I am shocked to find that I don't have much to say about this book. I enjoyed it. The ghost hunter tv show theme is always fun to read but adding in a high school where a lot of people died in a fire, that got my attention. So while this was a wonderful read, there isn't much to say other than I liked it and it was a quick read--I binged it in two sittings(sorry, I had to pee) and thought about it for a bit then wrote this.

⛧Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers above for approving me for this ALC.

I really enjoyed this audio book, there were points where I think the physical book would have worked better (the mixed media) but it was narrated brilliantly.

If you grew up watching most haunted then this is one for you! A great fun listen.

I absolutely LOVE a good 80's ghost story. Haunted houses, bumps in the night, this book touches on everything that makes you run up the stairs when the lights go out.

This one had potential, but it just didn’t work out for me.

This book follows Chrissy Rodriguez, a journalism student who runs a ghost-hunting blog on the internet. She’s determined to make this blog a complete success, because if she doesn’t, she’ll have to pack her things and move back home with her parents. When she’s almost losing faith, she receives an email: a request for her paranormal investigation skills. She’s called to a high school that burned down in the 80s. Locals believe the abandoned building is haunted. She packs her things and heads to the town where these strange things happened. Although the whole team didn’t believe anything would actually happen, they were proved wrong. Ghosts exist, and some of them are angry. And they’re waiting in that high school. Everything will derail from there.

I picked up this book because the title and cover screamed 80s nostalgia, and I was expecting a fun, atmospheric read full of pop culture references and cheesy horror vibes. Unfortunately, while it did have some paranormal activity and a bit of cheesiness, it didn’t deliver on the 80s nostalgia I was hoping for. I loved the concept, but the execution fell short of what the cover and title promised.

That said, there were parts I really enjoyed, and others that honestly dragged a little. One thing I appreciated was the mixed media, it actually made sense here, unlike in other books where it feels kind of pointless. Still, I wish the transcripts had been used to build more tension or introduce darker moments. It had potential to add a real punch, but it didn’t fully go there.

I wanted to enjoy this book as it started off very strong but it fell off for me in the last half. I found the ghost characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting. It almost felt preachy with the clear division of good and evil.

This book was well done and interesting twist on past shows and would definitely read again. The book was a fun read to follow the story line!

This is a super fun and entertaining story that is perfect for nostalgia horror fans. A quick listen with a great narrator.

I loved the concept for this one. It wasn’t really scary. Interesting historical mystery to unfold, and some good 80s nostalgia. That said, it felt pretty YA to me.

If you enjoy shows like Ghost Adventures, this book is right up your street!

In the 80’s Ghosts, we follow Chrissy, a passionate ghost hunter who’s been pouring her heart and soul into her paranormal vlog. But money is tight, and paying the bills has become a real struggle so when the chance arises to investigate a high school that mysteriously burned down in the 1980s, Chrissy sees it as both a potential boost for her vlog and a possible solution to her financial problems.

Needless to say that reading this book feels a lot like watching a mockumentary style horror movie. You've got the team, the gear, the investigation, the interviews, and the relentless drive to capture proof of the paranormal… All set in a high school filled with secrets.

It's a very entertaining and easy read, with a hint of YA vibes, while still delivering the spooky and sinister moments that horror fans love.
And if you're into the haunted house trope, I definitely recommend stepping back into the 80s and exploring this eerie high school.

Possibly the best title for a book ever for me. 1980s? Ghosts? Yep, I'm in!

The book is set in 2009, Chrissy is a vlogger who wants to make her ghost hunting videos a hit....or at least pay her bills as she's about to get evicted. When someone tips her off about Merlin High, a school that burned down during a dance in the 1980's she's determined this one will work. The decaying halls are suitably scary and if the 'ghosts' need a little help Chrissy will do what she has to. But her crew is acting weird, Chrissy is seeing some strange things and as for her dreams? Let's not go there for fear of spoilers.

The problem with ghost stories is that it's quite hard for them to be scary or spooky these days and that's the point surely? A book can't jump scare you, nor can it evoke the old days of ghost stories by firelight, torchlight or in my case the time I was told one by moonlight. I still have flashbacks. So instead we get this kind of thing which tries so hard to be atmospheric but doesn't quite get there. Half the problem is that you don't really care about the characters but also there's a slew of improbable coincidences. You're already suspending disbelief in that it's about ghosts, adding a convenient plot just takes you out of the story.

But there is a saving grace. I think had I read this I may have given up but I listened instead and due to some great narration by Bianca Bryan it was quite an enjoyable listen.

A brave attempt at a modern ghost story but unfortunately not scary or spooky.

80s Ghosts would be an excellent first horror novel for people just getting into the genre. Nothing groundbreaking happened, but it was a good story. It’s a classic ghost hunter story, with a couple of fun twists that helped set this apart from the tired classic ghost story tropes.

Unfortunately, the only characters I actually liked in this book were the groundskeeper and medium, who had relatively small roles until the end of the story.

For me, this book would be much more enjoyable to read rather than listen to on audio. I wish I would’ve been able to read this instead of listening, as the narrator was not my cup of tea. Her pronunciation, inflection, and (lack of) speed was tough to stomach. I sped it up to 1.25x which helped, but the time stamps of video/audio transcripts in the story were so hard to listen to.

It is unfortunate that fighting to get through the narration and constantly having to refocus on the story took away from my overall enjoyment of this book.

This was such a fun read! I couldn’t resist a ghost story set in the 80s, told from a 2009 perspective. The nostalgia was brilliant, and that cover completely won me over! 😍

The story follows the Othersiders team: Chrissy, Rodney and Bill, who’ve built a name for themselves by streaming their ghost hunting show online rather than airing it on TV. When Chrissy receives an email from Sam Cleeves, urging them to investigate Merlin High, a school that burned down in the 80s, the team is unsure. But curiosity wins out, and they soon pack up their gear and head out. Sam’s account of what happened at the school is disturbing, but the team has no idea just how far this investigation will take them.

I did predict a few twists early on, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I really liked the way everything unfolded. There are moments of grief, guilt and raw emotion that bring real weight to the story, and I loved the eerie atmosphere throughout. The audiobook narration was fantastic! It felt like listening to an old-school horror film brought to life!

If you’re looking for a ghost story that blends nostalgia and heart, 80s Ghosts is definitely worth adding to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC. 🫶🏼

4⭐
Chrissy and her team have a cute little ghost hunting vlog, which isn't doing so well. Not to mention all special effects and not real. She's not getting the views she desires, her rent is about to be increased, and she's doing everything in her power not to hear her parents say 'I told you so.' Then she receives an investigation invitation and decides this is her final try before giving up for good, even if they have to fake it. However, this time, things feel a bit too real...

Had an absolute blast listening to this audiobook. Just the ghosty/cozy horror vibes needed for this South African Winter!

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

👻Catch you on the otherside 👻

As someone who loves watching Ghost Adventures, paranormal YouTube videos, and consumes any media about hauntings, this was such a fun audiobook!

You start off following Chrissy, Bill, and Rodney *staging* a haunting for their show, wishing they could find legit proof of the otherside they keep going, even if money's tight. One day, they receive an email about a haunted school, and Chrissy, thinking her prayers have been answered, embarks her team into an unholy misadventure!

This audiobook was funny, witty, creepy, nostalgic, and a little romantic! The narrator did a great job with the range of emotions and voices as well as setting the atmosphere!

I did an immersive read (since I had already owned the physical book), and it was the best way to go! I felt like I was right along with Chrissy and the gang making mistakes and trying to solve who the ghost is!

I recommend this one for anyone looking for a semi-cozy horror with a little side of romance! (It was a surprise but a welcomed one!)

I recommend this if you enjoyed Horror Movie by Paul Trembley, Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker, Ghost Adventures or Scooby-Doo!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Ok, so I admit I went into this for the nostalgia and I came out surprised. This book is reminiscent of RL Stine, but if he did an adult book, then combine that with a hint of Stranger Things. 80’s combined with recent times + ghosts!

This book was an interesting take on a ghost hunt/murder investigation. The main character has a ghost investigation business and gets a request to investigate an old high school that was home to a mass casualty during the 80’s which killed several students when a fire broke out during a school dance. This ghost hunt turns into a full fledged murder investigation with some twists I didn’t see coming.

I listened to the audiobook. Narration was great. I had no issues with audio quality or diction.

**3.5-stars**

Chrissy is determined to make her ghost hunting show a success. Even though her vlog-style show has been developing, she's literally one failed investigation away from financial ruin. Her back is against the wall, that's why her latest investigation has to be a success and she's willing to do anything, risk anything, to make that happen.

When she receives an invitation to investigate Merlin High School, the location of a fire in the 1980s where many lives were lost, she jumps at the opportunity. The high school is prime grounds for haunting. They could actually find something good this time. Evidence that will boost her show to the next level.

As she and her team settle in and begin their formal investigation of the school, Chrissy notices everyone seems to be acting strangely, including herself. As past and present begin to blur, the investigation starts to go off the rails. Before, Chrissy just wanted her show to be a success. Now, she'd be happy for them all to just get out alive. What's going on at the old Merlin High, and how will Chrissy and her team be able to help and move past it all?

Unfortunately, after an engaging start, 80s Ghosts took a nosedive into eye roll territory about 3/4 of the way through for me. There's just a certain level of silliness I can get behind, and this was not it. Let it be known, I love campy, I do not love cheesy.

With this being said, I did enjoy and appreciate the ideas behind this story. The initial set-up was great. I just wanted more intensity and dark horror imagery, which I don't really feel like I got. I would be interested in picking up more from this author though. Even though this one didn't go in the direction I had hoped, I still see a lot of promise with this writing.

I think for Readers who are newer to the Horror genre, or maybe making the transition from YA to Adult, this could be a good fit. Also, if you are really into Ghost Hunting content in whatever medium, this could be a fun one for you. The audiobook was also well done and I would recommend that format if you're going to pick this one up. It was a great listening experience.

Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm glad I had the chance to read this one, and will definitely pick up future work from V.S. Lawrence!

I listened to 80s Ghosts on audiobook over the last couple of days and found myself totally absorbed. The narration was immersive and the narrator Bianca Byron perfectly captured the eerie atmosphere, which added to the tension and mystery. The pacing kept me engaged and the story had a good mix of nostalgia, suspense, and emotion. It’s the kind of ghost story that’s spooky without relying on cheap scares, and I really had a blast listening to this story.

Chrissy Rodriguez is a paranormal vlogger who's struggling with holding on to her dream while being financially stable. That's when she gets a tip about the haunted ruins of Merlin High, a school destroyed in a mysterious fire in the 80s. Chrissy jumps at the chance for one last shot at success. With her small team of investigators, she explores the decaying building hoping to capture proof that will finally make her channel go viral.
As the group venture further into the school, it becomes clear that something is very wrong.
There is a strange energy about and unsettling changes start to occur.
Ghosts from the past aren't just haunt the halls, they pull the present into their unfinished story. Through a series of eerie flashbacks and disorienting encounters, Chrissy begins to piece together what really happened at Merlin High and what unfinished business still lingers.

80s Ghosts combines supernatural thrills with emotional depth, especially in how it portrays grief, guilt, and the lasting effects of tragedy. I liked the way Lawrence handled multiple timelines and the range of characters, each impacted differently by the haunting. The way the author wrote the story, I could see the whole thing play out like a scary movie in my head.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and RB Media for this Audiobook ALC.

This was a pretty fun concept. I very much enjoy horror about making movies/shows where something goes..... wrong.

I really liked the "found footage/audio clips" and would have liked a few more of those, I thought it would have made it a little more seamless with the ending clips. And the description of Aqua Net was perfection. I could hear the spray as they were talking about it, and definitely smell it too.

The relationship between the characters/ cast of the show was interesting and felt fairly natural. The narrator did a great job differentiating between the "on air' moments and the "real" voices.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I enjoyed the narrator. It took me a while to get into the book but after about 15% I was all in! I really recommend this book if you enjoy ghost/supernatural stories. The pacing is not super fast but fast enough to keep you engaged. I was invested in the story and did not expect the twist.

This book was decent. The cover is beautiful. Some parts of it were just flat out boring. But I think it was short enough that didn't drag on and on and on. I really enjoyed the supernatural aspect and <spoiler> glad that it stuck to that. I was worried that the reveals were gonna be oops its not a ghost or something lol </spoiler>