The allure of the 80s isn’t just about the fashion or the music—it’s about how the era shaped people’s lives in ways that are still felt today. Whether you’re a fan of fast-paced thrillers or deep, character-driven stories, there’s something about the 80s that keeps readers coming back for more.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in the 1970s but carrying over into the early 80s, Daisy Jones & The Six captures the essence of rock ‘n’ roll decadence and the rise of band culture. It follows the meteoric ascension and fall of a fictional band, exploring fame, creative conflicts, and the chaos of relationships. Think Fleetwood Mac, but juicier. If you love music nostalgia and want to be transported to a world where rockstars ruled, and synthesizers were just beginning to dominate, this is for you!
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The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Immortalists opens in 1969 New York, but the heart of this story is set in the 1980s, as four siblings grapple with a life-altering prophecy that predicts the exact day of their deaths. Each sibling’s journey through the next decade—marked by the carefree hedonism of 80s San Francisco, the rising AIDS epidemic, and the pursuit of dreams at any cost—becomes a haunting meditation on fate, family, and the weight of mortality. Challenging readers to consider the existential question: if you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?
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The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel begins in the mid-70s and takes us into the 80s as the unnamed narrator, a half-Vietnamese communist spy, reflects on his life after the Vietnam War. It brilliantly captures the tension between East and West, and the emotional fallout of displacement. Through its exploration of identity, loyalty, and the immigrant experience, it brings the complexities of the 1980s into sharp focus.
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The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch is a sweeping narrative exploring loss, beauty, and survival. Theo finds himself adrift, clinging to the memory of her and a priceless painting—The Goldfinch. In flashbacks to the 1980s, readers meet Theo’s mother and her glamorous, art-filled life in the city, and the gritty, chaotic atmosphere of Las Vegas.
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White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Spanning across multiple decades, White Teeth focuses on the lives of two immigrant families navigating 1980s London. Smith weaves together complex themes of identity, race, and generational conflict, all underpinned by the tension of a changing Britain. You’ll feel the pulse of 80s multicultural London—its fashion, its music, its political undercurrents—while laughing out loud at Smith’s razor-sharp wit. Pick this up if you love character-driven and deeply human stories.
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Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pachinko spans four generations of a Korean family living in Japan, with significant sections set in the 1980s. It’s a sweeping, emotional tale about survival, family bonds, and identity, giving readers a window into the struggles of experience during this era of conflict. After reading this heartfelt, multi-generational story that immerses you in cultural history, watch the adaptation on Apple TV.
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The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The Great Believers captures the vibrant yet heartbreaking reality of 1980s Chicago, where a group of friends faces the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic. Its emotional depth and beautifully flawed characters humanize a historical moment often reduced to statistics. Through the exploration of friendship, grief, and search for meaning in the face of loss, The Great Believers is a haunting, unforgettable tribute to the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community during a time of crisis.
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The Last Thing You Surrender by Leonard Pitts Jr.
The Last Thing You Surrender explores the intertwining lives of three African Americans as they confront racism, war, and their place in America. The 1980s sections grapple with the lingering impact of systemic racism, and the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement transitioning into the complexities of Reagan’s presidency.
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The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Otsuka’s award-winning novel follows Japanese “picture brides” in the early 20th century and ends in the 1980s, examining the generational effects of Japanese American internment during World War II. The descendants of these women are grappling with assimilation and identity in Reagan-era America offering an unforgettable take on how history reverberates through the 80s, making it a must-read for those interested in diaspora stories.
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Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib
Set against the backdrop of the 80s and 90s, this memoir/essay collection explores the rise of hip-hop, particularly the iconic group A Tribe Called Quest. With a mix of fan letters, sharp insights, and historical context, the book captures the political and social climate of the 1980s, when crack ravaged communities, racial tensions ran high, and Black creativity flourished in response. Abdurraqib masterfully weaves personal anecdotes with cultural analysis, reflecting on the 80s as a pivotal moment in music history.
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