7 UNFORGETTABLE BOOKS THAT’LL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE 80’S
Grab your neon scrunchies, blast that mixtape, and let’s dive into some books as rad as roller rinks and walkie-talkies! With classic teen movies to awesome synth soundtracks, the 80s make a perfect backdrop for any story. Born in 1987, I’m all about books that take me back to that time when malls were the ultimate hangout. Take a journey in the DeLorean and explore a list of books that’ll rekindle the 80s wonder!
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1. THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB: CLAUDIA AND THE PHANTOM PHONE CALLS BY ANN M. MARTIN
Let’s throw it back to The Baby-Sitters Club! Okay, imagine this: It's the 80s.You're babysitting, snacking on Twizzlers, flipping through Teen Beat, when eerie phone calls start happening. Claudia is ON IT, but also, like trying to look effortlessly cool while solving the mystery. Gasp! Is it a robber? A prankster? Or just a wrong number?! You'll have to read to find out, but one thing's for sure—Claudia's outfits? Legendary. Classic babysitting chaos meets a spooky mystery—what’s not to love? Babysitting chaos + spooky mystery = PERFECTION.
2. STRANGER THINGS: THE OFFICIAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES COMPANION BY GINA MCINTYRE
If you love Stranger Things and all things 80s pop culture, this book is basically your backstage pass to Hawkins. Packed with on-set photos, juicy behind-the-scenes secrets, and how the show made Eggo waffles cool again, this is the ultimate geek-out! You’ll feel like you’re hanging with Eleven—“Friends don’t lie,” right?—and it's complete with the story of how Barb became an icon. Trust me, it’s almost as cool as Steve Harrington’s hair. (Okay, maybe not that cool, but close). Now, if you need me, I’ll be binge-watching Stranger Things with a stack of Eggos.
3. MALIBU RISING BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID
Think: a California beach, surfboards, a famous surfer family, and the messiest party ever. Like the cops-show-up kind of messy. Malibu Rising takes you deep into the sizzling, dramatic lives of the glamorous Riva siblings. SO. MUCH. SURFING. It’s packed with all the California cool vibes you could ever dream of.
4. I’LL STOP THE WORLD BY LAUREN THARP
This one’s for the Back to the Future crowd. Imagine getting stuck in the past. No Wi-Fi, no TikTok, no DoorDash. NIGHTMARE, right? But in this book, it’s all about fate, love, and time-traveling back to a small 80s town where life was simple and the music was rad. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll definitely sing the title song on repeat. 🎶And let’s be real—you’ll totally want to write your crush’s name on your Trapper Keeper.
Remember when people actually wrote letters? This book is like sneaking a peak at your BFF’s love notes from 1982. Scott and Cath are besties writing letters back and forth—because texting wasn't a thing—and it's all about growing up, heartbreak, and figuring out life. By the end, you’ll want to track down your old pen pal and send them a letter ASAP.
6. PAPER GIRLS BY BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
Okay, so imagine you’re 12 years old, delivering papers at the crack of dawn, minding your own business when—BAM! Time travelers. Plot twists. TOTAL CHAOS. This graphic novel is like the 80s with a turbo boost of sci-fi, packed with twists that’ll spin your head faster than your Rubik’s Cube—plus, it’s cooler and comes with walkie-talkies.
7. READY PLAYER ONE BY ERNEST CLINE
Cue the Atari soundtrack! This book is a love letter to 80s pop culture—if you can name all the Ghostbusters, this books for you. THE ultimate treasure hunt in a virtual reality world and a killer villain as evil as someone hiding the remote. Reading this feels like plugging into an arcade machine and never wanting to leave. Game on!
