Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca [1] is, of course, an icon of Gothic literature, perfectly combining a darkly romantic story with all the thrills and chills of a creepy, psychological horror story. If you've already read the novel (and watched the latest movie version [2]!) and you're looking for a new book to give you similar feelings, we're here to help! We've gathered together some of the best recommendations for books like Rebecca for you to add to your to-read pile. Whether you're in the mood for some classical Gothic literature or a brand-new title, there's something on this list for everyone. Keep reading to see our picks — how many of these have you read so far?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre [3] has a surprising amount in common with Rebecca. Both are told from the perspective of young women who fall in love with a wealthy older man, and they both feature a huge old manor that hides secrets, as well as a mysterious former relationship that threatens the couple's future. For more angsty, romantic thrills, you can't go wrong with this classic.
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
The Widow of Rose House [4] by Diana Biller brings a different twist on the "woman in a haunted house" premise. After her abusive husband dies, Alva returns to restore the family mansion in New York, but discovers something supernatural going on, with the help of an eccentric but charming professor.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier wrote plenty of other novels other than Rebecca [5], but it's My Cousin Rachel that comes closest to Rebecca's unsettling romance, albeit in reverse. Philip, a young Englishman, inherits an estate from his cousin and begins to fall for his cousin's beautiful young widow — but Rachel's true intentions get less clear by the day.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
In The Silent Companions [6] by Laura Purcell, readers will find quite a few parallels to Rebecca and the story of the second Mrs. de Winter. Elsie believed she was signing up for a blissful life when she married a rich young heir, but when her husband dies, leaving her a pregnant widow, she has to face the hostile staff, village, and the eerie discovery that lurks behind a door in her home.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights [7] is pretty much the poster child for Gothic romance. Rich, spoiled Cathy and her family's wild ward Heathcliff grow up together, fall passionately in love, and embark on a toxic relationship that has more than a hint of the supernatural surrounding it.
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
The Witch of Willow Hall [8] by Hester Fox includes all the elements of Gothic horror and romance: a family scandal, an eerie house, and a woman uncovering dangerous secrets. But in the tale of the Montrose sisters and their family's secret legacy, the book dives deep into the very idea of a "witch" and how it's been wielded against powerful women through history.
The Lost Ones by Anita Frank
A young widow goes to stay with her pregnant sister in Anita Frank's The Lost Ones [9], but when she arrives at the eerie manor, things get creepy fast. Not only is her sister on the edge of paranoia, but strange noises and a haunted history send Stella down a path of learning things about the house and the family that she can't ever unsee.
The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr
The Lost History of Dreams [10] by Kris Waldherr narrates two parallel narratives full of suspense and dark romance. A postmortem photographer is tasked with transporting his poet cousin's remains for burial, but before he's allowed to do so, he has to record the story of his cousin's devastating marriage — and along the way, he finds some answers about his own wife's strange behaviour.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
Instead of a wife unraveling her husband's past, Michelle Paver's Wakenhyrst [11] centres on a daughter, Maud, who slowly comes to realise that there's more to her overbearing father's behaviour than just typical repressive parenting. Witchcraft and horror abound as Maud's journey ties into a centuries-long battle filled with magic.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist [12] sets another young, naive heroine into a creepy house with her reticent husband and his family and staff. Nella is unsettled not just by her husband's secrets or his sister's hostility, but also by the uncanny gift of the mysterious miniaturist whose works always seem to know more about her and her life than even she does.
The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
The Woman in the Mirror [13] by Rebecca James feels almost like a cross between Jane Eyre and Rebecca. A governess accepts a post at an isolated coastal manor in the years after World War II, but the family's kindness turns to cruelty quickly. In a parallel story, a descendant of the family starts to seek answers and uncovers the haunting secret of the manor itself.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Arthur Kipps, an ordinary London solicitor, goes on the job of his life in Susan Hill's The Woman in Black [14]. He's tasked with visiting a strange, apparently haunted house to settle the affairs of a deceased client, but while he's there, he begins seeing and hearing things that aren't there, including the apparition of a terrifying woman dressed all in black.
The Widow of Pale Harbour by Hester Fox
The Widow of Pale Harbour is Hester Fox's gender-flipped Gothic tale. Gabriel, a widowed minister, takes a job in a remote coastal village, where he learns of a rumour that the local reclusive widow is a witch. When violent and haunting incidents keep piling up, Gabriel has to uncover what's really happening — and who Sophronia really is. [15]
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
You might not think of Rebecca when you think of Jane Austen's lighter comedies, but Northanger Abbey [16] might surprise you. Austen's early novel is a satire of Gothic literature than borrows some of those Gothic elements for itself. When Catherine Morland befriends a brother and sister and is invited to their family's imposing manor house, her imagination runs wild as she tries to uncover the house's darkest secret.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [17] is perhaps slightly less famous than her sisters' novels, but no less intriguing. A reclusive widow slowly reveals her mysterious past to a suitor, including the horrifying story of her husband's actions and whether or not the wicked rumours about her are true.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Although The Thirteenth Tale [18] by Diane Setterfield doesn't exactly evoke Rebecca in its plot, its mood is very similar to the iconic Gothic tale. A highly reclusive bestselling author decides it's finally time to reveal the painful secrets of her past, and she calls on a young biographer who is equally haunted, in her own way, to help her tell her story.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic [19] is one of the breakout books of 2020, and it's easy to see parallels with Rebecca. Debutante Noemí arrives at the countryside manor where her cousin lives with her husband's family, after her cousin sent a desperate plea for help. Noemí begins to sense that something isn't right, both with the domineering family and with the spooky manor house itself.