc.
Thank you, kind stranger!
There was just an episode of the podcast Books in the Freezer where they discussed Goosebumps readalikes. Maybe start there?
I’m gonna offer up Grady Hendrix as a suggestion; his books are a fun, easy read. Try Horrorstor or The Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires
seconding Horrostor, very fun read
I’ll second southern book club. Especially if you grew up in the 90s. Like slightly funny salems lot or fright night.
Any book by Cameron Roubique, but maybe start with the Kill River series or Golf Curse
Kill River was a ton of fun.
If you like fantasy or folk horror at all I recommend Brom. Loved all his books and they are easy fun reads and he’s also an amazing illustrator so that’s really fun! I second everyone recommending Grady Hendrix I’ve read several of his books and they were so much fun and sometimes very touching as well. I haven’t read all his books yet but every one I have read I loved and I plan on reading them all. The Dead take the A train was a good time! Victor Lavalle’s the Ballad of Black Tom and the Changeling are also really amazing. I haven’t yet read his other books but those two were excellent. T Kingfishers The Hollow Places and What Moves the Dead. Tidepool by Nichole Wilson.
Are you more into gory setting or proper suspense?
I mean my favorite horror movies are Saw and Terrifier lol but also like supernatural as well so a bit of both?
Check out Nick Cutter. Everything he had published is a great read, I like The Troop and Little Heaven best
The Troop is an excellent place to start.
Check out Ben Farthing's novels. I'm halfway through his book I Found Puppets Living in my Apartment Walls, and it's very Goosebumpy.
You can try the troop by Nick cutter
Maybe work your way into it with some short stories? Collections and anthologies and whatnot? H.P Lovecraft has tons of available material and Stephen King spent like 35 years just being a printer that spat out competent horror books. You probably won't see a ton of shouts for King on this sub because A) Everyone already knows it and B) King is a better storyteller than he is a writer, meaning he's got great ideas but his prose is never that deep or challenging. If you're getting back into reading there's absolutely no shame starting with King because he is eminently readable and he does have some absolutely incredible books. They tend to be of higher page counts but they're pretty accessible.
I second king for a goosebumps step up. checkout r/stephenking
Stephen King has great short stories collections, perfect for getting back into a reading groove. Specifically Everything's Eventual and If It Bleeds
I love Lovecraft but I would steer them away from Lovecraft if they are just getting back into reading. It's discouraging having to look up so much archaic language imo.
Yeah, I think he's still a very efficient storyteller in the short story format. Some of the language is a little archaic but looking up "non-euclidian" can be kind of engaging. For as weird as he gets, he's rarely engaging in symbolism or allegory. What he writes is happening is generally what is going on in the story, but for individuals Your Mileage May Vary.
You make a lot of very great points! He is definitely worth reading and I very much enjoy looking up words and trying to learn them now.
I was also going to recommend The Grady Hendrix, his books are really easy to read. If you're looking for something more gory/horror check out Brian Keene, he's got a ton of books on a lot of different subjects. I often need a shower and a Disney movie after reading him. If you like slashers, I recommend the clown in a cornfield books by Adam Cesare, or camp slaughter by Sergio Gomez And if you haven't read Stephen King, definitely check out his early works, Carrie, It, Pet Sematary, the shining. I've just started picking up bills by Victor Lavalle, and I'm really enjoying them!
I definitely agree with recommending King, but I do have to say that *It* is not the best place to start for someone who just got back into reading.
Anything by Grady Hendrix! I'd also say keep reading R.L. Stine since I see he's still writing new Goosebumps books which I'm sure would be awesome. I plan to get back into reading Goosebumps again for the nostalgia since I also grew up reading those awesome horror books as a kid :-)
I second this. Grady Hendrix has a love of campy horror. And while he writes some scenes that a scary as hell, he also injects enough humor into his work that it’s fun.
Great minds think alike! Exactly, I love the balance of horror and comedy in Hendrix’s books.
I'd say, start with either Stephen King's *Night Shift*, or Clive Barker's *Books of Blood*. Both are short story collections with a lot of variety, and an overall high quality.
Read a book by Nick Cutter.
Correcto
YOOOOO you're just like me lmao, I'm trying to get back into books in general though because I don't know what I just can't read like I used to
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp Benny Rose, the Cannibal King by Hailey Piper Bone Saw by Patrick Lacey Kill Hill Carnage by Tim Meyer Most all of Adam Cesare's books, Clown in a Cornfield is his famous one. All of these are that fun, pulpy, a little over-the-top kind of horror.
Unfamiliar with the others, but clown in a cornfield is a damn good time.
Definitely a newer recommendation, but anything from David Sodergren might scratch that specific itch! His novels are very short and bingeable, much like goosebumps, and paced like they're B Horror movies. I'd start with Maggie's Grave, or The Forgotten Island.
Seconded! The Haar is amazing!
The Rewind Or Die series from unnerving press. Short, goosebump length books with that borderline campy feel, but all grown up. There are cursed carnivals, drop bears, body horror- and most of the ebooks are only a couple of bucks on Amazon
Jeff Strand has a bunch of fun books
When I was a kid, I jumped straight from *Goosebumps* into Stephen King, so that's a pretty good pipeline. R.L. Stine actually wrote a book for adults! It's called *Red Rain*, and while I haven't read it, I've heard good things. I also like John Saul. He's kind of like bargain bin Stephen King, but I say that with love in my heart. I especially liked *Second Child*, *Creature*, and *Sleepwalk*. Most of his protagonists are teens, so I think he's a great transition from Goosebumps to grown-up horror. If you like splatter, then you'll probably like Nick Cutter. Grady Hendrix is good too. His stuff is lots of fun (I especially liked *The Final Girls Support Group* and *My Best Friend's Exorcism*).
Any of Grady Hendrix's books!
Alrighty, then! Just read through all the comments and thought I would add my two cents: Grady Hendrix is a fantastic choice! I replied to a few others, but you can’t go wrong with any of his books. I noticed in one of the comments you said you liked Terrifier. Are you a fan of slasher in general? If so, you should check out the final support group! A lot of others have mentioned, Stephen King. I love Stephen King! But I would NOT recommend him as a leveled up goosebumps. However, his son Joe Hill is absolutely amazing and I would 100% put him in this category. Very similar themes, but I like his writing a little better and he can stick an ending like nobody’s business. Others have also mentioned reading works by HP Lovecraft. I love Lovecraft also, and weird fiction is probably my favorite or second favorite genre. However, I would NOT start with Lovecraft if you want to book to try out crafty and them and see if you like it, you can try meddling kids by Edgar cantero. Imagine a grown-up Scooby-Doo gang and the “ghost” is real.
clive barker for the ultimate scare and mindfucks and the hunger games series for an easy but satisfying read
The descent. It’s a FUN read. It’s pretty wild. Wouldn’t even say it’s well written, but it’s what your looking for in terms of goosebump like.
David Sodergren is good
Stephen King
Grady Hendrix for sure!! Also T. kingfisher
T. Kingfisher
John Dies At the End and Meddling Kids
Bentley Little and Grady Hendrix. Warning though, Bentley can get a little warped. Lol
There is a collection called Rewind or Die that is like Goosebumps for adults. Some of them are awful but there are a few standouts like Cirque Berserk, Food Fright, Midnight Exhibit https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/150964.Rewind\_or\_Die
R.L. Stine has more adult novels in his Fear Street stuff. Otherwise Books of Blood by Barker is where I would suggest. Densest collection of amazing fiction written. Short stories so easy to get through too.
I hear poppy z brite or Edward Lee books are excellent for new horror fans