What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBooksmart
Film · 2019
If you loved Booksmart, start with Sex Education (Laurie Nunn, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Booksmart across media.
If you loved Booksmart, you crave stories that capture the messy, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable heart of female best friendship.
Books on the same thread
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes · Book · 2001
Shares a thread with Booksmart: Female friendship.
Just like the leads in Booksmart, Enid and Becky navigate the bittersweet transition of growing up together while feeling the inevitable pressure of drifting apart after high school.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier · Book
Shares a thread with Booksmart: self-discovery.
If the awkward self-discovery of Booksmart resonated with you, you will appreciate this candid look at the relatable, teeth-grinding humiliations that define the bumpy road toward finding yourself.
Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo · Book · 2019
Explores: Intersectionality, Black Feminism, Identity.
While Booksmart focuses on a single night, this novel captures the sprawling, intersectional realities of womanhood that define the complex lives of the friends you rooted for onscreen.
Educated
Tara Westover · Book · 2018
Explores: Survivalism, Generational trauma, Academic ambition.
If you admired the intense academic ambition driving the characters in Booksmart, you will be moved by this memoir detailing the struggle to reconcile intellectual growth with family roots.
Series on the same thread
Sex Education
Laurie Nunn · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Booksmart: Self-Discovery.
The chaotic, high-stakes partnership between Maeve and Otis mirrors the dynamic duo in Booksmart, proving that unlikely alliances are the best way to handle teenage social anxiety.
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig · Series · 1999
Explores: Social Outcasts, High School Angst, Identity Crisis.
Much like the protagonists in Booksmart, the characters here grapple with their social standing and the fear of missing out while struggling to define their own evolving identities.
Euphoria
Sam Levinson · Series · 2019
Explores: Drug Addiction, Mental Health, Teenage Angst.
This series takes the raw, unfiltered emotional intensity found in Booksmart and pushes it into darker territory, exploring how trauma and friendship shape the modern teenage experience.
Derry Girls
Lisa McGee · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Booksmart: Female friendship, Coming-of-age comedy.
The hilarious, unbreakable bond between these girls perfectly captures the same spirit of female friendship seen in Booksmart, set against the backdrop of their own adolescent awkwardness.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Booksmart: female friendship.
The conversational rapport between these hosts mirrors the rapid-fire chemistry of the leads in Booksmart, highlighting how shared humor serves as a vital coping mechanism for women.
Betches Video Club
Podcast
Explores: Film Criticism, Humorous Discussion, Pop Culture.
If the sharp, witty commentary in Booksmart was your favorite part, this podcast provides that same level of humorous, opinionated analysis on the films that define our culture.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Booksmart?
Booksmart follows two academic teenage superstars who realize they should have prioritized fun over studying before high school graduation. They decide to cram four years of missed experiences into a single night to ensure they do not fall short of their peers.
Is Booksmart about a high school graduation?
Yes, the plot of Booksmart centers on the eve of high school graduation. The two main characters embark on a mission to experience four years of fun in one night because they feel they spent too much time working during their academic careers.
Why do the characters in Booksmart decide to go out?
In Booksmart, the protagonists realize they worked too hard and played too little throughout high school. Determined to not fall short of their peers, they set out on a mission to experience four years of fun in one night before their graduation occurs.
Does Booksmart feature a specific mission for the protagonists?
Yes, the protagonists in Booksmart undertake a mission to cram four years of fun into one night. This realization happens on the eve of their high school graduation after they decide they spent too much time working and not enough time playing.