Atmospheric Books to Read When the Power Goes Out
Picture it: you’re home for the night, going about your business as usual with at least a few hours ahead of you before bedtime, when suddenly the lights flicker and the power goes out. No tv, no internet, no lights. You light some candles and try to do a little reading by their glow, but it’s already dark outside and your eyes are straining. It’s time to pull out your phone or ereader and settle in with an ebook or audiobook!
Some books are just meant to be read in a dark, cozy environment to make your atmospheric read all the more immersive. When a recent summer storm left me in the dark, I found that listening to a space romance was a delightful companion to my candle-lit evening while I listened to Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
No matter what your mood or genre preference, there are plenty of books to keep you company and keep you entertained until your power comes back on!
Atmospheric Reads on Libby
Her Last Breath
by Taylor Adams
If you’re looking for a propulsive thriller that will have you inadvertently holding your breath, Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams is the book for you. As best friends Allie and Tess set out on a caving adventure, they are confronted by a man claiming to be a fellow climber. After a tense interaction, the two friends continue on their expedition only to discover that they are being followed further and further into the tunnels. Alternating between the harrowing caves and a detective interview hours later, this claustrophobic, pulse-pounding novel offers daring adventure, shocking secrets, and resolute survival that will have you embracing the darkness for the full thrills and chills experience.
Love at First Sighting
by Mallory Marlowe
Perhaps you’re looking for a charming romantic comedy to help you pass the time. When social media influencer El Martin captures UFO footage and her video goes viral, Agent Carter Brody, working in government intelligence that monitors extraterrestrial sightings and events, is assigned to the case. Soon El and Carter team up to investigate this mystery, and the closer they get to the truth, they closer they get to one another. This funny, genre-blending romance is full of action and charm, and El and Carter’s chemistry will delight readers.
Circe
by Madeline Miller
If you’d like to be captivated by mythology, Circe by Madeline Miller is the kind of story someone would tell you while sitting around the fire. This novel tells the tale of the Circe from the Odyssey and her discovery of her power with witchcraft, spanning from her childhood among the gods to her banishment to a deserted island where she honed her craft. With bold characters, mesmerizing language, and an intriguing atmosphere, this book will keep you hooked. And if you choose to listen to the audiobook, it feels like you are being serenaded by the enchantress herself.
The Little Stranger
by Sarah Waters
If you’re looking to creep yourself out in the dark with a spooky gothic novel, The Little Stranger is sure to fuel your sleepless night. Set after World War II in a bleak, rural English estate, Dr. Faraday arrives at Hundreds Hall to assist the aristocratic Ayres family. While it was once a house of opulence and splendor, it is now in a state of decay, literally crumbling bit by bit. The last of the Ayres family are stuck in a bygone era, struggling to keep up with the changing world around them, and they are haunted by what they claim to be an evil force. As our unreliable narrator Dr. Faraday becomes more and more enmeshed with the Ayers family and Hundreds Hall, readers will be swept up in the haunting tale and may be feeling a little jumpy until the lights come back on.
Murder by Memory
by Olivia Waite
Space stories are an obvious fit to read in the dark- why not go even further and make it a cozy mystery set in space? For sci-fi fans looking for a more comfortable read to accompany your power outage, welcome aboard the HMS Fairweather! On this luxury interstellar passenger ship, people’s consciousnesses can be stored in memory books and uploaded into new bodies for regeneration across centuries. When the ship’s detective Dorothy Gentleman unexpectedly wakes up in another woman’s body, just as someone else is found murdered, her troubles are compounded when she discovers that someone is not only killing bodies but also deleting minds from the Library. Dorothy will have to solve the case – easier said than done when you’re just waking up after two years wearing the body of a suspect! A witty and gentle novella, Murder by Memory is a satisfying mystery with strong world building that will leave you clamoring for the next book in the series.
The Night Circus
by Erin Morgenstern
This one really speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Fantastical, romantic, enchanting – The Night Circus is a magical and mesmerizing story that feels part fable, part dream. Set in a turn of the 20th-century circus, Le Cirque des Rêves arrives without warning and is only open at night, the black and white tent revealing amazements beyond your wildest dreams. Little do the circus visitors know that it is truly the site for two dueling magicians in the throes of a fierce competition. If you want to be swept away by a world of magic and wonder, look no further than The Night Circus.
The Light Pirate
by Lily Brooks-Dalton
If you’re looking for a fully immersive read on your stormy night in, The Light Pirate is a compelling literary eco-thriller with hints of magic set in the near future in a small Florida town that is facing increasingly intense natural disasters with climate change. Born in the heart of a catastrophic storm, a young girl named Wanda comes of age in this precarious landscape, adapting to the changing natural world around her and discovering some unique abilities of her own. Cinematic, powerful, and thought-provoking, this is a story of hope and resilience that examines the beauty and violence of the untamable natural world.
The Wolf Tree
by Laura McCluskey
If you’re a mystery fan in the mood for a police procedural and you want to really embrace the stormy night ahead of you, The Wolf Tree will set the mood perfectly. Two Glasgow detective inspectors are called to the small, isolated island of Eilean Eader to investigate the death of a young man near a lighthouse. Trapped on the island by a major storm, the inspectors face the hostility of suspicious and superstitious locals and unearth dark secrets connected to the unsolved disappearance of three lighthouse keepers over a century earlier. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and even unsettling, this slow-burn mystery with folk horror vibes is sure to have you absorbed for hours.
Never Whistle at Night
by Shane Hawk
Want to feel as unsettled as possible for your night of darkness? Look no further than Never Whistle at Night, an anthology of Indigenous dark fiction that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. This sinister collection features critically acclaimed original and terrifying tales of ghosts, curses, creatures, hauntings, and revenge. With an introduction by Stephen Graham Jones, these stories explore an array of terrors – both supernatural and worldly – that Indigenous communities face. This collection is perfect for horror fans who enjoy their speculative fiction with a dash of social commentary. Just remember, if you feel the urge to whistle before the power comes back on...don’t.
Night Magic
by Leigh Ann Henion
What better way to spend your unplanned time in the dark than by celebrating it? Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion invites us to immerse ourselves in the night by stepping outside and experiencing the beauty of the natural world. Her exploration of the night includes the nocturnal animals all around us and plants that bloom as the light fades, and you may also discover a new outdoor event for your bucket list, from a firefly gathering in Tennessee to a moth festival in Ohio. Learn more about the science of the dark, discover the amazing biodiversity that surrounds us in a world of increasing artificial light, and find a sense of awe in the wonders of your own backyard.
Ironically, a thunderstorm has once again taken out my power as I finish writing this blog post and I’ve had to relocate to my public library for internet and lights. I know that sounds like a joke for this post, but I assure you, I am serious. Fortunately, I had my latest Libby audiobook to keep me company while I waited to see if it was a short-term fix or not! Alas, it was not, but I have plenty of good books to keep me company until it is resolved. Happy reading to anyone else who may find themselves looking to pass the time during their next power outage!
Published Aug 11, 2026
Claire Weibel
Claire Weibel has worked in publicity for the arts, public libraries, and archives. At Libby, she helps public libraries manage their collections. When she isn’t reading, she loves to run, try new recipes (while listening to an audiobook), plan her next road trip, or hang out with her pets. Claire is always excited to talk about a good mystery or spooky books!