Never Flinch. With a nickname like "The King of Horror," it goes without saying that almost everything King writes is worth a read. However, his older books tend to get more praise, especially the ones that lean into supernatural horror and darker themes. You Like It Darker feels like a return to form on those fronts, and that's something the collection has received praise for.

King recently teased a second-largest universe after The Dark Tower, as it features Holly Gibney. Holly is a fairly divisive character. Some readers appreciate the novels she crops up in, while others aren't as fond of her adventures. Never Flinch will bring her back while unraveling the story of a killer threatening to target 14 people. While it sounds like a gripping premise, the bar is high after You Like It Darker.

You Like It Darker's 2024 Success Puts Even More Pressure On Stephen King's Next Book

Never Flinch May Struggle To Match The Collection's Success

You Like It Darker is probably King's best book from the 2020s, and that fact puts more pressure on Never Flinch to either live up to its success or sur it. The short story collection is the Goodreads Choice Awards winner in the horror category for 2024, and it was number one on the New York Times bestseller list during the week of June 9. These alone aren't standout accomplishments for a King book — his works have hit such milestones before — but the overwhelming consensus about You Like It Darker is that it's a great collection of stories.

Arriving right after You Like It Darker will only highlight any shortcomings, so it's even more important that Never Flinch is solid.

It's difficult to compare such a round-up of narratives to a novel, but You Like It Darker's best stories are a reminder of why King is called the "King of Horror." Although Never Flinch could contain supernatural elements and lean darker, Holly Gibney's track record isn't all that promising. King's 2025 novel may struggle to match his 2024 book's success if it's a mystery-thriller that lacks supernatural phenomena or King's more classic storytelling style. Arriving right after You Like It Darker will only highlight any shortcomings, so it's even more important that Never Flinch is solid.

Stephen King's Collection Shows Exactly How Never Flinch Can Find Similar Success

Although You Like It Darker sets a high standard for Never Flinch's success, it also pinpoints how King's 2025 novel could find a similar reception. Readers appreciate You Like It Darker because many of its stories are quintessentially King. From the existential themes to the dark commentary on humanity and eerie supernatural twists, You Like It Darker's stories highlight the best of King's writing style. For Never Flinch to replicate the excitement surrounding the 2024 collection, it will have to embrace such qualities to feel more like Stephen King's classic works.

Source: Goodreads Choice Awards, New York Times