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Quick answer: If you loved Cemetery Boys, try The Sunbearer Trials, Lost in the Never Woods, Felix Ever After, When the Moon Was Ours, Labyrinth Lost and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. Each one is a heartfelt YA story with ghosts, magic, found family or queer romance.
Aiden Thomas's 2020 debut follows Yadriel, a trans boy in East Los Angeles whose traditional Latinx family struggles to accept his gender. Determined to prove himself a true brujo, he tries to summon the ghost of his murdered cousin but summons Julian Diaz, the school's bad boy, instead. Julian refuses to leave until he finds out how he died, and the two grow close. Readers love its warmth, mystery and romance. These books share its ghosts and its heart.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sunbearer Trials | Aiden Thomas | 13+ | readers who want more Aiden Thomas |
| Lost in the Never Woods | Aiden Thomas | 13+ | readers who like Peter Pan retellings |
| Felix Ever After | Kacen Callender | 14+ | readers who like trans heroes |
| When the Moon Was Ours | Anna-Marie McLemore | 14+ | readers who like magical realism |
| Labyrinth Lost | Zoraida Córdova | 13+ | readers who like brujas |
| The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina | Zoraida Córdova | Adult | older readers |
| Mexican Gothic | Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Adult | older readers |
| Heartstopper | Alice Oseman | 13+ | readers who like queer love |
| Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Benjamin Alire Sáenz | 14+ | readers who like Latino queer love |
| The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao | Junot Díaz | Adult | older readers |
| Red, White & Royal Blue | Casey McQuiston | Adult | older readers |
| Under the Whispering Door | TJ Klune | Adult | readers who like ghost romance |
| The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue | Mackenzi Lee | 14+ | readers who like adventure and romance |
| Darius the Great Is Not Okay | Adib Khorram | 13+ | readers who like family and identity |
| Hell Followed with Us | Andrew Joseph White | 15+ | readers who want dark trans horror |
1. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
A boy is chosen for a deadly trial among demigods.
Best for: readers who want more Aiden Thomas.
2. Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
Wendy returns to Neverland to find missing kids.
Best for: readers who like Peter Pan retellings.
3. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
A Black trans teen hunts down the person who outed him.
Best for: readers who like trans heroes.
4. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
A girl who grows roses and a trans boy fall in love.
Best for: readers who like magical realism.
5. Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
A bruja's spell sends her family to another world.
Best for: readers who like brujas.
6. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
A family's magical inheritance.
Best for: older readers.
7. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A woman visits a decaying mansion.
Best for: older readers.
8. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Two boys fall in love.
Best for: readers who like queer love.
9. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Two boys find each other.
Best for: readers who like Latino queer love.
10. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
A Dominican American family's curse.
Best for: older readers.
11. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The president's son falls for a prince.
Best for: older readers.
12. Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
A ghost falls for a ferryman.
Best for: readers who like ghost romance.
13. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
A young lord tours Europe.
Best for: readers who like adventure and romance.
14. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
A boy visits Iran.
Best for: readers who like family and identity.
15. Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
A trans boy escapes a cult in a ruined world.
Best for: readers who want dark trans horror.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Cemetery Boys: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Cemetery Boys. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Read The Sunbearer Trials for more Aiden Thomas. For trans heroes, Felix Ever After and When the Moon Was Ours are excellent. If you loved the brujería, Labyrinth Lost is perfect. For ghost romance, Under the Whispering Door is a lovely adult choice.
Related: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cemetery Boys about?
A trans boy summons the wrong ghost and helps him solve his death while falling for him.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 13 and up.
Is it a romance?
Yes, along with a mystery and family story.
Did it win awards?
It was a National Book Award longlist title.
Is there a sequel?
It is a standalone, but Aiden Thomas has other books.
What is Día de Muertos's role?
The story takes place around the Day of the Dead.
What should I read next?
Felix Ever After.