A review by melziereadsbooks
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

3.0

I went into Cemetery Boys with really high hopes but sadly I was a bit let down. I think this was more of a me problem than a problem with the book. Cemetery Boys did a lot of things really well but parts of it fell really flat for me. 

Let's start with what the book did right. I absolutely loved the representation in the book. Aiden Thomas did a great job showcasing a diverse set of characters. I also liked how they showed pushback against Yadriel's gender identity from his traditional Latinx family. I found the sections that dealt with acceptance some of the most touching. I also found the relationship between Yadriel and Julian very beautiful. Julian never questioned who Yadriel truly was. Their relationship was so pure.

My problem with the story was the pacing. Parts of the story seemed to drag a bit. I also knew who the villain was right away in the story. It was kind of shoved in your face. One of the major problems I had with the story was Yadriel stealing Julian's brother's car for his last day. I feel like this scene felt way out of character for Yadriel.  A lot of this can be chalked up to this being a debut novel.  

Overall the story is an okay read. If you want a book with great diversity this one might be for you.