Reading Challenge: Books in the Freezer Podcast 2026

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Books in the Freezer 2026 Reading Challenge

Another year, another reading challenge completed! This is my fifth year participating in the Books in the Freezer Podcast reading challenge, and, as always, I had a great time. See below for this year’s challenge prompts, my selections, and some stats and superlatives.

• 2026 Horror Release: Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas (review here)
• Translated Horror: Aura by Carlos Fuentes, Lysander Kemp (translator) (review here)
• Suburban Horror: When Things Get Dark edited by Ellen Datlow

• Short Story Collection: Night Shift by Stephen King (review here)
• Horror Non-Fiction: Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks
• Purple or Yellow Cover: Pet Sematary by Stephen King

• Horror Graphic Novel: Seance in the Asylum by Clay McLeod Chapman, Leonardo Marcello Grassi (illustrator)
• Middle Grade Horror: Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
• Book by a Black Author: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

• Unhinged Narrator: The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu
• Published by a Small Press: The Agony of Her: An Ohio Gothic by Cassandra L. Thompson (review here)
• Title Has a Name: Pearl (X Trilogy, #2) by Tim Waggoner

• Bonus: Analog Horror: Found: An Anthology of Found Footage Horror Stories edited by Andrew Cull and Gabino Iglesias
• Bonus: Set in a Hotel or Motel: Graffiti Tombs by Matt Serafini

Stats & Superlatives

• Total: 4,229 pages
• Shortest: Seance in the Asylum by Clay McLeod Chapman, Leonardo Marcello Grassi (illustrator)
• Longest: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
  
  
• Newest: Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks
• Oldest: Aura by Carlos Fuentes, Lysander Kemp (translator)
• New-to-Me Authors (excluding anthologies): 5
  
  
• Repeat Authors (excluding anthologies): 6
• Darkest: The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu
• Goriest: Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas
  
  
• Best Cover: The Agony of Her: An Ohio Gothic by Cassandra L. Thompson
• Most Anxiety-Inducing: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
• Most Captivating: Night Shift by Stephen King (“Graveyard Shift,” “The Mangler,” and “The Boogeyman”)
  
  
• Most Disturbing: Pearl (X Trilogy, #2) by Tim Waggoner
• Most Fascinating: Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks
• Most Freezer-Worthy: Pet Sematary by Stephen King
  
  
• Most Intriguing: Aura by Carlos Fuentes, Lysander Kemp (translator)
• Most Moving: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
• Most Satisfying: Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
  
  
• Most Shocking: Aura by Carlos Fuentes, Lysander Kemp (translator)
• 5-Star Experiences:
• Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas
• Pet Sematary by Stephen King
• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Are you participating in any reading challenges this year? If so, have you discovered any new favorites in the process?

🖤Amanda

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