What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDumplin'
Anne Fletcher · Film · 2018
If you loved Dumplin', start with GLOW (Liz Flahive, 2017) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Dumplin' across media.
What hooked you in Dumplin' was the way complex mother-daughter bonds and underdog journeys spark a powerful, messy path toward self-discovery.
Books on the same thread
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · Book · 2022
Explores: reconciliation, mother-daughter estrangement, social stigma.
Like Dumplin', this story navigates the difficult terrain of mother-daughter estrangement, offering a poignant look at redemption and the struggle to redefine your identity after social scrutiny.
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with Dumplin': Mother-daughter relationships.
If the friction between expectations and individuality in Dumplin' resonated with you, you will appreciate this exploration of how mother-daughter dynamics clash against the pressures of conformity.
The Optimist's Daughter
Eudora Welty · Book · 2011
Shares 3 threads with Dumplin': Mother-Daughter Relationships, Small Town Life, Coming-of-Age.
This novel mirrors the emotional weight of mother-daughter legacies found in Dumplin', focusing on how women reconcile their pasts and family memories while forging their own independence.
Pieces of Her
Karin Slaughter · Book
Explores: buried secrets, hidden past, mother-daughter dynamics.
Much like the secrets that complicate Willowdean's life in Dumplin', this thriller centers on the tension of a mother-daughter relationship exposed by a sudden, life-altering truth.
Series on the same thread
Gilmore Girls
Amy Sherman-Palladino · Series · 2000
Explores: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Intergenerational Relationships, Class Differences.
Fans of the small-town charm and central mother-daughter connection in Dumplin' will find a kindred spirit in the fast-paced, witty, and evolving relationship between Lorelai and Rory.
Dickinson
Alena Smith · Series · 2019
Explores: Female Empowerment, Literary Ambition, Rebellion Against Societal Norms.
Just as Dumplin' celebrates the grit of an underdog, this series captures the spirit of a young woman rebelling against societal norms to define her own legacy.
GLOW
Liz Flahive · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Dumplin': Underdog Story.
If you loved the underdog energy and self-acceptance themes in Dumplin', you will appreciate this ensemble of misfits finding their power and identity through a performance-based outlet.
Atypical
Robia Rashid · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Dumplin': Coming-of-age.
Similar to the coming-of-age journey in Dumplin', this series focuses on an outsider navigating family dynamics and the search for independence while staying true to himself.
Podcasts on the same thread
Torta Podcast
Podcast
Shares a thread with Dumplin': self-acceptance.
This podcast shares the core philosophy of self-acceptance found in Dumplin', encouraging you to embrace your life with a positive mindset despite the pressures of the world.
Dance Drama
Dance Drama Queen · Podcast
Explores: competitive pressure, institutional toxicity, backstage politics.
If the high-stakes environment of the pageant in Dumplin' fascinated you, this show provides a revealing look at the institutional toxicity and politics of competitive performance culture.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Dumplin' based on a true story?
Dumplin' is a 2018 film directed by Anne Fletcher. It follows a Texas teenager who enters a local beauty pageant to make a point about societal standards and her mother's past as a pageant queen. It is a fictional narrative rather than a documentary or true story.
What is the premise of Dumplin'?
The film Dumplin' centers on a Texas teenager named Willowdean Dickson. To challenge her ex-beauty queen mother and prove a point about self-worth and fitting in, she decides to enter the local pageant that her mother manages.
Who directed the movie Dumplin'?
The 2018 film Dumplin' was directed by Anne Fletcher. The story focuses on a girl named Willowdean Dickson who enters her mother's local beauty pageant to protest the rigid standards of beauty and social expectations in her Texas community.
Is Dumplin' about a beauty pageant?
Yes, the movie Dumplin' revolves around a local beauty pageant run by the protagonist's mother. The main character, Willowdean Dickson, enters the competition specifically to make a point about measuring up and fitting in within her community.