18 Best 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 perfection. I can’t wait to see this adapted to the big screen! If you love stalker books and haunted house stories you must read this one.

The Woman in the Window: A Novel by AJ Finn

If you love old movies, you will adore this book. It is 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, so she sits at her window and watches everyone in the neighborhood. 

When she sees something across the street, she is sure there has been a crime but, what is real and what is imagined? Amy Adams stars in the Netflix adaptation of this stalker book. This popular 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 is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe, making it perfect for our list of books with stalkers.

Vladimir by Julia May Jones

When it comes to books with stalkers, this literary fiction has a vibe of it’s own. Vladimir is the hot new professor at a rural college. A recent literary success, he quickly becomes the obsession of a 58-year-old tenured female professor at the same school.

Said professor is our narrator and her inner dialogue was expertly crafted. She’s on the edge of scandal after her husband is accused of multiple affairs with students prior to those types of relationships being banned.

She knew about these affairs and even had some of her own, but she didn’t want to be caught up in the fallout. Instead, she fixates on Vladimir, a man 20 years her junior.

The subjects this dark academia novel explores are expertly navigated by Jonas, whose gifts as a writer shines in this debut. I would love to discuss this pick from books set in college with my book club!

Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

This thriller was described, as Gone Girl Meets Gossip Girl and it didn’t disappoint! An obsessive 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? This eerily creepy story is now one of my favorite books about stalkers.

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? This stalker book about an obsessive friend will have you questioning everything until the end.

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

December 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I read this popular thriller book because it was a Reese Witherspoon pick AND because I heard wonderful things about it. Unfortunately, I read The Wife Between Us back in January so I completely predicted what was going to happen in this book.

As with all thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, when the element of surprise is missing, it’s not as good a read. Still, I found this stalker book to be enjoyable if only because of the plotting of Amber Patterson. I adored being the head of the villian.

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 books set in high school or mystery books, you need to put this dark academia novel on your TBR list.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

I was in the mood for a good thriller for Halloween when I stumbled across this story about a therapist and someone who is obsessed with him. Certainly. unique story on our list of books with stalkers.

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!!! #gifted

The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

This historical fiction novel about art 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 who 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 stalker book made our list of the best books of 2019.

I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I was so excited to read this stalker 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 to 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 set in Cornwall that will leave you checking behind you when you walk down a dark hallway. As unreliable narrator books go, this one is a must-read.

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.

One of the most acclaimed psychological thriller authors, this novel is Daphne Du Maurier at her best. It is a chilling novel about a naive second wife discovering the truth behind the wife who came before her.

The Netflix book adaptation stars Lily James – and it reignited this popular thriller book’s success. It’s on our list of books about stalkers because of the new Mrs. de Winter’s obsession with the deceased Rebecca.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I was so hooked by this British 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? You have to figure out whodunit in this unreliable narrator book that is one of the best mystery books of all time. This is one of the books about stalkers you will not want to miss.

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.  This hotel novel starts with Adam and Amelia Wright headed to a weekend away in a remote Scottish getaway to save their marriage. It turns into one of the locked-room thrillers you will not be able to put down.

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.  

When reading a domestic noir you expect twists and turns because that is part of the fun. While I expected a few, some of the ones in this stalker book were completely unexpected!  

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

This story mostly takes place during a car ride when a husband and wife are on their way up to their vacation home.

I can’t talk much more about what I loved about this book without giving away the plot. I will say that the narrator is unlike any I have read before and for all you fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train…this surprising stalker book if for 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 domestic thriller.

Warning: do not start it if you don’t have time to finish it. Nellie is so excited about her upcoming wedding that is just days away. She cannot shake the feeling that someone is following her. This unreliable narrator book will have you on the edge of your seat. This is one of our favorite stalker books!

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Originally written as Twilight fan fiction, Fifty Shades of Grey tells the story of Anastasia Steele, an innocent young woman who quite literally falls at the feet of young billionaire Christian Grey.

Their up-and-down relationship had the world atwitter. He wanted a submissive, but Ana challenged him at every turn. And their red room of pain is the stuff of legend.

This is the series that ignited the popularity of billionaire romance books and Mr. Grey’s behaviors definitely make it perfect for a list of stalker romance books.

Twilight (The Twilight Saga) 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 is a must-read young adult fantasy book.

This vampire series is definitely lacking the gore and fear factor and makes up for it with an amazing romance. When Bella Swan goes to live with her father, she is immediately drawn to Edward Cullen, a mysterious teenager with an old soul. Soon, she discovers he is a vampire. I will not ruin the rest of this cult-like pick from vampire books. But, if you have not read this vampire book yet, what are you waiting for?

It is an iconic urban fantasy series. But also EDWARD IS A STALKER WHO LITERALLY BREAKS INTO BELLA’s HOME AT NIGHT. So it’s a stalker romance book!

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.) It’s one of our favorite stalker romance books.