Ah yes, the 90s. I can almost taste it—and it tastes an awful lot like a strawberry-flavored Baby Bottle Pop. Think: high standards, low rise jeans! And, of course, some of the best dang movies ever made.
To celebrate the release of my upcoming 90s-inspired YA thriller, Kill The Lax Bro, I’m here to share with you some of my favorite YA thriller books to pair with your preferred 90s flic.
Because who doesn’t love popcorn and a good nostalgia trip?
Let’s get into it…
If you loved: Scream (1996)
You should read: How to Survive a Slasher, by Justine Pucella Winans
Why: If you’re a fan of Scream‘s self-aware humor, horror, and suspense, this is the book for you. Like Scream, the book dabbles with all the fan favorite tropes, but in a way that feels fresh and exciting (while still being uniquely meta!). The book’s main character, CJ, lives in a town that has endured two brutal massacres, and when a mysterious unpublished manuscript foreshadows a third, CJ and friends will turn to their knowledge of horror movies to survive.
If you loved: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
You should read: The Darkest Corners, by Kara Thomas
Why: Just like I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Darkest Corners is about the consequences of a dark event that (lucky for us) has lasting ramifications. Our heroine, Tessa, left her small town after her own traumatic summer, but now she’s back to face the truth of what really happened. If you love psychological thrillers full of suspense, this one will keep you guessing!
If you loved: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
You should read: Summer Sons, by Lee Mandelo
Why: Um…because they’re both terrifying? Anyways! With similar themes of psychological turmoil, supernatural menace, and creeping dread (oh my!), audiences that loved Blair Witch will devour the eerie atmosphere that oozes out of Summer Sons. Also, it’s important to note that both these stories are as much about what you don’t see, as what you do…
If you loved: Jawbreaker (1999)
You should read: Kill The Lax Bro, Charlotte Lillie Balogh
Why: Mean girls…murder…oh yeah, and I wrote this one! Kill the Lax Bro is about a group of girls who are united by their shared hatred for a certain someone (the lax bro), and how he just so happens to turn up dead the night before graduation. Oops! With a mix of high school stereotypes, banter, lies, and secrets, it’s the perfect read for anyone who loves Jawbreaker‘s twisted take on teen life. Then again, I’m biased…
If you loved: Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
You should read: Drop Dead Handsome, Matthew Hubbard (NOTE: Coming Fall 2026).
Why: Because Matthew Hubbard is the critically acclaimed author of The Rebel’s Guide To Pride, and if you love the quirk and heart of Drop Dead Gorgeous, you should keep an eye out for his next book! Although Handsome is the one book on this list that’s not technically a thriller, just like Gorgeous, the main character ends up in a pageant where sabotage threatens the contestants. And in Handsome, he teams up with the dreamy student government president to figure out who’s behind the hijinks, getting a front row seat to pageantry and first love along the way.
If you loved: The Craft (1996)
You should read: Plain Bad Heroines, Emily M. Danforth
Why: Witchy girl power meets 90s goth girl aesthetic. What’s not to love!? We read Plain Bad Heroines in my book club a few years ago, and I still find myself thinking about it! Layered with dark academia, queerness, feminist themes, and a blurring of reality—Heroines, just like The Craft, features a group of fierce young women who are balancing obsession, power, and an objectively spooky legacy. We could even say they’re just plain bad…
If you loved: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
You should read: A Tempest of Tea, Hafsah Faizal
Why: Two words: vampires, baby!!! And although one is a book, both these options are visually stunning in their own way. They also explore how vampire lore intersects with societal structures, whether it’s Arthie’s criminal empire in Tempest, or the aristocratic menace of Count Dracula in the heart of London. Come freely, read safely!
If you loved: Cruel Intentions (1998)
You should read: The Ivies, Alexa Donne
Why: Like Cruel Intentions, The Ivies introduces us to a group of manipulative, cunning (and objectively hot?) teenagers, all of whom are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. Even murder! (Yay!) The book is filled with power struggles and backstabbing, all set against a backdrop of privilege that unravels when one student is murdered on the campus of an elite boarding school. Plus: there’s even a creepy brother!
***
