Where to Start Your Monster High Journey
For the best experience, readers should begin with the original four-book Monster High series written by Lisi Harrison. This core series establishes the fictional universe, introducing the main ghouls—Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, Cleo de Nile, and Blue Lagoona—alongside human characters like Melody Carver. Because these books follow a continuous story arc dealing with the monsters' struggle to stay hidden from the normies (humans), they should be read in order.
Once you finish the main series, you can transition into Gitty Daneshvari's Ghoulfriends spin-off series, which follows a new trio of ghouls. From there, you can explore the episodic Monster High Diaries, companion journals, and the modern reboot novels and comics that have revitalized the franchise.
The Original Monster High Series (Lisi Harrison)
Published between 2010 and 2012, Lisi Harrison's original run is the foundation of the Monster High book universe. These young adult novels alternate viewpoints and focus heavily on themes of identity, diversity, and self-acceptance.
- Monster High (2010): The book that started it all. Frankie Stein, a newly created teenager, tries to navigate high school while keeping her monstrous identity a secret from the humans in town.
- The Ghoul Next Door (2011): The ghouls must band together to protect their community when their secrets threaten to expose them to the public.
- Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way (2011): Clawdeen Wolf takes center stage as the tension between monsters and humans escalates.
- Back and Deader Than Ever (2012): The final chapter of the original series, focusing on Draculaura and the culmination of the ghouls' fight for acceptance.
The Ghoulfriends Series (Gitty Daneshvari)
Set in the same universe but focusing on a new group of friends, this spin-off series by Gitty Daneshvari is aimed at middle-grade readers. It follows Rochelle Goyle, Robecca Steam, and Venus McFlytrap as they solve mysteries around the school.
- Ghoulfriends Forever (2012)
- Ghoulfriends Just Want to Have Fun (2013)
- Who's That Ghoulfriend? (2013)
- Ghoulfriends 'til the End (2014)
- Companion: The Ghoul-It-Yourself Book (2014) – An interactive companion guide featuring activities and a short story.
The Monster High Diaries (Nessi Monstrata)
Written under the pen name Nessi Monstrata, this five-book series offers younger readers an inside look at the personal thoughts and daily high school dramas of individual characters. They can generally be read as standalones in any order, though reading them in publication order is recommended.
- Draculaura and the New Stepmomster (2015)
- Frankie Stein and the New Ghoul at School (2015)
- Lagoona Blue and the Big Sea Scarecation (2016)
- Clawdeen Wolf and the Freaky-Fabulous Fashion Show (2016)
- Cleo De Nile and the Creeperific Mummy Makeover (2016)
The Modern Reboot Era (2023–Present)
Mattel partnered with publishers like ABRAMS and IDW to launch a new era of Monster High literature. These books offer a mix of updated middle-grade novels and graphic novels, serving both long-time fans and new readers.
Reboot Novels
- A Fright to Remember (Monster High School Spirits #1) by Adrianna Cuevas (2023): A middle-grade mystery focusing on Draculaura as she tries to clear her name when school property is sabotaged.
- Once Bitten, Twice Dead by Tiffany Schmidt (2024): A young adult novel that takes a darker, updated spin on the original characters.
Graphic Novels & Comics
- Monster High: New Scaremester (2024–2025): A comic series from IDW Publishing following the original characters after the events of Schmidt's novel. The first compiled volume was released in May 2025.
- Monster High: World's Scare (2025): A limited comic series where the Boo Crew competes in a monster-made World's Fair.
- Monster High: Pride 2025 (2025): A special release celebrating the franchise's LGBTQIA+ representation.
Companion and Spin-off Materials
To fully flesh out your reading list, you can check out the following fun companion titles:
- Drop Dead Diary by Abaghoul Harris (2011): A fun, interactive diary style guide published during the original series' run.
- Monster High: Bull's Eye: A collection that compiles out-of-print classic short stories into a fresh graphic novel format.
Practical Reader Advice
While the franchise is vast, you don't need to read every single spin-off to understand the main stories. The best approach is to tackle the books by era. Start with Lisi Harrison's tetralogy to appreciate the classic, fashion-forward YA roots. If you prefer a lighter, mystery-filled tone, Gitty Daneshvari's Ghoulfriends is the perfect next step. For readers who want to align their reading with the newer animated series and dolls, starting directly with the ABRAMS reboot novels like A Fright to Remember is an excellent alternative starting point.