Which Horror Book You Should Read Next Based on Your Favorite Stranger Things Character

From the moment we meet her, Max knows who she is. Even as the series progresses and she seems to lose herself at points, the truth is she’s always someone who doesn’t suffer fools lightly. 

She’s strong and determined, and it’s nearly impossible not to like her. So if you’re a fan of Max like I am, then be sure to pick up a copy of Maria the Wanted by V. Castro. 

With its rerelease on the horizon, this novel about the eponymous vampire who won’t back down is the perfect choice for fans who are looking for more cool fictional women in horror. After all, Castro consistently crafts female characters who are uncompromising, relatable, and incredibly likable, so once you’re done with Maria the Wanted, consider reading everything by V. Castro. 

You’re in for a treat.  

If you know even a little bit about Stranger Things, then you already know that Eddie Munson is a big fan favorite. As the leader of the Hellfire Club, he’s brash and unapologetic, but also genuinely sweet and devoted too, at least when he wants to be. 

In his very first appearance on the show, he even rails against the Satanic Panic craze of the 1980s, an utterly dark chapter in America’s semi-recent history. 

A true Gen Xer, Eddie would most definitely get hyped up about Generation X-Ed, a horror anthology edited by the one and only Rebecca Rowland. With stories that touch on everything from rock music and VHS to cable and yes, even Satanic Panic, this is absolutely an anthology that Eddie would savor. It’s nostalgic in all the best and most horrifying ways.    

If Stranger Things leaves only one lasting legacy on pop culture, let it be this: the series helped to bring about a renaissance for Winona Ryder. That alone makes the show a major classic. Her character of Joyce Byers embodies so many qualities at once: kind, loving, scattered, and scared, all while being entirely determined to be there for her sons, their friends, and even the entire town of Hawkins. 

While Joyce is busy fighting the Upside Down, Dollface’s protagonist Jill is dealing with horrors of her own: specifically, the PTA and a very eager slasher killer. 

Lindy Ryan hits it out of the park once again with her latest novel, and I genuinely believe that Joyce and Jill need to sit down for a cup of coffee and compare battle scars. No doubt they’d have plenty to talk about. 

A minor character in the first two seasons of Stranger Things, Erica ultimately becomes a major force as the show progresses. And for good reason: she’s smart, resourceful, and able to spout off some of the best one-liners of the entire series. 

If you’re looking for female characters who know who they are and aren’t afraid to show it, then check out the fiction collection, Who Lost, I Found. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Eden Royce is one of my favorite modern authors out there writing today. Her characters are often strong-minded women who aren’t afraid to pursue what they need in life, including revenge. 

I can easily imagine a world where Erica grows up and adores every story in this wonderful collection, so if she’s a favorite character of yours, you should consider doing the same. 

Yes, Will’s coming-out scene was polarizing for audiences, but even so, over the past couple seasons, his character has meant a lot to many queer fans of Stranger Things. The same for Robin, played by the amazing Maya Hawke. 

Both Will and Robin have given voice to the queer community in a way that feels at times playful as well as genuine and heartrending. Now that these characters have sailed off into the sunset, if you’re still looking for more coming-of-age queer horror, then Hailey Piper has got you covered. 

Her most recent collection, Teenage Girls Can Be Demons, explores themes of adolescence, body horror, and of course queerness in a way only she can. And that cover is so perfect that you know you want it on your bookshelf.   

Eleven isn’t afraid to break the rules. By the end of the series, she knows who she is, and she knows what she has to do, even if it involves huge sacrifices. She also never stops being herself: weird, uncompromising, and all the better for it. She also leaves a huge body count in her wake. 

Likewise, in Monika Kim’s widely acclaimed The Eyes Are the Best Part, the protagonist Ji-won is determined to embrace who she is and what she really wants, even if that means she has to indulge her very unusual… tastes. 

“Good for her” horror in all the best ways, if you haven’t picked up a copy of The Eyes Are the Best Part, be sure to do that as soon as possible. It’s well worth your horror-loving time.