By Lindsay Quackenbush and Katie Song

Let’s face it: choosing a Halloween costume each year can start to feel like a chore! To help you out this October, we’ve compiled a list of the best group costume ideas based on our favorite book characters. We’ve got costumes for all ages and all different group sizes, so you’re bound to find something to love. Happy spooky season! 

1. For the Girl Squad — Little Women By Louisa May Alcott

With the success of the Barbie movie this past summer, we’re sure there will be lots of pink out there on Halloween night, but what about paying homage to one of director Greta Gerwig’s earlier hits? Grab your three best gal pals, head to the nearest vintage shop, and go as the March sisters this year!

2. For the Teens — The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Jenny Han gave teens the perfect group costume idea when she brought her bestselling series to the screen in 2022! While we eagerly await season three, get your best friends together, resurface your favorite summertime pieces, and fight over who is Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah with this simple, fun group costume idea.

3. For the Young Family — The Cat in the Hat By Dr. Seuss

Celebrating your first Halloween with your little one? We love the idea of parents going as Thing 1 and Thing 2 with a baby Cat in the Hat in tow! How adorable is this little costume? Nothing like a Dr. Seuss classic to introduce your child to the joys of trick or treating!

4. For the BookTok Fanatics — ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas

We can’t go anywhere without spotting someone reading one of the five books in Sarah J. Maas’ bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series. If you and your friends have become as obsessed with the BookTok craze as it seems the rest of the world has, there’s no better way to play out your mild obsession than with a group costume! Strap on your Illyrian fighting leathers or your pointy High Fae ears and head out on the 31st as the legendary Night Court squad.

5. For the Royals Among Us — Princess Charming by Zibby Owens

Princess Charming tells us on the first page that “being a Princess isn’t always easy,” but modeling your Halloween costume after her look can be! Start with a simple gold crown, and then just add your favorite pink shirt, purple skirt, and pink tights to complete the look! Grab a best friend to go as Stella Sparkle in a sparkly blue getup, or recruit your own Prince Charming! Bring your dog along with you for the final touch–– everyone needs a Luna in their lives!

6. For the Wannabe Rockband — Daisy Jones and the Six By Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you’ve always wanted to be in a rock band but lack the musical talent required, this Halloween is your chance to play pretend for at least one night! This 70s inspired costume is another great excuse to hit your favorite local vintage store! Think: Lots of denim, specifically bell bottoms, flowy capes, messy hair, and your coolest shades.

7. For the Daughter of a Nostalgic Mom — Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

This is the perfect costume for young girls of any age! You can add as many people to the group as you like, and can even have the group’s chaperone go as Miss Clavel! We love this handmade costume option that comes in all sizes, and two different colors, so each of your Madelines can customize their look!

8. For the Puzzle Solvers and Outcasts — Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

A group costume fit for all ages, this children’s mystery fiction offers something for everyone. From Mr. Benedict’s tweed suits to No. 2’s yellow outfits, from Constance Contraire’s pigtails to George “Sticky” Washington’s blue sweater and round glasses, this group costume is nothing short of whimsical. The characters offer such a range of style that surely everyone in the group can find the character that represents who they are or, more importantly, how they want to dress.

9. For the New Fantasy Lovers and Fans of the Divergent series — Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Dragons, magic, and scribes. What more could a girl need? This year, go as Violet Sorrengail in black leather, dark boots, and slicked back hair to avoid getting caught by your competitors. Find your hottest friend to go as love interest Xaden Riorson, also adorned in form-fitting all-black attire, as well as fellow dragon-riders Dain Aetos, Mira Sorrengail, and General Lillith. If you want to get really creative, have one friend dress as Sgaeyl, the navy-blue Daggertail dragon. Happy training!

10. For the Girl Who Refuses to Leave Her Dog at Home — Lessons in Chemistry By Bonnie Garmus

If your typical party of two consists of just you and your dog, might we suggest including your furry best friend in your costume this year? How about dressing as Lessons in Chemistry’s iconic Elizabeth Zott and her arguably more iconic pooch, Six-Thirty? With the Apple TV+ series dropping soon (October 13th), your lab coat look is sure to get some positive attention!

11. For the Horror-Lite Lovers — Coraline By Neil Gaiman

If you’re looking for something a little spookier this year, we have just the group costume idea for you! Even though the book and movie are kid-approved, we’ve always found Coraline’s parallel family and their button eyes eerily unnerving. This costume is perfect for either a family of four, or just a group of friends (don’t feel tied to a specific number of people here––there are plenty of button-eyed characters to embody!).

Posted October 10, 2023

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