What to read, watch, and listen to if you loved40 Days and 40 Nights
Michael Lehmann · Film · 2002
If you loved 40 Days and 40 Nights, start with The Love Dare (Stephen Kendrick, 2009) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to 40 Days and 40 Nights across media.
If you enjoyed the high-stakes romantic tension of 40 Days and 40 Nights, these stories explore the complexities of desire.
Books on the same thread
The Love Dare
Stephen Kendrick · Book · 2009
Explores: Marriage Enrichment, Communication in Marriage, Commitment.
If 40 Days and 40 Nights hit, The Love Dare shares the thread.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
If 40 Days and 40 Nights hit, Get Shorty shares the thread.
Fifty Shades of Grey
E. L. James · Book · 2011
Explores: Billionaire Romance, Dom/Sub Relationship, Sexual Awakening.
If 40 Days and 40 Nights hit, Fifty Shades of Grey shares the thread.
A Walk to Remember
Nicholas Sparks · Book · 2000
Explores: Opposites attract, Terminal illness, Redemption arc.
If 40 Days and 40 Nights hit, A Walk to Remember shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Sex Education
Laurie Nunn · Series · 2019
Explores: Sexual Awakening, Teenage Angst, Social Awkwardness.
Like the protagonist of 40 Days and 40 Nights, the characters here navigate the messy intersection of sexual discovery and social awkwardness in a school setting.
Californication
Tom Kapinos · Series · 2007
Shares a thread with 40 Days and 40 Nights: Sex Comedy.
While 40 Days and 40 Nights focuses on abstinence, this show explores the chaotic, self-destructive flip side of the spectrum through a writer struggling with addiction.
Sex and the City
Darren Star · Series · 1998
Explores: Female Friendship, Dating in the City, Single Life.
If the dating dilemmas in 40 Days and 40 Nights kept you hooked, this series offers a deeper, more candid look at modern urban romantic life.
Moonlighting
Glenn Gordon Caron · Series · 1985
Explores: Will They/Won't They, Sexual Tension, Quirky Characters.
The palpable chemistry and witty banter in this series mirror the escalating romantic tension that makes 40 Days and 40 Nights such an engaging watch.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sleep With Me
Silver Sleeper Productions LLC · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Insomnia Relief, Mindfulness, Boredom Induction.
If 40 Days and 40 Nights hit, Sleep With Me shares the thread.
Boy Problems
Liz Plank · Podcast
Explores: dating advice, masculinity, modern relationships.
This podcast provides a humorous, modern perspective on the same relationship frustrations that drive Matt Sullivan to his extreme vow in 40 Days and 40 Nights.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is 40 Days and 40 Nights based on a specific time of year?
Yes, 40 Days and 40 Nights centers on the Lenten season. The protagonist, Matt Sullivan, chooses to observe this period by making a vow of celibacy for forty straight days following a difficult breakup that left him struggling with his commitment.
What is the main challenge Matt Sullivan faces in 40 Days and 40 Nights?
In 40 Days and 40 Nights, Matt Sullivan attempts to abstain from all sexual activity for forty days. While he initially maintains control over his vow, the challenge becomes significantly more difficult when he meets the woman of his dreams during this period of abstinence.
Why does Matt Sullivan decide to start the vow in 40 Days and 40 Nights?
Matt Sullivan makes the vow in 40 Days and 40 Nights because his previous relationship ended in disaster. This experience left him with an aching heart and a lack of commitment, prompting him to give up sex for forty days during the Lenten season.
Does Matt Sullivan succeed in his goal in 40 Days and 40 Nights?
The plot of 40 Days and 40 Nights follows Matt Sullivan as he attempts to keep his vow of no sex for forty straight days. He manages to keep the situation under control until he encounters the woman he considers to be his dream partner.