“Opinion is the wilderness between knowledge and ignorance.”
If you loved Showtime’s Yellowjackets and its gripping blend of survival horror, psychological thrills and toxic friendships, you’re in for a treat. Whether you were pulled in by the eerie wilderness survival, the unravelling mysteries or the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface, these books all capture that same delicious unsettling tension. From thrillers about stranded survivors to psychological fiction with unreliable narrators, these stories guarantee to keep you on the edge. So join us today at What We Reading as we present the best books like Yellowjackets – brimming with survival horror, complex female friendships and a creeping sense of dread. Some explore group dynamics pushed to the brink, others delve into past trauma resurfacing in chilling ways. Regardless, if you’re on the hunt for books similar to Yellowjackets, that mix psychological twists with dark storytelling, these are the recommendations for you!
Anywhere You Run – Wanda Morris
First stop on our list of books like Yellowjackets is Wanda Morris’ tense survival thriller, Anywhere You Run. Set in 1964, the story follows two sisters, Violet and Marigold, as they attempt to escape their pasts – and the sinister forces closing in on them.
After Violet kills a white man who assaulted her, she flees from Jim Crow-era Mississippi with little more than a handful of dollars and an unbreakable determination. Meanwhile, her older sister, Marigold, finds herself pregnant and alone in a new town, looking for a fresh start. But, with a mysterious man, hunting them both down and time quickly running out, both women must confront dark truths and fight for survival.
You Let Me In – Camilla Bruce
If you were drawn to Yellowjackets for its eerie psychological twists, unreliable narrators and unsettling atmosphere, You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce is a natural follow-up for your TBR list. This haunting thriller follows Cassandra Tipp, a famous yet reclusive author who mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a manuscript that reveals the disturbing secrets of her past.
Cassandra has always been an enigma, rumours swirl about her involvement in her husband’s and brother’s deaths, yet no one knows the full shocking truth. As her manuscript unfolds, readers are invited into her dark and surreal world where trauma, folklore and possible supernatural forces blur the line between reality and delusion. Are Cassandra’s tales of sinister fairy creatures real, or is she simply an unreliable narrator hiding from the horrors of her past?
We Are All The Same In The Dark – Julia Heaberlin
Julia Heaberlin’s We Are All the Same in the Dark whisks readers to a small Texas town haunted by the unsolved disappearance of a girl named Trumanell Branson, where this eerie tale unveils a web of secrets, trauma and survival.
A decade on from Trumanell’s disappearance, her brother, Wyatt, is still the town outcast, suspected of knowing more than he’s told. When he discovers a mute, one-eyed girl abandoned on the side of the road, rumours from the town’s inhabitants are only fuelled further, and young police officer Odetter Tucker steps in to discover the truth. But, as Odette digs deeper, she finds herself caught in a psychological puzzle where no one can be trusted and the past refuses to remain buried. Similar to Yellowjackets, We Are All the Same in the Dark houses an atmosphere thick with dread, unreliable perspectives and the haunting presence of a girl lost to time.
The Change – Kirsten Miller
Kirsten Miller’s gripping feminist thriller, The Change, follows three women – Harriett, Jo and Nessa – who discover newfound powers in midlife and use them to seek justice for a murdered girl no one else appears to care about.
Nessa, who has always been able to see ghosts, is visited by the spirit of a young woman which leads her to a chilling discovery. Harriett, a once mighty corporate powerhouse, embraces her connection to nature and dark magic. Jo, fueled by an untempered rage, finds strength in her burning fury. Together, they unearth a sinister conspiracy in their seemingly idyllic town and take matters into their own hands. Like Yellowjackets, The Change is the perfect go-to for anyone looking for another empowering tale about female survival, hidden dangers and the power of transformation.
Sleepless – Romy Hausmaann
Nadja Kulka is a woman with a troubled past who’s desperately attempting to construct a new life for herself when she is suddenly pulled into a dangerous web of secrets and crime, forcing her to confront the darkness she believed she had escaped. When Nadja’s friend, Laura, begs for help after committing a shocking crime, Nadja finds herself on the run, ensnared in a deadly game where nothing is as it seems.
As the story progresses, readers must piece together the truth – who is the true victim, and who is the predator? With psychological tension, morally complex characters and an eerie, suspenseful atmosphere, Sleepless is one of the best books like Yellowjackets for anyone who loves dark mysteries and mind-bending twists.
The Last Housewife – Ashley Winstead
Shaw is a woman who has spent years trying to escape from the trauma of her past, only to find herself being hauled back into a world she believed she had left behind. When Shaw’s college roommate, a woman from an affluent and infamous family, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Shaw begins to unravel a chilling conspiracy involving powerful men, manipulated women and plenty of dangerous secrets.
As Shaw immerses herself further into the investigation, she must grapple with her own traumatic history and the dark undercurrents of the life she once knew. With psychological suspense and an exploration of control, power and vengeance, The Last Housewife is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets who crave thrillers featuring strong female leads, dark mysteries and devastating revelations.
Luckiest Girl Alive – Jessica Knoll
Ani FaNelli is a woman who appears to have it all – a glamorous magazine job, a wealthy fiance and a lifestyle anyone would be envious of. Yet, beneath the surface, Ani is hiding a traumatic past that threatens to destroy everything she has built.
As a documentary crew approaches Ani about a shocking event from her high school years, old wounds are brought back to the surface, forcing her to confront the truth she has spent years attempting to bury. Another one of the most gripping books like Yellowjackets, Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive is brimming with unreliable narrators, and jaw-dropping twists and is a chilling look at the pressure to reinvent oneself after trauma.
The River At Night – Erica Ferencik
The River at Night by Erica Ferencik introduces readers to Wini and her three best friends as they set out on what’s supposed to be an exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure in the remote Maine wilderness. After years of feeling stuck in a rut, Wini agrees to join her friends for this much-needed trip.
But, when a freak accident leaves them stranded miles from civilisation, their dream trip soon descends into a nightmare. Injured, lost and desperate, they soon realise that the dangers of the wild are nothing compared to what – or who – may be lurking in the woods around them. As paranoia sets in and alliances shift, the group’s survival depends on their ability to trust one another. With psychological suspense, an eerie atmosphere and an intense fight for survival, The Right at Night is a chilling thriller perfect for fans of Yellowjackets who are craving another story about isolation, danger and the darkness hidden in human nature.
Reckless Girls – Rachel Hawkins
If you loved Yellowjackets for its psychological tension, unreliable voices and exploration of dark lingering secrets, Rachel Hawkins’ Reckless Girls is the perfect thriller to follow it up with. Set on a remote island in the Pacific, the story follows Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, as they travel to a remote paradise for what they hope will be a relaxing getaway. But, when they encounter a group of strangers also stranded on the island, what should have been a dream holiday soon becomes a living nightmare.
As tensions grow and dangerous secrets are brought to light, the group’s idyllic retreat soon becomes a deadly game of survival. With each character hiding something and no one fully trustworthy, Lux soon finds herself questioning who she can rely on and what lengths she’s prepared to go to in order to survive.
The Wilding – Benjamin Percy
Benjamin Percy’s The Wilding is an electrifying debut that combines dark survival themes, psychological tensions and dangerous encounters with nature, similar to Yellowjackets. Set in the rugged landscapes of the American Northwest, the novel follows a family on a camping trip that takes a terrifying turn when they become trapped in the forest.
As the family struggles to survive in an unfamiliar and unforgiving wilderness, they soon discover that the land itself holds secrets – deep, ancient and deadly. The wilderness is alive with both natural and supernatural forces and, as tensions rise among the family, their true instincts begin to emerge. With survival at stake, they are forced to confront their deepest fears, trust one another and face the primal instincts that the wild has awakened.
Check Out Everything You Need To Know About Unreliable Narrators
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).
