Ever wondered if staring death in the face would change your outlook on life? Take a peek at these captivating reads about near-death experiences that might have you pondering your own brush with the beyond. Get ready for wild stories, deep reflections, and a whole new perspective on life (and maybe death, too).
Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar
Once leading an ordinary life, Dunia Ahmed now stars in a true crime podcast, missing for over a year with her fate unknown. Her story grips listeners, sparking a nationwide hunt. Before vanishing, Dunia, a New York pharmacist of Pakistani descent, grappled with a broken engagement and her mother’s death. Surviving a murder attempt initially seemed a relief until subsequent attacks intensified. As suspicions swirl, Dunia confronts a chilling realization: something—or someone—is hunting her down.
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What Hides In The Cupboards by Cassondra Windwalker
After a near-fatal accident, ceramic artist Hesper Dunn leaves Chicago for the enchanted deserts of New Mexico. However, her new home hides a profound mystery. Love, guilt, and grief compel Hesper to stay within the haunted pueblo, where trapped spirits seek release. But the creatures in the shadows are not what they seem. Can Hesper uncover the truth and free herself from the grip of tragedy?
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Nice Work, Nora November by Julia London
Nora died once. After a terrible surfing accident she drowned and was declared clinically dead. Now, she wants to live the life she most desires. Her reverse bucket list includes quitting the job she hates working for her father, restoring her grandfather’s garden, being a better sister and finding the guy she let get away. As she claims her post-death life, she’s determined to build one that looks better than what she had before.
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Dinner on Monster Island: Essays by Tania De Rozario
At twelve years old, Tania De Rozario underwent a traumatic gay exorcism. Her mother, along with church friends, believed Tania’s boyish style was evil and tried to banish it. That day, Tania realized monsters weren’t just in horror tales but could lurk in families and communities. Her memoir explores her life in Singapore and how society often views differences as deviant or demonic. Intertwined with her story is an analysis of women in horror, revealing the true nature of monsters among us.
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Out of Body by Nia Davenport
Megan Allen has been searching for her true self, hopping between friend groups in high school. Everything changes when she meets the charismatic LC at her favorite coffee shop. Feeling like she’s finally found her place, Megan’s excitement turns to horror on the night of their friendiversary. She discovers LC’s dangerous secrets and finds herself trapped in a waking nightmare. Betrayed and targeted by LC’s enemies, Megan must reclaim her identity to survive.
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What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez
Orbiting around the void of loss, the Ramirez family was forever changed when thirteen-year-old Ruthy disappeared after track practice. Twelve years later, during a mundane evening, the eldest sister, Jessica, catches a glimpse of a woman on the raunchy reality show Catfight. The woman, now calling herself Ruby, has dyed red hair. Still, the unmistakable beauty mark under her left eye makes Jessica’s heart race. She rushes to tell her younger sister, Nina. Could this be Ruthy, the sister they believed was lost forever?
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Runner by Tracy Clark
Chicago’s winter is brutal, especially when searching for a missing girl. Fifteen-year-old Ramona Titus has run away from her foster home. Her mother, Leesa Evans, a recovering addict, is determined to find her and make amends. Cass Raines, a Black homicide cop-turned-P.I., helps in the search, working with Deloris Poole, Ramona’s foster mother, and other street-savvy allies. But Ramona holds dangerous secrets and seeing her might put everyone at risk. If she can’t stay hidden, Ramona and Cass may both run out of time.
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We Ate the Dark by Mallory Pearson
After Sofia Lyon’s remains are discovered five years later, hidden in a tree’s hollow beneath a North Carolina abandoned house, her loved ones return to the hills, consumed by grief. Now, her remains held a new terror for the women who knew her. Frankie, Sofia’s twin, grieves fiercely; Poppy is shattered; Cass feels homesick; and Marya harbors a secret. United by their determination to find Sofia’s killer, they uncover intertwined hauntings and a looming threat they don’t fully understand.
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Clear by Carys Davies
On a remote Scottish island, John undertakes the task of evicting its solitary resident, Ivar, who has lived there alone for decades. Despite Mary’s reservations, John proceeds with the mission. Shortly after his arrival, a fall from a cliff leads to Ivar rescuing and nursing John back to health. Despite their language barrier, they forge an unlikely connection as John learns about Ivar’s world.
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Turn Up the Sun by Tyler Jones
This collection features three novellas exploring near-death experiences. In Turn Up the Sun, Hazzard, an eccentric drug dealer from Criterium, is terrified when his doppelganger appears at a grisly murder scene. Stridor follows a pediatrician haunted and stalked by her past mistakes. In Sidewinder, a young musician receives a custom, otherworldly guitar pedal with unsettling effects. Each story delves into the thin line between life and death, offering gripping narratives that explore the human psyche’s darkest corners.
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Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
During a blizzard, a mother and her children face a harrowing near-death experience when an intruder breaks into their home. Hearing familiar, heavy footsteps approaching, she hides with her children in a secret room as the intruder searches for them, trying to lure the children out and terrify her into surrender. In the darkness, she realizes the situation is worse than she feared because she recognizes the intruder and knows what he wants.
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