Stranger Things - Tome 4 One Way or Another

by Caitlin Schneiderhan

In this thrilling Stranger Things novel, Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley must expose the corruptive forces sinking their claws into a desperate Hawkins.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Fantasy

Paperback

Expected publication January 8, 2026

About the author

Caitlin Schneiderhan is a TV writer and novelist, whose work can be seen on Netflix's hit show Stranger Things. She hatched from a cocoon of Terry Pratchett novels when she was 13 years old, and her love of fun, genre-focused storytelling runs deep. Originally hailing from Silver Spring, Maryland, Caitlin now resides in Los Angeles.

She still has a full shelf of Terry Pratchett paperbacks.

Reviews

[Rei Smoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't bothered picking up most of the Stranger Things tie ins, either because they're aimed at a younger audience or because they just didn't catch my eye. But a Nancy-centric detective story sounded like exactly what I wanted, and it absolutely was. This is a smartly written, tightly plotted story that serves as both a character study of Nancy Wheeler and a nice way to fill some of the gaps left between seasons 4 and 5. It also ended up making some of the saddest parts of season 5 all the more heartbreaking, which I really appreciated. Can't recommend this one highly enough!

[JoLee Kissinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

NANCY WALK EM DOWN WHEELER i need 20 more

[Caitlin Drohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been in a reading slump and this book was so cute and helped me out of it, I really enjoyed it. When it was announced we would get some info on what happened between season 4 and 5 in this book I knew I had to read it. Very Nancy Drew vibes!

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Someone get Nancy out of Hawkins she needs to go to Emerson immediately.
2. Loved getting to see more of Nancy and Robin’s friendship. They’re such a good duo and wish we could see it more in Season 5 💔

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d die for Nancy Wheeler

[Caitlin Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for any Stranger Things fan, especially as we wait for Season 5 Volume 2. It sets up so much context for what we’ve already seen in Volume 1. I’m obsessed. 5 stars. I want more (but only if Caitlin Schneiderhan writes it).

[Casey Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for the Stranger Things fans who want something to hold them over while waiting for volume 2 of season 5 to drop! Of course, you could enjoy it any time though. It does take place between seasons 4 and 5, so there's a little more information on what happened in between, which was fun to get! How is Hawkins dealing with a gate to the Upside Down being open and this insane military occupation that we see in Volume 1? Nancy, graduating from high school and about to head off to college, notices a classmate acting strangely. Already determined to search for leads on Vecna, she thinks he may have found a new target. She and Robin set out to investigate and uncover a much bigger mystery surrounding a sickness spreading through the town. We touch upon graduation, Robin and Vickie's relationship, the love triangle of Nancy, Jonathan and Steve, and ultimately if Nanc can ever distance herself from Hawkins. There are definitely tie-ins to Volume 1 of Season 5! The focus is mostly on Nancy and Robin, but I also appreciated more development on Karen Wheeler. Nancy is a boss, and she likes to solve problems. I appreciate the portrayal of her strong character here. I would be so down for a continuing Nancy Wheeler mystery series! It's definitely a fun one for the Stranger Things fan looking for a little bit more!

Thank you to Random House Worlds for the gifted copy! Available now.

[H. J. Carp · Rating 1 out of 5]

While everyone focuses on the kid characters from Stranger Things, the older teens have some fun adventures as well. When watching the show I loved the chemistry of Nancy, Steve, Jonathan and Robin. So why do they all feel like completely unrecognisable in this book?

The story follows Nancy Wheeler as she investigates a string of deaths in Hawkins after the events of season 4. She enlists the help of Robin and the two figure out that all of the murders are linked to their graduation guest speaker’s company Hearth and Home.

I feel Caitlin Schneiderhan has not really understood the characters she has written about in this book. Nancy is insufferable in this story, making really stupid decisions and being very cagey with Jonathan and Robin. Robin is not as frantic and Jonathan is just a bit of a dick (nothing really new here). The only member of the group she has kind of gotten right is Steve, but he is not really in it at all.

The story is just really boring as well. Nothing of substance happens. I was just wishing for this to end and when it did I never wanted to look at it again. I am so disappointed with this. I really wanted to like it but seriously regret wasting my time with it.

Avoid.

[Sarah Freels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in about six hours over the course of a slow work day. I loved Flight of Icarus, so I went in excited knowing that Caitlin was the author. It’s amazing to see that Nancy really is not interested in the love triangle shit, and I’ve learned and realized I do really like her when she’s not forced into a romance subplot. Let her be a girlboss, Duffers.

I also heavily and wholly appreciate her and Robin actually being friends.

[Raquel]

I appreciate Caitlin Schneiderhan’s commitment to naming her Stranger Things books at after songs that the characters canonically are into!!

[Robyn Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

great bridge between season 4 and 5.

[kal · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly like… really good. i honestly consider it to be the most canon book out of all. after all, im not super taken aback considering the author is a show-writer but i digress.

i was satisfied with how this book filled in the gaps between seasons 4 and 5, making nancys college situation and the whole love triangle mess a bit clearer. despite seeing the book as more canon, i dont believe these events *actually* took place between seasons, but it nails nancy and robin’s characterization (at least robin’s new characterization) right on the head. most, if not every, action they take is congruous with the show and im deeply grateful that i didn’t find myself having to suspend my disbelief regarding the choices made for the plot. this is just genuinely something nancy and robin’s characters would do and i love it.

i have a few plotline gripes that i’ll just lay out — nancy was present at not one, but two murder scenes within a… week(?) timeframe and was never considered a suspect. georgia’s involvement in the conspiracy being very obvious for a bit before it was revealed. really every person who ended up being involved in the conspiracy was suspicious from the get-go (except tyler) so it ruined the element of surprise a bit. nancy being right about every single hunch she follows — i get she’s smart but there is no semblance of trial and error (i will say that the show itself does this too sometimes). the RIDICULOUS fight nancy and jonathan get into regarding the chemical infested home that jonathan wants to buy — jonathan getting pissed at his INVESTIGATOR girlfriend (who is barely ever wrong) for warning him because…. i guess he assumes she wants him homeless? ok. then the dramatic ronance fight as a direct result of the jonathan fight — boooooo. THEN the fight where nancy DOGS on her mom for being concerned for her autonomy. i know that was a lot but i swear these things are trivial and i liked the book.

i LOVE ronance and was so so so grateful for the content in this book considering the canonical crumbs i’m getting in the show. robin coming to nancy’s rescue, saving her life because she obsessively listens to a police scanner? love.

also glad that there wasn’t a bunch of airtime devoted to the love triangle that i hate! props to schneiderhan. highly recommend

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read about 7 Stranger Things novels over the years (I think I’ve read every one that’s been released except for the ones about Brenner and Eddie) and this has been my favorite by far. I think it being written by one of the writers of the show helped a ton. I know these books are not canon, but I think this one is as close to canon as it gets. The plot made a lot of sense in the context of season 5. I love the reasonings behind Nancy and Jonathan not going to Emerson and how the Byers ended up staying with the Wheelers.

Karen Wheeler also shined in this book, I loved her scene with Nancy towards the end where she talked about how she actually does like things about her life. I feel like most presume that she’s miserable all of the time (which would be valid lol), but I love that she talked about the positives of her life. It made her feel more rounded as a character to me.

I loved the scenes between Nancy and Robin, of course. They are one of my favorite duos in the show so I knew I’d love them in book form too. I was pleasantly surprised with how vulnerable Robin got with Nancy. It was nice to see how the aftermath of s4 really impacted these characters on a mental level.

Overall, if you’re going to read a Stranger Things novel, I’d say this one is the way to go. None of the ones I’ve read have been bad (except for Starcourt Mall Escape 😬 that one is very skippable) and I have found enjoyment in them, but this one feels the most connected to the show. (Although, I do also recommend Darkness on the Edge of Town, Rebel Robin, and Lucas on the Line if you’re looking for more ST novels besides this one. They have a lot of character-building moments. The Dustin Experiment also isn’t a bad read, some of the science fair stuff drags a little bit is the only thing.)

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my favourite of the Stranger things novels. Written by one of the screenwriters on the show, Nancy and Robin are written so well, there was no jarring inconsistencies with the way they behave and speak compared to the show. Love the season 5 setting (I think season 5 might so far be my favourite season), and the mystery itself (unrelated to the Stranger Things story, though fully immersed in the setting and situation of the show of course) is a page turner. It was very satisfying to get under Nancy's skin in a novel, and to have glimpses into the intentions of the writers when it comes to her relationships (romantic, platonic and familial). I have one or two nitpicks about Nancy's decisions towards the end Nancy, you have guns - plural - in your bedroom, why on earth did you go off with Captain Rose without hiding one on your person?! Also, I would have liked for her to have called up Robin for one final investigation together. But, Nancy herself is an awesome character, I relate a lot to her and she would be endlessly interesting to follow as a character, even when the Stranger Things story is over!

So, "A Nancy Wheeler mystery". It would be so fun if there could be more!

[Priya Thosani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this with pretty low expectations, which might be why it worked so well for me.

I’ve skipped most of the Stranger Things tie-ins because they either felt too YA for my taste or just didn’t sound like something I’d care about. But a Nancy-led mystery? That’s my weak spot. And yeah, this one hit the spot. It’s brisk, easy to get into, and it actually feels like Nancy. The book leans into what she does best: noticing what others miss, chasing the truth even when it’s messy, and carrying herself with that quiet, determined edge.

It also scratched that “hold me over until season 5” itch. It doesn’t try to rewrite the universe or be bigger than the show, which I appreciated. It just slots in nicely and gives you a bit more time inside Nancy’s head, which honestly is what I wanted from the start.

My only real gripe is that I wanted more meat on the bones. A few moments felt a little too neat or fast, and I kept hoping for more involvement from other characters. Even a little more of that Hawkins ensemble energy would have made this feel richer.

Still, as far as tie-ins go, this is one of the better ideas executed pretty well. If you like Nancy and you like the investigative side of Stranger Things, this is a fun, solid read.

[Meghan JaMonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC🎧 If you want to fill in some of the blanks from the end of Season 4 and start of Season 5, like how graduation went, how Robin and Vickie moved out of the friend zone, and how the love triangle that is Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan moved into interesting territory. How was the city of Hawkins dealing with the chaos of a military occupation with a gate to the Upside Down wide open? Then you’ll want to read Strange Things: One Way or Another. It is a character development story that builds on Nancy, Karen Wheeler, and Robin Buckley. Nancy has become so jaded and cold after everything that has happened in Hawkins, but her itch to uncover a mystery/story is relentless. Louisa Zhu narrates the story, and she manages to nail Robin’s anxious demeanor perfectly. I enjoyed how it builds on the characters and makes our characters face what a post-Vecna world may look like.

[Veronica Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this, I don't think she will end up with Jonathan. She may end up with Steve, depending on what happens in season five or end up by herself. I can also see her dying from underlying respiratory issues due to her exposure to the medical waste.

I definitely feel that the only reason she's still with Jonathan is because of their trauma bond and she wants to look after his family since they have nowhere else to go. In the last chapter, she even says that "they're taking care of each other" in response to Jonathan asking if they're okay. Johnathan is no longer who she turns to first when she needs someone. She is pushing down all of her issues with their relationship, especially with him lying to her about the whole college thing for a long time.

[Lisa Rupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading Nancy Drew books to my son and this fits very well with the ones I've read and it's not scary, so I might even read it to him. It's unusual to know the characters from video and then read a new story in a book about those same characters. Duffers, I love that you are going to create some new book readers by offering a new Stranger Things story.

[tenley m · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m very stranger things minded right now so it may be part of why i gave this 4 stars, but also because i love a book about nancy that isn’t all about her love triangle! like yes she is much more than that thank you!

[Katy-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much hoping this is the beginning of a Nancy mystery series. A note for the author next time: remember she’s Nancy “walk ‘em down” Wheeler.

This mystery was fun, could’ve used more involvement from the other characters, but I liked getting lore for the radio station.

[Karen Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Recounting the events between seasons 4 and 5, this is a fun book for fans of Stranger Things. The author did a good job of capturing on page the language and mannerisms of the TV characters. It definitely didn’t capture my interest the same way the TV does.

[Kayleigh Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I loved having a side story from Nancy’s perspective, and I loved Robin helping out too!! I would love to have this become a series like Nancy drew or something. I super recommend this for stranger things fans waiting for vol 2!

[Kristy House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ very much felt like I was reading an adult, sci-fi Nancy Drew novel 😂 it was cute, not quite what I expected, but I appreciate how it gives us some context of where things are at the start of season 5.

[lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Ayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This was fun! I’m curious how the events of this book might intertwine with the rest of season 5. But an enjoyable story on its own with some characters I already love.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's nice being able to understand more of what Nancy thinks or feels; the pace and mystery-solving are so good i hit a flow state. I also adore Nancy and Robin's dynamic so much.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Kathy velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, I love all things stranger things.

[Nina Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helemaal priem, maar niet bijzonder. Heeft vrij weinig met de serie te maken, wel leuk crime verhaal.

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for byler crumbs but it was super entertaining and I love Nancy