Many fans love that Stranger Things feels like a trip back to the 1980s, blending the styles of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg (think E.T.) and authors like Stephen King. The show captures that 80s vibe – from the music and fashion to the coming-of-age stories – and puts kids in thrilling, dangerous situations. Luckily, there are plenty of books out there that offer a similar experience, tapping into that same nostalgia and focusing on kids facing extraordinary challenges.
Here is a look at five great books to read if you love Stranger Things.
5) All Hallows by Christopher Golden
Christopher Golden’s novel, All Hallows, is being marketed with comparisons to the popular show Stranger Things, tapping into that 80’s nostalgia. But at its core, this is a horror story set in a Massachusetts town in 1984. The story centers around a spooky Halloween night when four mysterious children appear, dressed in old-fashioned costumes, and desperately ask the other trick-or-treaters to protect them from a terrifying figure known as The Cunning Man.
This novel offers a chilling horror story set in the 1980s, focusing on children struggling to survive against a dangerous world, all while the town around them is fractured by shocking revelations. Author Christopher Golden is a seasoned sci-fi and fantasy writer, known for co-creating the Outerverse comic book universe alongside Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy.
4) The Institute by Stephen King
Stephen King heavily inspired the show Stranger Things, and the creators, the Duffer Brothers, once hoped to turn his novel The Talisman into a series, though those plans didn’t work out. King’s impact is clear in the show’s villains, reminiscent of novels like Firestarter. Interestingly, his more recent book, The Institute, shares a similar storyline: a secretive government group locates children with special abilities, eliminates their families, and kidnaps them with the goal of turning those powers into weapons.
This story feels very similar to the origins of Firestarter, but it concentrates more on the children’s imprisonment and their efforts to break free. It strongly echoes the experiences of Eleven, particularly where she was held and experimented on. If you’re looking for a book that reminds you of Hawkins National Laboratory, The Institute is a great choice.
3) Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
If you enjoy fantasy novels like Stranger Things and Stephen King’s work, you should check out Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Published in 1962, this terrifying story follows two boys who must fight for their lives when a mysterious carnival comes to their small town in Illinois. Stephen King himself has called it one of the most frightening books he’s ever read.
This story centers on two 13-year-old boys, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway, who face a terrifying ordeal when a strange carnival comes to their town. The carnival’s mysterious leader promises to fulfill people’s wishes, but with dangerous consequences. Similar to Stranger Things, the book is set in a small town where kids must fight for survival and protect everything they love. It’s clear that this story heavily influenced Stephen King, with echoes of it appearing in works like IT and Needful Things. If you enjoyed Stranger Things, this book is a great choice.
2) My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix is a horror novelist known for blending scares with dark humor. His 2016 novel, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, shares similarities with both Stranger Things and the work of Stephen King. The story centers on Abby and Gretchen, who have been close friends since elementary school, bonding over things like the movie E.T. and roller skating. But their friendship is tested when they enter high school and things begin to change.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism explores the way friendships can shift when teenagers start high school. But instead of a typical coming-of-age story, it uses supernatural elements – one girl believes her friend is possessed by a demon. Ultimately, it’s a story about the enduring power of a close friendship, and how far two friends will go to save each other, no matter the cost.
1) IT by Stephen King
Stephen King’s IT is still one of his most popular books, and it shares a lot of similarities with the show Stranger Things. The story jumps between two timelines: one following a group of kids called the Loser’s Club, and another showing them as adults who return to their hometown to finally confront a threat from their childhood.
As a huge fan of both, I’ve always seen a strong connection between IT and Stranger Things. Instead of a typical interdimensional demon with monsters, the kids in IT are up against a shapeshifting entity that mostly appears as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. While the adult storylines in IT are pretty different, the scenes of the Loser’s Club battling Pennywise as kids? That’s clearly where the Duffer Brothers drew inspiration for the kids fighting Vecna. It’s so obvious, honestly!
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2026-03-31 18:14