Fans of the tv show Wednesday will enjoy these YA horror fantasy book recommendations. Perfect for teens who read spooky goth stories and dark academia.
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This post is part of a new series I’m working on with book recommendations for teens. Each week this summer I’ll be sharing lists of 5 YA books for fans of a different tv series.
Read the list of book recommendations for fans of Chiling Adventures of Sabrina. See all the book lists.
Today I’ve got 5 books you might enjoy if you like the tv series Wednesday (Inspired by the Addams Family comic, films, and cartoon series). There are currently 2 seasons of the show on Netflix. Wednesday Addams is an iconic goth girl with a dark sense of humor. She loves all things dark and morbid, but sometimes she doesn’t understand other people.
In the tv series, Wednesday attends Nevermore Academy where she becomes friends with her sunshine roomate Enid and has to solve a mystery and stop a killer.
Spooky goth YA books
I picked these books because they all have a goth teen protagonist, some spooky paranormal elements, and an academic setting.
1. You’ve Goth My Heart
- Title: You’ve Goth My Heart
- Author: LC Rosen
- Genre: YA romance (M/M)
Summary
Gray is a 16-year-old boy living in Sleepy Hollow with his pagan moms. When he receives a wrong-number text that he probably shouldn’t respond to, he does and they hit it off. The boys seem to have everything in common and decide to keep their identities secret until they meet in person on Halloween. Meanwhile, Gray is working hard to win his town’s haunted house decorating contest. Unfortunately there’s a new annoying boy at school who’s determined to win too. Gray and Malcom may be rivals in person, but they don’t know how much they have in common.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Wednesday because the main character is goth.
This story is cute and camp romance that takes place in Sleepy Hollow, where it feels like Halloween all year. It has all the cartoon witchy vibes and doesn’t take itself too seriously, like The Addams Family or Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
At the same time, it does an amazing job of discussing goth philosophy. Hope is goth. Being teens and outcasts in a small town, trying to navigate dating and friendships, and worrying about everything else is an emotional roller coaster. But facing the chaos head-on and hoping that everything will work out is really the message of this story.
I won a physical advance reader copy from the publisher, Little Brown, in a Goodreads giveaway.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
2. The Forest Demands Its Due
- Title: The Forest Demands Its Due
- Author: Kosoko Jackson
- Genre: YA horror (M/M romance)
Summary
Douglas has just been given a spot at the luxurious Regent Academy, thanks to his mom and a scholarship. He doesn’t expect to fit in with the rich kids, but things quickly become even worse than he expected. When a student dies and only Douglas remembers, he digs into the school’s mysterious history. Soon he’s teamed up with the groundskeeper’s son, Everett, to fight a forest full of monsters and a generational curse. As Douglas and Everett get closer to danger, they also get closer to each other.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Wednesday for the mysterious school setting.
This story is full of dark academia tropes: a prestigious boarding school surrounded by a forest, teachers who rely on students to solve problems, ancient creatures and curses, and a unique magical system. It also has an interesting take on the chosen one trope. And because Douglas is Black, this book touches on race and class issues in a school setting.
I purchased the audiobook from Audible.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
3. Don’t Let the Forest In
- Title: Don’t Let the Forest In
- Author: CG Drews
- Genre: YA horror romance (M/M)
Summary
Andrew and Thomas are students at a remote boarding school, along with Andrew’s sister Dove. With Dove ignoring Andrew for some reason, he spends even more time with Thomas. But Thomas is acting strange too, and Andrew soon discovers Thomas in the woods at night, fighting monsters that seem to have sprung from his drawings. As the boys begin a nightly ritual of sneaking into the forest to protect the school, Andrew worries that their problems are bigger than he thought.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Wednesday for the school setting.
This is a dark fairytale at its core. The setting is moody and atmospheric, and the prose is almost poetic. The characters are full of angst and pining. (Andrew spends of lot of the story in his own head, worrying about whether Thomas likes him.) The monsters are scary and the ending is a surprising twist.
I purchased the hardcover book from Barnes & Noble.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
4. A Deadly Education
- Title: A Deadly Education
- Author: Naomi Novik
- Genre: YA fantasy (M/F romance)
This book is the first in a trilogy.
Summary
In a world where some people have magic and teens are a target for nightmarish monsters, Scholomance is a boarding school that trains teens to fight back. Galadriel has powerful dark magic, but surviving until graduation means making allies and sharing what you learn. She’s made it to junior year unscathed but also alone. When she begrudging teams up with Orion, he turns out to be much different than she assumed. Soon they’ve got a tentative alliance, a rumored romance, and a slim shot at surviving this school year.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Wednesday for the main character’s asocial attitude.
This reads a bit like a diary with a close point-of-view from the narrator, including her opinions and misunderstandings. Galadriel, who goes by El, has a sharp and sarcastic wit and a dark sense of humor. Her banter with Orion is silly and often the reader understands things that El doesn’t.
I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
5. The Mary Shelley Club
- Title: The Mary Shelley Club
- Author: Goldy Moldavsky
- Genre: YA horror (M/F romance)
Summary
Rachel survived a home invasion, and now she’s the new girl at a school full of rich kids. She feels like she’ll never fit in, until she discovers a secret group of horror movie fans. As they reluctantly welcome her in, she enthusiastically joins them in watching horror films and doing pranks to scare their classmates. But something isn’t right and Rachel keeps seeking a masked figure, just like the man who attacked her. As the stakes become deadly, Rachel begins to suspect that her attacker has followed her and starts to question her new friends.
Why you’ll like it
If you like Wednesday for the dark vibes.
This has all the horror movie vibes and tropes from Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and tons of other books and films. Chapter are short, making this a fast-paced thriller. If you’re a horror fan, you’ll either get all the references or have a few more scary movies to add to your watch list.
I borrowed the harcover book from my local library.
Order this book: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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