What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedElle
Laura Kittrell · Series · 2026
If you loved Elle, start with Legally Blonde (Robert Luketic, 2001) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Elle across media.
If you loved the way Elle navigates the messy, high-stakes social hierarchies of her youth, these stories will resonate.
Books on the same thread
Broken Country (Reese's Book Club)
Clare Leslie Hall · Book · 2025
Explores: Family secrets, Small town corruption, Economic hardship.
Like Elle, the protagonist here must confront the baggage of her past while navigating a complex community, offering a more grounded look at the secrets we leave behind.
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng · Book · 2018
Explores: Mother-daughter relationships, Class differences, Race and privilege.
Just as Elle challenges the rigid expectations of her environment, this story explores the tension between individual identity and the suffocating pressure of a planned, perfect social existence.
Great Big Beautiful Life: Reese's Book Club
Emily Henry · Book · 2026
Explores: creative process, professional rivalry, emotional vulnerability.
You will recognize the same spirit of determination found in Elle as these rivals compete to claim their own narrative within a high-pressure, character-driven professional landscape.
In Her Defense (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)
Philippa Malicka · Book · 2026
Explores: High-stakes celebrity culture, Hidden pasts, Moral ambiguity.
This legal thriller mirrors the high-stakes environment Elle faced, focusing on a woman whose hidden history threatens to disrupt the status quo during a sensational public trial.
Films on the same thread
Legally Blonde
Robert Luketic · Film · 2001
Shares 2 threads with Elle: self-discovery, Coming-of-Age.
To see where the icon began, return to the original film that established Elle as the ultimate force for self-discovery and challenging stereotypes in a judgmental world.
Roommates
Chandler Levack · Film · 2026
Explores: Female friendship dynamics, Passive-aggressive conflict, Social hierarchy.
This film captures the same volatile social dynamics Elle encountered, exploring how a simple relationship can spiral into a complex power struggle within a competitive academic setting.
Driver's Ed
Film · 2026
Shares a thread with Elle: coming-of-age.
If the youthful rebellion in Elle appealed to you, this road trip comedy offers a similar look at the chaotic, formative experiences that define the transition to adulthood.
Podcasts on the same thread
Unleashed
Podcast · 2026
Explores: humor, midlife, women's issues.
While Elle navigates the trials of high school, this podcast provides the same sense of humor and candid perspective on the challenges that women face throughout their lives.
Rich Little Brokegirls
Kimberly Bizu · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Elle: self-discovery.
Much like the journey of self-discovery central to Elle, this podcast celebrates the ongoing process of defining one's own path while navigating the expectations of modern womanhood.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Elle a prequel to the original story?
Yes, Elle is a prequel that explores the teenage years of Elle Woods. The series focuses on her experiences in high school during 1995, detailing the specific events and personal growth that shaped her into the iconic woman featured in later chapters of her life.
What time period does Elle take place in?
The series Elle is set in 1995. It follows the title character during her high school years, highlighting the fashion choices, friendships, and romantic challenges she faced before she eventually found herself as a fish-out-of-water at Harvard University.
Does Elle focus on Elle Woods' time at Harvard?
No, Elle does not focus on her time at Harvard. Instead, the series serves as an origin story that depicts her life in high school. It examines the tumultuous experiences and social dynamics that influenced her development prior to her legal studies.
What is the main premise of the show Elle?
Elle centers on the adolescent life of the title character in 1995. The show explores her navigation of tricky friendships and forbidden romance while attending high school, providing insight into the formative experiences that defined her character before her well-known transition to law school.