What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBetter Things
Pamela Adlon · Series · 2016
If you loved Better Things, start with 20th Century Women (Mike Mills, 2016) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Better Things across media.
If you loved Better Things, you will gravitate toward these honest, messy portrayals of motherhood, womanhood, and the complexities of family.
Books on the same thread
Best, First, and Last
Amy T. Matthews · Book · 2024
Explores: intergenerational relationships, family dynamics, divorce.
Much like Better Things, this story dives into the complicated nature of intergenerational family dynamics, capturing the messy, authentic struggle of figuring out your own life while navigating relationships.
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Explores: Father-Daughter Relationship, Sexual Identity, Family Secrets.
This graphic memoir echoes the raw, unflinching look at complex family secrets found in Better Things, offering a poignant exploration of the challenging bond between a daughter and parent.
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng · Book · 2018
Explores: Mother-daughter relationships, Class differences, Race and privilege.
This novel mirrors the focus on the intricate, often strained mother-daughter relationships that drive Better Things, highlighting the tension between personal individuality and the expectations of a domestic life.
Such a Fun Age
Kiley Reid · Book · 2020
Explores: Racial dynamics, Performative allyship, Class privilege.
This narrative explores the intersection of motherhood and class privilege with the same sharp, observant eye seen in Better Things, dissecting the pressure to maintain a perfectly curated life.
Films on the same thread
20th Century Women
Mike Mills · Film · 2016
Shares 2 threads with Better Things: Single Motherhood, Coming-of-age.
This film captures the same spirit of unconventional single motherhood present in Better Things, focusing on the beautiful, chaotic effort of raising children amidst shifting cultural and personal landscapes.
Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2017
Explores: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Teenage Rebellion, Self-Discovery.
The complicated, spirited mother-daughter dynamic at the heart of this film will resonate with fans of Better Things who appreciate stories about teenage rebellion and the search for identity.
Bad Moms
Scott Moore · Film · 2016
Explores: Parental Burnout, Female Friendship, Rebellion Against Societal Norms.
Fans of the parental burnout depicted in Better Things will appreciate this comedic look at mothers who decide to stop trying to be perfect and embrace their own freedom.
The Edge of Seventeen
Kelly Fremon Craig · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with Better Things: Coming-of-Age.
This film captures the specific, awkward, and deeply felt teenage angst that permeates the lives of the daughters in Better Things, making it an essential watch for fans.
Podcasts on the same thread
We Don't Have Time For This
Podcast
Explores: Working Mothers, Parenting Humor, Female Friendship.
This podcast mirrors the candid, unfiltered conversations about the daily grind of working mothers found in Better Things, providing a relatable space to laugh at the chaos of parenting.
The Teen Commandments
Podcast
Explores: teenagers, adolescence, parenting teens.
If you enjoyed the relatable struggle of raising teens in Better Things, you will appreciate this podcast for its honest survival tactics and humor regarding the trials of adolescence.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Better Things?
Better Things follows Sam Fox, a single working actor living in Los Angeles. She balances her career while raising her three daughters, Max, Frankie, and Duke, acting as their mother, father, referee, and disciplinarian while navigating the challenges of daily life.
Who is the main character in Better Things?
The main character in Better Things is Sam Fox. She is a working actor and a single mother who is raising her three daughters, Max, Frankie, and Duke, without a partner in Los Angeles.
How many children does Sam Fox have in Better Things?
In Better Things, Sam Fox has three daughters. Their names are Max, Frankie, and Duke. Sam is responsible for raising them on her own while maintaining her career as an actor in Los Angeles.
Is Better Things based on a book?
Better Things is not an adaptation of a book. The series was created by Pamela Adlon in 2016 and focuses on the original story of Sam Fox, a single working actor raising her three daughters in Los Angeles.