Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with the advanced audio copy of 80s Ghosts.

I really enjoyed this! It was reminiscent of "Stranger Things" meets "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," so it was equal parts spooky and nostalgic. Chrissy, Rodney, and Bill form a team of ghost hunters who film their encounters for a TV show. Chrissy becomes particularly drawn to a case involving an old high school that burned down during a dance, trapping many students inside. Some of their ghosts remain and still haunt the halls of the school, carrying a lot of unfinished business.

"80s Ghosts" was a fun listen, and I look forward to reading more of V.S. Lawrence’s books!

I really liked the set up for this novel. I also loved the groundwork laid in the opening scene. It was a lot of fun listening to a group of semi-fraudulent ghost (excuse me, other sider) hunters investigating a location with mass casualties that took place in the 80s. There was some creepy imagery, some decent mystery, compelling interpersonal relationships, and so on. This was a fast listen.

I do think that this read a little like a YA novel. I can't totally put my finger on it, but I think there was an element of overexplaining or telling-not-showing or something. I love YA, so that didn't bother me, but I was surprised just now when I saw that it was tagged as "adult" on Goodreads.

I'm not familiar with the narrator, but she did a good job. However, I don't know if she, an editor, the software, hardware or something else is to blame for hearing her breathing so much. Everyone knows that narrators aren't allowed to audibly breathe! I thought it was standard to have that eliminated these days.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC! Looks like the book came out last year, but the audiobook comes out July 8, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor audio for the Advanced Listeners Copy of this book!

3.75 stars rounded up

The narrator did a good job not my favorite performance but it wasn't bad! I'm looking forward to this authors next book.

Thank you NetGalley and RMedia for the Early Listening Arc of 80’s Ghosts. The Narrator Bianca Bryan did a good job giving each character their own shine. The story was wild with loads of dimension. It was a very enjoyable read, with the last quarter of the story full of action. When the Outsiders got an email about a school that still hold spirits of the burnt students, the crew goes to do an investigation for their social media podcast. It was kismet the the crew were called there each of them had a connection to the school or the students involved.

A group of paranormal investigators, led by Chrissy, investigate the ruins of an old high school, which was destroyed by fire in the 1980s. It was the night of a school dance and many students did not escape. Now Chrissy and her team are looking for evidence that some of the students never really left. This book has a great setting and storyline, the only offputting piece was the giant cockroach monster. Otherwise this is a fun spooky read or listen for the summer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ALC of this audiobook.

I liked the idea of this book and was excited to get the audiobook. I thought the dark spirit was well done. The haunting was interesting. Parts were predictable with other characters’ ties to the place and a bit far fetched.

Overall, I enjoyed this and the narrator did a wonderful job.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC or eARC from through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

4/5 stars. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ALC!

This was a fun one! While I found it a bit predictable, it was in that true 80s-ghost-movie style ;). We follow an early 2000s (2009) ghost hunting team starting their vlog and hoping for fame and success. And boy, do they find success in finding ghosts...

Chrissy is an interesting character coming into her own strengths. She insists the crew (Bill and Rodney) go to the investigation at Merlin High, which ends up a real tangled web of history, personal drama, and discovery of hidden potential. I found her to be a little weak as an MC, but overall enjoyed her.

The side characters felt a little one-dimensional, even with their ties to the case. I think that had to do with some of the predictability of the plot. There really wasn't a twist that couldn't be discovered pretty easily. I don't think it tanked the story for me, but it did leave me wanting a little bit more of an Aha! moment. The story itself did take a little while to pick up, but when it did, I found it hard to press pause.

The narration was great, though there is a little bit of a jarring effect when we switch to watching/listening to recorded content due to the timestamps. I caught on quick, but the first "00:15" made me go "huh?" in a way I think reading wouldn't have.

Overall, a fun listen. Nothing groundbreaking or life-changing, but just a good time.

ALC 🎧📖 Review: 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Audiobook Pub date: July 8, 2025.

This was a fun ghost/haunting story that kept me intrigued for the most part. Some parts felt a bit dragged out and repetitive, though. I was hoping for a bit more nostalgia, given the cover and title, but overall it wasn’t bad!

Thank you to @netgalley and @recordedbooks for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🎥💀👻

The year is 2009, and Chrissy Rodriguez is determined to make her ghost hunting vlog an internet success. She’s only one more failed investigation away from financial ruin and having to move back home. When she receives an email asking her to investigate Merlin High, a school that burned down in the 80s, she is presented with a unique opportunity that could make or break her.

The 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence is a breezy, popcorn horror read. The premise—early YouTubers exploring an abandoned high school haunted by the ghosts of a homecoming tragedy—delivers on its creepy promise with some genuinely unsettling moments and eerie atmosphere.
That said, the writing could’ve used a tighter edit. The prose sometimes repeats itself or over-explains what’s already clear. Still, if you’re in the mood for some quick, retro-flavored scares, this one does the trick.

In 2009, Chrissy wants to make a ghost hunting vlog. She has a few friends to help her with the development of the vlog, Bill and Rodney. One case takes them to a high school that burned down in the 80s and killed a lot of students and staff. This book was part narrated by Chrissy, and part as the vlog recordings. I felt this was a very good book, but the mentions of some of the 80s references felt a little off instead of nostalgic. I did like the antagonist and how weird things were happening. There were also a few surprises that helped the plot feel more important. I think I was hoping for more dire circumstances, but it fell a bit flat of their lives being in danger.

80s Ghosts is the story of ghost hunting youtuber who wants to make a name for herself in a slightly oversaturated industry. With her landlord breathing down her neck and several bills past due the lead character, Chrissy, decides to take one more big shot at finding an actually haunted space that might catapult them into influencer fame. Chrissy and team agree to check out a high school that burned down in the 80s in hopes of finding a real haunting, only they end up getting more than they bargained for.

This book was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure what to expect but I loved the cover and the premise and so I ordered this book and ended up also getting approved for it for the audiobook. I had a really good time with this one. From the throwbacks to the 80s (fashion, malls, arcades, etc - I would have happily read about more 80s trends) to the well written and interesting characters, I flew through this book. It was almost everything I love about horror.

If you're a fan of ghost-hunting tropes, 80s themes, or just a good horror story - this is a book for you.

I also had a really good time listening to this on audio. The narrator was great and kept me engaged with the story.

Thanks to Tantor Audio and V.S. Lawrence for sharing this book with me through NetGalley.

This was a very interesting book. It was not a scary book like I was hoping, but overall, but overall, it was a good read.

I was given an advance audio copy for review. 4.5 stars.

if you liked Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker and/or Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie, then you'll enjoy this.

this was a fast-paced and well-read novel. the narrators had phenomenal emotion through out. I felt like I was listening to a TV show or podcast. some of the story gave me chills. I have always enjoyed a good ghost story all I wanted to do was devour this book in one sitting. I highly recommend reading this or getting the audiobook you won't regret it

🎧👻📼 VHS vibes, paranormal chaos, and a ghost-hunting queen trying to save her dreams in 2009. Chrissy’s voice is energetic, chaotic, and heart-filled — the kind of narration that makes you feel like she’s confiding her entire wild life story to you from the passenger seat of a haunted minivan. Every supporting character, from skeptical skeptics to oddly charming ghosts, is brought to life with distinct flair, making the story feel like an old-school Scooby gang — if the gang had a podcast, crippling student debt, and very questionable ghost-hunting gear.

This is not your standard spooky story. It’s full of charm, sarcasm, and heart — with just the right amount of supernatural menace to make you sleep with the light on. Think Ghostbusters meets Veronica Mars, with a dash of Stranger Things’ retro flavor.

This was an interesting story. I love the paranormal aspect to it. The narrator was fine but she kind of has that news reporter kind of voice.

This book is the absolute perfect blend of spooky and fun! VS Lawrence is so good at capturing that magic of what made the books we read as young adults and translate them to today and an adult novel. Chrissy is a fantastic character and the narrator does such a good job bringing her to life even more. She captures the character’s voice perfectly and it makes a book I love even more engaging.

This is such a wonderfully listenable book, perfect for those summer campfire scary story vibes everyone is looking for right now!

80’s Ghosts offers a compelling blend of paranormal investigation and 1980s nostalgia. The novel follows a team of ghost hunters who, despite a history of coming up empty, finally encounter genuine paranormal activity while investigating the ruins of a school that burned down in the 1980s, claiming numerous lives. What unfolds is a classic "good ghost vs. bad ghost" narrative alongside an engaging investigation into the tragedy’s true cause.

I listened to the audiobook ARC and found the narration excellent—clear, engaging, and well-paced. It made for an easy, immersive listening experience that I completed in a single day.

While the story includes some unsettling moments, the horror elements remain relatively mild. I would recommend it especially to readers who enjoy paranormal mysteries but prefer a lower scare factor—ideal for those easing into spooky season without seeking intense horror.

Overall, 80’s Ghosts is a satisfying, entertaining read for fans of ghost-hunting themes, supernatural investigations, and 80s settings.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing access to the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun and definitely gave the retro vibes but it wasn’t chilling or scary to me. I was sold on the cover and then the ghost investigator plot themes but the execution was a little inconsistent at times. It started off strong with the current filming they were doing but then immediately revealing they fake their investigations took me out of the spookyness. I will also say I appreciated the attention to detail on their tools they were using. Once they got the call about Merlin High School and a chance at a REAL haunting, I was fully sat. For the most part, I really enjoyed this investigation. Each chapter had new history of the school and the whole Chrissy dreaming about the school past was a nice psychological touch and kept me invested to find out what actually happened. At first Bill’s ordeal had me thinking it was a possession case, which would have been so cool but the deeper we dove into the story the more connections started to puzzle together and at times this is where the inconsistencies came through. Also the transcripts were a fun idea but they weren’t creepy or spooky at all and it fell a little flat. These popped up so frequently that it would have been a great spot to add in eeriness or a feeling of ominous foreshadowing but they were more descriptors that felt unnecessary. Things that did creep me out was the first roach nightmare and I will absolutely be checking my straws from now on lol. Overall still fun and would like to read more from this author.

80s Ghost was a fun and creative spin on a classic horror trope. I really enjoyed how the author set the scene—balancing both the modern-day storyline and the 1980s flashbacks in a way that felt seamless and atmospheric. The nostalgia hit just right without feeling overdone, and the shifting timelines added depth to the story.

One thing that didn’t quite work for me was how neatly everything wrapped up in the end. Sometimes I prefer a little ambiguity or open-endedness, especially in horror—it keeps the unease lingering. But aside from that, this was a solid, engaging read that held my attention from beginning to end.