Got travel plans this summer? Seems like the perfect time to add these horror bookstores to your itinerary. Horror books are not relegated to one small, shadowy corner of bookstores anymore. These shops are putting horror and other twisted tales front and center! Can you make it to all of these before the summer’s over? Why not give it a shot?
The Twisted Spine – 306 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Open since September 2025, this is New York’s first-ever bookstore and cafe dedicated to horror and dark-themed literature. Walking into this Brooklyn-based horror store, you can expect to see shelves and shelves of books curated for horror fans and organized into horror sub-genres, such as cosmic horror, vampires, haunted houses, folk horror, and more.
Horror fans can also enjoy a drink at the bookshop’s café, featuring Devoción coffee, craft beers, and wine. Expect horror-themed drink specials, including a green-hued latte called the Mary Shelley and a red mocha called the Vampire’s Kiss. If you’re drinking your beverage in the café, you can even enjoy it in a skull mug.
The Twisted Spine hosts horror-themed events almost daily, so make sure to check out their calendar for trivia, book signings, live music, and more!
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Butcher Cabin Books – 990 Barret Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204
This Kentucky bookstore has the cozy and creepy ambiance of a creepy cabin in the woods. Here you can find an expansive selection of horror and thriller titles, all wrapped up in brown butcher paper to go with the store’s butcher/cabin theme.
Aside from selling lots and lots of creepy books, this store also has plenty of community events, including movie nights and book clubs. And you can buy lots of scary Butcher Cabin merch to bring the creepy cabin vibes back home with you!
Little Ghosts Bookstore – 930 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1W3, Canada
This queer-owned shop is Canada’s first indie bookstore dedicated to the horror genre. Whether you love horror, dark romance, occult texts, or all of the above, Little Ghosts Bookstore has got you covered. Make sure you check out their extensive stash of signed horror books! This store also operates as a small press, publishing short fiction collections and novellas annually.
Little Ghosts also has a café and lots of exciting upcoming events! They host several book clubs, including a Queer Fears book club, which specializes in (you guessed it) LGBTQ+ horror.
The Long Dark Horse – Alexandria, VA
Last but certainly not least, The Long Dark Horse is a brand new Black-owned horror bookstore in the DC area. The store is so new that they don’t currently have a brick-and-mortar bookshop, but it will be coming soon! For now, this shop is focused on local pop-ups and events. On June 28th, be sure to check out their soft launch event at Alexandria restaurant Elaine’s.
While we wait for an announcement about where their permanent location will be, make sure you follow founder Saraciea Fennell’s updates on the store’s Instagram and Threads.
Which bookstore are you most excited about checking out this summer? While you’re traveling, add these haunted bookstores and libraries to your list, too!
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