“Rebecca,” a 1938 novel written by Daphne du Maurier, is a Gothic literature story of an anonymous young woman who suddenly marries a wealthy widower unaware of the fact that his estate and himself are haunted by the spirit of his late wife, Rebecca. The novel currently has 4.8/5 stars on Goodreads and an 83% admiration rating. Many consider this novel to be their favorite, including Pascack Hills English teacher Katherine Donahue. 

“I like to say that my favorite book is like my favorite student, it’s always the one that I’m with at the moment, ” Donahue said, “If I had to pick one that started my love for reading, it is Daphne DuMaurier’s ‘Rebecca.’”

Due to the novel’s supernatural elements and tense mood, Donahue considered “Rebecca” to be the perfect Halloween read. 

“I would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys suspense, horror, or thrilling stories,” she said. 

Donahue explained that she was first introduced to the book during her sophomore year of high school for a research project. During her first time reading “Rebecca,” it was a challenging read. She had to collect literary criticism on her project, but it had also taught her a lot about the genre. Since then, she has read the story three or four times.

“It always manages to give me a little fright,” Donahue said, “‘Rebecca’ inspires my appreciation for Gothic fiction.”