Books like Friends with boys

A tender, slightly spooky slice-of-life graphic novel about the terrifying leap from the safety of family into the chaotic world of high school. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Friends with boys.

cozy
melancholic
heartwarming
autumnal

01
Making friends
Kristen Gudsnuk
A chaotic, colorful, and deeply relatable magical romp through the awkward transitions of middle school.
Shares:
- earnest
02
All's faire in middle school
Victoria Jamieson
A warm, visually engaging exploration of the awkward clash between a quirky, theatrical family life and the harsh realities of public middle school.
Shares:
- earnest
03
Sheets
Brenna Thummler
A gentle, pastel-hued exploration of grief and the unexpected friendships that help us carry our heaviest burdens.
Shares:
- cozy
- melancholic
- autumnal
- earnest
04
Ghosts
Raina Telgemeier
A tender, fog-draped exploration of sisterhood and mortality that finds vibrant joy in the face of fear.
Shares:
- autumnal
- earnest
- wistful
05
Real Friends
Shannon Hale
A deeply validating, emotionally honest exploration of the roller coaster of childhood friendships and the quest to find where you truly belong.
Shares:
- earnest
06
The nameless city
Faith Erin Hicks
A kinetic, rooftop-leaping adventure about bridging deep cultural divides in a bustling, war-torn metropolis.
Shares:
- earnest
07
Skim
Mariko Tamaki
A moody, beautifully illustrated dive into the messy, cynical, and deeply vulnerable heart of 90s teenage angst.
Shares:
- melancholic
- autumnal
- wry
08
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes
A sharp, melancholy portrait of the exact moment a childhood friendship begins to dissolve into the ether of adulthood.
Shares:
- wry
09
Graveyard shakes
Laura Terry
A spooky, spirited graphic adventure where the trials of boarding school give way to the eerie magic of a graveyard underworld.
Shares:
- earnest
10
The Raina Telgemeier Collection
Raina Telgemeier
A warm, funny, and deeply validating hug for anyone surviving the awkward trenches of growing up.
Shares:
- earnest
- sibling dynamics
11
SuperMutant Magic Academy
Jillian Tamaki
A deadpan, magical-realist snapshot of the agonizing, hilarious boredom of being a teenager.
Shares:
- melancholic
- wry
12
The ghost and the goth
Stacey Kade
A snarky, opposites-attract supernatural comedy that hides a surprisingly tender heart beneath its sharp high-school banter.
Feels:
- playful
- angsty
- lighthearted

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