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Funerals Are for the Living: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26New from the author of Dead Girls Walking comes a YA horror about a girl kidnapped by a racist cult after investigating the supernatural happenings at her sister’s gravesite
A month ago, Junie Daniels was in a car crash that left her with a dead sister, fragmented memories of the accident, and a mother too checked-out to plan a funeral. The cheapest grave plot Junie can find is in the next town over. Sure, Williamsville is still proudly named after a slave master who was rumored to dabble in dark magic—but this North Carolina, after all.
When unexplained occurrences start happening at the graveyard, though, Junie and her best friend, Omari, investigate. And it’s not long before Junie and Omari are taken...
Williamsville wants both Daniels girls. But Junie will do anything to protect her sister—even if it's only her corpse.
A month ago, Junie Daniels was in a car crash that left her with a dead sister, fragmented memories of the accident, and a mother too checked-out to plan a funeral. The cheapest grave plot Junie can find is in the next town over. Sure, Williamsville is still proudly named after a slave master who was rumored to dabble in dark magic—but this North Carolina, after all.
When unexplained occurrences start happening at the graveyard, though, Junie and her best friend, Omari, investigate. And it’s not long before Junie and Omari are taken...
Williamsville wants both Daniels girls. But Junie will do anything to protect her sister—even if it's only her corpse.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
1 person is currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Sami Ellis
4 books102 followersSami Ellis is a queer horror writer inspired by the horrific nature of Black fears and the culture’s relation to the supernatural. When she's not the single auntie with a good job, she spends her time not writing. You can follow her @themoosef on Twitter, or check out her words in her debut novel Dead Girls Walking (2024).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 7, 2025
This is a very loaded and very culty horror/thriller. I feel so-so about it. 3.5 stars!
I read a lot of horror novels, and this one managed to be pretty unique in comparison to a lot of the others, so I applaud it for that.
I think there are some overall really good plot points, super chilling scenes and some nice characters.
I think that rural North Carolina was a good location for this to take place, and it added some realness/believability to the story.
This sort of grabbed me at the beginning and I was invested.
Unfortunately, around the 60% mark, I think I started to loose stamina- and became a little bit less interested.
There is sort of a “magical” element introduced at some point in this, which for some reason I just didn’t vibe with much. I think I’m just not very into magic and horror combined together.
With this being said, there are some interesting points in this.
The overall racial element was pretty insane, and I think it brought a lot of depth into it, especially for a YA. (TW: Racism)
This has the ability to evoke some strong emotions. From major sympathy for the Junie, to major anger at the bad guys.
I definitely think you have to feel something here.
Basically, I think this was okay! It is not a bad story, and there are some really creepy points and elements mixed into it! I only wish that I would have been able to stay focused and invested in it for a bit longer.
Thank you to Netgalley, Abram’s kids and author Sami Ellis, for providing me with the eARC of “Funerals Are for the living” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
I read a lot of horror novels, and this one managed to be pretty unique in comparison to a lot of the others, so I applaud it for that.
I think there are some overall really good plot points, super chilling scenes and some nice characters.
I think that rural North Carolina was a good location for this to take place, and it added some realness/believability to the story.
This sort of grabbed me at the beginning and I was invested.
Unfortunately, around the 60% mark, I think I started to loose stamina- and became a little bit less interested.
There is sort of a “magical” element introduced at some point in this, which for some reason I just didn’t vibe with much. I think I’m just not very into magic and horror combined together.
With this being said, there are some interesting points in this.
The overall racial element was pretty insane, and I think it brought a lot of depth into it, especially for a YA. (TW: Racism)
This has the ability to evoke some strong emotions. From major sympathy for the Junie, to major anger at the bad guys.
I definitely think you have to feel something here.
Basically, I think this was okay! It is not a bad story, and there are some really creepy points and elements mixed into it! I only wish that I would have been able to stay focused and invested in it for a bit longer.
Thank you to Netgalley, Abram’s kids and author Sami Ellis, for providing me with the eARC of “Funerals Are for the living” in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: July 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was an amazing read! I wanted to know everything when the story kept unfolding so I kept reading, even though I had to go to sleep. It's a mystery, horror and an intriguing heartbreakung read all at once. Even though it is fiction, it still shows the difficulties of real-life racism. Beautifully done!
November 22, 2025
Sami Ellis’ Funerals Are For The Living is a beautifully layered novel that delves into the raw, complex emotions of grief, self-doubt, depression, and feelings of inadequacy through the eyes of its main character, Junie Daniels. From the very first page, Ellis pulls you into Junie’s fractured world—a world marked by the tragic loss of her sister Jay, a car crash that haunts her memories, and a mother who has emotionally checked out, leaving Junie to navigate the storm largely on her own.
What makes this book so compelling is how it weaves together the personal and the historical. Ellis doesn’t shy away from confronting the painful legacies of slavery and racism, grounding the supernatural elements in real, systemic wounds that ripple through generations. The town of Williamsville, proudly named after a slave master rumored to practice dark magic, becomes a character in its own right, symbolizing the shadows of the past that still loom large over the present.
Junie’s journey is at once intensely personal and broadly resonant. Ellis gives us a protagonist who is deeply human—flawed, vulnerable, sometimes unsure, but always striving. Junie’s growth is subtle and realistic; she takes baby steps forward, often stumbling but never giving up. Alongside her is Omari, her steadfast best friend, whose support and friendship are vital to Junie’s ability to face the darkness both around and within her. The town of Daniels, with its varied and vibrant community, adds further depth to the narrative, showing how collective support can make even the heaviest burdens more bearable.
Ellis’s characters are beautifully diverse, reflecting a spectrum of identities and experiences—Black, Hispanic, gay, bi, loners, the popular crowd—you name it. This diversity enriches the story, making it feel authentic and inclusive without ever feeling forced. Each character comes with their own strength and depth, contributing to the novel’s rich tapestry.
The novel is also full of twists and turns that demand careful attention. The timeline shifts in ways that initially keep you guessing but eventually reveal a carefully crafted puzzle. This structure adds to the suspense and keeps the reader fully engaged, making every revelation all the more impactful.
From the author of Dead Girls Walking, Ellis delivers a YA horror story that is as much about supernatural terror as it is about the very real horrors of racism, loss, and trauma. The kidnapping by a racist cult and the eerie happenings at the gravesite add layers of tension and horror, but it’s the emotional truth at the heart of the story that truly stays with you.
Funerals Are For The Living is a testament to resilience—the resilience of a girl who refuses to let go of her sister, of a community that stands together, and of a spirit that, even when broken, continues to fight. This book is a powerful, haunting, and ultimately hopeful read that I would recommend to anyone who appreciates nuanced characters and stories that don’t shy away from life’s darkest moments but find light within them.
Sami Ellis has once again proven her ability to craft unforgettable characters and stories that resonate on many levels. This novel stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I look forward to whatever she writes next.
What makes this book so compelling is how it weaves together the personal and the historical. Ellis doesn’t shy away from confronting the painful legacies of slavery and racism, grounding the supernatural elements in real, systemic wounds that ripple through generations. The town of Williamsville, proudly named after a slave master rumored to practice dark magic, becomes a character in its own right, symbolizing the shadows of the past that still loom large over the present.
Junie’s journey is at once intensely personal and broadly resonant. Ellis gives us a protagonist who is deeply human—flawed, vulnerable, sometimes unsure, but always striving. Junie’s growth is subtle and realistic; she takes baby steps forward, often stumbling but never giving up. Alongside her is Omari, her steadfast best friend, whose support and friendship are vital to Junie’s ability to face the darkness both around and within her. The town of Daniels, with its varied and vibrant community, adds further depth to the narrative, showing how collective support can make even the heaviest burdens more bearable.
Ellis’s characters are beautifully diverse, reflecting a spectrum of identities and experiences—Black, Hispanic, gay, bi, loners, the popular crowd—you name it. This diversity enriches the story, making it feel authentic and inclusive without ever feeling forced. Each character comes with their own strength and depth, contributing to the novel’s rich tapestry.
The novel is also full of twists and turns that demand careful attention. The timeline shifts in ways that initially keep you guessing but eventually reveal a carefully crafted puzzle. This structure adds to the suspense and keeps the reader fully engaged, making every revelation all the more impactful.
From the author of Dead Girls Walking, Ellis delivers a YA horror story that is as much about supernatural terror as it is about the very real horrors of racism, loss, and trauma. The kidnapping by a racist cult and the eerie happenings at the gravesite add layers of tension and horror, but it’s the emotional truth at the heart of the story that truly stays with you.
Funerals Are For The Living is a testament to resilience—the resilience of a girl who refuses to let go of her sister, of a community that stands together, and of a spirit that, even when broken, continues to fight. This book is a powerful, haunting, and ultimately hopeful read that I would recommend to anyone who appreciates nuanced characters and stories that don’t shy away from life’s darkest moments but find light within them.
Sami Ellis has once again proven her ability to craft unforgettable characters and stories that resonate on many levels. This novel stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I look forward to whatever she writes next.
November 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Amulet Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Sami Ellis’s “Funerals Are for the Living” is a haunting, genre-bending YA debut that combines Southern Gothic horror, magical realism, and social commentary into a story that is as emotionally raw as it is unsettling. Set in rural North Carolina, the story explores grief, legacy, and survival through the eyes of Junie, a young Black girl trying to hold her fractured family together after her sister’s tragic death until she uncovers the dark, supernatural truth lurking in her community as well as her own family’s history.
After a car crash kills her sister and leaves her mysteriously unharmed, Junie is consumed by guilt and the need to keep her grieving family afloat. But when strange things begin happening in her small town like unexplainable whispers, eerie coincidences, and a cult obsessed with harnessing stolen magic, Junie realizes that the tragedy in her life may not have been an accident. The more she investigates, the more she uncovers a chilling history of racism, exploitation, and generational trauma, where a white cult’s power literally feeds on the descendants of enslaved people.
Ellis crafts this horror with nuance and purpose. The racial and historical undertones aren’t just window dressing; they’re the beating heart of the novel. This is a story about who gets to hold power, whose pain gets erased, and how grief and rage can both destroy and heal. The setting, a small, rural North Carolina town steeped in superstition, adds grit and realism, grounding the more supernatural elements in a world that feels frighteningly plausible.
Junie’s voice is the soul of the story: sharp, funny, angry, and heartbreakingly human. Her journey from numb survivor to fierce truth-seeker feels deeply authentic. Supporting characters like Omari stand out (he was my favorite character as I loved his sense of humor and his dialogue throughout the book) though some of the other side characters could have been more fully fleshed out.
Tonally, “Funerals Are for the Living” straddles an intriguing line between horror and contemporary fiction. The cult elements and magical components are deeply unsettling, while the emotional core, which focuses on grief, guilt, and healing, is profoundly moving. The introduction of overtly magical elements felt a bit jarring as I thought this was mainly going to be a psychological or realistic thriller, but Ellis’s fusion of genres ultimately strengthens the story’s impact.
While the pacing can lag slightly in the middle, the originality and emotional power of the story more than make up for its flaws. It’s rare for a YA horror novel to balance social critique, supernatural horror, and heartfelt emotion this deftly.
Overall, “Funerals Are for the Living” is a bold, thought-provoking debut that redefines what YA horror can be. Equal parts eerie and cathartic, it’s a story about grief, identity, and reclaiming stolen power. Perfect for fans of Black horror that cuts deep while it chills.
Sami Ellis’s “Funerals Are for the Living” is a haunting, genre-bending YA debut that combines Southern Gothic horror, magical realism, and social commentary into a story that is as emotionally raw as it is unsettling. Set in rural North Carolina, the story explores grief, legacy, and survival through the eyes of Junie, a young Black girl trying to hold her fractured family together after her sister’s tragic death until she uncovers the dark, supernatural truth lurking in her community as well as her own family’s history.
After a car crash kills her sister and leaves her mysteriously unharmed, Junie is consumed by guilt and the need to keep her grieving family afloat. But when strange things begin happening in her small town like unexplainable whispers, eerie coincidences, and a cult obsessed with harnessing stolen magic, Junie realizes that the tragedy in her life may not have been an accident. The more she investigates, the more she uncovers a chilling history of racism, exploitation, and generational trauma, where a white cult’s power literally feeds on the descendants of enslaved people.
Ellis crafts this horror with nuance and purpose. The racial and historical undertones aren’t just window dressing; they’re the beating heart of the novel. This is a story about who gets to hold power, whose pain gets erased, and how grief and rage can both destroy and heal. The setting, a small, rural North Carolina town steeped in superstition, adds grit and realism, grounding the more supernatural elements in a world that feels frighteningly plausible.
Junie’s voice is the soul of the story: sharp, funny, angry, and heartbreakingly human. Her journey from numb survivor to fierce truth-seeker feels deeply authentic. Supporting characters like Omari stand out (he was my favorite character as I loved his sense of humor and his dialogue throughout the book) though some of the other side characters could have been more fully fleshed out.
Tonally, “Funerals Are for the Living” straddles an intriguing line between horror and contemporary fiction. The cult elements and magical components are deeply unsettling, while the emotional core, which focuses on grief, guilt, and healing, is profoundly moving. The introduction of overtly magical elements felt a bit jarring as I thought this was mainly going to be a psychological or realistic thriller, but Ellis’s fusion of genres ultimately strengthens the story’s impact.
While the pacing can lag slightly in the middle, the originality and emotional power of the story more than make up for its flaws. It’s rare for a YA horror novel to balance social critique, supernatural horror, and heartfelt emotion this deftly.
Overall, “Funerals Are for the Living” is a bold, thought-provoking debut that redefines what YA horror can be. Equal parts eerie and cathartic, it’s a story about grief, identity, and reclaiming stolen power. Perfect for fans of Black horror that cuts deep while it chills.
December 1, 2025
A fiercely honest, beautifully written novel about grief, girlhood, and the messy, necessary work of staying alive
Funerals Are for the Living is the kind of book that takes hold of you quietly and then refuses to let go. Sami Ellis writes with a tenderness that feels like being seen and a sharpness that refuses to look away from pain. This novel is a gut-punch, a confession, and ultimately a lifeline for readers who have ever felt the weight of grief settle into their bones.
The story centers on Aria, a Black teen navigating loss, memory, and the complicated landscape of mental health. What sets this book apart is its emotional honesty. Ellis captures the interiority of depression and self-blame with devastating clarity—but she balances it with warmth, humor, and the fierce friendships that help pull Aria back toward the world. This isn’t trauma for trauma’s sake; it’s trauma examined, named, and reclaimed.
Ellis’s prose is lyrical without ever losing its grounding. The writing moves between softness and sharp edges, mirroring Aria’s spiraling thoughts and moments of clarity. The nonlinear memories feel true to grief—slipping in unexpectedly, sometimes tender, sometimes unbearable. The result is a narrative that feels lived-in, full of breath and ache.
The supporting characters shine just as much. Friends, family, mentors—each relationship feels purposeful and real, offering Aria both challenge and comfort. Ellis never simplifies these dynamics, which makes them all the more powerful. Love isn’t a cure, but it’s a tether.
What lingers long after the final page is the book’s central truth: healing is not a straight line, and choosing to live—actively, intentionally—is an act of radical courage. Ellis handles heavy topics with gentleness and respect, offering readers resonance rather than despair.
Raw, compassionate, and gorgeously crafted, Funerals Are for the Living is a profound exploration of what it means to carry grief and still choose the world again and again. It’s a must-read for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Nina LaCour, Ashley Woodfolk, and anyone who values YA that treats teens’ emotional lives with the depth they deserve.
Funerals Are for the Living is the kind of book that takes hold of you quietly and then refuses to let go. Sami Ellis writes with a tenderness that feels like being seen and a sharpness that refuses to look away from pain. This novel is a gut-punch, a confession, and ultimately a lifeline for readers who have ever felt the weight of grief settle into their bones.
The story centers on Aria, a Black teen navigating loss, memory, and the complicated landscape of mental health. What sets this book apart is its emotional honesty. Ellis captures the interiority of depression and self-blame with devastating clarity—but she balances it with warmth, humor, and the fierce friendships that help pull Aria back toward the world. This isn’t trauma for trauma’s sake; it’s trauma examined, named, and reclaimed.
Ellis’s prose is lyrical without ever losing its grounding. The writing moves between softness and sharp edges, mirroring Aria’s spiraling thoughts and moments of clarity. The nonlinear memories feel true to grief—slipping in unexpectedly, sometimes tender, sometimes unbearable. The result is a narrative that feels lived-in, full of breath and ache.
The supporting characters shine just as much. Friends, family, mentors—each relationship feels purposeful and real, offering Aria both challenge and comfort. Ellis never simplifies these dynamics, which makes them all the more powerful. Love isn’t a cure, but it’s a tether.
What lingers long after the final page is the book’s central truth: healing is not a straight line, and choosing to live—actively, intentionally—is an act of radical courage. Ellis handles heavy topics with gentleness and respect, offering readers resonance rather than despair.
Raw, compassionate, and gorgeously crafted, Funerals Are for the Living is a profound exploration of what it means to carry grief and still choose the world again and again. It’s a must-read for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Nina LaCour, Ashley Woodfolk, and anyone who values YA that treats teens’ emotional lives with the depth they deserve.
November 18, 2025
Junie Daniels has spent the last month trying to put her life back together after a terrible car accident killed her sister. Junie only has fragments of memories from that night, and she is desperate to remember what exactly happened. Her mother has spiraled into a deep depression and Junie is trying everything she can to keep a roof other their heads. She is repeatedly pulled back to her sister's grave (in the next town over since it was the cheapest plot available) and soon unusual things start happening at the grave. The cemetery is on the site of a plantation that was owned by a man who reportedly used dark magic, so when Junie and her best friend Omari try to investigate what is happening, they are taken and are forced to fight for their lives. Very well crafted horror story, with plenty of twists and turns.
November 9, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Teen, for the gifted copy!
Funerals Are for the Living is an unforgettable, heart-wrenching debut that captures what it means to survive grief and rediscover yourself. Sami Ellis writes with honesty and tenderness, giving voice to emotions that are often hard to put into words.
This story feels raw yet healing, equal parts aching and hopeful. It’s one of those reads that makes you stop, think, and breathe a little deeper when you’re done. A powerful addition to YA contemporary fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Funerals Are for the Living is an unforgettable, heart-wrenching debut that captures what it means to survive grief and rediscover yourself. Sami Ellis writes with honesty and tenderness, giving voice to emotions that are often hard to put into words.
This story feels raw yet healing, equal parts aching and hopeful. It’s one of those reads that makes you stop, think, and breathe a little deeper when you’re done. A powerful addition to YA contemporary fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 13, 2025
Amazing.
I'm not typically into horror, but this story slapped so hard. A white cult stealing lives and magic from the descendants of their former slaves being destroyed by not only the community said slave descendants created but also being torn apart from the inside by the slave owners own descendants and their need to be superior was fantastic. Junie's character arc as she learns to deal with grief and move on was also amazing. Everything worked so well in this book. If you want to enjoy Black Horror this is a great place to start.
(I received a free copy for review)
I'm not typically into horror, but this story slapped so hard. A white cult stealing lives and magic from the descendants of their former slaves being destroyed by not only the community said slave descendants created but also being torn apart from the inside by the slave owners own descendants and their need to be superior was fantastic. Junie's character arc as she learns to deal with grief and move on was also amazing. Everything worked so well in this book. If you want to enjoy Black Horror this is a great place to start.
(I received a free copy for review)
November 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I always appreciate being able to read advanced copies.
——
This is one of my favorite books of the year. I wasn’t sure at first, as I felt the first few chapters were slow. As I got to understand Junie and the chaos that had unfolded in her life I got invested. Interweaving Junie and Omari’s friendship with Junie’s life tragedies set the book up to hook readers in.
Then bringing in the history and horror of Williamsville and its relation to Daniels to showcase the real horror of the story was excellent.
I highly recommend this YA horror.
——
This is one of my favorite books of the year. I wasn’t sure at first, as I felt the first few chapters were slow. As I got to understand Junie and the chaos that had unfolded in her life I got invested. Interweaving Junie and Omari’s friendship with Junie’s life tragedies set the book up to hook readers in.
Then bringing in the history and horror of Williamsville and its relation to Daniels to showcase the real horror of the story was excellent.
I highly recommend this YA horror.
Read
November 25, 2025This was unhinged and a delight.
Read
January 6, 2026tfw ur junie daniels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgBxZ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgBxZ...
December 11, 2025
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.
If you enjoyed Jordan Peele’s Get Out, you’ll love this. Junie is a take-no-shit protagonist and an utter terror to the Descendants, and it’s awesome. Like every final girl, when she reaches her breaking point, the carnage is immediate and abundant.
Funerals Are for the Living explores racism through a lens of grief - having to bury her sister in a white people’s church because she can’t afford a better plot is what gets Junie into this mess. This book isn’t a particularly deep dive on racism and its impact, but it’s still powerful. Both the grief and racism present in the story are rooted in characters’ inability to let go of the past. Junie can’t grow until she steps out of her sister’s shadow, and the Descendants cause so much harm because they still believe in a slave-owner from two hundred years ago. The lesson to take away here is that you can’t stay mired in the past, or it will destroy you. Instead, keep the good memories close and learn to leave the bad stuff in the past where it belongs.
I do wish there was a bit more of Junie and Neveña together, and further exploration into the magic system at play here (especially the concept of spares). Regardless, Funerals kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.
3.5 stars.
If you enjoyed Jordan Peele’s Get Out, you’ll love this. Junie is a take-no-shit protagonist and an utter terror to the Descendants, and it’s awesome. Like every final girl, when she reaches her breaking point, the carnage is immediate and abundant.
Funerals Are for the Living explores racism through a lens of grief - having to bury her sister in a white people’s church because she can’t afford a better plot is what gets Junie into this mess. This book isn’t a particularly deep dive on racism and its impact, but it’s still powerful. Both the grief and racism present in the story are rooted in characters’ inability to let go of the past. Junie can’t grow until she steps out of her sister’s shadow, and the Descendants cause so much harm because they still believe in a slave-owner from two hundred years ago. The lesson to take away here is that you can’t stay mired in the past, or it will destroy you. Instead, keep the good memories close and learn to leave the bad stuff in the past where it belongs.
I do wish there was a bit more of Junie and Neveña together, and further exploration into the magic system at play here (especially the concept of spares). Regardless, Funerals kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.
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