Books like 'Lights'
Readers who enjoyed Lights by Brenna Thummler also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy mystery supernatural paranormal ghosts friendship grief family magical-realism
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The Joy of Hex by Amanda M. Lee
Rated: 4.68 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsHadley Hunter is living the good life until a group of authors shows up on Moonstone Bay, and one of them clearly has murder on their mind.Jasmine Riley was the lone female writer in a male-dominated genre, and she was on top of her game. When she winds up dead in the ditch on the highway outside of the city, suspicion turns to her competition... -
![Leave the Window Open by Victoria E. Schwab]()
Leave the Window Open by Victoria E. Schwab
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA free story from Wesley’s POV, set a few hours after the end of The Unbound... -
![Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas]()
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 52 ratingsYadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal spooky -
![The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater]()
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 79 ratingsNow that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure -
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![The Last Present by Wendy Mass]()
The Last Present by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDon't miss the latest entry in the incredible Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass!Amanda and Leo have a history with birthdays. Now their friend's little sister, Grace, has fallen into a strange frozen state on her birthday, and Amanda and Leo must travel in time in order to fix whatever's wrong. As they journey back to each of Grace's birthdays, they start seeing all sorts of patterns . .Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![Between Walls by W.R. Gingell]()
Between Walls by W.R. Gingell
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDon't get too close to humans.That's rule number one. Well, it is if you're an emotionally constipated fae lord. As far as I'm concerned, the vampire could do a better job of keeping his distance, but he's never been that good at following the rules.G'day. I'm Pet. Schrödinger's Pet, these days; depends who's asking...Categorized as:
family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![The Ghost and the Birthday Boy by Bobbi Holmes, Anna J. McIntyre]()
The Ghost and the Birthday Boy by Bobbi Holmes, Anna J. McIntyre
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLily and Ian’s families come to Frederickport to celebrate Connor’s first Birthday. Bringing the in-laws together is not always easy, especially when uninvited guests from the spirit realm show up... -
![The Unbound by Victoria E. Schwab]()
The Unbound by Victoria E. Schwab
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsEach body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.Last summer, Mackenzie Bishop, a Keeper tasked with stopping violent Histories from escaping the Archive, almost lost her life to one. Now, as she starts her junior year at Hyde School, she’s struggling to get her life back...Categorized as:
family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal spooky action-adventure -
![The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne]()
The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA soul-stirring novel about the bonds between mother and child and the redemption that comes with facing the past and letting it go.Thirty-two-year-old Jess Abbot has lost everything: her job, her apartment, and—most heart-wrenching—her eight-year-old son, Chance, to a tragic accident... -
![Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson]()
Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsTheo has always dreamed of belonging to a real family. Her dream seems to come true when she is mysteriously "adopted" by the warm Kaldor clan. For the first time, Theo has brand new clothes, things of her own, security, and good friends. But, as time passes, the magic of Theo's new life begins to fade--really fade. In fact, Theo herself is vanishing...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book -
![Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass]()
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsGROUNDHOG DAY meets FLIPPED in this tale of a girl stuck in her birthday.It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited -- after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![Cursed by Elise Noble]()
Cursed by Elise Noble
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRania Algafari never asked to be different, and when she escaped the war in Syria and moved to the UK, her only goal was to live her life in peace. Get up, go to work, avoid talking to the dead—that sort of thing... -
![We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley]()
We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKyrie McCauley, author of If These Wings Could Fly, delivers a powerful contemporary YA novel about a trio of girls fighting for each other in the aftermath of a school shooting and the lasting bonds of friendship. Perfect for fans of Laura Ruby and Mindy McGinnis... -
![The Enchanted Garden Cafe (South Side Stories) (Volume 1) by Abigail Drake]()
The Enchanted Garden Cafe (South Side Stories) (Volume 1) by Abigail Drake
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFor her sixth birthday, Fiona Campbell’s mother, Claire, made her a peace sign piñata filled with wishes for a better planet instead of candy. When she got her period, her mother held a womanhood ceremony at their café and invited the neighborhood. On her sixteenth birthday, they celebrated with a drum circle... -
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![The Change by Kirsten Miller]()
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBig Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick--a gloriously entertaining and knife-sharp feminist revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers--putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town... -
![Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little]()
Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAfter her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou... -
![A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano, Kyla Garcia]()
A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano, Kyla Garcia
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLeonora Logroño has finally been introduced to her family’s bakery bruja magic—but that doesn’t mean everything is all sugar and spice. Her special power hasn’t shown up yet, her family still won’t let her perform her own spells, and they now act rude every time Caroline comes by to help Leo with her magic training... -
![Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot]()
Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSixteen-year-old Charlie Frith has problems. His crush is dating someone else, his sisters have glitter-bombed his prosthesis (again), and he's a seer-of-spirits in York, the most haunted city in England, and all his friends are ghosts.To make matters worse, it seems that famous spirits are mysteriously vanishing from York's haunted streets and alleys... -
![Me (Moth) by Amber McBride]()
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMoth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones... -
![Dig. by A.S. King]()
Dig. by A.S. King
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe Shoveler, the Freak, CanIHelpYou?, Loretta the Flea-Circus Ring Mistress, and First-Class Malcolm. These are the five teenagers lost in the Hemmings family's maze of tangled secrets... -
![From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender]()
From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAlexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs--an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who's finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit, then institutionalized. Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club; new friends are just what Kasey needs... -
![Spirits of the Season by Phoebe Rivers]()
Spirits of the Season by Phoebe Rivers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt will be a Christmas Sara will never forget as secrets about who she is—and why she has powers—are revealed. It’s Christmastime in Stellamar, which means the streets are buzzing with holiday shoppers—and ghostly activity... -
![Giving Up the Ghost by Phoebe Rivers]()
Giving Up the Ghost by Phoebe Rivers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSara discovers an exciting new paranormal ability—but will it hurt more than it helps?Though the paranormal has become nearly normal for Sara Collins, life has been stranger than usual lately. Accidents and mishaps are happening at home, and Sara’s dad and Lady Azura aren’t getting along very well. Lady Azura blames the negative energy in the house... -
![Moment of Truth by Phoebe Rivers]()
Moment of Truth by Phoebe Rivers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSara’s friend Lily has a new crush…but he might be more of a fantasy than she realizes.Sara now understands who she really is—why she has paranormal powers, why she’s living in Stellamar, and why it’s important to have Lady Azura in her life. What she doesn’t understand is how her best friend, Lily Randazzo, can have a crush on a boy who’s not alive... -
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![The Harder the Fall by Lauren Barnholdt]()
The Harder the Fall by Lauren Barnholdt
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKendall has a crush - and the ghost of his mother has something to say about it. The second book in a hilariously haunting tween series.Kendall Williams talks to dead people all the time. Like it or not, it's kind of her thing - the ghosts need her help resolving issues from when they were alive, and she's good at figuring out their problems... -
![Haunted Memories by Phoebe Rivers]()
Haunted Memories by Phoebe Rivers
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn this second installment of a paranormal series, Sara’s ready to fall in love—if the ghost standing in her way will allow it! Sara has settled in to her new hometown of Stellamar and even made a good friend in Lily Randazzo. Now it’s time to start school, and Sara has her first psychic vision... -
![Wraith by Edie Claire]()
Wraith by Edie Claire
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe thought that seeing the shadows was a curse. Until she saw him... Sixteen-year-old Kali has always seen two sets of people: those living now, and those who lived before. But on her spring break in Hawaii, she is suddenly surrounded by more shadows than ever. Including one who, unlike the others, can see her too. Zane remembers nothing besides surfing the monster waves of Oahu's North Shore... -
![The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari]()
The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCharlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother. Liam, his eight-year-old kid brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt.Then came the morning when the bunk, and Liam, disappeared forever... -
![Charleston Green by Stephanie Alexander]()
Charleston Green by Stephanie Alexander
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf Tipsy Collins learned one thing from her divorce, it's that everyone in Charleston is a little crazy--even if they're already dead.Tipsy, a gifted artist, cannot ignore her nutty friends or her vindictive ex-husband, but as a lifelong reluctant clairvoyant, she's always avoided dead people... -
![The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington]()
The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA magical adventure for fans of Katherine Applegate and Jennifer Holm about a girl with a mysterious connection to the elephant who saved her life.An elephant never forgets, but Lexington Willow can't remember her past. Swept away by a tornado as a toddler, she was dropped in a nearby Nebraska zoo, where an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm...Categorized as:
family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure animals -
![Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry]()
Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEchoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother's ghost... -
![Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff]()
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA haunting ghost story about navigating grief, growing up, and growing into a new gender identityIt's the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare... -
![The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd]()
The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEveryone in Emma's family is special. Her ancestors include Revolutionary War spies, brilliant scientists, and famous musicians--every single one of which learned of their extraordinary destiny through a dream. For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough... -
![The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass]()
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change...Categorized as:
ghosts magical-realism paranormal family friendship coming-of-age low-fantasy middle-grade -
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![The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury, Suzy Jackson]()
The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury, Suzy Jackson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsLength: 8 hrs and 18 minsHumor, heart, and a symphony of magic take center stage in this middle-grade fantasy, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil series.Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world’s most promising musicians learn to create magic... -
![Just South of Home by Karen Strong]()
Just South of Home by Karen Strong
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCousins Sarah and Janie unearth a tragic event in their small Southern town’s history in this witty middle grade novel that’s perfect for fans of Stella by Starlight, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, and As Brave as You.Twelve-year-old Sarah is finally in charge...Categorized as:
family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal spooky action-adventure -
![Ghost Huntress: The Journey by Marley Gibson]()
Ghost Huntress: The Journey by Marley Gibson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTeen psychic Kendall Moorehead is about to embark on the most dangerous and shocking ghost hunt of her life. After all, it isn't every day that the ghost of Princess Diana steps in as a personal spirit guide. But Shy Di isn't the only surprise awaiting Kendall and her team of teen paranormal superstars as they begin a whirlwind tour of Europe with renowned TV medium Oliver Bates... -
![Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis]()
Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money... -
![Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel]()
Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA thrilling mystery set against a stark landscape and the inspiration of Nome's real-life dog hero, Balto.Twelve-year-old Tee didn't think she believed in ghosts . . . until a walk in the woods around her new rural Alaskan home changes her mind. She and her beagle, Henry, are stalked by a wolfish, decidedly spooky shadow. There's something out there - and it's not of this world... -
![The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari]()
The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCooper is lost. Ever since his father left their family three years ago, he has become distant from his friends, constantly annoyed by his little sister, Jess, and completely fed up with the pale, creepy rich girl who moved in next door, who won’t stop staring at him.So when Cooper learns of an unsolved mystery his sister has discovered online, he welcomes the distraction... -
![Shadow Mirror by Richie Tankersley Cusick]()
Shadow Mirror by Richie Tankersley Cusick
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsUnsettling. There's no better word to describe Miranda Barnes's ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and - dare she look into a mirror - see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her. There's only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can't help but be drawn to him. He believes her; he wants to help her... -
![Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norriss]()
Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norriss
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrancis has never had a friend like Jessica before. She’s the first person he’s ever met who can make him feel completely himself. Jessica has never had a friend like Francis before. Not just because he’s someone to laugh with every day - but because he’s the first person who has ever been able to see her . . -
![The Witch Squad by M.Z. Andrews]()
The Witch Squad by M.Z. Andrews
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNineteen-year-old Mercy Habernackle is a witch gone off the rails. Causing problems with the law in her hometown, she’s faced with two options. Go to a correctional institution or get shipped off to witch boarding school, or as her mother prefers to call it, finishing school... -
![Fatal Charm by Linda Joy Singleton]()
Fatal Charm by Linda Joy Singleton
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn this vivid fifth volume of The Seer series, Sabine Rose is reunited with her ill grandmother Nona and her friends at Sheridan Valley. But the excitement of curing Nona-and discovering love with someone new-doesn't outweigh the burden of her father's dark secret: a daughter no one but Sabine knows about. Riddled with curiosity, Sabine uses astral projection to spy on her half sister Jade... -
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![The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens]()
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDesperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but it’s pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by… mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure -
![Lanny by Max Porter]()
Lanny by Max Porter
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThere’s a village sixty miles outside London. It’s no different from many other villages in England: one pub, one church, red-brick cottages, council cottages and a few bigger houses dotted about. Voices rise up, as they might do anywhere, speaking of loving and needing and working and dying and walking the dogs...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship ghosts low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal spooky -
![The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan]()
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsLeigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird... -
![Red Lily by Nora Roberts]()
Red Lily by Nora Roberts
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night...Hayley Phillips came to Memphis hoping for a new start, for herself and her unborn child... -
![All the Answers by Kate Messner]()
All the Answers by Kate Messner
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWhat if your pencil had all the answers? Would you ace every test? Would you know what your teachers were thinking? When Ava Anderson finds a scratched up pencil she doodles like she would with any other pencil. But when she writes a question in the margin of her math quiz, she hears a clear answer in a voice no one else seems to hear...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship grief low-fantasy magical-realism paranormal action-adventure -
![The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy]()
The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom the author of Girl One comes a spellbinding adventure about a strange power lurking in the Arkansas Ozarks, and the group of friends obsessed with finding it.Five friends arrive back in Eternal Springs, Arkansas, the small town they all fled after high school graduation. Each is drawn home by a cryptic, scrawled two-word letter that reads, You promised...
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