You don’t need creepy costumes or horror films to get spooked. All you need is a good book, a few brave friends, and the right environment…
Here’s how to host a Halloween reading night that’ll raise goosebumps in the most bookish way possible.
First: The Setting
Think cosy but eerie. Lights low, candles on. A blanket for comfort (and protection). Keep it just cool enough to want to huddle closer…closer.
The Playlist
Soft background atmosphere only. Think rain, wind, or something orchestral and unnerving.
Some mood-setting music suggestions:
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Danse Macabre — Camille Saint-Saëns
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The Host of Seraphim — Dead Can Dance
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Midnight, The Stars and You — Al Bowlly
- Suspiria (Main Theme) — Goblin
The Drinks & Snacks
Mulled wine, smoky old fashioneds, or blood-red alcohol-free punch. Pair with dark chocolate, spiced nuts, or anything that crunches ominously in the quiet.
The Rules.
Everyone brings a copy of the same scary book. It could be King, Jackson, or something completely new (of course, we have a few recommendations).
You all settle in - low lights, candles, maybe a glow lamp flickering red - and read a chapter in silence. Then, when you’ve all surfaced, you talk. About the weird feeling in your stomach. About that one sentence that got under your skin. About why reading horror alone, together, feels so very… strange.
If you finish your chapter before the others are done, don’t reach for your phone - just sit quietly. Stare at the others. Maybe add in a sinister smile.
Keep going through the chapters until the conversation drifts or the drinks take over - whichever comes first….
This is part book club, part séance. All spine-tingling fun.
If you survive the night
If you give it a go, tag us in your photos. We’d love to see your setups (and your candle-to-book ratios). Just don’t blame us if you can’t sleep afterwards…
