The characters were a mixed bag—some great, some… not so much. Yadriel’s journey was compelling, sure, but did we really need to hear about his frustration on repeat? We get it, dude, your family doesn’t accept you—until they suddenly, miraculously do, with barely any struggle. Julian was a riot, full of chaotic energy and charm, but let’s be real: his personality did a lot of heavy lifting where actual character depth should’ve been. His love story with Yadriel? Cute, but it went from ghostly meet-cute to full-blown romance at breakneck speed. And poor Maritza—she was delightful, but the plot treated her like a set piece rather than a person. As for the rest of Yadriel’s family? Cardboard cutouts with “Obstacle” written on them in Sharpie.

A book set in a cemetery should feel eerie and atmospheric, right? Well, kind of. The Día de Muertos details were a highlight, but the setting itself wasn’t nearly as immersive as it could have been. The brujx traditions? Super intriguing, but the book barely scratched the surface, treating them more like cool decorations than a fleshed-out system of magic. And the supposed “danger” surrounding Miguel’s disappearance? About as intense as a mildly suspenseful episode of Scooby-Doo. Also, LA was there, I guess? The city setting could’ve added contrast to Yadriel’s magical world, but instead, it just kind of…existed in the background.

The prose was easy to read and emotionally charged, but holy exposition dump, Batman. Instead of letting emotions unfold naturally, the book loved to spell them out, sometimes multiple times in case we missed it the first dozen. And Julian’s nonstop quips? Cute at first, grating by the end. The pacing was all over the place—some moments dragged on like a school lecture, while others (like, I don’t know, the actual climax) zoomed by like the book was late for an appointment. Despite all this, there was heart in the writing, even if it wasn’t always the most polished execution.

A missing person mystery should be thrilling, but instead, most of the plot’s answers practically walked up to Yadriel, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, “Hey, here I am.” The stakes felt surprisingly low, and the big twist? Yeah, saw that coming a mile away. Julian’s whole refusal-to-move-on thing felt more like a convenient way to keep him around than an actual emotional struggle. And that romance—look, it was cute, but it went from zero to soulmates so fast I got whiplash. The ending wrapped things up way too neatly, making Yadriel’s struggles feel like they were barely struggles at all.

Despite all its flaws, the book was engaging. The blend of mystery, romance, and cultural elements kept things moving, even if some parts were frustrating. The Yadriel-Julian dynamic was fun, if not exactly deep. The mystery could’ve had higher stakes, but Yadriel’s emotional arc helped fill some of that gap. That said, the pacing sagged in the middle—dragging in some places, rushing in others—but hey, at least it wasn’t boring.

This is where things got messy. The magic system? Vague at best, inconsistent at worst. It was there, but good luck figuring out exactly how it worked. And Yadriel’s struggle with his family? Built up for most of the book only to be magically solved when the plot needed it to be. Julian’s backstory could have been fascinating, but the book only gave us crumbs. The antagonist? Yawn. His motivations were weak, and the final confrontation felt more like an afterthought than a satisfying climax. And the romance? Adorable, sure, but it leaned way too hard on “they’re stuck together, so obviously they fall in love” instead of actual chemistry.

Look, Cemetery Boys was fun—it just wasn’t great. The LGBTQ+ and Latinx representation? Fantastic. The emotional heart of the book? Solid. But the world-building was thin, the mystery lacked tension, and the resolution was way too convenient. Still, if you’re looking for a fun, diverse paranormal romance that doesn’t require too much scrutiny, this one’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to haunt you after you’re done.