It’s Monday, horror fans, which means it’s time to talk all things scary!
Welcome to the Fright Stuff. As always, I am Emily, and I’m probably way too excited to share all the things that scared me in the past week since we last spoke. Like, for instance, last Tuesday there was a woman screaming outside of my window at midnight. And, just now at my bus stop, there was a person whose face was completely obscured by a strange mask made of cloth. And it’s not even October, friends. But I also read some scary books this week, so let me tell you about it!
Bookish Goods
Coffin Bookmark by BookishHeaux
Want your reading life to be a little bit scarier? Stick a coffin bookmark in your book. This one is even on sale until June 1st, so order now! It’s $9, and it’s super cute.
New Releases
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller
The Z Word is like Zombieland, if Zombieland were really, really queer. It’s the story of Wendy, a bisexual woman living in San Lazaro, Arizona. She wants to get over her ex-girlfriend Leah, but that’s hard to do when she keeps hooking up with her friends. On top of that, people all around them are turning into zombies. In order to survive, Wendy will be forced to team up with a rag-tag group of friends (and frenemies) — including Leah!
Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda
Also out this week: this debut collection of 12 short stories, set in a supernaturally charged version of Lagos, Nigeria. Each story starts familiarly enough — a visit to the market, a mother trying to feed her newborn child. But, that makes every dark, uncanny turn all the more frightening. On May 7th, see why Lauren Groff called Aguda’s work “elegantly balanced with the gorgeous fullness of human emotion.”
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift? Go beyond the tried and true flowers and chocolate and give the gift of reading with Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists are standing by to help your mom find her next favorite read, delivered right to her inbox or doorstep. And with gifts starting at just $18, there’s something for any budget! Head to mytbr.co/gift to send the gift of reading to the book nerd in your life!
Riot Recommendations
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay (William Morrow, June 11)
I told you all that this one was one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and guess what? It lived up to and even beyond the hype. And oh my gosh, it was so creepy. You’ve probably read horror novels about cursed films before (you’re here, after all), but trust me when I say you’ve never read anything like this. This is the story of a horror movie that was filmed in 1993, but never released. Still, the hype around this cursed film is real, and 30 years later, it’s time to try again. This one is out in June.
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
I picked this one up not realizing how horror-y it was going to be. I just thought, “Oh, a book about a language school. Love!” But yes…this is horror. I don’t want to give anything away, but basically, this is about The Centre, a place where you can go and learn a language in only two weeks. And when I say learn, I mean…completely fluent. Sound too good to be true? Guess what. It probably is.
What a week I had since the last time we spoke! I hope yours was scary (in a safe, fun way) as well. Let me know what you’ve been reading? Message me on Instagram at emandhercat and tell me everything. Sweet dreams, horror fans!