I absolutely loved this book! I have read (and loved) most of the authors featured, but there were a few that I hadn’t heard or read from before. It was so interesting to read about what drew these authors to horror, it felt like I was getting such an insight and connection to them. I also really appreciated the recommendation from the author for what book to start with and what authors are similar.

The introduction was super interesting too, it highlighted the art of giving recommendations and how to approach it. The editor mentioned their textbook briefly where it goes in depth about recommendations which I absolutely cannot wait to read!

It truly is a love letter to the horror genre, I can’t recommend it enough!

A fantastic ode to my favorite genre, Why I Love Horror beautifully shows how different and unique each horror fans experience is while also showing what unities us. I was familiar with some of authors featured in this book, but many of them were new to me, and I loved each essay just as much. It’s so fun to learn about different people’s origins in the genre and the layout of the book was digestible, and interesting, I’ll be reading books by the authors and the suggestions in the near future. An excellent look at the horror genre and why it’s still so relevant today.

5 stars

Ever wonder why we are drawn to horror? 18 of today's best horror writers answer that question for us in this collection of essays, telling us why they love horror.

As a life long horror fan, I have often wondered what makes me love this genre so much. I know it started in childhood and can point to all the obvious things, the thrill of that feeling of terror without any of the actual danger, the love of the dark, and the lure of a spooky ghost. But hearing from some of my favorite authors gave me new perspective on what might be at the root of my addiction.

If you love horror, this is a fantastic peek into the minds and lives of your favorite storytellers. Every essay was unique and gave me something new to think about. Paul Tremblay's essay includes illustrations done by his daughter, which was a wonderful surprise. Tananarive Due discussed the influence of the Civil Rights movement and Anne Rice, and Victor LaValle talked about how horror saved his life. And of course, Stephen Graham Jones, the ultimate horror writer and horror fan discussed his love the genre for its ability to tell the hard stories in compelling ways.

This is simply a must-read for fans of the horror genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am ever-so-desperately in love with this book. Why I Love Horror is an essay collection about horror authors, horror readers, and the dark tendrils that connect us. Though it isn't just a book for horror lovers, it's a book for everyone.

This may be a set of essays about horror and the love people have for it, but it's perfect for everyone. You don't have to be a horror lover to enjoy these hauntingly beautiful essays. Every single one of these authors has given a breathtaking look into why horror is their genre of choice and how they connect to it. Anyone in the world could find joy in reading these and allowing these authors to tell the story of why this genre is so important to them.

Even though this is non-fiction, the fact that it is told by such masterful storytellers gives readers all the wonderful things they find in fiction. Whether you're looking for stunning prose or an addictive tale, you can find it in these essays. Anyone who's looking to get into more non-fiction has been provided with the perfect starting point. And anyone who has loved non-fiction for some time has found their next new obsession.

Each essay in this book is so individual, giving readers a fresh insight into the importance of horror with each page they turn. Each author has their own unique style for readers to fall in love with. The voices of your favorite authors will shine through, and the voices of all the authors that are new to you will grab your attention and refuse to let it go. This is not only an essay collection, but also a list of horror authors to take up all the space that's left in your mind.

To go along with the wonderful essays, each one is complete with recommendations from the author who wrote it and authors whose books are similar. There are so many incredible books and authors that you can (and will want to) add to your TBR lists. Why I love Horror truly gives you everything you could ever want, and somehow even more.

This is the type of book I could talk about forever. I want to scream about my love for this from the rooftop of every building I find. It's a book I'd force everyone to read if I could. If you love horror and/or non-fiction, I couldn't recommend this book more. Even if you don't like horror or non-fiction, I still think there's a pretty great chance you'll love this. It addictive in every way possible, it's emotional in some of it's essays, and it's a gift to readers and horror lovers everywhere. I will never get over this.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of of 5/26/2025
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 9/9/2025

Becky Spratford is a horror champion. This collection is a love letter to the horror genre. Essay contributors include Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison. How stacked is that lineup? Each author was given one prompt - "why I love horror". These essays are absolutely great. The horror community is so amazing and many among us have found our people here. Thank you to Becky for putting this book together. I would recommend it to any horror fan, novice or seasoned veteran. Thank you to Saga Press/Simon & Schuster for the physical ARC, as well as NetGalley for the eARC. You can pick this up when it publishes September 23, 2025 wherever you buy your books. You do not want to miss it!

A question horror lovers are all too familiar with is “why?” Why this genre that sheds so much blood? Why this genre that preys on our vulnerabilities? Why this genre that most people turn away from in favor of something more pleasant?

Why I Love HorrorAs readers, we all have our answers to these questions. We know why we find comfort in horrific situations, in mindboggling creations, and in unthinkable circumstances. But how does this question work for the folks who create these things? Becky Spratford confronts this very idea with her curated collection of essays from some of the most prominent voices in horror today with Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature. Eighteen essays from widely celebrated horror authors demonstrate their immense love of the genre where homes have been made in the horrendous.

Why I Love Horror is a heavy hitting collection of essays that shines a light on every facet imaginable of approaching the genre. Authors like Brian Keene and John Langan recount their early encounters with monsters, the macabre, and real life horrors that have shaped their careers. Tananarive Due and Alma Katsu tie their love of the genre to their upbringing and other career experiences. And Grady Hendrix and Clay McLeod Chapman give us lots to ponder about our own fascination with the subject in their own reflections. There are numerous more contributions from powerhouse voices such as Victor LaValle and Stephen Graham Jones, but these are best to discover yourself.

On the whole, this collection shines for its vulnerability. While the authors contributing here are masters of fiction, writing from a place of personal experience feels like a different exercise all together, pulling back the curtain on the deeply unique matters that make these people who they are. Yes, we know Paul Tremblay and Hailey Piper the horror authors, but this collection allows us to know them also as people.

To be very specific, two essays spoke emotional volumes to my own experiences, seeing reflections of my own self in their words. Cynthia Pelayo and Rachel Harrison‘s essays delve into the very personal life experiences that have fueled their craft into our hands. There’s a great deal of authentic love and earnest truth within these passages, unpacking the harsh truths of a warped world, of love, and of hurt. The sincerity in which these women impart their relationship with horror is felt tenfold, providing some of my favorite pieces of nonfiction read in recent years.

Why I Love Horror edited by Becky Spratford is a jewel for horror fiction fans of every variety. With such a diverse, well-rounded set of voices that explore the intricacies of authorship through the horror genre, there is an essay for every kind of reader in this collection. Maybe you already know why you love horror when you pick this book up, or maybe you’re looking to find out the mystery within yourself. Regardless, Why I Love Horror gives you more to ponder, more to appreciate, and more to love about horror.

4 stars

Essays from some of horrors biggest names (and an introduction by Sadie Hartmann, one of my friends here on GR), including Paul Tremblay, Tananarive Due, Victor LaValle and Grady Hendrix among many others explaining their affinity for this genre.

For me the clear standout was the essay by the amazing Gavin Iglesias, an author I wasn’t familiar with until reading this book, but who I’ll definitely be looking for. His grandmother’s spirit bathroom! The Decapitated Chicken! “When they said horror couldn’t eat at literature’s table, we horror folks built a table from the bones of our enemies and welcomed everyone who wanted to join.” Spratford recommends his book HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN so I’m adding it to my list.

That was another thing I loved. Spratford recommends a book for each author and suggests a “if you like this author, try this one.” So great.

Lots of great essays here. Recommended for fans.

This, THIS is what horror is about! Finding community, getting permission to scream, identifying with the monster because the monster is NOT bad, merely misunderstood. Everyone had such good viewpoints about horror that on my own I would have never been able to identify but to see them explained by some of my favorite authors it was a total aha moment for me. For those new to and those familiar with horror, this is the book for you.

Also I’m not just saying this because I am certified Grady Hendrix trash but his essay genuinely haunts me. I think about it all the time. If you want to know why you feel so electrified after reading a horror novel or watching a scary movie, the answers you seek lie within the pages of this book. Read on, reader, if you dare!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author(s) for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Why I Love Horror is a heartfelt, engaging collection that celebrates the genre from multiple angles. Curated by Becky Siegel Spratford, the essays are accessible, personal, and often thought-provoking—perfect for horror fans looking to deepen their appreciation or feel part of a larger community.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Netgalley and Saga Press Books for this ARC! Did you ever want to have a conversation with one of your favorite horror writers like Rachel Harrison, Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix, Stephen Graham Jones, or Tananarive Due (just to name a few of the incredible authors/contributors)? Well now you kinda can -- thanks to Reader Advisory Librarian Becky Siegel Spratford. Each author wrote an essay answering the prompt: "Why I Love Horror?" I am having such a great time reading the essays. Ms. Siegel Spratford introduces each author with a short bio, a recommendation of which of their works to read first, and a comp author for those of us who may have already read everything a particular author has written. I love, love, love this book!!

I knew half-way through Why I Love Horror that I wouldn't write a typical review for the book. Instead, I wanted to write a response. Why do I love horror? I'm not sure if what I have to say is original or any different from what the writers in this book of essays had to say. I feel the need to express what horror means to me though. Why do I love reading it? That said, I will say that I absolutely loved this book of essays by some of the best writers in horror. I met new writers and I got to understand favorite writers more than ever. Why I Love Horror is an absolute treat for fans of the genre and people who don't like horror should read it too. Maybe then you'll understand why we love horror.

When I was kid, I read Bruce Coville's Book Of books. Book of Aliens, Book of Monsters, Book of Ghosts, Book of Nightmares. I loved those anthologies. I ate that stuff up. Then I discovered Goosebumps by R.L. Stine and then eventually, I discovered Stephen King.

I've always loved to read. From a young age, I loved to read and I loved to write. I devoured books. I've read so many books, some I remember, some I've forgotten. I couldn't tell you what my first Stephen King book was. I just know that I loved his books. And of course later I found his son, Joe Hill and over the years, I've discovered more and more horror writers: Stephen Graham Jones, Hailey Piper, Clay McCleod Chapman, Paul Tremblay, and many more. Reviewing has definitely opened up my love to horror more. I read more horror than ever.

Why horror though? Why do I love ghosts and vampires and demons and thinks that stalk in the night? Why horror? I mean, I love fantasy and sci-fi. I love drama and comedy and heck even the occasional romance. But horror? I keep coming back to it. I like to be scared. I like the feeling of being nervous and of that hand reaching out of the alley or that think right behind my neck...

We can escape the horrors in books too. After we finish reading the book, the horror is over. We close the book, put it away and move onto another book. Horror, like every genre, offers an escape and I think, most important of all, it makes you FEEL. You always have some emotion, usually being freaking terrified and temporary traumatized. Go read Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay Mcleod Chapman right now. I'll wait.

You back yet? Wait you didn't come back!? Well, I don't blame you. That book really put me through the ringer. And I still can't get that baby ghost song out of my head. Thanks Clay.

I love horror and I think after reading this book, I've come to a decision. I want to write horror too. I miss writing stories and honestly, as much as I tried, I could never get sci-fi or fantasy to work with my writing. But horror? I think I can make horror work. I think its time to go back to writing fiction too and to see if my love of reading horror, also translates into a love of writing horror. Let's see if I can scare myself silly. Wish me luck. I'll need it.

Why I Love Horror will release on September 23rd, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of this book.

These are chillingly beautiful essays that truly capture the heart of horror and why the genre will never die. This is a collection of horror authors that will now give you a bigger to read list then you already had. Finally, a collection about horror that does not reduce the genre to psychos or ill-informed fanatics that love and appreciate the genre. This project starting in a library is very telling how essential the library is in promoting literature. People stray from horror because they do not understand it and this collection will show you why it matters.
If you are reading this your already have some interest in horror – so keep reading! I cannot pick a favorite in this collection but Alma Katsu’s essay really resonated with me. She really nails the difference between the appreciation for conjured monsters and disconnecting us temporarily from the true monsters of society that plague our environments. I had to read this over twice too truly soak in what she was discussing!
Frankenstein? If you ever get the chance to know me or stick around my blog for a bit – you will understand my enormous love and appreciation for Frankenstein’s creature. Shelly’s novel and the film have really paved the way for horror as a genre in literature and film. This central monstrous idea is mentioned by several authors throughout the collection and that recognition is well deserved.
This is really a collection about how the stories we conjure within the spectrum of the horror genre and curate ourselves are truly a joy that keeps on terrifying us. This is a unique genre that really gives the liberty of creativity a medium to discuss assorted topics from racial injustice to queer theory. If you love non-fiction you MUST pick up this collection. I felt at home reading this. Where was my love for horror? It began with watching Halloween when I was 6 or 7 and it began when I read Pet Semeteary.
The roots of horror and our love for it are well expressed and curated here. I almost want a part two! Thank you Net Galley and Saga Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to add a hardcover copy to my shelves when this hits the market. ALSO – Thank you Becky Siegel Spratford for compiling this eerie collection of essays to sink my teeth into!