If you loved
20th Century Girl
Film · 2022
If you adored the bittersweet ache of 20th Century Girl, you will find these stories capture that same poignant transition into adulthood.
Books on the same thread
A Walk to Remember
Nicholas Sparks · Book · 2000
Shares a thread with 20th Century Girl: First love.
Like 20th Century Girl, this tale explores the lasting impact of a transformative first love that shapes your perspective on life and memory long after the initial experience has ended.
P.S. I Still Love You
Jenny Han · Book · 2015
Shares 3 threads with 20th Century Girl: Teen Romance, First Love, Coming-of-Age.
This story mirrors the heartfelt exploration of young love found in 20th Century Girl, focusing on the complicated emotions and personal growth that arise when navigating high school relationships.
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes · Book · 2001
Explores: Teenage angst, Female friendship, Existential dread.
If the focus on female friendship in 20th Century Girl resonated with you, this graphic novel offers a similarly candid look at the challenges of growing up and drifting apart.
The Blue Girl
Charles De Lint · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with 20th Century Girl: Friendship.
Much like the school setting in 20th Century Girl, this story highlights how unexpected connections and shared secrets between friends can provide support during the turbulent years of high school.
Series on the same thread
Twenty Five Twenty One
Jung Jee-hyun · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with 20th Century Girl: Youth, First Love.
This series shares the nostalgic atmosphere of 20th Century Girl, emphasizing the resilience of youth and the bittersweet reality of pursuing dreams while experiencing the intensity of first love.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with 20th Century Girl: First Love.
Capturing the same summer-infused longing as 20th Century Girl, this drama delves into the emotional shifts of adolescence where family dynamics and romance permanently change the course of your life.
True Beauty
Series · 2020
Shares a thread with 20th Century Girl: Coming-of-Age.
Similar to 20th Century Girl, this series centers on the vulnerable experience of high school life, exploring how personal insecurities and romantic entanglements define the journey toward self-acceptance.
My First First Love
Jung Hyun-jung · Series · 2019
Shares 3 threads with 20th Century Girl: First Love, Friendship, Coming-of-Age.
This show echoes the charm of 20th Century Girl by highlighting the importance of close-knit friendships and the messy, beautiful process of learning how to love for the first time.
Podcasts on the same thread
Everything 90s Podcast
Everything Nostalgia - By Shaleena · Podcast · 2026
If the late nineties setting of 20th Century Girl sparked a sense of longing for the past, this podcast provides a similar trip down memory lane through nostalgic cultural exploration.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
While the genre differs, this podcast captures the deep bond of female friendship central to 20th Century Girl, focusing on how shared stories create an enduring sense of community.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 20th Century Girl set in the present day?
No, 20th Century Girl is not set in the present day. The story takes place in 1999, focusing on a teenage girl during that specific time period as she navigates her best friend's crush and her own blossoming love story.
What is the main plot of 20th Century Girl?
The plot of 20th Century Girl follows a teenage girl in 1999 who monitors a boy at school for her best friend. While acting on her friend's behalf, she unexpectedly becomes involved in a love story of her own.
Does 20th Century Girl focus on a friendship or a romance?
20th Century Girl focuses on both. The narrative begins with a girl helping her best friend by keeping tabs on a boy, but the story evolves as she gets swept up in a personal love story of her own during the same time.
Is 20th Century Girl a movie or a series?
20th Century Girl is a movie released in 2022. It tells a contained story about a girl in 1999 who finds herself caught between her best friend's romantic interests and her own developing feelings for a boy at school.