YA Summer Camp Thrillers That Are All Fun, Games… and Murder
There’s just something about summer camp. The isolated cabins. The creepy woods. The secrets no one packed in their duffel bags. And in the world of YA thrillers, camp is the perfect place for betrayal, murder, and a whole lot of late-night screaming.
Whether it’s a cursed lake, a killer in the woods, or a friendship that’s not what it seems, these YA summer camp thrillers are here to make sure your s’mores come with a side of psychological trauma.
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YA Summer Camp Thrillers You’ll Want to Stay Up All Night Reading
The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
Goldie returns to Camp Alpine Lake as a counselor, but she’s not the only one hiding something. When a teen turns up dead, a summer of nostalgia becomes a dangerous unraveling of truth, lies, and old friendships.
Key themes: elite camp secrets, rich kid drama, best friend betrayals
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Charity plays the “final girl” in a horror-themed experience at Camp Mirror Lake, until people actually start dying. A fast-paced, bloody homage to classic slashers with a queer Black heroine who isn’t here to die quietly.
Key themes: slasher tropes, final girl meta, queer rep
Grab You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight on Amazon
Love a good scream-fest in the woods? Check out our list of summer camp slasher movies for killer picks that bring the same bloody energy to your screen.
Welcome to Camp Killer by Cynthia Murphy
An American-style summer camp in the British countryside? Sounds fun, until counselors start dying and ghost stories start feeling a little too real. A quick, punchy thriller perfect for reluctant readers and seasoned horror fans alike.
Key themes: eerie English camp setting, unexplained deaths, ghost rumors
Grab Welcome to Camp Killer on Amazon
The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan
Two girls survive a summer camp massacre. Now they’re inseparable… until one of them starts asking questions the other doesn’t want answered. A twisty, emotional psychological thriller with major Scream meets Jennifer’s Body energy.
Key themes: trauma bonding, toxic love, maybe-a-killer girlfriend
Grab The Last Girls Standing on Amazon
The Troop by Nick Cutter
Not technically YA, but if your teens are into Lord of the Flies meets The Thing, this one delivers. A scout troop’s camping trip turns into a nightmare when a stranger brings a bioengineered parasite into the woods. Not for the faint of stomach.
Key themes: body horror, survival, infection
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Also technically adult, but so fitting for fans of summer camp horror. Lynnette survived her massacre, just like the other women in her support group. But someone’s targeting final girls, and she’s not going down without a fight.
Key themes: slasher aftermath, trauma, survival
Grab The Final Girl Support Group on Amazon
Camp Survival Tips (From People Who’ve Watched Way Too Much Horror)
- Don’t trust the cute lifeguard.
- If you hear a noise in the woods? No you didn’t.
- Flashlights die. Trust no one.
- Make friends… but not too many. They’re all suspects.
- Never say “I’ll be right back.”
Final Thoughts
If your idea of a perfect summer includes secret backstories, sudden stabbings, and questionable best friends, these YA summer camp thrillers belong on your reading list. Sleepaway camp has never looked so deadly, and we’re kind of obsessed with it.
Got a fave I missed? Drop your recs in the comments!
Looking for even more isolated, scream-worthy suspense? Our YA locked-room mysteries are packed with claustrophobic vibes, unreliable narrators, and secrets that won’t stay buried.
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