Autumn of ’82 feels like Stranger Things + Twin Peaks with a missing boy, a blown bridge, and an island full of secrets. Multi-POV, slow-burn tension, and an ending that made me immediately need book two.

I really liked this one! It’s a comfy, strange, story that was highly entertaining!

This book was odd, but in a really great way... if that makes sense! ha.! I got Stranger Things vibes for sure. I really enjoyed this book and already can't wait to read book 2.. There are multiple POV's that were a little confusing at first but once you got them all figured out it was easy to keep up and I was finished with this one before I knew it...

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of this book is what attracted me but I’m glad I stayed

Of course I was excited for the Stranger Things vibe and I really enjoyed the story

I found it to be more unique than most of what I see in this genre and I really enjoyed the writing

I’m excited for book 2 already!!!

This book was so good that as soon as I just finished it just now I went to see if it the sequel was available. It’s a trilogy- and the sequel at least is on kindle unlimited. This very much gave Stranger Things vibes (for someone who has only seen season 1). The 80s nostalgia was embedded in a way that felt like it honored it instead of making it campy. I appreciated the pacing and the character development, with character decisions feeling age appropriate. I’m really glad I tried this one out!

This book filled the void I''ve been feeling from Stranger Things! I love a nostalgic 80's vibe in books especially (even though I wasn't alive then -- it's strange to be so nostalgic for a time you weren't alive for!). You'll definitely want to read this strange, odd read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the eARC. All the opinions are entirely my own.

Closer to the end, I was thinking to rate this book as 4/5, but decided to stay at 3/5, while planning to read the next book in the series once it is available.

Lavender Town is isolated due to the unknown bomber. The blow destroyed all the communication with the outside world; there is no phone line to it, and there is no escape. And why would anyone consider escaping? Everything is promised to be repaired soon.
James is recovering after an incident a few months back.
Lonnie is getting too close to a bad company.
Tony is recovering after the breakup with his girlfriend of one year.
The school year is going on as it has to be. The town is making plans, and life goes on.

James has a tradition. Once in a while, he hosts movie nights with his friends. Everything goes as usual till Lonnie brings his new friends along. A fight breaks out, one of the kids is leaving on his bike... Seems like the beginning of Stranger Things, but it's so much more...

Why does James keep looking tired and avoid his long-time friend? What was the incident that influenced his life? Is it somehow connected to the bomber who isolated their island?
Why is the bomber still on the loose? Is anyone looking for them?

The kid goes missing. And a mystery after mystery keeps appearing. How much can keep going on in one small town? Oh, you would definitely be surprised.

Sometimes, for me, the book appeared to be too slow-paced, and in other moments, closer to the end, too fast. I preferred the latter :)

The book ends with a cliffhanger, but even that wasn't the main reason why I would like to have a chance to read the second one. The story was interesting, and the different POVs were handled brilliantly. It is hard to do, but Elena Rex succeeded here.
There are no clearly good or bad characters; everyone has a deep story behind them.

Try this book out. You will get both mystery, thriller, detective, and... sci-fi. An unexpected combo, isn't it?

Autumn of ’82 perfectly captures the atmosphere of its era — the music, the tension, the sense of possibility and danger humming beneath everyday life. The author nails the nostalgic details without ever overwhelming the story, creating a setting that feels immersive and cinematic.

The emotional core of this novel is what truly elevates it. The characters feel raw and real, and their relationships unfold with authenticity and ache. There’s a quiet intensity to the storytelling that builds steadily, pulling you deeper with each chapter.

This is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve finished it. Moody, layered, and beautifully paced — a must-read for fans of character-driven historical fiction.

Prior to reading the book, I found the summary very intriguing. I was especially interested in the fact that it was described as a slow burn.

At first, the book does a great job introducing each character. There is constant mention of something that happened five months ago, which really kept me on my toes. In between, we get to learn about each character’s background and how they are all connected to one another.

We only begin to understand what actually happened toward the end of the book, and the twist was a good one. I appreciated the character development and the buildup of anticipation surrounding both the past and the present. Now, I am curious to see which direction the story will take next.

I was glad to hear that the second book is already out, and I plan on reading it shortly—especially since this is a trilogy.

This was a very interesting concept for a book, and I agree with the statement that it gives a Stranger Things vibe.

The book follows multiple people from a small town called Lavender as they try to uncover a mystery that surrounds them, it slips into a more murder/mystery vibe and then at the end it does graduate into sci-fi.

It was definitely more YA for me, you get to know several of the teenagers (James, Lonnie, etc.) and their relationships with other characters and it does start to immerse you.

This is a book that you can cozy up and immerse yourself into, the mystery and thrill of it gets you hooked and you want to start to solve all the questions the characters have before they get there themselves - I will tell you, you won’t be able to!

I will have to read the next books as it ends on a small cliffhanger, I want to know more about where they’ve ended up and if they’ll get reunited - it did hook me!

That being said, it was a little slow to start and perhaps a few too many POVs than necessary ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to #NetGalley for my e-copy ❤️