Summer 2023 Reading Challenge

[Alissa]

Michael wrote: "That's an awesome pick! One of my favorite Tremblay novels, and I've read a bunch of them!


"

Thanks! I just started it and I'm already so creeped out haha

[Saffron]

Okay I'm terrible at these challenges but going to try again, and with a smaller goal of 2!

1. The Ruins ✔
2. You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight ✔

[destiny ♡]

Not sure yet if it'll be horror or thriller, but I just started Looking Glass Sound!

[inciminci]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Not sure yet if it'll be horror or thriller, but I just started Looking Glass Sound!"

@destiny ♡ - I'll be very interested in what you think of it, I have been waiting for it so long, but I'm waiting for a quieter moment when I can better concentrate on it.

[Kimberly]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Not sure yet if it'll be horror or thriller, but I just started Looking Glass Sound!"

I LOVED that one!!!

[Lisa]

Amy wrote: "Lisa, Devolution is so good."

Great to hear! I absolutely loved World War Z, so I'm excited for this one.

[Lisa]

Meli wrote: "Cirque Berserk is a blast! Great for the prompt as well."

Great to hear, Meli!

[Jarrett]

I set a goal for three but hope to do more! The first one I'm reading is Wonderland: A Thriller by Jennifer Hillier. I just ordered it so hopefully it gets here this week so I can get started on this challenge :)

[WendyB]

Jarrett wrote: "I set a goal for three but hope to do more! The first one I'm reading is Wonderland: A Thriller by Jennifer Hillier. I just ordered it so hopefully it gets here this week so I can get started on th..."

I'm reading Wonderland: A Thriller now. Not too creepy yet but it reads really fast and the characters are kinda quirky. Makes the story fun.

[Jarrett]

My first book finished for the summer reading was this true story of a murder that happened in the early 1960s in the summer vacation spot of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Although non-fiction this book does a great job to capture summer life on the beach and a murder that was never "officially" solved.

[Jarrett]

WendyB wrote: "Jarrett wrote: "I set a goal for three but hope to do more! The first one I'm reading is Wonderland: A Thriller by Jennifer Hillier. I just ordered it so hopefully it gets here this week so I can g..."

Awesome, thanks for the update. I'm still waiting on my copy in the mail lol. Hopefully it will arrive in the next few days, I've heard great things about the book.

[☆ Macie ☆]

None of the books I have chosen give summer vibes really... lol but I have

1. Salem's Lot by Stephen King
2. Come Closer by Sara Gran
3. Untouchable by Sam Mariano
4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J. Maas

[☆ Macie ☆]

Only two of them are horror... but oh well xD

[Robin]

Jarrett wrote: "

My first book finished for the summer reading was this true story of a murder that happened..."

Ooh! adding this one to my TBR list. I always like to read stuff like this with an NC setting.

[Jarrett]

Does anyone have any suggestions for any books themed around carnivals / fairs / summer camps that are horror books??

[Meli]

Jarrett wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions for any books themed around carnivals / fairs / summer camps that are horror books??"

Hide
Cirque Berserk

These were already mentioned as reads for the challenge, but in case it wasn't clear they fit your desired theme.
I haven't read Hide, but it will fit.

Also, Kill River for summer camp, but I didn't love this one.

[Jarrett]

WendyB wrote: "Jarrett wrote: "I set a goal for three but hope to do more! The first one I'm reading is Wonderland: A Thriller by Jennifer Hillier. I just ordered it so hopefully it gets here this week so I can g..."
I just started this book last night, 45 pages in and im already hooked lol. Great read so far

[Jarrett]

Meli wrote: "Jarrett wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions for any books themed around carnivals / fairs / summer camps that are horror books??"

Hide
Cirque Berserk

These we..."

I just ordered cirque and that will bemy next read after wonderworld

[Ami]

I love the summer reading challenges!! <3

Not sure how many I want to shoot for.... Hmm... I think I'm going to go for 12!

___________________

[ 6 of 12 ]

1. The Ruins by Scott Smith
2.Silent Came the Monster: A Novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks by Amy Hill Hearth
3. The Deep by Peter Benchley
4. Dark Gold by David Angsten
5. From Below by Darcy Coates
6.Devour by Kurt Anderson
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

[Felicia]

I am in! Once I am finished with my current read, I will read 5 of these books for my Summer of Horror.

[Brenna]

I'll go for 4 this summer! This lines up with a summer reading challenge I'm doing on Instagram so hopefully all the picks line up!

Progress: 3/4

1. Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
2. The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
3. You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
4.

[Meli]

Bones (Ganon’s Version) wrote: "I'm reading Let the Right One In for my irl book club. I haven't read it before so I am unsure what season it is set in. Would it count for this challenge as well?"

It's set right in the middle of winter... if I remember correctly.
It's the opposite of the challenge, but you could be a rebel and read total opposite of the prompt 😎 I love this book immensely! I always recommend this one.

[Meli]

I was trying to remember if the book is set in the winter as well, and I am pretty sure (like 99% sure) that it is.

It is one of my favorite horror novels and certainly a top 5 vampire book. I hope you enjoy it!

[Jarrett]

I just finished this today and really enjoyed it! It had a good pace throughout most of it and had some good twists and turns in it. If anyone is looking for a quick easy to read and follow thriller, this is a great one! (This was my second book so far for this summer challenge)

[Adrienne L]

I had to remove the two books I'm currently reading The Devil's Pocketbook and You Should Have Left from my challenge titles because neither of them is set in the summer. Does anyone know if Curse of the Reaper would work for this challenge?

[Adrienne L]

Jarrett wrote: "

I just finished this today and really enjoyed it! It had a good pace throughout most of it and had some good twists and turns in it. If anyone is lookin..."

That's good to know! I recently added it to my challenge list.

[Hayley]

I just read We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III, and I'm going to go ahead and add it to my queue for this because tornados and rattlesnakes sure feels like summer in Oklahoma/Texas (where I grew up) to me!

[Jarrett]

Cirque Berserk

Just finished this one, marking my third book for this challenge. It was a good book - fast paced but was really short. Honestly a day or two at most to finish this one -- but fits in nicely with the theme.

[Lori]

I finished The Eden Test. I’m putting it here because they’re in a secluded cabin being stalked. Great thriller, by the way.

[Meli]

I started The Troop by Nick Cutter, about halfway through and absolutely love it, but it is set in October. Still, scouts camping on an island is almost certainly "summer vibes" so I'm going to count it.

[WendyB]

Meli wrote: "I started The Troop by Nick Cutter, about halfway through and absolutely love it, but it is set in October. Still, scouts camping on an island is almost certainly "summer vibes" so I'm going to cou..."

The Troop is a very popular book on HA. The books for the challenge don't have to be set in the summer just that they involve summer-type activities so this would certainly be a good fit. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[Meli]

WendyB wrote: "The Troop is a very popular book on HA. The books for the challenge don't have to be set in the summer just that they involve summer-type activities so this would certainly be a good fit. I'm glad you're enjoying it!"

Horrorlit reddit seems to love it as well. This book really hits my sweet spot.

I figured the challenge rules were probably a little loose, so thank you for the confirmation! It's truly perfect for the challenge.

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Emily wrote: "Joining in! I'm doing four challenges right now, so I'm probably asking for trouble, but, uh... yeah, I'm trying for ten books.

1. The Elementals- Currently Reading

TBR
2. "Open S..."

I loved The Elementals! :-)

[destiny ♡]

I just finished a re-read of The Ruins and it was just as good the second time!

[Ina]

A qucik question. I am currently reading The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements. About 50% of the book, the story is set in summer time. Does that still count as a summer read?

[Alan]

Ina wrote: "A qucik question. I am currently reading The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements. About 50% of the book, the story is set in summer time. Does that still count as a summer read?"

It can if you want it to. There are not hard rules, just suggested guidelines.

[Lisa]

Confused as to why we are listing thrillers for a horror challenge. Anyway, a bit late here and having a bit of a challenge of finding audiobooks that I have that fit the theme. I have quite a few thrillers but fewer horror and I'm only reading ab's this year. So for now I'm going for 4 books.
1. Camp Scare
2. The Cabin at the End of the World
3. Hide
4. The Getaway

[Ina]

Thank you for the answer, Alan. Kind of new to this summer reading challenge and didn't know how strict it is. =)

[WendyB]

Ina wrote: "Thank you for the answer, Alan. Kind of new to this summer reading challenge and didn't know how strict it is. =)"

The main idea is to have fun checking out some new books or themes that you haven't before. And to even add to your TBR... we really enjoy that around here. :)

[Gianfranco]

1. Island Red
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Hey Ho! Let's Go!
I'm going for 6 or more this year. . .
Family, new job and videogames, keeping me busy a lot these days😅

[Ina]

WendyB wrote: "Ina wrote: "Thank you for the answer, Alan. Kind of new to this summer reading challenge and didn't know how strict it is. =)"

The main idea is to have fun checking out some new books or themes th..."

It sounds good to me. Thanks. =)

[Alan]

Lisa wrote: "Confused as to why we are listing thrillers for a horror challenge.."

See posts #92, #95
The challenges are intended to promote reading and have fun not force anyone into a box.

[Lisa]

Alan wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Confused as to why we are listing thrillers for a horror challenge.."

See posts #92, #95
The challenges are intended to promote reading and have fun not force anyone into a box."

So stupid. Last I checked this was a horror book group. No one is forcing anyone to be here.

[Kimberly]

Lisa wrote: "Alan wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Confused as to why we are listing thrillers for a horror challenge.."

See posts #92, #95
The challenges are intended to promote reading and have fun not force anyone into..."

I find many thrillers contain strong horror elements, and consider them to be horror as well as thrillers. You can label a book pretty much any way you want to.

[Alan]

Lisa wrote: "So stupid. Last I checked this was a horror book group. No one is forcing anyone to be here."

No one is forcing you to read those books or participate in the challenge. But please refrain from making such harsh unnecessary comments about our other members.

[Lisa]

Sure why not, I mean nowadays words have no real meanings anymore. How does that go? "War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. Men are Women." Of course there are books that overlap in genre, but there are also those that do not.

[Meli]

Finished my first book of the challenge this weekend, The Troop and I absolutely loved it! Completely propulsive suspenseful thriller with interesting dynamics amongst the troopers and lots of viscera and gore, but a lot of heart also.

[Kimberly]

Meli wrote: "Finished my first book of the challenge this weekend, The Troop and I absolutely loved it! Completely propulsive suspenseful thriller with interesting dynamics amongst the troopers ..."

Congratulations! That's a book that certain parts are STILL fresh in my mind!!! I have a lot of potentials I want to get to; just need to narrow them down. :)

[destiny ♡]

Does anyone have any summer horror or thriller recs specifically by trans authors? 🏳️‍⚧️🖤

[inciminci]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Does anyone have any summer horror or thriller recs specifically by trans authors? 🏳️‍⚧️🖤"

There's F4 by Larissa Glasser, it's set on a cruise ship. And I love basically everything that Caitlin R. Kiernan writes, she often does Lovecraftian stuff related to water, so that might be a summer connection.