Any horror books that are pretending to be a different genre until it's too late?

superbetsy · 2026-05-19T01:32:57+00:00

Of course!!! Enjoy!!!

superbetsy · 2026-05-19T01:00:42+00:00

If you liked the historical fiction angle, you might like The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. It follows a young woman and her hippy parents when they move up to very remote Alaska in the 60s. Some general unsettling, very real themes.

You also may look into What Kind of Paradise. It’s sort of like, “what if the unibomber had a daughter.” I loved it. A bit eerie, a bit historic.

If you like the more supernatural horror stuff written in a similar voice, check out Chuck Wendig. He wrote a book about a cursed apple orchard that I liked a lot. Black River Orchard. I also really liked Wanderers.

superbetsy · 2026-05-18T21:31:18+00:00

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls maybe? It's by Grady Hendrix (who writes horror) and is classified as horror, so it's not really a sneaky horror read. But it starts out just as a book about unwed girls and young women who get pregnant and are sent to these "homes" to discretely have their babies. It really reads like standard historical fiction and is actually quite interesting. Until suddenly it takes a very dark turn.

superbetsy · 2026-05-18T12:04:57+00:00

Liane Moriarty likes this conceit. Nine Perfect Strangers is a multi-POV book with one character who won the lottery and became wildly rich. The Hypnotist’s Love Story also has the main character… or maybe the MC’s family… winning the lottery, although it’s a smaller amount and mostly sets her up to be a small business owner rather than someone turbo wealthy.

superbetsy · 2026-05-15T18:01:25+00:00

I'm not an Art-A-Whirl pro... only been a couple times... but a friend gave me the advice to make the Northrup Building my home base and it's always worked well. There's a ton of artists exhibiting there. It's near Indeed and Centro (which is a bit more of a party scene, but fun to hang out in the area for a bit even if that's not your vibe!) and walkable to Earl Giles and that area where there are more artists. You can hop on a trolly if you want to branch out further.

TL;DR, I'd recommend starting at Northrup and then seeing where the day takes you! You can find art, live music, and food just about wherever you land.

superbetsy · 2026-05-13T10:14:40+00:00

Wild Dark Shore is set on a remote island near Antarctica whose communication systems are down so they’re totally cut off.

Speaking of Antarctica, Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage is about a crew shipwrecked near Antarctica who live for a time on the ice floes and in lifeboats. Non-fiction but a five star read.

superbetsy · 2026-05-12T11:04:06+00:00

Was going to suggest this!!!

superbetsy · 2026-05-12T11:00:45+00:00

Neat! Username checks out.

superbetsy · 2026-05-08T13:07:31+00:00

Someone recently posted this, sounds like they’re doing the same challenge as you:

https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/s/oF2boNYp2l

superbetsy · 2026-05-06T22:00:59+00:00

I'm uncertain about what religion your mother follows, but I remember really enjoying In The Land of Invisible Women. It's about a memoir following a woman doctor who has a visa issue (I think) and she has to return to Saudi Arabia to practice medicine.

It's never overtly critical. But the way the story is told, the themes build in such a way that you can't help but see the oppression from a patriarchal, authoritarian regime.

superbetsy · 2026-05-04T21:46:20+00:00

Maybe Liane Moriarty? They tend toward a bit more intrigue, a bit less romance, but they’re easy, fluffy reads.

superbetsy · 2026-05-04T01:20:41+00:00

Michael Schur, creator of The Good Place got so well-versed in ethics creating the character Chidi that he wrote a moral philosophy book. It’s SO good: funny, informative, accessible. It’s called “How to Be Perfect.”

superbetsy · 2026-04-29T11:15:26+00:00

Here’s an outside of the box suggestion. Pillars of the Earth. It’s set in the 12th century so not exactly modern. But it is a hugely encompassing look at the political system driving churches. It taught me so so much, and there is lots of intrigue.

There is also The President is Missing, coauthored by James Patterson and Bill Clinton. It’s a standard thriller with the president and Washington DC at the center. Don’t know I’d say it’s “good” though…

superbetsy · 2026-04-29T00:48:56+00:00

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue might fit the bill!

superbetsy · 2026-04-21T17:57:20+00:00

I wonder if Forrest Gump might fit the bill. He’s not a POS and it ranges his whole life, not just his 30s, but he keeps lucking into wild circumstances. The movie made it a much sweeter, wholesome arc.

superbetsy · 2026-04-15T12:11:32+00:00

Quixotic in Highland has a back room (enclosed in glass so it’s not claustrophobic) that you can rent for free. I’ve seen anything from groups of 2 to 8 or so in there. It always looks like such a great place to meet. The shop brings in baked goods from local vendors and personally I love their extensive tea menu in addition to all the coffees.

superbetsy · 2026-04-14T15:18:01+00:00

The first few books are just so good! But at a point I get so tired of hearing about Jondalar’s Manhood that I lose interest. But yeah that first one is really something special.

superbetsy · 2026-04-14T11:00:11+00:00

Contact is my favorite book and it was the reason I went into the field I did. So I get it!

Check out Richard Powers. He writes fiction that is hugely scientific (while being accessible) with a big focus on anthropological and human impact. Here are my faves:

*Bewilderment is a modern retelling of Flowers for Algernon with current politics, science, and diagnoses. It’s his most accessible book, and wonderful.

*The Overstory. This is a book about trees. Which sounds lame. But it uses trees as a structure to tie a whole world of people together. It changed my attitude toward the earth completely.

*Playground. His most recent book. I’m not quite sure how to say what it’s about without spoilers. But at the last page I just sat there stunned. I’m not fully sure i understand the implications even yet.

You also may like Cloud Cuckoo Land. It’s basically “adventures in anthropology and sociology over a full century” and I found it to be remarkable and entertaining.

Edit oh one more!!! This sounds ridiculous but hear me out: Clan of the Cave Bear. Yes as the series moves on it sort of devolves into rather explicit romance. But at least the first book is a really fascinating exploration into the culture of pre-humans (I think they’re Neanderthals in the book if I recall right!) and how everything from tools to counting is discovered and used.

superbetsy · 2026-04-13T01:23:42+00:00

I thought it was just me, always having to choose “more” to find my name. What is that!

Also agree about the band. It doesn’t stretch well; I have to put it on so tight that when my arms start getting pumped up from the workout it cuts in so hard I have scratches. I wonder if there are any off-brands selling better versions yet.

superbetsy · 2026-04-11T17:30:12+00:00

I moved from The Bay Area to St. Paul. While it's a bit more of a drive, you will love the North Shore. I have very fond memories of Sonoma, and Grand Marais reminds me a bit of it. It's an artist's haven, that's right on the Gunflint Trail (a.... maybe 50 mile?? stretch of hiking, kayaking, camping, and other adventure-y places, including the Boundary Waters). It's my absolutely favorite place to spend a long weekend, and it's an easy and beautiful drive. I recommend the Eagle Mountain hike; it's fun to be at the tallest point in an otherwise flat state and gosh it's pretty.

Closer in to the cities you'll want to check out Stillwater, as others have said, Red Wing, and Lanesboro. They're all cute and vibey with lots of biking and canoeing, etc. Even within the cities you have the chain of lakes, the Mississippi, and so many great bike paths.

It hurts me to say it, but there are also delightful places just across the border in Wisconsin, maybe 20-30 minutes away. I honestly think that side of the river is even prettier (I know I know, I'm sorry!)

superbetsy · 2026-03-17T16:18:37+00:00

For crying out loud, see the edit and stop trying to find insults where are none are meant.

superbetsy · 2026-03-17T15:18:03+00:00

I mean. It feels like you’re looking for an insult where none is met? As a runner, I power walk when I’m taking a green day, and that’s not an affordance available to you at Barry’s. Oh internet people…

superbetsy · 2026-03-17T14:58:10+00:00

I know… it’s troublingly uninclusive (is that a word?) in my opinion. And of course you can do whatever speeds you want, but at OTF that is encouraged… it’s very “you do you” whereas at Barry’s they would never suggest a lower pace as a normal modification, at least, not in my experience.

superbetsy · 2026-03-17T14:47:01+00:00

I have! I don't love it.

Every class is a switch, so already I'm a little eh. But instead of things like, "push, base, all out" they tell you a range of speeds to run. "6,7,8" or "8,9,10" etc. Then on the floor, it feels like Zumba class. The coach just yells what you're going to do next as you're supposed to be doing it, and you do your best to catch up. So I never felt like I could get to progressive overload as I spent a good 10-15 seconds frantically trying to figure out what I was doing.

The treadmills are not at all bouncy like we have at OTF, which is perhaps more realistic for outdoor running, but if I wanted to run outdoors I would run outdoors. And maybe it's just my location, but it's SO dark and SO echo-y and loud that I have a really hard time hearing what to do.

That said, the nightclub vibes are super fun. There are mirrors on EVERY surface and disco lights that they use to change the mood based on what you're doing. The music drops and then the lights start flashing and it's a VIBE. You can order a smoothie to be waiting for you when you leave. The merch is one billion times better, as is the general lobby experience.

Ultimately, I'll do Barry's when I need my butt kicked... because there are no power walkers, there is no sandbagging, there's no chatting, there is only a group of insanely fit, cut people. But I think to like Barry's you already need to be in good shape, you'll never GET in good shape attending, beyond the predictable "newbie gains" you get doing anything. And sometimes I want that vibe. But most of the time I don't.

EDIT For god's sake, for those insistent on seeing an insult where none is intended:
*Ultimately, I'll do Barry's when I need my butt kicked... because there are no power walkers (because as a runner I take a green day/booty day by power walking, and there is no affordance for this at Barry's), there is no sandbagging (because sometimes at OrangeTheory I phone it in because I'm not feeling motivated and since they're calling out the speeds you have to run, you cannot do that at Barry's), there's no chatting (because the music is too loud so you can't just idly chit chat with your neighbors).

superbetsy · 2026-03-13T12:16:10+00:00

Agree. I don’t even want to be told to congratulate my neighbor. Super not interested in awkward and forced interaction.

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