How to Read The Diary of a Haunting Series
The Diary of a Haunting is a Young Adult horror series written under the pseudonym M. Verano. Posing as a paranormal scholar, the author presents each book as a real, recovered diary that they have edited for publication, complete with creepy black-and-white photos, drawings, and annotations. Because the series is formatted like an anthology of distinct hauntings, readers often wonder about the best order to tackle these terrifying books.
We highly recommend reading the books in their publication order. While each novel focuses on a different main character and a distinct supernatural crisis, the underlying lore, themes, and narrative framing develop across the releases.
The Recommended Reading Order
- Diary of a Haunting (August 2015) – Follows Paige, a teenager uprooted from Los Angeles to a bizarre, drafty mansion in Idaho. As she records strange occurrences in her diary, she uncovers the home's dark history and its connection to a dangerous local cult.
- Possession (August 2017) – Centers on Laetitia, an aspiring teenage pop star in California who begins experiencing unsettling physical and psychological changes. Her journal documents a terrifying descent into demonic control.
- Book of Shadows (September 2017) – Focuses on Melanie, a girl who acquires a mysterious journal that turns out to be a spellbook. When she begins practicing its rituals, she unwittingly invites lethal, malevolent forces into her life.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
There is some slight variation in bibliographic listings regarding release years (with some sources listing Possession as a late 2016 release and others confirming its widespread publication in August 2017 alongside Book of Shadows). However, the sequence of the titles remains identical in both release chronology and internal chronology.
Since each book is framed as a standalone case file compiled by the fictional editor M. Verano, you will not miss critical plot points if you read them out of order. That said, starting with the first book establishes the unique "found-footage" storytelling format and sets the tone for how these supernatural entities target vulnerable teenagers. Additionally, Simon & Schuster released a compilation volume titled Diaries of a Haunting, which bundles the first two novels (Diary of a Haunting and Possession) into a single edition.
What to Know Before You Start
If you are planning to dive into the trilogy, here are a few tips to enhance your reading experience:
- Immersive Visuals: Don't skip the images! The black-and-white photographs, newspaper clippings, and handwritten notes scattered throughout the pages are integral to the atmosphere and clue you into the mysteries.
- Found-Footage Vibe: The books read like the literary equivalent of horror films like The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity. The narrative voice is highly personal, immediate, and raw.
- Standalones with a Shared Frame: You do not need to worry about cliffhangers carrying over from one book to the next. Each diary tells a complete story from beginning to end, making them digestible and fast-paced.