Article contributed by Katherine Hilker
Ah, the ’80s – a nostalgic time when neon was the new black and landlines were our only lifelines. But don’t just reminisce. Relive the magic of this iconic era with 18 of the best YA books set in the 80s that will teleport you back to when mixtapes ruled and mullets were, well, debatably cool.
So dust off your fanny pack and hop into a DeLorean because these ‘80s-Set YA books are your very own flux capacitors, ready to transport you back in style!
The 18 Best YA Books Set in the 80s
Hunting for some YA books like Stranger Things? No sweat, because these retro novels set in the 1980s are here to rock your Upside Down-loving world!
1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Join Aristotle and Dante on a quest of self-discovery, friendship, and first love in this award-winning gem that’s like Heartstopper meets the ultimate 80s movie montage.
With over 500,000 reviews on Goodreads, it’s safe to say that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe is one of the best YA books set in the 1980s and a total #1 hit!
FOR FANS OF: LGBT romance books and character-driven novels
Read our book review of Aristotle and Dante Dive Into The Waters of The World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz for the full scoop.
2. My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Who you gonna call? Your BFF, obviously! Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fifth grade, but when they enter high school, things change. Gretchen begins to act…different. There’s only one possible explanation: Gretchen has been possessed by the devil. Now Abby must fight demons—both literal and metaphorical—to save her friend.
From the award-winning author of The Final Girl Support Group and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, comes a YA book set in the 80s that diehard fans of Stranger Things will not want to miss.
FOR FANS OF: Beetlejuice, YA horror books, The Exorcist, YA books like Stranger Things
3. We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen
Mixtapes, high school, and heartfelt letters? It’s like John Hughes directed this novel, and we are so here for it. The struggles of #adulting hit differently when they’re set in the 80s!
Told through heartfelt letters, this coming-of-age story follows childhood friends Cath and Scott as they navigate the ups and downs of life post-high school.
FOR FANS OF: Say Anything, the friends-to-lovers trope, YA books set in college
4. The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka
Imagine having the power to rewrite your life like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. That’s exactly what happens to Gracie when she discovers a mysterious journal that can turn her fictional stories into cold-hard fact.
But as Gracie’s power to change reality grows, she begins to question what is real, especially when it comes to a budding romance with her neighbor.
FOR FANS OF: Teen movies like Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink, the Boy-Next-Door trope, magical realism, Shannon Takaoka’s Everything I Thought I Knew,
5. Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer
In Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win, it’s 1979, and Jasmine’s dream of attending NYU hits a snag when she claims to be Senior Class President-Elect on her application before the election even happens. But when an international incident shakes things up, Jasmine must navigate her heritage, complex family dynamics, and a budding romance to save her dreams.
Full of college application shenanigans, Iranian identity, and SoCal angst, this diverse YA book set in the 80s is a must-read.
FOR FANS OF: Books like Never Have I Ever, Reese Witherspoon’s movie Election, Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Netflix’s The Politician
6. None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
True crime fans, where you at? Enter the gripping world of FBI profiler Emma Lewis as she teams up with Travis Bell, a teenage boy haunted by his own dark past, to hunt down a serial killer.
Set in the 80s, this bone-chilling thriller delves into the psychological depths of the human mind, and will keep you on the edge of your seat faster than a joystick duel.
FOR FANS OF: The Silence of the Lambs, true crime podcasts, Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, 1980s YA Horror books
Read our book review for None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney for the full scoop.
7. Spin Me Right Around by David Valdes
Back to the Future, but make it gay. From lauded writer David Valdes, this uproarious and heartwarming YA novel set in the 80s follows Luis Gonzalez—a proud queer Latinx teen. When a bizarre turn of events sends Luis spiraling back to the year 1985, he sets out to save a closeted classmate’s life and find a way back home. Time-traveling has never been this fabulous, McFly!
FOR FANS OF: YA time travel books, love triangles, Back to the Future
Read our book review for Spin Me Right Around by David Caldes for the full scoop.
8. Dagger Hill by Devon Taylor
Stranger Things meets your worst plane crash nightmare.
It’s the summer of 1989 and friends Charlie, Gabe, Kimberly, and Sonya are savoring their final taste of freedom before senior year. But things take a chilling turn when a plane crashes on their favorite hangout spot, Dagger Hill, and snatches Kimberly away. As unsettling events grip their sleepy hometown, the trio embarks on a race against time to rescue Kimberly from Dagger Hill’s mysterious grasp and the malevolent presence that now hunts them.
FOR FANS OF: YA books like Stranger Things, One of Us is Lying, Horror books set in the 80s, the movie Super 8
9. Mayhem by Estelle Laure
It’s 1987 and unfortunately it’s not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. There’s a serial kidnapper on the loose in her quaint California coastal town, and Mayhem Thompson is going to extract justice, even if it costs her everything.
From the acclaimed author of City of Villains, comes a YA feminist mash up set in the 80s inspired by The Lost Boys and The Craft.
FOR FANS OF: books about witches, complex family dynamics, The Craft, beach gothic vibes
Read our book review of Mayhem by Estelle Laure for the full scoop.
10. Pudge and Prejudice by A.K. Pittman
Scrunchies, big hair, and music on cassette tapes. Bright neon patterns, MTV, and…Mr. Darcy?
When Elyse “Pudge” Nebbit moves to a small Southern town, she never expects to find her own Mr. Darcy in the form of an infuriatingly handsome boy named Will. This wholesome 1980s retelling of Pride and Prejudice is part Jane Austen, part roller-skating disco inferno.
FOR FANS OF: Jane Austen, Friday Night Lights, YA retellings that aren’t fairy tales, fat-positive romance novels, the movie Valley Girl
11. Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth
Carson lives on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation, nestled near Niagara Falls and the Canadian border. He dreams of winning the local Battle of the Bands, with its first prize trip to New York City. But first, he needs a band.
80s music + social justice + native voices = a diverse YA book set in the 1980s that hits harder than a power chord.
FOR FANS OF: The Beatles, YA books about social justice, Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulle, Dual POVs
12. The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
Picture this: you’re minding your own business when suddenly, you’re whisked away to 1988 East Berlin…via a red balloon? That’s exactly what happens to sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum.
But someone is using dark magic to change history, and Ellie must risk everything―including her only way home―to stop them.
FOR FANS OF: Books about alternate realties, time travel romance novels, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
13. Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
When awkward fifteen-year-old Meche discovers she can use vinyl records to cast spells, she thinks all of her troubles are over. She’ll be able to fix her broken family, fit in with the popular crowd, and maybe even find love. But fast forward two decades, and Meche’s life is still far from perfect.
From the bestselling author of Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Beautiful Ones, comes a YA book set in 1980s Mexico City about love, music, and sorcery.
FOR FANS OF: YA books like Stranger Things, dual timeline novels, Ready Player One
14. We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar
Step into the glitter and grit of 1983 New York City, where Michael, a shy gay teenager, faces the challenges of the AIDS crisis head-on. With an authentic snapshot of the vibrant 80s LGBTQ+ community, this isn’t just a story—it’s a pulsating tribute to resilience, friendship, and self-discovery, crafted by the genius behind Prelude For Lost Souls and The Promise of Lost Things.
FOR FANS OF: Rent the Musical, Queer YA books set in the 80s, Abdi Nazemian’s Like a Love Story, The movie Parting Glances
Read our book review for We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar for the full scoop.
15. The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Mathieu
Welcome to Mariposa Island, where secrets run deep and family bonds are tested. Set on the Gulf Coast of Texas in 1986, The Liars of Mariposa Island follows siblings Elena and Joaquin, with flashbacks to their mother’s experience as a teenage refugee fleeing the Cuban revolution.
From the author of Moxie, this multilayered YA book that takes place in the 80s explores the lies families tell to survive.
FOR FANS OF: E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, summer YA books, books with dual timelines
16. Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer) and Cliff Chiang (Illustrator)
It’s 1988, just after Halloween, when four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls stumble upon a mind-blowing revelation: time travel is real, and a group called the “Old-Timers” is fighting to control it.
Get ready for an electrifying mix of suburban drama and mysterious otherworldly events in this critically-acclaimed 1980s graphic novel from the author of Saga.
FOR FANS OF: YA books like Stranger Things, Amazon’s Paper Girls TV series, spooky graphic novels, books about the multiverse
17. Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lại
Set against the backdrop of a post-Vietnam War America, this poignant ‘80s-set YA book introduces us to Hằng, a determined young woman whose past is etched with both pain and hope. After escaping the ravages of war, Hằng arrives in Texas, driven by an unwavering mission: to reunite with her long-lost brother who was torn from her arms during their harrowing escape from Vietnam.
FOR FANS OF: strong sibling relationships, stories about refugees and immigrants, books that will make you cry
18. The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
Hawkins, eh? Nah, we’re talking Canadian vibes, buddy! This coming-of-age story in the vein of Stranger Things and Stand by Me follows a group of misfit kids who spend an unforgettable summer investigating local ghost stories and urban legends. Trust us, after this, you’ll be wondering, “Hellfire Club” who?
FOR FANS OF: Horror books set in the 80s, YA books like Stranger Things, small town Canada, Ghostbusters
Have You Read Any of These YA Books Set in the 80s?
There you have it, fellow bookworms – a tour de force through the best ’80s YA books.
From demon possessions to time travel wars and ghost-hunting clubs, these stories remind us that the 80s wasn’t just a decade – it was an era of unforgettable adventures, neon dreams, and the birthplace of some seriously iconic pop culture.
Whether you’re an ’80s kid looking to relive your childhood or just searching for something to fill that Demogorgon-sized hole that Stranger Things left behind, this curated list of YA books set in the 1980s has something for every reader.
Now over to you:
