If you grew up in the 80’s like me, then shows like Stranger Things scratch that nostalgic itch of reminiscing about the days when we were just kids. If you didn’t, it’s still a fun dive into a world of neon, Walkman cassette players, no cellphones in sight, and playing outside until the street lights came on. It was a different time, and these novels will take you right back, whether you’re after that pure retro 80s feel, kids versus a big bad with shady government ties, or even star-crossed lovers.
This list has it all, it says 10, but I do what I want, so here are the 11 books you should read!
If you love the unbreakable bonds of friendship amid supernatural chaos in Stranger Things, you should try…
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
I found out about this one, this week and have added it to my TBR for 2026. It gives off serious vibes from the 1993 cult classic My Boyfriend’s Back, that quirky, over-the-top teen horror-comedy where supernatural weirdness crashes into high school drama, crushes, and friendship stakes.
High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act…different.
If you love the thick 80’s nostalgia, retro fantasy vibes, and that sense of childhood wonder colliding with real-world stakes in Stranger Things, you should try…
The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning
The Shadow Glass gets compared a lot to Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, and The NeverEnding Story, but after I read it in 2024, I’d say it feels more like Dark Crystal meets Puppet Master or Small Soldiers. It’s a thrilling race against the clock to save the world (well, London at least) from fantasy creatures that have spilled out of a cult 80s puppet film into the real world.
If you love the group of misfit kids banding together for summer adventures, investigating creepy local legends, and that bittersweet 80’s nostalgia in Stranger Things, you should try…
The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
I’ve added it to my TBR! An irresistible and bittersweet coming-of-age story in the vein of Stranger Things and Stand by Me about a group of misfit kids who spend an unforgettable summer investigating local ghost stories and urban legends. Set in 1980s Niagara Falls, twelve-year-old Jake Baker hangs out with his eccentric Uncle Calvin, a conspiracy-loving occult enthusiast. When new kids in town, Billy and Dove Yellowbird, join the mix, Uncle Cal launches the “Saturday Night Ghost Club.”
If you love the tight-knit group of misfit kids teaming up against supernatural threats, the thick 80’s nostalgia, and that mix of summer freedom with creeping horror in Stranger Things, you should try…
The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart
A young adult story based in the summer of 1982 on a remote island, where five friends (Sep, Arkle, Mack, Lamb, and Hadley) find an ancient stone box hidden deep in the woods. Described as a horror story about friendship, growing up, and finding a place in the world: Often compared as Gremlins meets The Breakfast Club by way of Stephen King and Stranger Things.
If you love the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the thick 80’s nostalgia, and that mix of everyday teen life with supernatural twists in Stranger Things, you should try…
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
Set in 1989 Danvers, Massachusetts, the home of the original 1692 witch trials, it follows the Danvers Falcons, a high school girls’ field hockey team that’s been on a brutal losing streak. Desperate to turn things around and make it to the state finals, the squad makes a pact with the dark side. Has a bit of 1996’s The Craft, feel to it.
If you love the thick 80’s nostalgia, the tender first-love moments, and that bittersweet coming-of-age feel in Stranger Things, you should try…
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Set in 1986, this story follows two teenage misfits who fall in love despite knowing it might not last. It’s a star-crossed lovers tale like Romeo and Juliet, but without the tragic body count. Eleanor and Park connect on the school bus through shared Walkman earbuds, mixtapes, and comic books, building something sweet and real amid family struggles, bullying, and the quiet magic of first love.
If you love the thick 80’s nostalgia, endless pop culture references, arcade games, and that sense of adventure wrapped in retro vibes in Stranger Things, you should try…
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
I’m sure you said, there it is, because yes, Ready Player One is an 80s treasure trove. While this story doesn’t take place in the 80s, the entire thing is built as an 80s love letter. Wade Watts, a teen in a dystopian future, escapes into the OASIS, a massive virtual reality universe packed with John Hughes movies, classic arcade games, Rush albums, and every Easter egg from the decade.
If you love the government conspiracies, psychic powers, and a young girl with dangerous abilities on the run in Stranger Things, you should try…
Firestarter by Stephen King
This 1980 thriller is basically the blueprint for Eleven’s whole backstory, and the Duffer Brothers have openly drawn from it for the show’s sci-fi thriller elements. It follows young Charlie McGee, a girl with pyrokinetic powers, and her dad Andy, who are fleeing a shady government agency called The Shop. The agency experimented on them years ago with a drug that unlocked these abilities, and now they want to capture Charlie to turn her into a weapon.
If you love the unbreakable bonds of friendship amid supernatural chaos in Stranger Things, you should try…
The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub
The Talisman is a book that has been hinted at throughout Stranger Things. It is about a twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer embarks on a cross-country quest to find a magical artifact that can save his dying mom, flipping between our world and a parallel fantasy realm
If you love the unbreakable bonds of friendship among a group of misfit kids facing down a terrifying ancient evil in their small town, with bikes, summer adventures, and pure nostalgic heart in Stranger Things, you should try…
It by Stephen King
Yep, It is here, with its massively successful film franchise and now TV series. Pennywise is back with a vengeance and is right up the alley of Stranger Things lovers to devour. This 1986 masterpiece splits between two timelines: the Losers’ Club as seven outcast kids in 1950s Derry fighting a shape-shifting monster, and their adult selves reuniting in the mid-1980s to finish the job.
If you love the epic quests into parallel worlds, young heroes battling dark forces, and the mix of sci-fi wonder with emotional family bonds in Stranger Things, you should try…
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Though this one isn’t an 80’s nostalgia fever dream, but it’s been hinted at a ton, so why not read it. The Duffer Brothers wove in major nods throughout the final season, making it a key to understanding the Upside Down’s threats and the power of love over conformity. This 1962 classic follows 13-year-old Meg Murry, her genius little brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O’Keefe as they tesseract across the universe to rescue their missing scientist father from a cosmic evil.
I wanted to include these, but decided to just leave them here in the recommend section, if you’re looking for a more 90’s feel:
• December Park by Ronald Malfi
• Summer of Night by Dan Simmons
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