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Nightmare on Nightmare Street
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Expected 17 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
26 days and 23:59:49
10 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
From the master of spine-tingling horror for young audiences,
Nightmare on Nightmare Street
is full of strange sounds, terrifying visions, and things that go bump in the night. Includes a foreword by James “Murr” Murray, bestselling author of
Don’t Move
and co-creator of
Impractical Jokers.
Twelve-year-old Joe Ferber, his sister Sadie, and their parents have just moved into a house that has all the hallmarks of a horror movie—tombstones in the basement, a creepy doll lying around, strange noises in the wall, and so on. As Joe tries to fall asleep on the first night, his nightlight begins to flash and change colors, and the creepy doll appears in his bed … and then twelve-year-old Shawn Hannigan wakes up from a dream.
Shawn and his little sister, Addie, are seemingly living in the same house with their mother. But when they arrive at their new school for the first day, the teachers are all wearing animal masks, and the principal’s office is pitch black and full of noises. At the end of the day, a stranger claiming to be Shawn’s mom picks him up and tells him he doesn’t have a sister …
As more and more strange things happen to each of them, Shawn and Joe have to figure out what is real, and what is a nightmare …
Twelve-year-old Joe Ferber, his sister Sadie, and their parents have just moved into a house that has all the hallmarks of a horror movie—tombstones in the basement, a creepy doll lying around, strange noises in the wall, and so on. As Joe tries to fall asleep on the first night, his nightlight begins to flash and change colors, and the creepy doll appears in his bed … and then twelve-year-old Shawn Hannigan wakes up from a dream.
Shawn and his little sister, Addie, are seemingly living in the same house with their mother. But when they arrive at their new school for the first day, the teachers are all wearing animal masks, and the principal’s office is pitch black and full of noises. At the end of the day, a stranger claiming to be Shawn’s mom picks him up and tells him he doesn’t have a sister …
As more and more strange things happen to each of them, Shawn and Joe have to figure out what is real, and what is a nightmare …
220 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
1779 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
2026
December 16, 2025Halloween TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
R.L Stine is back with the creepy.
November 27, 2025
This warmed my heart so much. It had a little bit of everything in it. Just like promised in the intro! There were so many fun Goosebumps references and many tropes that he has used before! It made me smile and laugh. It was cute. The book was really goofy and while I didn’t think it was spooky, it was definitely very fun and worth the read. If you are an adult and nostalgic for his books like I am, I think you’ll get a kick out of it. It’s fun for kids for sure, it’s a fun taste of a little bit of everything Stine is known for. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read!
January 12, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
i really enjoyed this book & thought it was such a fun ride! stine said he based this book off of his "everything bagel" he was eating one morning and decided to throw in a ton of different ya horror tropes into one book and i definitely think that fits. there are so many different types horror tropes as well as cameos from his other books that were really fun to read. i grew up on goosebumps and i loved seeing some of the previous characters in here!
outside of the characters, the setting and the plot are twisty and make this very easy to read. the story sucks you in and pretty much demands you read it in one sitting - and because it's so short it's easy to do!
if you like fear street or goosebumps, you're going to want to add this one to your shelves. thank you to netgalley & blackstone publishing for the copy of my ebook!
i really enjoyed this book & thought it was such a fun ride! stine said he based this book off of his "everything bagel" he was eating one morning and decided to throw in a ton of different ya horror tropes into one book and i definitely think that fits. there are so many different types horror tropes as well as cameos from his other books that were really fun to read. i grew up on goosebumps and i loved seeing some of the previous characters in here!
outside of the characters, the setting and the plot are twisty and make this very easy to read. the story sucks you in and pretty much demands you read it in one sitting - and because it's so short it's easy to do!
if you like fear street or goosebumps, you're going to want to add this one to your shelves. thank you to netgalley & blackstone publishing for the copy of my ebook!
November 26, 2025
This warmed my heart so much. It had a little bit of everything in it. Just like promised in the intro! There were so many fun Goosebumps references and many tropes that he has used before! It made me smile and laugh. It was cute. The book was really goofy and while I didn’t think it was spooky, it was definitely very fun and worth the read. If you are an adult and nostalgic for his books like I am, I think you’ll get a kick out of it. It’s fun for kids for sure, it’s a fun taste of a little bit of everything Stine is known for. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read!
October 15, 2025
Stine says there’s something here for kids and the parents and a human organ crocheting mom who watches the real housewives of Antarctica sounds like my peeps.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Joe Ferber has just moved to a new house with his sister and parents. But no matter how much he insists, they won't believe him that their new house, complete with tombstones in the cellar, is haunted. Shawn Hannigan has also moved into a new house with his sister and mom - a house on Nightmare Street. He has nightmares about a boy named Joe who lives in a haunted house. But even worse is his bizarre new school where the teachers all wear animal masks and the principal stays in a darkened office. The two stories will collide in one of Stine's biggest nightmare tales.
R. L. Stine said in the preface that he intended to write a book with every horror but the kitchen sink thrown in, hoping to please audiences of all ages. Between the dual story lines, he managed to work a large variety of horrors, some even more out there than his usual fare. While I think this still mainly reads more like his Goosebumps books, it should be entertaining for his fans of all ages.
Joe Ferber has just moved to a new house with his sister and parents. But no matter how much he insists, they won't believe him that their new house, complete with tombstones in the cellar, is haunted. Shawn Hannigan has also moved into a new house with his sister and mom - a house on Nightmare Street. He has nightmares about a boy named Joe who lives in a haunted house. But even worse is his bizarre new school where the teachers all wear animal masks and the principal stays in a darkened office. The two stories will collide in one of Stine's biggest nightmare tales.
R. L. Stine said in the preface that he intended to write a book with every horror but the kitchen sink thrown in, hoping to please audiences of all ages. Between the dual story lines, he managed to work a large variety of horrors, some even more out there than his usual fare. While I think this still mainly reads more like his Goosebumps books, it should be entertaining for his fans of all ages.
Read
January 19, 2026As long as Stine is writing them, I'll be reading them! My library kiddos are (hopefully) going to eat this one up!
Definitely intended for a middle grade audience, this book contains alternating perspectives of a young boy named Joe and a young boy named Shawn who seem to be living in the same haunted house. In each short chapter, crazy unexplained things are happening and then we just move right along into the next crazy thing.
Stine was inspired to write this book while eating an everything bagel. He said to himself, "Why can't we have Everything Books?" So he set out writing one. In that way, I don't think it missed the mark. Stine found a way, by the end, to make the reasoning of the "everything" make sense.
Definitely intended for a middle grade audience, this book contains alternating perspectives of a young boy named Joe and a young boy named Shawn who seem to be living in the same haunted house. In each short chapter, crazy unexplained things are happening and then we just move right along into the next crazy thing.
Stine was inspired to write this book while eating an everything bagel. He said to himself, "Why can't we have Everything Books?" So he set out writing one. In that way, I don't think it missed the mark. Stine found a way, by the end, to make the reasoning of the "everything" make sense.
November 26, 2025
“Nightmare on Nightmare Street,” a classic R. L. Stine story, is a delightful blend of horror and nostalgia. It features numerous references to beloved Goosebumps moments, making it an ideal choice for young readers and a fun, nostalgic read for adults.
The story unfolds through two separate storylines, following Shawn and Joe. These boys encounter random, spooky events that are clever callbacks to Stine’s previous works. As readers delve deeper, they will uncover the intriguing connection between these two boys’ stories.
The narrative is fast-paced, with short chapters that each conclude on a cliffhanger. This keeps the suspense high and ensures that readers are eagerly turning the pages. “Nightmare on Nightmare Street” serves as an excellent introduction to the horror genre for young readers.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for sending me a free advanced copy.
The story unfolds through two separate storylines, following Shawn and Joe. These boys encounter random, spooky events that are clever callbacks to Stine’s previous works. As readers delve deeper, they will uncover the intriguing connection between these two boys’ stories.
The narrative is fast-paced, with short chapters that each conclude on a cliffhanger. This keeps the suspense high and ensures that readers are eagerly turning the pages. “Nightmare on Nightmare Street” serves as an excellent introduction to the horror genre for young readers.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for sending me a free advanced copy.
January 16, 2026
More like a 2.75
The pacing of this book is way too fast. Personally, I love to linger in the why of why things are actually scary. We’re bouncing from scary worms, to animal masks, to graveyards in basements, and, obviously, dummys with glassy eyes that watch your every move, haunt your soul and live in your nostalgic horror memories forever. Unfortunately, as Stine is trying to make sure there was a bit of horror for everyone, we never sat in the fear he was creating for his characters. That did change but only at the last 25%, which was honestly, the best part. It was fine for what it was, especially considering I'm nowhere near the age demographic for this story.
Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
The pacing of this book is way too fast. Personally, I love to linger in the why of why things are actually scary. We’re bouncing from scary worms, to animal masks, to graveyards in basements, and, obviously, dummys with glassy eyes that watch your every move, haunt your soul and live in your nostalgic horror memories forever. Unfortunately, as Stine is trying to make sure there was a bit of horror for everyone, we never sat in the fear he was creating for his characters. That did change but only at the last 25%, which was honestly, the best part. It was fine for what it was, especially considering I'm nowhere near the age demographic for this story.
Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
December 6, 2025
Fun for all ages! This was a fun, clever throwback to all of the things I love about R L Stine and his Goosebumps series. If you’re an R L Stine fan, you’ll enjoy this book regardless of your age. I can’t say much without giving anything away. The story follows two sets of siblings and the creepy experiences they each have, before building up to the end. The ending did wrap the story up nicely but I think it could have been just a little bit more explained. Otherwise this was a great read!
December 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
More like a 3.5 rounded up. As someone who largely discovered their love of reading through the Fear Street books in middle school, I feel honored to have received an ARC of this book! It’s a super quick read, I read it all in one day. I really enjoyed the nods to Stine’s older works and that it really is a novel for young fans as well as older fans who grew up with his books. I do wish we got a little bit more out of the ending, but I had fun either way.
More like a 3.5 rounded up. As someone who largely discovered their love of reading through the Fear Street books in middle school, I feel honored to have received an ARC of this book! It’s a super quick read, I read it all in one day. I really enjoyed the nods to Stine’s older works and that it really is a novel for young fans as well as older fans who grew up with his books. I do wish we got a little bit more out of the ending, but I had fun either way.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to R.L.Stine and NetGalley for an ARC of "Nightmare on Nightmare Street"!
Oh boy...where do I even begin? I'll start off by saying that while I have not read an R.L. Stine book in well over a decade, I was expecting more from this. I think what ruined this the most for me was the note he has in the beginning that describes this book as an "everything bagel" saying that there is horror and good stuff in it for everyone of all ages.
Yeah, really did not delivery on that front.
A LOT of things happen, and everything just gets brushed over and immediately is moving onto the next scary thing. Which nothing connected make sense, and with the ending...it felt like a cop-out to write a poor plot with flat characters that literally I could not differentiate from personality or dialogue wise. I get it if it was for parallel purposes but genuinely the way they kept gaslighting each other and then saying that things weren't scary or didn't happen just for them to all wind up in the same boat...it was not for me.
I think overall there were some cool references and odes to some of Stine's earlier works, but as a standalone book, this did not deliver what I thought it was going to, especially with the note that Stine had included in the beginning with the "everything bagel" comparison. I feel like if that note wasn't there, i would have enjoyed it a bit better. But overall there was just..a whole lot going on, and a whole lot of nothing.
Oh boy...where do I even begin? I'll start off by saying that while I have not read an R.L. Stine book in well over a decade, I was expecting more from this. I think what ruined this the most for me was the note he has in the beginning that describes this book as an "everything bagel" saying that there is horror and good stuff in it for everyone of all ages.
Yeah, really did not delivery on that front.
A LOT of things happen, and everything just gets brushed over and immediately is moving onto the next scary thing. Which nothing connected make sense, and with the ending...it felt like a cop-out to write a poor plot with flat characters that literally I could not differentiate from personality or dialogue wise. I get it if it was for parallel purposes but genuinely the way they kept gaslighting each other and then saying that things weren't scary or didn't happen just for them to all wind up in the same boat...it was not for me.
I think overall there were some cool references and odes to some of Stine's earlier works, but as a standalone book, this did not deliver what I thought it was going to, especially with the note that Stine had included in the beginning with the "everything bagel" comparison. I feel like if that note wasn't there, i would have enjoyed it a bit better. But overall there was just..a whole lot going on, and a whole lot of nothing.
October 21, 2025
An R.L. Stine for my inner child, and current adult soul??? Ohhhh count me in.
I am so thankful to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for access to this one before it hits shelves on February 17, 2026.
I have a feeling that 10-year-old Sam would have been freaking out the entire time reading this one, for there's everything a horror-curious fan could want... haunted houses, spooky dolls, trickster curses, and nightmares that don't seem to quit. As a former, avid-nightmare-haver, this one would have had me shaking in under my covers, and to be quite honest, the twist at the end definitely got me for a bit IRL.
12-year-old Joe and his family just moved into a fixer-upper, and it's totally haunted. Like it was literally built on top of a graveyard, his sister Sadie doesn't believe him, but Shawn Hannigan believes him. Who's Shawn? Oh, just the kid that has been having nightmares about Joe and his haunted house situation... And when weird things begin to take place in his new neighborhood, readers (alongside Shawn) will find themselves wondering what's real and all made up!
So well done, and I'm eager for this one to be published.
I am so thankful to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for access to this one before it hits shelves on February 17, 2026.
I have a feeling that 10-year-old Sam would have been freaking out the entire time reading this one, for there's everything a horror-curious fan could want... haunted houses, spooky dolls, trickster curses, and nightmares that don't seem to quit. As a former, avid-nightmare-haver, this one would have had me shaking in under my covers, and to be quite honest, the twist at the end definitely got me for a bit IRL.
12-year-old Joe and his family just moved into a fixer-upper, and it's totally haunted. Like it was literally built on top of a graveyard, his sister Sadie doesn't believe him, but Shawn Hannigan believes him. Who's Shawn? Oh, just the kid that has been having nightmares about Joe and his haunted house situation... And when weird things begin to take place in his new neighborhood, readers (alongside Shawn) will find themselves wondering what's real and all made up!
So well done, and I'm eager for this one to be published.
November 28, 2025
This takes me back to the days of Goosebumps!
It's a short book, which I liked. I liked that the chapters were short and it was split into 4 parts. Both POV's were interesting and I liked seeing how they converged. It was like all my nightmares as a kid were woven into one story - and somehow it works!
While I enjoyed the chaotic vibes and LOVED the organ crochet (as a crocheter myself), the plot itself was not my favourite. The ending came in with a whimper, when I wanted a bang.
Thanks NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
It's a short book, which I liked. I liked that the chapters were short and it was split into 4 parts. Both POV's were interesting and I liked seeing how they converged. It was like all my nightmares as a kid were woven into one story - and somehow it works!
While I enjoyed the chaotic vibes and LOVED the organ crochet (as a crocheter myself), the plot itself was not my favourite. The ending came in with a whimper, when I wanted a bang.
Thanks NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Puntaje: 4 Estrellas.
Terminar el año con un libro de R.L. Stine debería ser una nueva tradición lectora. Antes de iniciar la reseña, quiero agradecer a Blackstone Publishing por enviarme el Arc digital de esta novela.
Al inicio, R.L. Stine nos explica que este libro es diferente a todos los demás que él ha escrito. ¿La razón? Pues en este libro ha decidido hacer un mix e integrar muchos tropos y elementos de la literatura de terror, por lo que no nos encontraremos ante una sola amenaza paranormal, sino que seremos testigos de múltiples ataques consecutivos que los protagonistas deberán enfrentar en cada página.
La novela inicia con una familia que se muda a una casa vieja. Ellos tienen dos hijos: Joe y Sadie, quienes solo se llevan un año de diferencia y quienes disfrutan de ver películas de terror. Sin embargo, Joe es muy asustadizo, y hay algo en esta nueva casa que le pone los pelos de punta.
Por otro lado, conoceremos a otra familia con una pareja de hijos diferente, Shawn y Addie. Esta familia vive en una casa ubicada en la calle Nightmare (“Pesadilla” en español), y desde que se mudaron, el pequeño Shawn ha estado teniendo pesadillas todas las noches. Sin embargo, estas no son las típicas pesadillas que desaparecen una vez despiertas. Para Shawn, despertar no significa abandonar esos horribles sueños, pues pareciera que su realidad pudiera ser modificada para hacer realidad esas horrorosas pesadillas.
Ambas tramas avanzarán y se cruzarán en su debido momento. Joe y Sadie se enfrentarán a los tenebrosos secretos que esconden las diferentes habitaciones de su nuevo hogar, mientras que Shawn explorará un mundo aterrador y cambiante, en donde nada tiene sentido, lo cual lo hace más espantoso.
Creo que esta es una lectura perfecta para los lectores más pequeños de la casa. Sin duda es un libro que le leería a mis hijos y sobrinos, pues es entretenido, tiene momentos de humor y, por supuesto, representa muy bien al género del terror con las situaciones que los personajes vivirán en sus páginas. Además, me pareció muy acertada la explicación que hace el autor en la introducción, pues al leer el libro notas que, más que una nueva novela de pesadillas y escalofríos, este es un libro que le permitió a R.L. Stine jugar con diferentes elementos y tramas del género del terror.
Terminar el año con un libro de R.L. Stine debería ser una nueva tradición lectora. Antes de iniciar la reseña, quiero agradecer a Blackstone Publishing por enviarme el Arc digital de esta novela.
Al inicio, R.L. Stine nos explica que este libro es diferente a todos los demás que él ha escrito. ¿La razón? Pues en este libro ha decidido hacer un mix e integrar muchos tropos y elementos de la literatura de terror, por lo que no nos encontraremos ante una sola amenaza paranormal, sino que seremos testigos de múltiples ataques consecutivos que los protagonistas deberán enfrentar en cada página.
La novela inicia con una familia que se muda a una casa vieja. Ellos tienen dos hijos: Joe y Sadie, quienes solo se llevan un año de diferencia y quienes disfrutan de ver películas de terror. Sin embargo, Joe es muy asustadizo, y hay algo en esta nueva casa que le pone los pelos de punta.
Por otro lado, conoceremos a otra familia con una pareja de hijos diferente, Shawn y Addie. Esta familia vive en una casa ubicada en la calle Nightmare (“Pesadilla” en español), y desde que se mudaron, el pequeño Shawn ha estado teniendo pesadillas todas las noches. Sin embargo, estas no son las típicas pesadillas que desaparecen una vez despiertas. Para Shawn, despertar no significa abandonar esos horribles sueños, pues pareciera que su realidad pudiera ser modificada para hacer realidad esas horrorosas pesadillas.
Ambas tramas avanzarán y se cruzarán en su debido momento. Joe y Sadie se enfrentarán a los tenebrosos secretos que esconden las diferentes habitaciones de su nuevo hogar, mientras que Shawn explorará un mundo aterrador y cambiante, en donde nada tiene sentido, lo cual lo hace más espantoso.
Creo que esta es una lectura perfecta para los lectores más pequeños de la casa. Sin duda es un libro que le leería a mis hijos y sobrinos, pues es entretenido, tiene momentos de humor y, por supuesto, representa muy bien al género del terror con las situaciones que los personajes vivirán en sus páginas. Además, me pareció muy acertada la explicación que hace el autor en la introducción, pues al leer el libro notas que, más que una nueva novela de pesadillas y escalofríos, este es un libro que le permitió a R.L. Stine jugar con diferentes elementos y tramas del género del terror.
January 16, 2026
As an adult who grew up on RL Stine, I still love reading his new works. When I saw this one announced I knew I wanted to read it because of who he was, but I hated the title. I'm glad I read it anyway, because it's a cute book; and he has fun references to a bunch of his past works. Still hate that title though.
The book has an intro written by Stine explaining that he was eating an everything bagel and had the inspiration to write a book in the same vein - just throw all of the horror tropes into the book at once, and boy did he. It's written in his classic style with short chapters, each ending on a cliff hanger. We see nightmares, creepy adults, disappearing buildings, vampire bats, puking dolls, evil spirits, and more before all is revealed in the final chapter.
The story alternates between 2 families. Joe, a middle schooler who just moved into a new house on Nightmare St is convinced they bought a haunted house. He's hearing voices in the walls, having nightmares, finds a creepy dummy and so much more.
On the other hand, there's Shawn. He's also moved into a new neighborhood and doesn't understand when everything in his life just goes off one day. His mom tells the school his sister doesn't exist, he has a conversation with the principal of the new school - or does he?, he swears he hears incessant barking from the neighbors house but she swears she doesn't have a dog.
Despite so many things happening and going on, he does wrap it up and give it an explanation in the end. It's not overly scary for the kids to read, and it's a fun trip down memory lane for any adults who grew up reading his work.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for giving me an early e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
The book has an intro written by Stine explaining that he was eating an everything bagel and had the inspiration to write a book in the same vein - just throw all of the horror tropes into the book at once, and boy did he. It's written in his classic style with short chapters, each ending on a cliff hanger. We see nightmares, creepy adults, disappearing buildings, vampire bats, puking dolls, evil spirits, and more before all is revealed in the final chapter.
The story alternates between 2 families. Joe, a middle schooler who just moved into a new house on Nightmare St is convinced they bought a haunted house. He's hearing voices in the walls, having nightmares, finds a creepy dummy and so much more.
On the other hand, there's Shawn. He's also moved into a new neighborhood and doesn't understand when everything in his life just goes off one day. His mom tells the school his sister doesn't exist, he has a conversation with the principal of the new school - or does he?, he swears he hears incessant barking from the neighbors house but she swears she doesn't have a dog.
Despite so many things happening and going on, he does wrap it up and give it an explanation in the end. It's not overly scary for the kids to read, and it's a fun trip down memory lane for any adults who grew up reading his work.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for giving me an early e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fun Fueled Nightmares!
Nightmare on Nightmare Street feels like Stine raided his own haunted attic (or basement) and threw a party. It’s an “everything scary” mash-up that’s pure playground chaos. Be sure not to skip the note from RL Stine at the beginning of this story because it gives such a flavor to this story that made me devour it. In this story are a creaky house off Cthulhu Street, teachers rocking animal masks, evil toys doing their worst, and those gloriously gross purple worms, plus a splash of neon-green puke for good measure. The dual storylines fold into each other like a dream you can’t quite wake up from, and the Easter eggs are delicious: Slappy-adjacent dummy shivers, say-cheese camera vibes, haunted-mask energy—basically a greatest-hits mixtape that still plays fresh. It’s cheeky, it’s fast, and it’s got that nostalgia to make you love this story for all the things.
Best part? It’s truly for everyone. Kids get the cliffhangers and goosebumps; grown-ups get the cozy throwback buzz and the meta wink that says, “Yep, we all grew up here.” The scares are breezy-fun rather than brutal, the chapters sprint, and you’ll tear through it with a grin. There are even some parts where you need to keep a nightlight on, just in case. If you want a quick chiller that doubles as an Easter-egg scavenger hunt through Stine’s spooky sandbox, check in and enjoy the ride. Readers will devour this and be begging for more from Nightmare Street!
Nightmare on Nightmare Street feels like Stine raided his own haunted attic (or basement) and threw a party. It’s an “everything scary” mash-up that’s pure playground chaos. Be sure not to skip the note from RL Stine at the beginning of this story because it gives such a flavor to this story that made me devour it. In this story are a creaky house off Cthulhu Street, teachers rocking animal masks, evil toys doing their worst, and those gloriously gross purple worms, plus a splash of neon-green puke for good measure. The dual storylines fold into each other like a dream you can’t quite wake up from, and the Easter eggs are delicious: Slappy-adjacent dummy shivers, say-cheese camera vibes, haunted-mask energy—basically a greatest-hits mixtape that still plays fresh. It’s cheeky, it’s fast, and it’s got that nostalgia to make you love this story for all the things.
Best part? It’s truly for everyone. Kids get the cliffhangers and goosebumps; grown-ups get the cozy throwback buzz and the meta wink that says, “Yep, we all grew up here.” The scares are breezy-fun rather than brutal, the chapters sprint, and you’ll tear through it with a grin. There are even some parts where you need to keep a nightlight on, just in case. If you want a quick chiller that doubles as an Easter-egg scavenger hunt through Stine’s spooky sandbox, check in and enjoy the ride. Readers will devour this and be begging for more from Nightmare Street!
December 19, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC.
Like a lot of people Goosebumps was my first introduction to horror. So I was thrilled to get the chance to read this early.
I’m not really the target demographic which is fine. I can suspend that a bit and remember what I liked about Goosebumps.
I thought this cute for a gimmick read. The introduction says it’s meant to be an Everything Bagel book. It succeeded at that. Like Cabin in the Woods for children. However…I think it had more potential. Parts were repetitive or rushed. There wasn’t anything creepy or scary about it. Problems were solved quickly as they came.
Marking for spoilers so I can mention it has the same twist as Ghost Beach but there isn’t a feeling of dread there. It’s just a gotcha! Moment. The explanation could have been much more existential and I don’t think it would have been inappropriate for the target demographic. Goosebumps had several moments like that.
That being said I think the author had fun with this one and I won’t begrudge him that. It’s a fun easy book. Maybe for kids who want to try scary but aren’t quite ready for actually scared.
If you liked this and want more try these Goosebumps
Monster House
Say Cheese and Die
Ghost Beach
Night of the Living Dummy
Like a lot of people Goosebumps was my first introduction to horror. So I was thrilled to get the chance to read this early.
I’m not really the target demographic which is fine. I can suspend that a bit and remember what I liked about Goosebumps.
I thought this cute for a gimmick read. The introduction says it’s meant to be an Everything Bagel book. It succeeded at that. Like Cabin in the Woods for children. However…I think it had more potential. Parts were repetitive or rushed. There wasn’t anything creepy or scary about it. Problems were solved quickly as they came.
Marking for spoilers so I can mention it has the same twist as Ghost Beach but there isn’t a feeling of dread there. It’s just a gotcha! Moment. The explanation could have been much more existential and I don’t think it would have been inappropriate for the target demographic. Goosebumps had several moments like that.
That being said I think the author had fun with this one and I won’t begrudge him that. It’s a fun easy book. Maybe for kids who want to try scary but aren’t quite ready for actually scared.
If you liked this and want more try these Goosebumps
Monster House
Say Cheese and Die
Ghost Beach
Night of the Living Dummy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What could be scarier (and more frustrating!) than being a kid who is the only one who notices there is something wrong with the house your parents call a fixer-upper when you know it's just evil! That is where the story begins, with one boy who is powerless to get his family to see sense.
This was such a fun story. It is an amusing and spooky tale, whether you grab it for your middle-grade readers or for yourself if you are still a kid at heart.
The author states he got the idea to write a novel that included everyone's favorite fears while eating an everything bagel. He succeeded! There's nothing missing here. Nightmares, a basement graveyard, living dolls, weird teachers, and more, all wrapped up and waiting for anyone who dares to venture onto Nightmare Street, a place you won't find on a map but is all too real for the kids who call it home.
There are multiple tidbits sprinkled through for adults that may go undetected by kids (I'm still laughing at the Real Housewives of Antarctica). Adults who read Goosebumps when they were kids will notice the nods to that book series.
If you're looking for a book that's fun for all ages, this is it.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the e-ARC
This was such a fun story. It is an amusing and spooky tale, whether you grab it for your middle-grade readers or for yourself if you are still a kid at heart.
The author states he got the idea to write a novel that included everyone's favorite fears while eating an everything bagel. He succeeded! There's nothing missing here. Nightmares, a basement graveyard, living dolls, weird teachers, and more, all wrapped up and waiting for anyone who dares to venture onto Nightmare Street, a place you won't find on a map but is all too real for the kids who call it home.
There are multiple tidbits sprinkled through for adults that may go undetected by kids (I'm still laughing at the Real Housewives of Antarctica). Adults who read Goosebumps when they were kids will notice the nods to that book series.
If you're looking for a book that's fun for all ages, this is it.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the e-ARC
January 10, 2026
Nightmare on Nightmare Street is exactly what RL Stine said it would be in his introduction: an Everything Bagel” book, complete with every horror possible. It’s a story for both middle school students and their parents.
Joe Ferber and his sister Sadie have moved into a new home on Nightmare Street, living up to its name with ghost children cackling in the stairwell, blood on the walls, and gravestones in the basement.
In a parallel story, Shawn Hannigan and his sister Addie have also moved to Nightmare Street. Shawn is experiencing nightmares, dreaming of Joe and his sister. His nightmare becomes a reality when a creepy ragdoll from his dreams mysteriously appears on his pillow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As a child, I grew up on RL Stine’s Fear Street series, and this book definitely had moments of nostalgia for me. I laughed my way through several of the absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable plot twists, and was creeped out in other moments.
The book was a little anticlimactic for me. The plot twist at the end was rushed and Stine didn’t wrap up the story in his normally brilliant way, but poorly. I was left confused and unsatisfied.
Joe Ferber and his sister Sadie have moved into a new home on Nightmare Street, living up to its name with ghost children cackling in the stairwell, blood on the walls, and gravestones in the basement.
In a parallel story, Shawn Hannigan and his sister Addie have also moved to Nightmare Street. Shawn is experiencing nightmares, dreaming of Joe and his sister. His nightmare becomes a reality when a creepy ragdoll from his dreams mysteriously appears on his pillow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As a child, I grew up on RL Stine’s Fear Street series, and this book definitely had moments of nostalgia for me. I laughed my way through several of the absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable plot twists, and was creeped out in other moments.
The book was a little anticlimactic for me. The plot twist at the end was rushed and Stine didn’t wrap up the story in his normally brilliant way, but poorly. I was left confused and unsatisfied.
January 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for letting me relive my childhood via this ARC!
Two young boys from different families simultaneously move to a new place located on Nightmare Street. Things get weird. Shawn has recurring nightmares about this boy Joe; meanwhile the other boy, Joe is trying his best to get his parents to leave this house. It’s haunted, after all.
I don’t usually read or like YA and middle grade horror but I could not pass up a chance to relive my childhood. It’s a beautiful mash up of everything I loved from the series. Very lively characters, spooky incidents, and of course, parents telling their kids to stop making stories up. I don’t even think im biased. If you have kids and they enjoy horror, this would be a fantastic family activity. Is it scary for me personally? No, but im also not 12 and im not here to get scared. It’s a fun story and the vibes are great.
Definitely recommend to you millennials out there!
Two young boys from different families simultaneously move to a new place located on Nightmare Street. Things get weird. Shawn has recurring nightmares about this boy Joe; meanwhile the other boy, Joe is trying his best to get his parents to leave this house. It’s haunted, after all.
I don’t usually read or like YA and middle grade horror but I could not pass up a chance to relive my childhood. It’s a beautiful mash up of everything I loved from the series. Very lively characters, spooky incidents, and of course, parents telling their kids to stop making stories up. I don’t even think im biased. If you have kids and they enjoy horror, this would be a fantastic family activity. Is it scary for me personally? No, but im also not 12 and im not here to get scared. It’s a fun story and the vibes are great.
Definitely recommend to you millennials out there!
January 16, 2026
3.75 rounded to 4
First of all, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Did I request an ARC of a children’s book? Absolutely I did. The moment I saw this was by R.L. Stine, my inner child immediately hit “request,” and I’m so glad I did.
This book was pure nostalgia for me. Right at the beginning, it’s described as an “everything bagel” kind of story, and that description is spot on. There’s a little bit of every type of middle-grade creepiness packed into these pages, which makes it a fun and fast read.
Is this my favorite R.L. Stine book? No, and I think that’s largely because of the “everything bagel” approach. With so many different creepy elements, some of the tension and buildup gets lost along the way. That said, did I enjoy it? Absolutely.
Overall, this was a fun, spooky, and nostalgic read, and I think young readers who enjoy a light scare will have a great time with it.
First of all, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Did I request an ARC of a children’s book? Absolutely I did. The moment I saw this was by R.L. Stine, my inner child immediately hit “request,” and I’m so glad I did.
This book was pure nostalgia for me. Right at the beginning, it’s described as an “everything bagel” kind of story, and that description is spot on. There’s a little bit of every type of middle-grade creepiness packed into these pages, which makes it a fun and fast read.
Is this my favorite R.L. Stine book? No, and I think that’s largely because of the “everything bagel” approach. With so many different creepy elements, some of the tension and buildup gets lost along the way. That said, did I enjoy it? Absolutely.
Overall, this was a fun, spooky, and nostalgic read, and I think young readers who enjoy a light scare will have a great time with it.
November 22, 2025
Reader Beware, You’re in for a Scare!
R.L. Stine’s books were what lead me into my horror obsession. I will ALWAYS read his books, even though I’m not exactly the target audience at my age. His books are twisty, creepy, and so so nostalgic.
This book was no different and it transported me back to middle school reading Fear Street and Goosebumps! Stine mixed so many of his previous stories into one. All of the scares came at you page after page! They were perfectly weaved in each page for the story line to make sense.
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of R.L. Stine, regardless of your age. You will smile as you read along and reminisce on all of the classic Goosebump references.
Also, I still get creeped out about stories where people disappear and others have no recollection of them. Stine does this expertly!
R.L. Stine’s books were what lead me into my horror obsession. I will ALWAYS read his books, even though I’m not exactly the target audience at my age. His books are twisty, creepy, and so so nostalgic.
This book was no different and it transported me back to middle school reading Fear Street and Goosebumps! Stine mixed so many of his previous stories into one. All of the scares came at you page after page! They were perfectly weaved in each page for the story line to make sense.
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of R.L. Stine, regardless of your age. You will smile as you read along and reminisce on all of the classic Goosebump references.
Also, I still get creeped out about stories where people disappear and others have no recollection of them. Stine does this expertly!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nightmare on Nightmare Street by R.L. Stine is a pleasant throwback for anyone who grew up devouring Goosebumps books by flashlight. It nails that classic Stine charm—quick pacing, spooky-but-not-too-spooky scares, and a sense of mischief that makes it perfect for very young readers just dipping their toes into horror.
That said, older kids and nostalgic adults may find the book a bit too repetitive, both in its story beats and its sentence structure. The scares cycle through familiar patterns, and the prose doesn’t stretch beyond the basics, making the experience feel more like a nostalgia snack than a full meal.
Still, for early readers or anyone wanting to revisit the feeling of being ten years old and absolutely sure something was lurking in the closet, it delivers exactly what it promises. Just don’t expect it to keep seasoned readers or anyone above 10 up at night.
That said, older kids and nostalgic adults may find the book a bit too repetitive, both in its story beats and its sentence structure. The scares cycle through familiar patterns, and the prose doesn’t stretch beyond the basics, making the experience feel more like a nostalgia snack than a full meal.
Still, for early readers or anyone wanting to revisit the feeling of being ten years old and absolutely sure something was lurking in the closet, it delivers exactly what it promises. Just don’t expect it to keep seasoned readers or anyone above 10 up at night.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The nostalgia alone in this makes me so happy.
I felt like I was back in my middle school state of mind, having a great time.
If you grew up reading anything by R.L. Stine you know he puts his whole heart in to it.
The only way I can sort of describe this is like a nightmare within a nightmare inception like.
Two story lines following a brother and sister duo, while both are living in the same house, but not really? Crazy things are happening and the kids are not alright with it
This newest work has everything, goosebumps references sprinkled here and there, as well as good grown up humor. Because at the end of the day this is still a story for the younger readers.
The book description is true to its word. Everyone will have something to enjoy with this!
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the book in exchange for an honest review!
I felt like I was back in my middle school state of mind, having a great time.
If you grew up reading anything by R.L. Stine you know he puts his whole heart in to it.
The only way I can sort of describe this is like a nightmare within a nightmare inception like.
Two story lines following a brother and sister duo, while both are living in the same house, but not really? Crazy things are happening and the kids are not alright with it
This newest work has everything, goosebumps references sprinkled here and there, as well as good grown up humor. Because at the end of the day this is still a story for the younger readers.
The book description is true to its word. Everyone will have something to enjoy with this!
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the book in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am giving this a 3.5 stars as of right now. I think it has everything to do with it being a really quick read and since it was quick there was so much going on and keep up with at one time. I believe that they lived in the house and they died by something but, cannot remember what and thats how one nightmare started while the other kids were the same way. Since they both died in strange matters or by their own nightmares, they are both dreaming about one another but, in the same house because that is where they all died. So, in some way it was like a ghost party of sorts in the nightmare rhelm like Nightmare on Elm Street. For a kid, I give it a 4.5 but, right now its a 3.5 which could change in the future
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is was intriguing coming from the author.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is was intriguing coming from the author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
R.L. Stine’s new book follows Joe and Shawn: two boys having nightmares after moving into new homes. Their nightmares are scary real and feel impossibly real, causing the kids to question their sanity and reality.
For what it is, a children’s horror book, this was an AMAZING read. I love the kid bits of horror and the easter eggs to all of his old work for the adults who used to read his books as children! This truly does have something for everyone of his fans of all ages. I finished this bad boy in an hour — I literally devoured this!
It may be time to revisit the Goosebumps series like I’ve been wanting to.
R.L. Stine will always be one of my favorite authors and I am forever grateful to Blackstone & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I would read R.L.’s grocery list!
For what it is, a children’s horror book, this was an AMAZING read. I love the kid bits of horror and the easter eggs to all of his old work for the adults who used to read his books as children! This truly does have something for everyone of his fans of all ages. I finished this bad boy in an hour — I literally devoured this!
It may be time to revisit the Goosebumps series like I’ve been wanting to.
R.L. Stine will always be one of my favorite authors and I am forever grateful to Blackstone & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I would read R.L.’s grocery list!
January 11, 2026
Nightmare on Nightmare Street is pure nostalgia for millennials who grew up devouring Goosebumps in the ’90s, while also being the perfect entry point for a new generation of middle-school horror fans. In the foreword, R. L. Stine promises a book that’s fun for readers of all ages and he absolutely delivers.
There are plenty of clever throwback references that will make longtime fans smile, while the story itself is fast-paced, spooky, and accessible for younger readers just discovering horror. It has that classic Stine creepiness without being too intense, making it an easy, entertaining read.
Overall, this was a fun trip down memory lane that still feels fresh. A great reminder of why so many of us fell in love with scary books in the first place!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
There are plenty of clever throwback references that will make longtime fans smile, while the story itself is fast-paced, spooky, and accessible for younger readers just discovering horror. It has that classic Stine creepiness without being too intense, making it an easy, entertaining read.
Overall, this was a fun trip down memory lane that still feels fresh. A great reminder of why so many of us fell in love with scary books in the first place!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 22, 2025
An "Everything Bagel" of a book indeed. While nothing special on the surface, this book transported me right back to the smell of the Book Fair and me hiding under my sheets with a flashlight to read R. L. Stine. With a now six year old, I can't wait to pass on the torch and buy all the Stine books for my son- hopefully he loves them as much as I did. For those of us who had a tough childhood, I know I felt transported any time I picked up a book- and Goosebumps is and always will be credited to some of my favorites. This is a very quick read and it'll give you all the warm and fuzzies, alongside the chilling middle grade fear. Thanks so much to Stine and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC!
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