What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCrush
Ada Calhoun · Book · 2026
If you loved Crush, start with We Live in Time (John Crowley, 2024) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Crush across media.
If you loved the way Crush explores the messy, destabilizing reality of adult desire, these stories will resonate deeply.
Films on the same thread
We Live in Time
John Crowley · Film · 2024
Explores: Chance Encounters, Divorce Recovery, Life-Changing Romance.
Just as Crush examines the complexity of long-term commitment, this decade-spanning romance mirrors that same emotional restlessness while navigating the shifting tides of love and life-changing chance encounters.
People We Meet on Vacation
Film · 2026
Explores: opposites attract, long-distance friendship, emotional intimacy.
While Crush focuses on the intensity of midlife obsession, this story offers a lighter look at the shared history and emotional intimacy that define long-term connections between two people.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Crush deconstructs intimacy with precision, and you will find that same profound sense of vulnerability in this story of unlikely bonds and the healing power of human connection.
Reminders of Him
Vanessa Caswill · Film · 2026
Explores: Estranged motherhood, Second chances, Forbidden romance.
Mirroring the exploration of marital instability in Crush, this narrative digs into the difficult intersection of forgiveness and desire when characters are forced to confront their own past.
Series on the same thread
Every Year After
Series · 2026
Explores: soulmates, nostalgia, long-term relationship.
If you were captivated by the internal conflict in Crush, this sweeping look at destiny and long-term relationships will satisfy your interest in how time shapes our romantic choices.
Fleishman Is in Trouble
Taffy Brodesser-Akner · Series · 2022
Explores: Midlife Crisis, Marriage Breakdown, Modern Dating.
This series acts as a perfect companion to Crush, diving into the wreckage of a marriage breakdown with the same sharp, literary focus on the fallout of infidelity.
Vladimir
Julia May Jonas · Series · 2026
Explores: obsession, professional misconduct, marital instability.
Much like the obsession depicted in Crush, this story masterfully captures the destabilizing force of a new attraction that threatens to dismantle an already complex and established life.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore · Series · 2026
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
If the emotional restlessness of Crush kept you hooked, you will appreciate how this story uses a facade of convenience to explore the genuine healing found in intimacy.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
You enjoyed the raw honesty of Crush, and these personal narratives provide a similar window into the complicated, often messy nature of the human condition and intimate relationships.
We Can Do Hard Things
Treat Media and Glennon Doyle · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Vulnerability, Personal growth, Emotional support.
Because you appreciated the deep emotional deconstruction in Crush, this conversational approach to vulnerability will provide the same sense of raw, authentic support for navigating life's difficult transitions.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Crush considered a critically acclaimed novel?
Yes, Crush was recognized as a best book of 2025 by several major publications, including TIME, Elle, and Marie Claire. The novel has received significant praise from bestselling authors for its clear and compelling exploration of the complex emotions associated with a crush.
Who is the author of Crush?
Crush is a novel written by Ada Calhoun. The book was published in 2026 and has garnered attention for its ability to vividly capture the destabilizing and giddy feelings that define the experience of having a crush.
Has Crush received endorsements from other authors?
Yes, Crush has been endorsed by Emma Straub, a New York Times bestselling author. Straub noted that the novel made her feel dizzy and expressed that she enjoyed every second of the reading experience provided by Calhoun's writing.
What is the primary focus of the novel Crush?
The novel Crush focuses on the giddiest and most destabilizing feelings associated with having a crush. Ada Calhoun writes about these intense emotions with absolute clarity, creating a reading experience that has been described by critics as both dizzying and seductive.