21 Haunted Hearts and Chilling Kisses in These Horror Romance Books

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I’d love to say I only read horror romance novels when autumn rolls around out of boredom, but I’d be lying. 

I love romance books where the plot is constantly on edge and the author isn’t afraid to put their characters through the wringer. 

But let me be clear: I’m not talking about mindless torture. I mean the kind of intense conflict that actually drives the characters closer together in the end.

In this post, I’ve listed my personal favorite horror romance books where the characters have to work harder than most to find their happily ever after. 

Fair warning though: some of these books don’t have a happy ending. 

So while they might not technically qualify as traditional romance, I included them because they fit the vibe of horror romance perfectly.

Make sure you check them out. I’m sure you’re going to love these picks, especially now that it’s fall and we’re all craving something atmospheric and haunting. I know I am. 

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Signa has lived a life surrounded by death – literally. 

She’s cursed to watch people die, but when she moves into the eerie Thorn Grove mansion, things get stranger. 

A ghost says she was poisoned, and Signa teams up with the one person who’s always been near: Death himself. 

Their forbidden romance is haunting and oddly tender, like dark magic wrapped in soft petals. I found myself swooning while also feeling spooked. 

If you like slow-burn horror romance with murder mystery vibes and a dangerously charming love interest (who may or may not be Death), this one will thrill you. 

It’s the kind of paranormal romance that makes your spine tingle but your heart flutter. I couldn’t stop thinking about the balance between grief, beauty, and desire.

Darkhouse by Karina Halle

This haunted romance hit me hard. 

Perry sees ghosts, but she’s just trying to live her twenty-something life when she runs into Dex, a moody, weirdly charming guy making a ghost-hunting show. 

Their chemistry is electric, but it’s the haunted lighthouse that gave me chills. 

As they investigate supernatural horrors together, I started falling for them both and feeling like I was part of their eerie little team. 

Perry’s inner struggles, the emotional darkness, and the ghostly tension all made this one unforgettable. 

If you love paranormal romance books with horror elements that genuinely creep you out but keep you reading for the romance, you’ll be hooked too. 

I couldn’t stop thinking about how love can bloom even in the darkest, scariest places.

Heart Haunt Havoc by Freydís Moon

I fell in love with Colin right away – he’s a lonely exorcist trying to escape his past but ends up in a haunted house filled with spirits, shadows, and one very captivating owner named Bishop. 

Their paranormal romance feels messy, intense, and real, and I loved how it gently explored identity, grief, and desire. 

It’s scary, yes, but also soft in unexpected ways. 

The horror isn’t just the ghosts – it’s what haunts the heart too. 

If you want LGBTQ+ horror romance with exorcisms, haunted houses, and emotional vulnerability, this one’s for you. 

I thought about this story long after I finished it, especially how the horror didn’t stop the love from growing. It’s beautifully strange, and I adored that.

The Forgotten Phantom by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Honestly, I was scared and swooning at the same time. 

Christine investigates a creepy old opera house and wakes up something ancient and romantic. 

The Phantom isn’t just a ghost story – he’s real, dangerously charming, and obsessed with her. 

This book gave me the ultimate gothic romance chills. I couldn’t stop picturing the dark corners, the haunting music, and the terrifying yet seductive vibe of the Phantom. 

It’s the kind of horror romance where you don’t know if you should run or fall in love.

I liked how the story played with that fear and passion so well. 

If you like horror books with gothic suspense, forbidden love, and a monster who might just love you back, give this one a try. But don’t turn your back on the shadows.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

Rory returns to her hometown just to help her pregnant sister, but then she hits something strange with her car. 

After that, things go full-on werewolf horror romance. I loved the way Rory’s transformation mirrored her emotional trauma – rage, fear, love, and power all tangled up together. 

The horror feels raw, but there’s a kind of dark, funny tenderness too. 

If you love creature-feature romance with body horror, emotional depth, and a woman finding her strength in the scariest way, this is a must-read.

I kept thinking about how scary it is to become someone new, but how freeing it can be too. Horror can hold healing, and this book does that with claws and heart.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Marion, tired of her bleak life, applies to be a bloodmaid in a castle where nobles drink blood. Spooky, but also so beautiful and intense. 

Countess Lisavet, who runs the estate, is seductive and dangerous, and Marion gets pulled into a twisted love, where fear and attraction blur together. 

I loved the rich gothic atmosphere, the horror of power games, and the hunger (literal and emotional) that drives the romance. 

It’s dark, sensual, and deeply unsettling. If you like vampire-like horror romance with gothic vibes and queer tension, this book will lure you in like a whispered promise. 

Hollow by Karina Halle

Sleepy Hollow has never been this spooky or this steamy.

Kat thought her life was mapped out: marry her childhood best friend Brom, attend the creepy academy run by her family, and follow tradition. 

But then Brom comes back different. Plus, there’s a teacher – Ichabod Crane – who’s mysterious, intense, and drawn to her. 

The ghostly horrors start piling up, and suddenly, there’s a deadly love triangle tangled with a Headless Horseman legend. 

I was hooked on the dark romance tension and genuinely freaked out by the ghostly murders. 

If you want your horror romance with a love triangle, intense gothic setting, and spicy danger, this one’s for you. 

Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

This one scared me on a soul-deep level. 

Nick wakes from a climbing accident with his partner missing, his face bandaged, and something terrifying inside him. 

The mountain they explored – Maudit – isn’t just a peak; it’s alive with ancient, haunting evil. The horror in this book is cold, creeping, and cosmic. 

But at its heart, there’s love, grief, and obsession.

It’s more psychological horror romance than anything, and the slow unraveling of Nick’s mind broke me. 

If you like survival horror with a heartbreaking twist and a terrifyingly emotional bond, this one’s unforgettable. 

I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or reread. Probably all three.

The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Cora is stuck in a boring life until a cursed circus appears and flips everything upside down. 

She makes a deal without knowing the cost and ends up tangled in a terrifying world of nightmares, puppeteers, and blood-soaked secrets. 

The horror romance in this book was so creepy yet magnetic. 

I was drawn to the Puppeteer even when I knew I shouldn’t be – there’s something so dangerously romantic about him. 

It’s the kind of story where love and fear twist together, and you’re not sure which one is pulling harder. 

If you want a carnival horror love story with intense psychological suspense, this will thrill and haunt you. I couldn’t look away.

Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux

This book is terrifying, sexy, and strangely sweet all at once. 

Rae accidentally summons Leon, a demon with a dark past and even darker cravings. 

But instead of killing her, he protects her from monsters, cults, and even her own fears. 

Their romance is deeply intense, spicy, and layered with paranormal horror that made my skin crawl in the best way. 

I loved how Rae was curious about the supernatural and ended up pulled into a love that’s bigger (and scarier) than anything she imagined. 

This horror romance fantasy felt like a dream and a nightmare blended into one.

If you like demon romance, haunted forests, and morally gray lovers who’d kill to protect you, this one delivers. 

These are just some of my personal favorite horror romance novels.

They’re just as spooky as they are swoon-worthy, and I think you’ll really enjoy them as we head into fall.

We’re definitely going to be getting some fantastic new book releases this season, so I’ll be keeping an eye out and updating this post as I read even more.

If you have a favorite horror romance novel you always reach for when the leaves start turning brown, let us know in the comment section below. I’d love to hear your recommendations!