Fill that Upside Down-sized void in your life with these thrilling books for Strangers Things fans. They’re the perfect escape when you’re in need of a supernatural adventure or a shadowy monster mystery. Some, like My Best Friend’s Exorcism, give a nostalgic nod to the ’80s, while others, like Let the Right One In and It, feature ragtag bands of misfit kids.
Ever since El and the gang took the world by storm in 2016, many fans have wondered, “Is Stranger Things based on a book?” Although the hit Netflix series isn’t based on a novel, there are several books out there that are reminiscent of the otherworldly happenings in Hawkins. Thanks to their gripping plots and mix of sci-fi and paranormal horror, these stories can fill the gap between new seasons.
Here are nine books to read if you like Stranger Things. (I highly recommend Something Wicked This Way Comes.)
1. My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Nineteen eighties nostalgia is at an all-time high in this lighthearted version of The Exorcist meets Carrie with Stranger Things vibes mixed in. Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since the fifth grade. However, now that they’re in high school, Gretchen’s changed. Abby realizes these aren’t the normal adolescent changes teens go through, but rather signs of demonic possession.
2. It by Stephen King
While It kicks up the horror factor quite a few notches in comparison to ST, the small town setting and authentic portrayal of the magic of childhood will appeal to fans. King lifts the reader’s spirits high with his depiction of the shielding power of friendship in the face of evil for a group of young kids. True to form for many King books, this one breaks your heart, floating to the surface the pain kids suffer as they grow aware of the failures of their would-be adult protectors.
3. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
4. Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
People murmur that a monster recently abducted one young woman on Sawkill Island, where over 20 girls have disappeared over the past century and a half. Three girls band together to get to the bottom of these mysterious disappearances. Female friendship conquers the chills to warm your heart in Legrand’s atmospheric horror story.
5. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Twelve-year-old Oskar is lonely, bullied, and friendless until he meets his neighbor, Eli (swap Oskar for Mike and Eli for El and you’ve got a very Stranger Things-like book.) Her odd abilities and behavior make sense when she reveals she’s a vampire. A melancholy story of wholesome friendship with a backdrop of fear, gore, and revenge.
6. Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Stacey and El would have been friends if they went to the same school. Both MCs are far from ordinary (Stacey is, in fact, a witch) but both deal with all the typical hassles of school, like worrying about grades, mean girls, and crushes. When her nightmares become haunted by premonitions of her friend’s murder, can Stacey summon her magic to stop the killer before it’s too late? A spooky YA mystery full of spells and suspense.
7. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
A family member disappears into an alternate world at the hands of a malevolent, supernatural figure. No, this isn’t about Will Byers but rather the Proserpine family. After Alice’s mother suddenly vanishes, Alice must face her fears and venture into the Hinterland — a dark and cruel world filled with otherworldly creatures.
8. This Savage Song by V. E. Schwab
In a city overrun with monsters and villains, two teen heirs to a divided city must flee for their lives after a failed assassination attempt. Schwab knocks it out of the park with this enthralling and gritty YA fantasy. While the urban setting is a long way away from Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things fans will resonate with the plucky young main characters and mix of paranormal activity and horror.
9. The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
Adelle and Connie share a love of Moira, an off-beat Gothic romance novel. When they’re offered the chance to actually enter the world of their favorite book, they jump at it. However, the girls quickly discover that something dark and menacing is lurking in the shadows of their fantasy world. A sinister alternate universe for fans of the Upside Down to get drawn into.
