What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved13 Reasons Why
Brian Yorkey · Series · 2017
If you loved 13 Reasons Why, start with Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher, 2017) — a book from the same story. Below: 1 book, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to 13 Reasons Why across media.
What hooked you in 13 Reasons Why was the haunting way that isolated, painful adolescent experiences unravel into larger, life-altering mysteries.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher · Book · 2017
Shares 3 threads with 13 Reasons Why: Bullying, Mental Health, Guilt.
If you loved 13 Reasons Why, you must experience the original source material. It captures the same gut-wrenching search for answers after a classmate's death through cassette tapes.
Films on the same thread
Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham · Film · 2018
Explores: Adolescent Anxiety, Social Awkwardness, Self-Discovery.
Like 13 Reasons Why, this film captures the raw social anxiety of the teen experience. It highlights the quiet, devastating pressure of navigating high school peer dynamics today.
Donnie Darko
Richard Kelly · Film · 2001
Shares a thread with 13 Reasons Why: Psychological Thriller.
This film mirrors the psychological weight found in 13 Reasons Why. You will recognize the same focus on a troubled, isolated teenager struggling against an unforgiving societal environment.
Thirteen
Catherine Hardwicke · Film · 2003
Shares a thread with 13 Reasons Why: Teen Drama.
This story echoes the dark trajectory of 13 Reasons Why. It explores how quickly a teenager can lose their way when peer influence leads toward dangerous, life-altering choices.
The Whale
Darren Aronofsky · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with 13 Reasons Why: Guilt.
This character study shares the heavy, emotional gravity of 13 Reasons Why. It focuses on the painful, complex process of attempting to reconnect with a distanced, hurting teenager.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Similar to the investigative drive in 13 Reasons Why, this podcast pulls you into a mysterious, small-town atmosphere where a single person's life reveals deep, hidden societal decay.
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2026
Explores: justice seeking, obsession, societal impact.
If the mystery aspect of 13 Reasons Why kept you listening, this podcast will satisfy that same urge to uncover the truth behind tragic and complex human stories.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 13 Reasons Why based on a book?
Yes, the 2017 television series 13 Reasons Why is based on the book titled Thirteen Reasons Why, which was also published in 2017. Both the show and the source material follow the story of a classmate who receives tapes after a teenage girl's suicide.
What is the premise of 13 Reasons Why?
The story of 13 Reasons Why centers on a classmate who receives a series of tapes following the perplexing suicide of a teenage girl. These tapes contain the mystery behind her tragic choice and unravel the events that led to the situation depicted in the series.
Who created the 13 Reasons Why television series?
The 13 Reasons Why television series, which premiered in 2017, was created by Brian Yorkey. The show is an adaptation of the source material titled Thirteen Reasons Why and explores the mystery surrounding a teenage girl's suicide through a series of tapes left for a classmate.
When was the 13 Reasons Why show released?
The television series 13 Reasons Why was released in 2017. Created by Brian Yorkey, the show is based on the book Thirteen Reasons Why and depicts the events following a teenage girl's suicide as a classmate listens to a series of tapes that explain her tragic choice.