Just in time for Halloween, the New York Times writes about the popularity of horror books and horror bookstores, focusing on Little Ghosts Books in Toronto, Ont.; Midslumber Media, Portland, Ore.; the Twisted Spine, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Dark Delicacies, Burbank, Calif. (the longtime store that closed its bricks-and-mortar operation but continues to do mail order and pop-up events).
Among scary morsels in the story:
"Horror bookstores are multiplying as fast as the slimy pod monsters from Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
"While reading for fun has declined in America, horror fiction is booming, and not just during Summerween and Halloween. And bookstores that specialize in all things creepy are meeting the demand. Through August, horror book sales are up 33 percent this year over last, according to Circana BookScan. The market is growing: 3.6 million copies were sold in 2025, up from 1.4 million in 2020."
Lauren Komer, co-owner of the Twisted Spine: Horror recognizes that the world can be a horrible place and steps in "to help build resilience to the outside.... The world is terrifying every day. People like having a way to navigate real life in a way that's controlled."
There's also a "burgeoning genre" rooted in "female rage, violence and being unconventional." Book critic Kay West said she finds something "very freeing about sometimes seeing yourself as the monster.... It feels really good to have other women characters taking revenge, taking up space and being unapologetic."