18 Books with Stalkers for Fans of Netflix’s YOU

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

The house the story was set in is utterly fascinating. The female characters I loved, but I hated the architect. He was creepy in such a subtle way, but it totally made my skin crawl.

I was compulsively turning pages and staying up late into the night to find out what happened to Emma and Jane. Oh, and the ending was perfect. I can’t wait to see this adapted to the big screen!

The Woman in the Window: A Novel by AJ Finn

If you love old movies, you will adore this book. It’s a spin on Hitchcock’s Rear Window and features an agoraphobic narrator who is often unreliable.

Anna Fox lives alone in her house.  She is agoraphobic and cannot leave but, she can sit at her window and watch everyone in the neighborhood. 

When she sees something across the street, she is sure that there has been a crime but, what is real and what is imagined?  This thriller will leave you guessing until the end.

Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window watching people.  She watched 2 people in particular as they lead what appears to be a perfect life until one day she sees something terrible while watching them. 

She reports it to the police but, can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This story will have you questioning who is telling the truth.

Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

This thriller was described, as Gone Girl Meets Gossip Girl and it didn’t disappoint! A stalker girl wants to live the life of her new friend and socialite.

But is it enough to be her friend or does she actually want to replace her?

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Told from the victim’s perspective as she is dealing with 2 different people out to control life – her husband and her best friend.

But are they both trying to control her? Is she having delusions or is something more sinister going on?

The Last Mrs. Parish by Liv Constantine

This was quite similar to The Wife Between Us, though slightly different.  We get to go into the mind of a gold-digger who is actively trying to destroy the life of a kind woman (Mrs. Parrish) because she wants the trappings of money in her monied life.

If you like Reese’s Book Club picks, check out this post where we rank them all!

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Hello Dark Academia. Centered around Devon and Chiamaka, the only black students at an elite private school, this is one wild thriller.

After being chosen by prefects on the first day of their senior year, Devon and Chiamaka quickly become the targets of the mysterious Aces – a dangerous gossip girl-type character out to ruin their lives.

I was on pins and needles as this thriller unraveled, addressing systemic racism in private institutions in the process. If you love dark academia or mystery books, you need to put this dark academia novel on your TBR list.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

Thanks to Harper Audio and Libro.FM for my review copy. All opinions are my own. I was in the mood for a good thriller to go with this month’s reading challenge.

I absolutely loved this one. There were many twists and turns that I just did not see coming! I gasped out loud on more than one location as I watched this creepy book unfold. It’s easily one of my favorite thriller books of the year. I did not see the ending coming at all!!!

The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

This historical fiction novel is part mystery, part love story, and part thriller. MacNeal’s debut takes place in Victorian England during the time of The Great Exhibition.

Iris dreams of learning to paint like a true artist, while she tolls away with her twin sister in a doll shop. Silas is a curiosity collector that can’t seem to get Iris out of his head after their chance meeting, and Albie is the rag-a-muffin street urchin I wanted to take home.

Their stories weave together in a slow burn until the blood-pumping, heart-racing conclusion. This made our list of the best books of 2019.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I was so excited to read this book.  I absolutely loved Mackintosh’s other book: I Let You Go.  This book is quite a different feel but is still a very good thriller. 

I was left shocked and surprised by the last page.  It was not predictable and had me thinking and questioning after I had finished the last page. It left me feeling creeped out for days after. 

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The OG psychological thriller, Rebecca is a book that will leave you checking behind you when you walk down a dark hallway. 

The new Mrs. de Winter is haunted by her husband’s first wife, Rebecca.  The deceit will have you second-guessing everything you read while you yell at the pages.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I was so hooked by this murder mystery/thriller. A mysterious person is trying to right the wrongs of the past by luring unsuspecting criminals to a deserted island…and then murdering them one by one.

But who is the killer? Why are they killing? And just how long have they been stalking their prey?

The Obsession by Jesse Q Sutanto

From the minute Logan lays eyes on Delilah, he thinks they are meant to be. He is certain that they are perfect for each other even though Delilah has no idea who Logan is. He plants a camera to learn everything he can about her because it is romantic, right?

This is one stalker book that is off the charts with its creep-factor. There are so many twists and turns as Delilah tries to hold onto her secrets and make Logan let go of his obsession.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

This newest book by Alice Feeney is another great read.  Her books always have me turning the pages.  The book starts with Adam and Amelia Wright headed on a weekend away in a remote Scottish getaway to save their marriage. 

Told from the point of view of both Adam and Amelia, it is clear that one weekend away may not be enough.  Each year of their marriage, Adam and his wife exchange traditional wedding gifts, and she writes him a letter that she will not let him read.  

Not every twist in this book is unexpected but there were a few shocks that were completely unexpected. 

The Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

Talk about CREEPY. What got me hooked on this story was the husband’s narration. He is clearly the bad guy, and his thought process was equally terrifying and intriguing.

I really felt as if I understood the mind of this psychotic man. His level of creepy was very similar to the book YOU.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Everything that you think you know in this book is just an assumption. You can assume that you are wrong. I cannot say much about this book because I do not want to spoil anything but, it is such a perfect thriller.

Warning: do not start it if you don’t have time to finish it.

Fifty Shade of Grey by EL James

Our dear Mr. Grey is one of the most well-known romantic stalkers in literature. He is controlling of the virginal Anastasia Steele, and he follows her around all the time.

But as the series progresses, it turns out that he and Ana have a stalker stalking them, so really this is the perfect book for this list!

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Twilight started a phenomenon and obsession with vampires in the same way that Harry Potter created an obsession with magic. This is obviously my opinion but I am sticking with it.

This vampire trilogy is definitely lacking the gore and fear factor and makes up for it with an amazing romance. But also EDWARD IS A STALKER WHO LITERALLY BREAKS INTO BELLA’s HOME AT NIGHT. That is all.

This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Looking for your next 50 Shades-style book boyfriend? Let me introduce you to Jesse Ward. He’s rich, handsome, controlling, and an ace in the sack.

His love story with Ava is all cliches and “central Jesse Cloud 9s” and I was totally into it. Look, sometimes we need a little fluffy palate cleanser and This Man is the perfect book series for that.

Seriously it’s 50 shades 2.0 minus the kinky parts (well mostly.)