80’s Ghosts is a paranormal thrill ride with a retro twist. Chrissy Rodriguez is a determined ghost hunter chasing internet fame, but when she steps into the ruins of a burned-down high school, things get weird fast. The atmosphere is eerie in all the right ways, and the tension builds with every flickering light and strange behavior from her crew. V. S. Lawrence blends ghostly suspense with '80s flashbacks and modern stakes, delivering a story that’s as emotionally layered as it is spine-tingling. A high school dance tragedy, unknown relations, and spirits that have some unfinished business. A perfect read for fans of found footage vibes and haunted places with secrets that don’t want to stay buried.

Thank you V. S. Lawrence, Tantor Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#80sghosts #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

4,5 ⭐

So far the best ghost book I've read.

Ghost hunters ✔️
Long haired, blond, sweet guy ✔️
Big creepy high school ✔️
A lot of plot twists ✔️

I finished this book in three days, so I think it speaks for itself. It was catchy from the beginning and the creepy vibes were on spot. The story covered just a few days, so it was fast paced and I liked that. Even more with audiobooks, so I don't sidetrack. It's really hard to write good and satisfying ending and I must say this was amazing. I got chills even from the last sentence.

The only weak link were the characters. I liked them and nobody was particularly annoying, but there were three MCs and I felt like I didn't know any of them enough. Some of their backstories were there just for the plot with no deeper meaning.

The narrator of this book was great. English is not my first language, so I'm scared of audiobooks sometimes, but this was easy to follow and I easily understood everything. Although, I got confused a few times, when the MC was dreaming, because I didn't get it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence, Narrated by Biance Bryan
Tantor Audio (Audiobook Review)

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

I parked my Volkswagen Cabriolet, top down of course, in the parking lot of Merlin High. As I exited my car, I noticed the ketchup stain inconveniently placed upon my brand-new stone-washed Levi 501s. The tail of my mullet flapping nicely in the breeze. I sauntered up to meet Chrissy Rodriguez. Dressed for the occasion, I was ready to hunt apparitions. Merlin High has a tempestuous history. A tragic fire in the '80s ran rampant and killed many students, and the structure has since lain in a state of decay. Chrissy had received a call about the team possibly coming out to investigate the property, which she gladly accepted. Rodney and Bill, our two Other Siders’ members, killed the vibe by being less than enthusiastic about the endeavor.

This is Chrissy’s life. It’s in her blood, so to speak. Talking to the extraterrestrial, although truth be told, in her team’s infancy, they had yet to communicate with the dead and relied upon some of Rodney’s trickery to fool people viewing on the web. Pouring an abundance of her resources into this particular project, Chrissy was beginning to feel the heat.

As we entered Merlin High, the smell and aura changed. A whiff of Aquanet infiltrated our nostrils, and soon we knew what time it was. Upon opening various school lockers, our eyes were forced to witness an absurd abundance of John Stamos pictures slathered in red lipstick and the obligatory Trapper Keepers wedged in between the shelves. Behind the lens of our camera, the black charred hues bled through. Sounds coming from a woman’s bathroom jarred us to the bone. What was that? It must be a squatter! What we encounter sets up a delectable storyline that involves a troublemaking loner lovingly named “Roach” and a young girl named Alora.

Time-traveling back to the '80s is never a bad proposition. The cover perfectly describes the fun waiting to be had. For fans of channels reminiscent of The Paranormal Files on YouTube, this book is a no-brainer. There is a minuscule bit of a budding romance that plays peek-a-boo with the readers throughout, for those who like that sort of angle.

V.S. Lawrence has done a tremendous job of bringing my teenage years back to life. The narration provided by Bianca Bryan does an impressive job of bringing tension to the script. The story embodies a time when things were simpler. Lawrence has fun in her presentation. Never taking itself too seriously, but never deterring from being creepy.

I am a Gen-Xer, loud and proud. Admittedly, this novel might resonate better with those of this demographic solely because we lived it. However, I think fans of horror in general will like this; just don’t expect the complexity to be mind-blowing.

I wave to Chrissy and wish her luck on her next ghost adventure. Slathering some mousse in my curls, I peel out of the parking lot with my Sony cassette deck blasting Pour Some Sugar on Me, feeling rather RAD!

Many thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Big fan of the cover love the VHS style.

I listened to the audiobook and unfortunately I wasn’t a big fan of the narration style. It was a bit too monotone for me and I struggled to get invested in the story as a result.

Possibly if I had read the book I might have been more interested in the characters, but as it stands I found them a little bit bland. I would also have liked a bit more action/creepy moments. It wasn’t a bad story, just not one for me as I was able to guess where it was going.

80s Ghosts was a solid, spooky read. Since the book is about — and sometimes told through — YouTube videos, I think reading it in audio format really added a lot to the experience. And the narrator did a great job, especially in using distinctive voices for characters.
The story itself was also really good and made for a quick read with building tension. The story of the school fire was sad and creepy and genuinely piqued my curiosity, especially with the mystery of who did it. The characters all also had personality and backstories that made them interesting to follow and explained their actions and behaviors well.

Super fun horror story about a paranormal ghost hunting team who uncover a haunting they have connections to; a tragic event that took place in the 80's. So there was nostalgia galore, and it was just an easy "popcorn flick"-feeling read.

I enjoyed listening to the ARC for this book. It was a solid little supernatural mystery type of read. The pacing kept my moving forward and the premise was interesting. I would have liked to have seen more of the characters, especially the two male teammates. We get physical descriptions, but not a lot of interactions that show their character or make us feel invested. The horror element is very light, with minimal gore or jump scares. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read that was well written and engaging.

80s Ghosts ALC Review 👻👾📹📓
80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence. Narrated by Bianca Bryan.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5/5
This book was written for the Gen Xers and elder Millennials. Set in 2009, Chrissy is losing traction on her new online streaming ghost show. She gets a lead on a tragic high school fire in the 80s where ghosts have taken up residence and her and the team head to investigate. She has no idea what will happen next…

I think I would have enjoyed this story more as a physical read than an audio. The narrator was clear to understand, but sounded more like a host for HGTV than a thriller/horror narrator.

Overall, I liked the plot. I loved Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker and this was a longer, scarier version also set in the middle of a paranormal investigation show. I had a few little icks throughout the story - why does the host of a ghost hunting show not know the difference between a medium and a psychic? But it was a fun summer thriller!

This book is out now and the audiobook will be available on July 8th! Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC!

The audiobook made this for me. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder why there wasn't more to it: bumps, cracks, and all the atmospheric sounds and startles that would have truly made this feel like a ghost hunt tale.

The name of the book is puzzling. This takes place in the aughts. I suppose the ghosts are from the 80s, though. But I was going in with the expectation of an 80s scene and 80s vibe. Some unknown tale predating the start of ghost hunting in the 90s, something just before the BBC Ghostwatch programme ... something that may have sparked its creation.

Chrissy and a typical team of ghost-hunters are barely making due and not finding much until they discover the ruins of a high school that burnt down in the 80s. This tale takes a while to get through the plot and somewhere interesting. There's romance ... but it's not compelling. There's betrayal ... but it doesn't make sense. Are there ghosts? I'll leave that out in case the reader wishes to discover this on their own.

That cover is straight-up excellence, though.

Ghost hunters.
High school burned down, arson or accident?

A little slow at times but the story itself was good, predictable at time but there was still a few twists that got me.

Narration was good.

Got this audiobook arc for review on Netgally.

I liked the cover and the blurb sounded something that I would like. The beginning was interesting but as the mystery grew and we got more info about the past, characters and ghost I got really hooked in the story. I didn't always enjoy the characters but in the end it was a 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

80s Ghosts
by V.S. Lawrence
Narrated by Bianca Bryan

This is a palate-cleansing, funny and teasing horror novel along the lines of My Best Friend’s Exorcism or Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix.

Chrissy, Rodney and Bill are trying to build the ghost-hunting YouTube channel, when they are contacted to investigate a haunted school. Merlin HS was the site of a catastrophic fire that killed dozens of students.

But there are secrets and twists, flashbacks and terror in the HS, in the town and within the investigative team.

Lawrence builds dimensional characters and tells a good ghost story. There are real anxious scares and crescendoing tension.

Bianca Bryan is such a good narrator that you do not take note just how skillful she is until you reflect upon the experience. Her narration is smooth, seamless and clear.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio and @vslawrence for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

2.75/5 rounded up
80’s Ghosts is about a school that burned down in the 80s while many students and staff were locked in the gymnasium. We follow ghost hunters that are trying to get their show Othersiders going. So checking out a school full of ghosts is just what they are looking for.

This ghost story was just ok. I was interested to see what happened next and this was a quick easy read. There were some “coincidences” that I found very unbelievable and a romance storyline that felt unnecessary. I thought it would be a bit more fun, when most of it was just sad.

I did think the narrator did a good job and she was able to up the suspense with her performance. My only complaint with the audiobook was that the timestamped audio recording sections were a bit jarring and took me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an alc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

✨Audiobook Review✨
📖 80’s Ghost
✍️ V.S Lawrence
📅 Publication: July 8, 2025
🎤 Bianca Bryan

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
It’s 2009, and Chrissy Rodriguez is chasing her dream of turning her ghost-hunting vlog into an online hit. But with money running out and another failed investigation looming, she’s dangerously close to packing up and moving back home. Then an email arrives, inviting her to look into the ruins of Merlin High School that mysteriously burned down in the 1980s. It could be the big break she needs.
As the team investigates the crumbling building in search of paranormal activity, Chrissy begins to sense that something’s not right. Her crew starts behaving strangely, and soon, the lines between past and present begin to blur. With tensions rising and time running out, Chrissy comes to a chilling realization: some secrets don’t stay buried, and some are waiting to be discovered.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but I ended up enjoying it. The characters were fun and easy to connect with, and the way the author set the scene was spot on. I loved how the story moved between the present day and the 1980s, the transitions felt smooth and gave the whole book a rich, nostalgic atmosphere without overdoing it.
It delivered just the right level of creepiness, unsettling in all the best ways, but never too much. The narrator also did a fantastic job bringing the characters and eerie moments to life. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a suspenseful, atmospheric read.
Thank you @Netgalley and @tantoraudio for allowing me to listen to this ALC.

I really enjoyed this one. It was fast paced, had all the spooky vibes and kept me hooked. I loved the mixed media aspect in this one and I really had a good time with this book. Definitely worth the read, especially for spooky season.

This one was just ok. Nothing really wrong with it, just a little slow and not as scary as I was expecting.

2.75 Stars
***Contains Spoilers*****


I really wanted to like this one. The premise was solid, a ghost-hunting team investigating a haunted school sounded fun and interesting. I tandem read this through KU and listened to an audio ARC from NetGalley.

The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. Their tone and pacing added some much-needed energy and mood, which helped me stay engaged.

The early setup had the feel of a ghost-hunting TV episode, which was fun and familiar. Things moved along fine until the final 40%, when too many convenient plot twists started piling up. Two members of the team turned out to be personally connected to the school. One of them was directly involved in the main incident. These reveals felt too coincidental and undermined the tension and believability the story had built up to that point.
Bill (also known as Gary) was directly involved in the school fire that killed 67 people—including one of the team member’s sisters. When the group discovers that spirits are still tied to the school, Bill helps them release the trapped souls, which was a redemptive moment. However, the other two calling him a “good guy” and a “good friend” felt incredibly off. He literally helped cause the deaths of dozens of people. That choice didn’t sit right.

The romance subplot also felt misplaced. The transition from a conversation about a dead sibling to a sudden make-out session was jarring and awkward. On top of that, the male character repeatedly calling the FMC “kid” didn’t sit right, it was just a bit weird.

Another factor that made me rate this a bit lower was the writing style. It leaned heavily on passive voice, with most of the story focused on telling rather than showing. Because of this, it was difficult to feel immersed in the characters’ experiences, which ultimately weakened the emotional impact and engagement with the story. I think, because of this -telling style- the story wasn't scary or gruesome. There was enough tension from the buildud but it didn't match the genre (thrillers/ horrors).

Despite the issues, the book remains a quick and moderately entertaining read. It had potential, and some elements did work well, especially the atmosphere early on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the Audio Arc

If you like good ole fashioned ghost stories, this book is definitely for you! A hauntingly fun fast paced read that should be at the top of every horror lovers "summer read " list

I loved the idea of this (who doesn't love the 80's and 80's media), but the execution just didn't quite work for me.

This style of writing felt very much like it was telling me everything instead of showing me anything (and they say you should show and not tell). It made the writing fell very choppy and amateurish, almost like the first draft of just getting all of the ideas out that would then be smoothed out and perfected later.

I liked the idea of the whole mixed media thing with the transcripts and the like, but it didn't quite work. It felt a little choppy to me, but I did read this via audiobook, so I don't know if that would come across differently when reading on paper. The change in format just threw me off a bit each time.

I'm not sure what age group this is meant for, but the horror level felt more YA than adult, so if you're moving from YA to adult horror, I would recommend this. Feels like a good in between since it wasn't too dark or scary. It's on the lower stakes side.

I just wanted more oomph from the plot and more depth to the characters and this could've been so so good! It was entertaining at times, but it was a bit flat. And I don't think there's any reason something listed as "horror" or "thriller" should be flat. Spook me!

The style of the cover is fun, feels very appropriate. Very 80's VHS cover.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

80s Ghosts had a fun concept that initially caught my interest: nostalgia, ghosts, and a throwback vibe that had real potential. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come together for me.

While I appreciated the effort to blend spooky elements with retro flair, the plot felt scattered, and the pacing made it hard to stay engaged. Some moments had the eerie charm I was hoping for, but they were few and far between. The characters didn’t quite land for me either, making it difficult to connect or really care about where the story was heading.

That said, there were still flashes of creativity, and I can see how fans of lighter, quirky ghost stories might enjoy this more than I did. The audiobook narration was solid, and the idea itself was unique enough to earn a few points.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions as a NetGalley reviewer.