“I am in trouble here. This woman is not right.“
Stephen King’s Misery is one of the American author’s most acclaimed works, and still one of the creepiest psychological thriller books. The story of romance novelist Paul Sheldon and his self-confessed ‘number one fan’ Annie Wilkes, Misery follows the author as he is injured in a car accident and rescued by his admirer. It doesn’t take long for Annie’s devotion to turn into an unhealthy obsession, however, with Paul forced to indulge all of his captor’s wishes. Inspired by his own emotional state at the time, Misery has become one of the most significant books for examining the relationships celebrities have with their fans.
For those who loved this Bram Stoker Award winner, What We Reading presents some of the best psychological thriller books like Misery!
Give Me Everything You Have – James Lasdun
For those looking for a book that explores the dangers of an obsessive interest like in Misery, James Lasdun’s Give Me Everything You Have: On Being Stalked is a must-read. In the book, Lasdun chronicles how a former student’s obsession led to a barrage of hate mail, online postings and public accusations all with the intention of ‘ruining him’.
Personal and delivered in a witty manner, Lasdun’s work succeeds in painting the terrors of being stalked with a more profound meditation on truth, politics and reputation in the digital age.
Kill The Boy Band – Goldy Moldavsky
One of the things that makes Misery such a significant work of fiction is its core theme of the relationship between celebrities and fans. This piece of satire is given a lift into the 21st century in Goldy Moldavsky’s Kill The Boy Band.
The book follows a boy band called The Ruperts and a diehard group of fangirls who end up in the same hotel as their idols. This chance encounter soon spirals into something far more sinister, with Moldavsky exploring the fine lines between admiration, obsession and danger.
You – Caroline Kepnes
For a contemporary book that taps into the dangers of obsession, they don’t come much better than Caroline Kepnes’ You. It might be more famous for its Netflix adaptation, but Kepnes’ original work is just as good at bringing the escapades of Joe Goldberg to life.
The series follows Joe and his dangerous, compulsive pursuit of love. A thrilling psychological tale of deceit and housing countless twists and turns, Joe might have a few more social skills (at least on the outside) but his similarities to Annie Wilkes more than come across.
Check Out The Best Books Like You
Second Life – S.J. Watson
A strong-willed female lead with issues around obsession? It’s clear to see the parallels between Misery and S.J. Watson’s Second Life. Watson’s 2015 psychological thriller follows the story of Julia, a woman who seemingly has the perfect with her husband and adopted son. That is until her sister is murdered and, with the police making little progress, she finds herself pulled into a potentially deadly game of following in her footsteps. Watson, known for producing the brilliant Before I Go to Sleep, is at his best with a chilling modern take on the anonymity of the cyberworld in this slow-simmering thriller.
The Interview – Chris Ewan
Misery is a book that relies on its cramped, claustrophobic setting, as well as the psychological dynamic between its two characters: Annie and Paul. For a book recommendation that mirrors that, look no further than Chris Ewan’s The Interview. Ewan, known for turning everyday occurrences into gripping thrillers, tells the story of Kate Harding, who is invited for an interview with Joel for a position at the glamorous Edge Communications.
However, with the company’s luxurious office cleared out for the weekend, things quickly begin to go awry as Kate’s encounter with Joel begins to shift from awkward and unsettling to sinister and potentially deadly.
Check Out Our The Interview Book Review
With My Little Eye – Joshilyn Jackson
New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson brings readers a pulse-pounding thriller centred around love, control and obsession in With My Little Eye. In it, readers follow Meribel Mills, a successful actor who has experienced her fair share of creepy stalkers and obsessive fans. But, when she receives the fruit-scented letters from Marker Man, she begins to realise this particular individual is in a league of his own.
As his letters become increasingly vulgar and she learns he has even managed to get inside her own home, Meribel moves herself and her daughter to a brand new life in Atlanta. Nevertheless, it’s clear Marker Man has given up on her and soon enough every man in Meribel’s life becomes a suspect behind the identity of this creepy fan.
Never Lie – Freida McFadden
Bestselling author and practising physician Freida McFadden produces a suspenseful, snappy mystery-thriller in her 2022 novel, Never Lie. The book follows Tricia and Ethan, newlyweds who are searching for their dream home when they arrive at the grand manor belonging to Dr Adrienne Hale, an infamous psychiatrist who disappeared four years ago.
Trapped in the estate by a snowstorm, the pair rifle through the house for something to pass the time. There, Tricia stumbles upon a secret room housing all of the doctor’s cassette recordings from all his patients, revealing the sinister truth about his practices, his web of lies and his shocking disappearance.
Check Out Our Never Lie Book Review
Don’t Let Her Stay – Nicola Sanders
For another pulsating psychological thriller centred around an unstable female lead, Nicola Sanders’ Don’t Let Her Stay is the perfect book like Misery. Joanne is seemingly living the idyllic life, with a perfect house, perfect baby and perfect husband, Richard.
That is until Richard’s daughter, Chloe, turns up and asks to stay. Despite promising to help with the baby and make amends with her father, Chloe’s behaviour soon begins to make Joanne question her true motivations. The real question for Joanne is: is it too late to ask her to leave?
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
