Set in the 80s

[WeeFae]

I've recently read 2 time-travel back to the 80s books, which isn't my usual genre but have been entertaining reads. The nostalgia has kicked in and I'd love to read novels written now, about the 80s (with or without time travel).

I have already read Do They Know its Christmas yet? and The 86 Fix (and sequel).

Any other recommendations?

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell?

I read it quite a long time ago, but I remember that I enjoyed it. The main character is the same age as me at the time it is set, which made it more interesting.

Yes I also enjoyed 'Black Swan Green' so definitely give it a go.

I love 80s books too, OP. Are the ones you'd read the two you mention at the end? Do They Know it's Xmas etc.

Really enjoyed 1986 Fix (and sequel).

Mayflies - I’ve not read it but heard good things

Blinded by the Light - true story about Asian lad growing up in Luton in 80s. If the film is anything to go by, should be a good book

This list is good.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St James jumps between 1982 and 2017 and is quite good.

And Grady Hendrix's My Best Friend's Exorcism is also set in the 1980's I think,

I came on to say Black Swan Green too!

Love, Nina. It's a memoir not a novel but it's great.

Ready Player One….. set in the future but it’s a love story to the 80s

Thank you for all these! I forgot to come back and check (chemo brain) but will check them all out.

Turns out I bought Love, Nina 3 years ago on my kindle but haven't read it, oops! That's my next read sorted.

I really enjoyed Love, Nina which is mostly letters to Nina's sister but with a bit of background explanation as well. She has written 3 novels with some autobiographical content, about life as a 1970s child/teenager and then the third is about a young woman getting her first job and boyfriend at the very start of the 1980s in Leicester.

Adrian Mole's first diary starts in 1981 - I like these partly because the character is 15 months older than me (born March 1968).

Savages by Shirely Conran!

1986 Fix (and sequel) was good.

‘Blinded by the Light’ film was good, and I felt got a real sense of the time (not read the book).

Thank you, I might go back and read all the Adrian Mole books, it has been about 30 years since I did!

The Spider Truces by Tom Connolly

The Line of Beauty?

Nice work by David Lodge.

Sue Grafton's alphabet series is set in the eighties. They're all books with PI Kinsey Milhone, she's a proper gumshoe having to do the keg work without relying on Google etc. Excellent books.

Roddy Doyle books are set in Dublin in the 80s, if you fancy well-written and very witty slices of life.

For something completely different but also well written, Bonfire of the Vanities, by Tom Wolfe.