What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBlended
Frank Coraci · Film · 2014
If you loved Blended, start with Once and Again (Edward Zwick, 1999) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Blended across media.
If you enjoyed the chaotic charm of Blended, you will love these stories about navigating modern, messy, and unexpected family dynamics.
Books on the same thread
Summer in the City
Alex Aster · Book
Shares a thread with Blended: second chance romance.
Like the accidental getaway in Blended, this story leans into the hilarity of forced proximity, proving that fate has a funny way of bringing two people back together.
Problematic Summer Romance
Ali Hazelwood · Book
Shares a thread with Blended: Romantic comedy.
Much like the awkward vacation encounters in Blended, this destination wedding scenario captures the tension and comedy that arise when two people are thrust into an unavoidable shared space.
Matched
Ally Condie · Book · 2011
Explores: Forbidden Love, Government Control, Free Will vs. Determinism.
While Blended finds humor in managed travel, this story explores the tension of having your romantic destiny decided by others, echoing the interference Jim and Lauren faced from friends.
Wild and Wrangled
Lyla Sage · Book
Shares a thread with Blended: Second Chance Romance.
If the second-chance romance in Blended resonated with you, you will appreciate how this story forces two people into close proximity to see if their spark can be reignited.
Series on the same thread
Once and Again
Edward Zwick · Series · 1999
Shares 2 threads with Blended: blended families, divorce.
This series mirrors the heartfelt focus of Blended, centering on the complex realities of single parenting and the hope of finding a second chance at love with someone new.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon · Series · 2016
Explores: Forbidden Love, Duty vs. Love, Star-Crossed Lovers.
Just as a chance meeting dictates the trajectory of Blended, this drama explores how fate intervenes in the lives of two people whose paths were never intended to cross.
Crash Landing on You
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Blended: Romantic Comedy.
Like the fish-out-of-water dynamic in Blended, this story thrives on the comedy and romance that emerge when a person is suddenly dropped into an entirely unfamiliar environment.
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz · Series · 2003
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Wealth and Privilege, Family Business.
If you enjoyed the dysfunctional yet endearing family unit at the heart of Blended, this series offers a comedic look at how families struggle to keep it all together.
Podcasts on the same thread
Left On Read
Podcast
Explores: dating dilemmas, single motherhood, long distance friendship.
This podcast captures the authentic, relatable struggle of single motherhood that anchors the emotional core of Blended, providing a humorous look at the realities of modern dating life.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
Fans of the domestic humor in Blended will appreciate this candid look at the daily annoyances and joys of modern parenthood and the complications of maintaining a long-term relationship.
Common questions
What is the premise of Blended?
Blended follows a divorced mother named Lauren and a widowed father named Jim who have a disastrous blind date. They later accidentally book the same family vacation package at a South African resort, where they and their children are forced to share the experience during spring break.
Is Blended a movie about a vacation?
Yes, Blended centers on a vacation package at a South African resort. After a failed blind date, the two main characters independently purchase half of the same family trip, leading them to encounter each other again while traveling with their children during the spring break season.
Who directed the movie Blended?
The 2014 movie Blended was directed by Frank Coraci. The film depicts the story of Lauren and Jim, two single parents who find themselves unexpectedly vacationing together at the same South African resort after a disastrous blind date experience.
Does Blended feature a spring break setting?
Yes, Blended takes place during spring break. The story follows Lauren and Jim as they arrive at a South African resort for families, only to discover that they have both purchased portions of the same vacation package, forcing them and their children to interact during the holiday.