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Quick answer: If you liked Imaginary Friend, read Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower, then It, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House and Boy's Life. All are atmospheric stories where children and teenagers face dark forces that adults cannot see.
Stephen Chbosky's 2019 horror novel follows a young boy, Christopher, and his mother, who move to a small Pennsylvania town where the boy hears a voice in his head and disappears into the woods for a week. It is long, creepy and surprisingly emotional. The books below offer similar supernatural horror with children at the centre and a strong sense of community.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Stephen Chbosky | Teen | Chbosky's debut |
| It | Stephen King | Adult | childhood horror |
| Doctor Sleep | Stephen King | Adult | The Shining sequel |
| The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson | Adult | classic haunting |
| Boy's Life | Robert McCammon | Adult | nostalgic fantasy |
| Summer of Night | Dan Simmons | Adult | childhood terror |
| NOS4A2 | Joe Hill | Adult | modern monster |
| Pet Sematary | Stephen King | Adult | grief and horror |
| 'Salem's Lot | Stephen King | Adult | vampires in a small town |
| The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon | Stephen King | Adult | lost in the woods |
| Bird Box | Josh Malerman | Adult | claustrophobic terror |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | Ages 8-12 | children's horror |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | Ages 10+ | raised by ghosts |
| The Ocean at the End of the Lane | Neil Gaiman | Adult | magical memory |
| The Hollow Places | T. Kingfisher | Adult | funny cosmic horror |
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A shy teenager writes letters about high school and friendship. Warm, sad and a classic of teen fiction.
Best for: Chbosky's debut.
2. It by Stephen King
A group of friends face an evil clown as children and adults. Long, scary and emotional.
Best for: childhood horror.
3. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Danny Torrance helps a girl with similar powers fight a group of predators. Gripping and emotional.
Best for: The Shining sequel.
4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
A woman joins a paranormal experiment in a house that seems to want her. Elegant and chilling.
Best for: classic haunting.
5. Boy's Life by Robert McCammon
A boy in a small Alabama town witnesses a murder. Warm, mysterious and beautifully written.
Best for: nostalgic fantasy.
6. Summer of Night by Dan Simmons
Boys in a small Illinois town face an ancient evil. Long and richly atmospheric.
Best for: childhood terror.
7. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
A woman fights a man who steals children in a ghostly car. Inventive and dark.
Best for: modern monster.
8. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
A family discovers a burial ground with a terrible power. Bleak and frightening.
Best for: grief and horror.
9. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
A writer returns to his hometown and finds vampires. Slow and creepy.
Best for: vampires in a small town.
10. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
A girl lost in the woods leans on baseball and her imagination. Short and tense.
Best for: lost in the woods.
11. Bird Box by Josh Malerman
A mother and two children travel blindfolded in a world where seeing drives people mad. Lean and nerve-wracking.
Best for: claustrophobic terror.
12. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
A girl finds a door to a sinister mirror world. Short, creepy and brilliant.
Best for: children's horror.
13. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
A boy is raised by the inhabitants of a graveyard. Eerie and tender.
Best for: raised by ghosts.
14. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
A man returns to his childhood home and recalls a magical neighbour. Short and eerie.
Best for: magical memory.
15. The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
A woman finds a portal in her uncle's museum. Scary and witty.
Best for: funny cosmic horror.
How to Choose
For more Chbosky start with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is very different in tone. For long horror epics choose It, Doctor Sleep or Summer of Night. For gentler, atmospheric reads pick Boy's Life, The Graveyard Book or The Ocean at the End of the Lane. For short scares read Coraline or The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Imaginary Friend is long, so these picks suit readers who like slow dread and strong characters. Imaginary Friend is over 700 pages, so many readers choose the audiobook or read it in sections. It has been compared to Stephen King, and several books on this list are by King, which is no coincidence. Horror fans who liked the sense of community in Imaginary Friend may enjoy small-town horror like Boy's Life and 'Salem's Lot. If you want something shorter, Coraline and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon are quick. Because the book is long, an audiobook is a good way to keep going, and a physical copy suits readers who like marginal notes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Imaginary Friend about?
A boy hears a voice in his head and is drawn into a battle between good and evil in a small town.
Who wrote it?
Stephen Chbosky.
When was it published?
2019.
Is it as famous as Perks?
Perks is better known, but Imaginary Friend is a bestselling horror novel.
Is it scary?
Yes, with creepy and tense scenes.
Is it long?
Yes, about 720 pages.
Is it for teens?
Older teens may enjoy it, but it is written for adults.
What should I read next?
Try It or Boy's Life.
Is Imaginary Friend a good first horror novel?
It is accessible, though long, so many readers recommend it to people who enjoy stories with heart.
Does it have a happy ending?
The ending is intense and emotional, so avoid spoilers.