Fans of Netflix’s Wednesday were drawn to its gothic aesthetic, sharp humor, and supernatural mystery. The show reimagines Wednesday Addams as a witty, macabre teen sleuth navigating friendships, school rivalries, and eerie secrets at Nevermore Academy.
If you’ve finished the series and want more stories steeped in mystery, dark academia, and gothic flair, these Gothicreads are the perfect next step.
Each book below delivers a blend of unsettling atmosphere, sharp characters, and supernatural intrigue, making them ideal for readers who loved Wednesday’s world of creepy charm.
1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern, a Yale freshman, is recruited into a secret society tasked with policing occult activities among the university’s elite. Haunted by her troubled past and gifted with the ability to see ghosts, Alex uncovers conspiracies that blur the line between privilege and the paranormal.
Themes of power, corruption, and survival take center stage against a gothic Ivy League backdrop. With its sinister campus setting and morally gray heroine, this is a must-read for fans of Gothicreads who want Wednesday’s dark academia energy in book form.
Why we recommend it: because Bardugo’s twist on secret societies mirrors Nevermore’s secretive halls and gives readers that same mix of intrigue and dread.
2. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel, a trans boy eager to prove himself to his traditional Latinx family, accidentally summons the ghost of his school’s resident bad boy. What starts as a magical mishap becomes a heartfelt, spooky adventure full of ghosts, secrets, and unexpected romance.
Set in modern Los Angeles but infused with brujería and cultural traditions, this novel explores identity, acceptance, and family bonds. Equal parts touching and eerie, it’s a Gothic read that will appeal to readers who loved Wednesday’s mix of supernatural drama and heartfelt emotion.
Why we recommend it: because its humor, heart, and ghostly mystery balance exactly the way Wednesday does.
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3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Sargent has always been told that if she kisses her true love, he’ll die. When she meets four boys from a local prep school obsessed with uncovering a dead Welsh king, her life becomes entangled with ancient magic, secrets, and fate.
With its lush Virginia setting, layered characters, and atmospheric mysteries, this series weaves together friendship, destiny, and gothic folklore. It’s a perfect Gothic read for fans craving the eerie mystery and ensemble cast dynamics found in Wednesday.
Why we recommend it: because the group’s intense friendships and search for hidden power echo Wednesday’s blend of loyalty, rivalry, and danger.
4. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
At the Scholomance, survival is the only graduation requirement. Monsters lurk in every corner, and El, a sarcastic, antisocial student with destructive magical powers, must rely on her wit to make it through.
Blending dark humor with high-stakes danger, the book critiques elitism while delivering a biting twist on the magical boarding school trope. Fans who loved Nevermore Academy’s deadly charm will find this Gothic read both sinister and addictive.
Why we recommend it: because the school’s perilous halls and El’s deadpan wit are a near-perfect match for Wednesday’s worldview.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletter5. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
College roommates Victor and Eli discover a method to gain extraordinary powers, but only through near-death experiences. Their experiment sparks a rivalry that escalates into a battle between two brilliant, morally compromised anti-heroes.
The novel explores ambition, obsession, and the blurred line between hero and villain, set against a modern gothic backdrop. This is a Gothic read for readers who love sharp characters, clever plotting, and a morally dark edge reminiscent of Wednesday’s tone.
Why we recommend it: because its focus on anti-heroes and moral grayness captures the spirit of characters who never fit neatly into “good” or “bad”, just like Wednesday herself.
6. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
The Hollow sisters vanished as children, only to return days later with no memory of what happened, and something profoundly changed about them. Years later, when one sister disappears again, the mystery deepens into a twisted, eerie fairy tale.
Dripping with unsettling atmosphere and macabre imagery, this book balances beauty with horror. It’s a Gothic read perfect for those who want Wednesday’s unsettling blend of mystery, sisterhood, and the uncanny.
Why we recommend it: because its eerie family mystery reflects Wednesday’s own mix of dark secrets and sibling bonds.
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7. The Diviners by Libba Bray
In 1920s New York, Evie O’Neill discovers her psychic gift while investigating a series of occult murders. Along with a group of fellow supernaturally gifted teens, she unravels a chilling conspiracy tied to dark forces haunting the city.
Themes of hidden power, superstition, and danger play out in a richly detailed Jazz Age setting. A sprawling historical Gothic read, it captures the same mix of humor, fear, and the supernatural that makes Wednesday so compelling.
Why we recommend it: because its blend of historical atmosphere and occult mystery feels as stylishly creepy as Wednesday’s gothic world.
8. Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
In the suburbs of Chicago, Ivy stumbles into a hidden world of witchcraft and secrets, while her mother’s past as a teenage witch resurfaces. The dual timeline reveals family mysteries and eerie rituals that echo into the present.
This story balances coming-of-age struggles with chilling magical twists, centering on female power and legacy. It’s a Gothic read that captures the mother-daughter dynamic while leaning into the creepy suburban gothic fans of Wednesday will love.
Why we recommend it: because its focus on witches, family secrets, and sharp-tongued teens fits Wednesday’s darkly funny and defiant mood.
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9. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
After a party turns deadly, Tana wakes up in a house full of corpses, and one infected boy chained in the corner. Soon, she’s drawn into Coldtown, a walled-off city of vampires, danger, and decadence.
Set in a world where vampirism spreads like a disease, the novel explores temptation, fear, and survival. With its gothic horror atmosphere and sharp-edged heroine, this Gothic read feels tailor-made for fans of Wednesday’s dark thrills.
Why we recommend it: because it’s dangerous, decadent vampires echo Wednesday’s fascination with monsters and moral ambiguity.
10. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six uniquely gifted magicians are chosen to join a secret society that safeguards ancient magical knowledge. Only five will survive the initiation. Betrayal, alliances, and high-stakes magic unfold in a world where knowledge is power.
Blending dark academia with moral ambiguity, this novel thrives on tension and atmosphere. It’s an ideal Gothic read for readers who enjoyed Wednesday’s mix of witty intellect, sinister secrets, and complicated friendships.
Why we recommend it: because its secret society drama and backstabbing dynamics mirror the academic rivalries that define Nevermore.
If Wednesday Addams’s sharp wit and eerie mysteries left you craving more, these Gothicreads will keep you immersed in atmospheres equally strange and captivating.
From haunted schools to occult murders, each of these novels offers the kind of darkly compelling storytelling that made Wednesday a phenomenon. Whether you lean toward supernatural thrillers, gothic fantasies, or dark academia, this list is your perfect next stop into the shadows.
