Every once in awhile, the urge to consume visual media overtakes me. I don’t experience the casual watch-through of a television series, and then poof, the intrigue is over. It consumes my every waking thought – and occasional dream – and gnaws at my being until I must outwardly express how I feel about it. Apple TV’s Severance has infiltrated each aspect of my life to the point that I’ve found myself, at times, asking just how real is the reality around me?

They say that every seven years, every cell in your body has regenerated; we have, quite literally, become someone new. But some stories slip through that cycle. They mortar themselves into the cracks of our lives, in the soft tissue of memory and emotion, and hold fast. You don’t just remember these stories; you carry them. They suffuse your thoughts, your rhythms, your dreams. They tint reality just a little differently. Maybe they change your gait. Maybe they change how you look at an empty hallway or a lock door or a friend who suddenly feels unfamiliar. A good story doesn’t leave. It lingers. It stains.

If you’re feeling somewhat liminal in these increasingly dystopian times, allow us to offer some stories suggested by our weekend staff. This small collection is best suited for readers experiencing mild-to-moderate disassociation from generally-accepted reality. Whether you’re craving that peculiar emotional static left behind by Severance season 2, or you’re chasing the thrill of a reality that juuuuust doesn’t sit quite right, we invite you to explore a selection of unsettling, reality-blurring reads to tide you over until we finally find out what’s behind that elevator door.

As a courtesy reminder: please try to enjoy each suggestion equally.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A man lives alone in an endless, labyrinthine house, its halls filled with statues and mysterious tides. As his understanding of the world unravels, so too does the truth about his past.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

A woman’s seemingly perfect life is shattered by a devastating accident—and a secret that threatens to destroy everything. Is beauty really only skin deep, or is there more beneath the surface?

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

In a near-future world where the oceans are dying, a woman with a dark past and a dangerous mission must choose between love and survival. This haunting tale merges ecological ruin with a deeply personal journey.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

A young woman’s road trip with her boyfriend takes a nightmarish turn as she begins to question everything—her relationship, her memory, and even her very existence. A chilling meditation on isolation and the fragility of the mind.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

A woman is drawn into a strange and dangerous love triangle with her boss and his wife, but things are far more twisted than she realizes. Secrets and manipulation lurk beneath the perfect facade.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimmage by Haruki Murakami

A man embarks on a journey through memory and self-discovery after being unexpectedly cut off from his friends without explanation. His quest to uncover the truth takes him into a surreal, emotionally charged world.

Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin

In a world where people can erase painful memories, one woman faces the haunting possibility that she might have erased the most important ones of all. A story about memory, loss, and the cost of forgetting.

Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

A man’s struggle to maintain his identity while trapped in a bizarre corporate chatroom takes on surreal and comedic tones. This is a darkly humorous exploration of isolation in the digital age.

The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

In a strange, anonymous factory, a worker’s life slowly unravels as she becomes entangled in the monotonous and unsettling routines of her colleagues. A quietly unsettling examination of dehumanization in modern society.

A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck

A geologist finds himself trapped in a hell where the only means of escape is to locate the book that contains the story of his life. Alongside other inhabitants, he must search through the vast and seemingly never-ending library.

Each of these selections offers a unique journey into the unknown, inviting you to question, reflect, and perhaps see the world a little differently. These stories will challenge you and leave an indelible mark on your consciousness, long after you close the back cover. We trust your literary exploration will enhance both your personal and recreational growth.