In spite of my hefty workload during finals season, I quickly jumped on the Wednesday bandwagon and was not disappointed. Like everyone else, the Netflix show has officially taken over my FYP. Every scroll seems to be Wednesday’s iconic Rave’N dance scene, BTS clips from the cast, Wednesday Addams style tutorials, or edits of all the characters (not mad about it). The show truly has something for everyone, whether you’re thirsting over young Gomez Addams or Jenna Ortega. And now that my binge-watch is complete, I’ve had to resort to other distractions from my finals. Enter: BookTok.
If you’re looking for all things fantasy, romance, dark academia, or horror, there are plenty of reads that give Wednesday vibes. Fair warning, a lot of these books are young adult (YA), so they’re probably full of troupes and clichés… but that’s why we love them! Sometimes you just need a quick and easy read after all that brain power used during finals. Also, if you’re also severely behind on your 2022 reading goal, join the club bestie. These will definitely help you catch up in no time.
So, if you’re craving that Wednesday vibe, here are 20 books to add to your TBR, ASAP.
- Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
-
Amazon Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is the ultimate read for dark academia girlies. After enduring a traumatic past, the story follows Alex Stern as she’s offered a full scholarship to Yale in exchange for keeping tabs on the university’s secret societies. Full of privileged members with dark pasts, it’s giving serious Nightshade Society vibes.
Amazon, $15
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber
-
amazon A YA fantasy with plenty of twists and turns, Caraval by Stephanie Garber tells the story of main character Scarlett Dragna as she navigates a mysterious and dangerous festival in order to save her sister. This fast-paced story is perfect for Wednesday fans who enjoyed the mysterious hunt for the Hyde.
Amazon, $10
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
-
amazon The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a fan favorite on BookTok. Another dark academia classic, the story follows a group of students from an elite college who slowly descend “down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality.” This book encapsulates the tension between the “normies” and “outcasts” of Wednesday, and it is full of dangerous mystery.
Amazon, $13
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-
amazon The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs as she becomes the heiress of Tobias Hawthorne, one of the wealthiest men in the country… who she has never met in her life. After moving into the Hawthorne house with Tobias’ grandsons (hello, love triangle!), she must work to uncover the mystery of why her benefactor would leave her with everything. If you’re a fan of love triangles like Tyler and Xavier in Wednesday, prepare yourself for Grayson and Jameson.
Amazon, $9
- Sabriel by Garth Nix
-
Amazon Another YA fantasy, Sabriel by Garth Nix takes readers along on Sabriel’s journey to find her father who has gone missing. She must journey into one of the most dangerous kingdoms in order to find him. If you miss the chaos of Wednesday’s Nevermore Academy and the adventures within it, Sabriel’s magical boarding school and deadly Kingdom will be perfect for you.
Amazon, $12
- A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
-
amazon A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik follows main character, El, and her experience at Scholomance, a magical school that traps students until they graduate (or die trying). Danger lurks around every corner, and you never know what’s coming. With conflict left and right at this magical boarding school, A Deadly Education will deliver on the Nevermore Academy vibes.
Amazon, $14
- The Nine: Origins by Kes Trester
-
Amazon The visions that Wednesday gets are nothing compared to Blake Wilder’s premonitions in The Nine: Origins by Kes Tester. Sucked into a spooky world of war, Blake must navigate a dangerous game when she foresees multiple murders that haven’t happened yet. Full of mystery, fantasy, and a love triangle, The Nine: Origins needs to be on your TBR list immediately.
Amazon, $10
- The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
-
amazon The Luminaries by Susan Dennard follows Winnie Wednesday, the main character whose father was shunned from their town after it was discovered that he was a witch. Winnie wants to join the Luminaries, a group that protects the town from monsters like him. In order to succeed in the Luminary trials, Winnie gets help from her ex-friend, Jay (bad boy alert!). Working together, they uncover the dangers that are lurking in the forest. Right down to Winnie’s last name, the adventure and fantasy of this book are perfect for Wednesday fans.
Amazon, $17
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
-
amazon It’s the mystery book that we all needed. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson follows Stevie Bell as she attends her first year at Ellingham Academy. The school is known for its unsolved cold case involving the founder, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped. Stevie is determined to solve the case, but a murder at Ellingham makes it that much more urgent to uncover who is responsible. As a murder mystery alternative to Wednesday, Truly Devious will hook you.
Amazon, $9
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
-
amazon As a BookTok favorite, I had to give Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas its time to shine. If you’re missing our strong female lead Miss Wednesday Addams, the main character Celaena Sardothien will keep you plenty entertained. Tasked with defeating her competitors to become the king’s champion, Celaena will find that there is something much more dangerous in the castle when her competitors start to mysteriously die off. Delivering in the romance and fantasy department, Throne of Glass is the perfect read for anyone looking for a strong female protagonist like Wednesday.
Amazon, $10
- The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvate
-
amazon In the paranormal world of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, main character Blue finds herself drawn to Gansey, a boy who attends their local private school Aglionby. Gansey is on a dangerous quest with a few other “Raven Boys” from the school. If you’re looking for a team of paranormal characters like Wednesday, The Raven Boys will give you all that and more.
Amazon, $10
- Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
-
amazon A gripping YA fantasy romance, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn follows Bree Matthews as she escapes her troubled past by attending a residential program. After witnessing a paranormal attack, she is sucked into a dangerous world of magic, unlocking powers of her own. She also discovers the “Legendborn” students, a secret society that hunts monsters down. Through her newfound powers, she is able to learn more about her mother’s death. Desperate for answers, she embarks on a paranormal adventure similar to Wednesday’s.
Amazon, $12
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
-
amazon From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout is another YA fantasy romance that follows Poppy, a Maiden whose life’s purpose is to win favor from the gods through Ascension. Her life becomes entangled with Hawke, giving major Xavier Thorpe vibes. If you miss the romance between Wednesday and her love interests, this one is for you.
Amazon, $18
- If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
-
amazon As a riveting mystery book, If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio follows the wild story of Oliver Marks, who served ten years in prison for murder. The detective that put him in prison is retiring, and he approaches Oliver on his release date, wanting to know exactly what happened the night of the murder. The mystery reminds me of the wrongful conviction of Gomez Addams in Wednesday, a misinterpretation gone horribly wrong.
Amazon, $10
- A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
-
Amazon A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee follows main character Felicity Morrow as she returns to Dalloway School, an academy with a history of witchcraft. After her girlfriend was murdered at the school, Felicity was hesitant to return. She quickly becomes entranced by Ellis, a new girl who is writing a story about the mysterious deaths of a group of students known as the “Dalloway Five.” With a queer romance and themes of dark academia and fantasy, A Lesson in Vengeance is the perfect read for fans of Wednesday (especially for all the Enid and Wednesday shippers!).
Amazon, $10
- In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead
-
amazon A thrilling mystery of an unsolved murder, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead tells the story of a college reunion between friends who had a falling out. All of them have secrets that they have kept from each other, and the reunion causes them to relive what happened that night in search of answers. The fast-paced novel filled with its unsolved mystery is everything that we need after Wednesday.
Amazon, $11
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
-
Amazon Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is another YA fantasy book that we all probably read in middle school. Even so, the Wednesday vibes deliver. The story follows main character Jacob as he journeys to an abandoned orphanage on a remote island. As he explores, he soon realizes that the children were isolated on the island for a reason. Filled with paranormal events, the story gives major “outcast” energy through its chilling photos. Normalize picture books for adults.
Amazon, $11
- Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
-
amazon Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson follows main character Kazi, an elite soldier and skilled thief as she travels to a foreign kingdom on strict orders from the Queen. She is quickly sucked into the world of Jase, a powerful and cocky leader who will do anything to uphold his own rules. They are thrown together and must find a way to work against a powerful force that could destroy the kingdom, despite their differences. The story has a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, and their relationship reminds me of Wednesday and Xavier’s. If you’re looking for a powerful female lead like Wednesday, Kazi is your girl.
Amazon, $10
- Wilder Girls by Rory Power
-
amazon Another queer horror pick, Wilder Girls by Rory Power is the story of main character Hetty, who navigates a deadly illness called “the Tox” that has ravaged the Raxter School and killed off their teachers. When Hetty’s friend goes missing, she must journey outside of the gates and into the infected woods. Giving the same energy as Wednesday’s hunt for the Hyde, Hetty must rescue her friend before everyone is killed. The fast-paced horror book is gripping, perfect for fans of Wednesday.
Amazon, $10
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
-
amazon Although I wouldn’t typically reach for a classic, Dracula by Bram Stoker seems like exactly the kind of book that Wednesday Addams would go for. Strange events begin to unfold in England, and suspicions are raised about resident Count Dracula. With themes of vampires, horror, and a gothic atmosphere, Dracula will transport you back into the spooky environment of Wednesday, or maybe just back into your high school English class.
Amazon, $15