All the Stranger Things books (Read the Stranger Things prequels!)

Can you believe it has already been over a year since Stranger Things season 4 was finally released? Stranger Things completely dominated the summer of 2022. You couldn’t escape “Running Up That Hill,” “Chrissy Wake Up,” or Eddie Munson. But we’ve still got a long way to go before the final season of Stranger Things is released, so now is the perfect time to check out the Stranger Things books!

Did you know fan-favorite characters like Lucas, Max, Robin, and Eddie have full-length novels? The Eddie book, Flight of Icarus, won’t be out until later this year, but there are five others that you can read right now.

Here’s everything you need to know about all of the Stranger Things books that have been released. Note: This list is just about the novels, but tons of Stranger Things comics are available, too!

All the Stranger Things books

The following Stranger Things books are available for purchase wherever books are sold and in multiple formats!

Stranger Things books: Is there a Steve Harrington prequel?

Unfortunately no, there is no prequel novel for our favorite babysitter. Most of the novels published so far have been for newer characters, but then again, both Hopper and Lucas have books, so it would be nice to get books for people like Steve and Nancy.

The Byers are another great family that could use a prequel novel of sorts. However, some comics and graphic novels delve into side characters and stories, so those are worth checking out if you want something shorter than a book.

Stranger Things books: Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond

Gwenda Bond, author of the Cirque American and a series of Lois Lane books, wrote the first official Stranger Things novel. A prequel to the series, Suspicious Minds takes place in 1969 and centers on Eleven’s mother, Terry Ives. We only saw Terry briefly in the first season, so it’s cool to see how things began with Terry and the foreboding Dr. Martin Brenner.

Stranger Things books: Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher

Fans of Sheriff Jim Hopper need to add this book to their TBR list. The “present” timeline takes place in 1984 when Hopper has taken Eleven in and is looking forward to a nice Christmas together. But Eleven has all sorts of questions about Hopper’s past.

Hopper takes us back to his old life as an NYPD detective in 1977 in New York when he was still married, and his daughter was alive. At the time, Hopper was undercover among street gangs and forced to face darkness unlike anything he’d encountered before.

Stranger Things books: Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff

It took a little while for Eleven (and some viewers) to warm up to Max Mayfield, but now we’re into the show’s fifth season, and Max is easily one of the most beloved characters on the entire show, thanks in no small part to an incredible performance from Sadie Sink. Runaway Max gives us some backstory on Max and fleshes out her relationship with her family, including her stepbrother Billy.

Stranger Things books: Rebel Robin by A.R. Capetta

Like Max, Robin entered the show late in the game, with her first season being season 3. But Robin quickly endeared audiences, and her friendship with Steve has become one of the show’s high points. Not only that, but Robin’s coming-out storyline has been beautiful to watch unfold.

For those who want to learn more about Robin’s sexuality and how she learned to come to terms with it, this novel is the perfect choice. It’s set before she befriended Steve and the Scoop Troops during her sophomore year of high school. There is also a companion podcast to listen to after you finish the book, narrated by Maya Hawke herself!

Stranger Things books: Lucas on the Line by Suyi Davies

This standalone novel is a little different from the others because it’s not actually a prequel. It is set between seasons 3 and 4, which is cool because it provides some context to where we find Lucas at the start of season 4.

With Will and Eleven leaving town and Max struggling with her own demons, Lucas branches out beyond his D&D games with Mike and Dustin to join the basketball team. He meets one of the only other Black students on his team and begins to learn more about himself and how life in Hawkins, Indiana, differs for him from his friends.

Stranger Things books: Flight of Icarus by Caitlin Schneiderhan

Considering Eddie Munson has become one of the most popular Stranger Things characters of all time since arriving in Stranger Things season 4, it’s no surprise that he’s getting his own novel! Eddie’s story will be set two years before we first met him.

It’s 1984, and Eddie and his band, Corroded Coffin, get a once-in-a-lifetime shot to make it big when he gets the chance to give a producer a demo tape. The problem is Eddie doesn’t have the necessary cash to make a recording, so he gets involved with one of his dad’s latest schemes to generate some quick income. Fittingly, Flight of Icarus will be released on Halloween (October 31, 2023)! You can pre-order your copy now wherever books are sold.

Have you read any of the Stranger Things books yet? Which one is your favorite?