By Jamie Keebler
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
This pick is a short story collection that is perfect to pick up anytime, anywhere. I think that it’s great for someone who is trying to get back into reading during a busy school year. The stories are modern retellings of classic short stories and folktales. What I loved is that they are not the basic retellings that we see done all the time. Some stories you may recognize, but many you probably won’t, which kept me invested through each story. Machado uses beautiful prose to elaborate on themes relating to feminity. This book is definitely chilling, but not in the way of a classic thriller, like the other books I’ve picked.
Bunny by Mona Awad
This novel is about a girl in her young twenties who is a member of an elite creative writing program at a prestigious university. All of the writers in her program have a strange connection and a sorority-like affiliation which each other. As she learns more about them, she is slowly roped in. This read is full of the classic horror blood and gore, but also has eloquent writing that isn’t used in many current thrillers. The main character gives an incredibly enticing narration that makes you want to read it all in one go. This is perfect for a literature lover who is also looking to be terrified while also filling their hunger for a satisfying narrative.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid
This thriller is about a couple going on a road trip for the holidays, and as they travel the girlfriend is debating whether or not to end their relationship. This is a psychological thriller for anyone who can not get enough of A24 horror movies. The writing is fluent and faced paced but also fills you with anticipation as the climax builds. This is the perfect book for a fall day when you want something that you can devour in one sitting. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, but leave you shaken to the core.