YA Queer Horror Books for Pride Month
Looking for queer horror with teen protagonists, creepy vibes, and actual stakes? These YA queer horror books deliver possession, monsters, haunted families, and unhinged exes—with characters that finally reflect all parts of who we are.
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Sapphic YA Horror
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Three girls. One island. And something ancient that wants to devour them all. Atmospheric and rich in queer rage, this Bram Stoker-nominated novel is perfect for fans of Stranger Things with a feminist bite.
Hazelthorn by CG Drews
Evander lives inside a gothic mansion, bound by three rules—and one of them involves staying away from Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him. Now the garden is growing teeth, and Evander is next on the menu. Botanical body horror with a queer twist.
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
It’s been eighteen months since the Tox hit the Raxter School for Girls, twisting bodies and isolating them on their island. Hetty is determined to find her missing friend—but the truth waiting beyond the fence is even more horrifying. A feminist Lord of the Flies with body horror and queer longing.
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
Sunflowers, secrets, and the blood-soaked history of a cursed town. After the disappearance of their mothers, four girls begin unraveling the supernatural horror buried in Bishop, Kansas. Full of queer grief, whispering winds, and haunted land.
Grab Where Darkness Blooms on Amazon
The Afterdark by E. Latimer
Boarding school, cosmic horror, and a toxic love story that might destroy them both. Evie and Holland fall for each other while navigating the terrifying force known as the Afterdark—where dark impulses and eldritch threats blur.
Gay YA Horror
The Haunting Between Us by Paul Michael Winters
A haunted house, a ghost-hunting friend, and a new crush who just moved into the most cursed house on the block. This queer ghost story blends slow-burn romance with supernatural terror.
Grab The Haunting Between Us on Amazon
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
Jake sees ghosts—but one of them, a school shooter, wants revenge and a body to inhabit. With a budding romance on one side and a murderous spirit on the other, Jake is in for the fight of his life.
Grab The Taking of Jake Livingston on Amazon
Trespass Against Us by Leon Kemp
Two years ago, Riley survived a night in a haunted reform school. Now he’s going back to uncover what happened to his missing boyfriend. A dual-timeline ghost story full of trauma, queerness, and dread.
Grab Trespass Against Us on Amazon
Trans / Nonbinary YA Horror
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
A trans autistic teen takes on systemic violence and haunting legacy in rural Appalachia. This one’s full of grit, ghosts, and fire—both metaphorical and literal.
Grab Compound Fracture on Amazon
Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli
Chuck died in a mill accident—or was it murder? Paz and her crew must face the monsters beneath their town in this trans-led, multi-POV horror story rooted in friendship and revenge.
Bi / Queer / Ace YA Horror
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Jade’s visit to her estranged father’s crumbling colonial house in Vietnam turns into a battle against the supernatural—and a journey of queer self-discovery. Gothic horror steeped in history and hunger.
Grab She Is a Haunting on Amazon
Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews
Andrew’s fairy tale writing is an escape—until the monsters in his best friend’s drawings come to life. Love, obsession, and literal nightmares collide in this haunting story of boys battling what they’ve created.
Grab Don’t Let the Forest In on Amazon
Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Two ex-lovers—both exiled witches—fight back against a monstrous empire in this Korean-inspired, Alice in Wonderland horror remix. Blood magic, betrayal, and queer vengeance abound.
Grab Off With Their Heads on Amazon
YA Queer Horror Edition
What counts as queer horror in YA?
Queer horror includes books with LGBTQ+ protagonists, love interests, or central themes, set against a backdrop of supernatural or psychological horror. It can range from gothic haunted houses to creature features.
Are these books age-appropriate for teens?
Yes! These are all categorized as YA by their publishers, though content warnings may apply (e.g., body horror, death, trauma). We recommend checking individual reviews if you’re sensitive to specific topics.
Do these books include romance?
Some do! Others lean heavier into horror or identity, but you’ll find a few slow burns, messy crushes, and full-on queer longing throughout the list.
Where can I find more books like this?
Check out our YA dark academia, cozy queer mysteries, and gothic horror guide (links to be added) for more recs across genres.
Why YA Queer Horror Hits Different
There’s something powerful about seeing queer teens not just survive—but confront monsters, trauma, and secrets in their own voices. YA queer horror makes space for fear and freedom. Whether you’re here for grief-soaked ghost stories or fungal eldritch nightmares, we hope these recs give you chills—and maybe a little catharsis too.
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You may also like:
- Want more horror book recommendations?
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