7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

September 20 2019
Share 7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

Every year on Stephen King’s birthday, we attempt to convey what an impact his body of work has had on us as readers (moviegoers and TV junkies). From his debut, CARRIE, to his latest novel, THE INSTITUTE, King has held consistently held a spot on our reading list—and there’s still more to come! Straight from the mouths of our own editorial board, here’s just why Stephen King has and will continue to make an impact on our literary lives. Here are our favorite novels written by the King of Horror.

Joyland
by Stephen King

I am a well-documented, huge Stephen King fan and I love so many of his books, but JOYLAND, has a very special place in my heart. It’s a moving coming-of-age story about love and loss that still brings those classic Stephen King chills. College student Devin Jones takes a summer job at the Joyland carnival hoping to heal his broken heart. He befriends his neighbors, a single mother and her terminally ill son, and is immersed in the carny world. But Joyland has its secrets—a haunted ride, the legacy of a brutal murder—and Devin is in for much more than he bargained for.

—Sarah Jane

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
Joyland
Stephen King

College student Devin Jones takes a summer job at the Joyland carnival hoping to forget the girl who broke his heart, but he winds up facing the legacy of a murder, the fate of a dying child, and revelations about life that will change his world forever.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

7 Adventurous Novels That Will Whisk You Away on an Epic Journey Without Leaving Your Couch

By Maddie Nelson | June 23, 2020

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

A Peek Behind Sarah Jane’s Shelf

By Off the Shelf Staff | February 22, 2018

Our 13 Favorite Ghost Stories—Just in Time for Halloween!

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 26, 2017

13 Stephen King Books for Every Kind of Reader

By Sarah Jane Abbott | September 21, 2017

10 Books That Take You Inside the Strange and Wonderful World of Carnivals

By Sarah Jane Abbott | July 26, 2016

Close
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
by Stephen King

There is no denying that THE DARK TOWER series is an epic fantasy saga that deserves recognition for its imagination and atmosphere. THE GUNSLINGER is the first book in THE DARK TOWER series that pulls you into Roland, the gunslinger’s, world bit by bit as he hunts for the man in black. I love this book because I love fantasy, the apocalypse, and, honestly, a good western. King wraps all that into one in this epic and engaging world that is both like and unlike our own. Stephen King is probably most notable for his downright terrifying horror stories, yet this eight-book fantasy series is just as compelling and shows off King’s master storytelling prowess.

—Maddie

Read the full review of The Dark Tower Series.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
Stephen King

For almost a decade, Stephen King fans have been yearning to see this epic series on the big screen, and they’ll finally get their wish with this adaptation, starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. It tells the story of the fallen land of Mid-World, through the eyes of a knight whose primary mission is to save his decaying world by reaching the titular tower that stands at the intersection of time and space. This mix of horror, western, and sci-fi will be a must-see. RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2017

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

Sweepstakes: Escape into Fantasy with These 7 Epic Reads

By Off the Shelf Staff | July 15, 2022

Keep the Tissues Handy: 5 Stephen King Books That Will Make You Cry

By Aimee Boyer | September 21, 2020

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

Rain, Snow, or Shine: 9 Books to Read For Any Winter Weather Forecast

By Erin Madison | February 28, 2018

13 Stephen King Books for Every Kind of Reader

By Sarah Jane Abbott | September 21, 2017

Read These Books Before You Watch The Dark Tower Movie

By Chris Gaudio | July 31, 2017

Close
The Shining
by Stephen King

Sure, the movie is a classic, but the book is a different creature altogether, and to me has always felt more cohesive and extensive with its creepiness, suspense, and psychological terror. I’ll admit I wouldn’t let myself read it in the dark for fear that the Overlook’s horrors would magically appear in my room. I love this book for the complexities in all its elements, including Danny’s point of view, the isolated setting, and the ways in which the frights come from natural and supernatural means. King is the master at creating delightful dread.

—Ana

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
The Shining
Stephen King

“THE SHINING tells the story of the Torrence family and their move to the isolated Overlook Hotel after the father, Jack, gets a job as an off-season caretaker. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location becomes completely cut off from civilization and Jack begins to unravel."

Discover more Stephen King film adaptations here.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

Author Picks: 5 Stephen King Novels That Made the Biggest Impact on Me

By Carole Johnstone | April 23, 2021

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

Happy Birthday, Stephen King! 8 of Our Favorites From the Master

By Sarah Jane Abbott | September 21, 2016

17 Movies You Didn’t Know Were Stephen King Books

By Sarah Jane Abbott | October 16, 2014

Close
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
by Stephen King

When I found out there was a Stephen King novella that revolved around a young girl surviving in the wilderness with the help of her favorite Red Sox player, I honestly thought it was too good to be true. As a die-hard Red Sox fan myself and a huge fan of the claustrophobic atmosphere of the woods, I absolutely adored this novella. Using broadcasts of Red Sox games from her Walkman to ground her in reality as her senses begin to play tricks on her (or do they?), Trisha pulls out all the stops to survive a dark force that may be pursuing her. Narrated by a nine-year-old girl, and staying with her pretty much exclusively the whole time, you really become invested in her survival. It also forces you to discern what’s truly real as hunger and fear make Trisha’s narration more and more unreliable. This is a perfect horror story: a normal person put in an extraordinary circumstance and the power we all have to survive.

—Amy

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Stephen King

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

8 Survival Thrillers That’ll Leave You Breathless

By Sara Roncero-Menendez | May 12, 2023

10 Popular Authors Whose Previous Books You May Have Missed

By Sara Roncero-Menendez | July 7, 2021

7 Thriller Novels We Think Are Creepier Than Campfire Stories

By Hannah Schaffer | November 4, 2019

A Literary Tour to the Spookiest Destinations on Earth

By Kerry Fiallo | October 23, 2019

8 FANtastic Books for the Literati Geek in You

By Kerry Fiallo | October 15, 2019

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

Close
'Salem's Lot
by Stephen King

Stephen King has written about plenty of small towns infiltrated by evil, but none is as insidiously terrifying as ’SALEM’S LOT. When a writer returns to his hometown, mysterious deaths and disappearances hint that something dark is afoot. With deadly pacing, a modern reimagining of a classic monster, and an opening chapter that you should definitely not read at night, ’SALEM’S LOT is one of King’s earliest and scariest classics.

—Kerry

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
'Salem's Lot
Stephen King

One of the most ambitious and terrifying novels about the undead ever written, ’SALEM’S LOT explores what would happen if vampires existed in our modern world. When a young man returns to his hometown, he quickly realizes that it’s harboring something dark and evil. Can a small, insular town survive, or is it—and the rest of the country—doomed?

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Emotional Horror Reads That’ll Give You All the Fears and Feels

By Sara Roncero-Menendez | January 13, 2023

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

The Sophomore Slump Is a Myth: 8 Second Novels You Need to Read

By Maddie Nelson | April 29, 2019

The Best Books to Satisfy Your Post-Twilight Cravings

By Will Rhino | January 10, 2019

11 Remarkable Books Behind Your Favorite TV Miniseries

By Kerry Fiallo | November 29, 2018

Readers’ Choice: The Top 10 Most Shelved Books in October

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 26, 2018

Close
The Green Mile
by Stephen King

This is one of those rare instances where I fell in love with the movie before the book. I absolutely loved the movie The Green Mile, so when I discovered a torn-up movie tie-in edition being discarded by the library, I snapped it up. I wasn’t sure if the book could live up to the masterful performance by Tom Hanks in the 1999 film, but I started reading, and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the story. Set on death row at the Cold Mountain Penitentiary, this is a novel about a prison guard, a man condemned to death, and a miracle. In Stephen King’s masterful prose, the story comes alive, giving an even darker and more fantastical look into E Block and the inmates awaiting their fate.

—Erin

Read the full review of THE GREEN MILE.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Green Mile
Stephen King

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

Close
The Stand
by Stephen King

When asked to choose a favorite Stephen King novel from the vast pantheon of Stephen King novels, I’m instantly taken back to the first novel of his that I ever read. Yes, the first Stephen King novel I ever read was THE STAND, which was gifted to me by my dad on an ancient e-reader that we both shared. Once he told me how many pages the actual book was, it became a challenge, a very scary postapocalyptic challenge that I devoured. “This is the way the world ends” with a superflu that kills 99 percent of the population, leaving the rest of humanity to pick sides in a larger battle between good and evil. THE STAND is a tome of a science fiction book, but at its heart it’s really about people and their fight for humanity when there’s no humanity left.

—Maddie

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo
The Stand
Stephen King

An apocalyptic classic, Stephen King’s novel is a vision of a world ravaged by plague and caught in a bitter struggle between good and evil. When a patient escapes from a biological testing facility, carrying with him a strain of super-flu that destroys a majority of the population, two surviving leaders emerge. Whoever is chosen will lead—and change—humanity forever.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

Stephen King’s Top Books, According to Stephen King

By Aimee Boyer | September 21, 2021

7 Stephen King Novels That Remind Us Why He’s a Master Storyteller

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 20, 2019

14 Books You Wish You Could Read for the First Time Again

By Off the Shelf Staff | July 31, 2019

The 5 Best Stephen King Books to Read Right Now

By Hannah Schaffer | June 26, 2019

10 Great American Reads Definitely Worth Your Time

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 3, 2018

14 Favorite Books on Bestselling Author Jenna Blum’s Bookshelf

By Jenna Blum | June 27, 2018

Close

You must be logged in to add books to your shelf.

Please log in or sign up now.