A few months ago, I did something that felt surprisingly difficult. I deleted every social media app from my phone. Facebook. Instagram. Threads. TikTok. Everything.

At the same time, I think horror is at its best when it explores experiences that aren't always represented. For decades, LGBTQ readers have found pieces of themselves hidden between the lines of horror stories. Sometimes intentionally. Sometimes accidentally. But we're finally living in a time where those characters don't have to exist only as metaphors.

Some of the best Halloween and Fall reads this season — ranked by how much they’ll raise your heart rate. Grab a blanket, light a black-flame candle, and let’s descend into the pages.