Reading for pleasure is a precious commodity these days. Pleasure reading isn’t keeping up with the latest BookTok riffraff, or curing your FOMO over what your coworkers are chatting about. It’s about choosing a book that you want to read, that appeals to you, and helps you escape reality one chapter at a time.
I try to squeeze in as much pleasure reads as I can in a year, but I’m selective. I want to know my time is well spent, so I go back to authors who aren’t likely to let me down. These authors are ones I trust with my time and give me something to be excited about in the coming months. If their projects seem like a safe gamble, consider these picks as recommendations from me to you. If not, please go out and find the books that will make your 2026 something to be excited about.
Headlights by C.J. Leede (6/9/26)
FBI agents. Serial Killer. Skin-Wearing. Dark Pasts. Bizarre Calling Cards.
Leede’s last two novels, Maeve Fly and American Rapture, went down smooth like fiery whiskey. They inflamed the senses in all the right places. I’m looking forward to this pivot to thriller territory, as some of my all-time favorite stories exist in this category. I’m expecting plenty of bite and unshakeable imagery.
Chasing the Headless Horseman by J.W. Ocker (09/2026)
Non-Fiction. Travelogue. New England. History.
I love a travelogue, especially if they’re spooky, and nobody does it better than Ocker. His 2016 book, A Season With the Witch, explored the town’s history and life in Salem, MA during October. It was entertaining as much as it was informative, and I consider it a must-read for anyone enamored with the coastal city. I’m expecting nothing less with this one, as it’s all about the legendary Sleepy Hollow, NY.
A Fever Called Living by Azzurra Nox (3/3/2026)
Poe. Sapphic. Vampires. 1990s. Serial Killer.
Nox knows how to set the scene and rip your heart out in one go. A female-forward author and editor, some of my favorites by her include Strange Girls and Panico! I’m a sucker for Poe adaptations and vampires (Carmilla for this one), making this a no-brainer read in March.
The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own by Gwendolyn Kiste (4/16/26)
Short Stories. Queer. Survival. Gothic. Supernatural.
Full disclosure, I’ve already read this and it’s wonderful. If you’ve read Reluctant Immortals or The Haunting of Velkwood, you’re going to enjoy this anthology just as much.
Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce (4/28/26)
Folk Horror. Local Legend. Woods. Broken Bonds. English Countryside.
Pearce’s last novel, Something in the Walls, was wildly creepy. I couldn’t bring myself to donate my galley copy because it’s readability is just too damn good. It’s a story you’ll want to share with someone else. Let’s hope this one is as addictive.
Haunted by Deadlines 