What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDesperate Housewives
Marc Cherry · Series · 2004
If you loved Desperate Housewives, start with Serial Mom (John Waters, 1994) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Desperate Housewives across media.
What hooked you in Desperate Housewives was the way suburban perfection masks a bubbling undercurrent of dark secrets and social satire.
Books on the same thread
All About Eva
Deidre Berry · Book · 2010
Explores: Fish Out of Water, Lifestyle Change, Eccentric Characters.
If the transition from comfortable domesticity to chaotic change in Desperate Housewives entertained you, you will appreciate how this witty novel explores the hijinks of a pampered woman's lifestyle.
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton · Book · 2002
Shares a thread with Desperate Housewives: Social satire.
Much like the social maneuvering found in Desperate Housewives, this classic examines the moral and economic constraints placed on women navigating the high-stakes marriage market of old society.
Sookie Stackhouse
Charlaine Harris · Book · 2009
Explores: Supernatural, Small Town Secrets, Strong Female Lead.
Fans of the small-town mystery format in Desperate Housewives will enjoy this series, which pairs a strong female lead with the hidden secrets of a tight-knit community.
Apples Never Fall
Liane Moriarty · Book · 2021
Explores: dysfunctional family, marital secrets, sibling rivalry.
Liane Moriarty captures the same domestic intensity seen in Desperate Housewives, crafting a gripping family drama that uncovers the hidden marital secrets lurking behind an ordinary suburban facade.
Films on the same thread
The Virgin Suicides
Sofia Coppola · Film · 2000
Explores: Adolescent angst, Lost innocence, Female Mystique.
Just as Desperate Housewives explored the dark realities of neighbors, this film captures a similar sense of suburban alienation and mystery surrounding the lives of those living next door.
Desperately Seeking Susan
Susan Seidelman · Film · 1985
Shares a thread with Desperate Housewives: Female Friendship.
If you loved the bored housewife trope from Desperate Housewives, you will enjoy this chaotic adventure that forces an ordinary woman into a life of mistaken identity and mystery.
Serial Mom
John Waters · Film · 1994
Shares a thread with Desperate Housewives: Dark Comedy.
This film mirrors the dark suburban satire of Desperate Housewives, portraying a perfect homemaker whose rigid code of ethics leads to explosive consequences within her quiet nuclear family.
The Trouble with Harry
Alfred Hitchcock · Film · 1955
Shares a thread with Desperate Housewives: Dark Comedy.
Mirroring the accidental crimes and dark humor of Desperate Housewives, this story centers on a small town where a dead body creates unexpected chaos among the local residents.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Shares a thread with Desperate Housewives: soap opera.
For viewers who enjoyed the serialized soap opera elements of Desperate Housewives, this drama offers a deep, ongoing look at the complex relationships within a small community.
Forensic Files
Podcast
Explores: crime scene investigation, scientific analysis, evidence-based analysis.
If the mystery-solving aspects of Desperate Housewives kept you watching, you will be drawn to this series that profiles intriguing crimes and real-world investigations through dramatic, fact-based storytelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Desperate Housewives based on a book or other source material?
Desperate Housewives was created by Marc Cherry in 2004. It is an original television series and does not have any book or source-material adaptations in the catalog.
What is the premise of Desperate Housewives?
Desperate Housewives follows the lives of friends and neighbors in a perfect suburb after the suicide of Mary Alice Young. Mary Alice acts as the narrator, providing an elevated point of view on the events unfolding within her community.
Who is the narrator of Desperate Housewives?
The narrator of Desperate Housewives is Mary Alice Young. After ending her life in her home, she provides commentary on the lives of her friends, family, and neighbors from her unique perspective.
When did Desperate Housewives first premiere?
Desperate Housewives premiered in 2004. The series was created by Marc Cherry and is set in a lovely suburb where the narrator, Mary Alice Young, observes the secrets and lives of those around her.