What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedGhosts of Girlfriends Past
Mark Waters · Film · 2009
If you loved Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, start with A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens, 2018) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Ghosts of Girlfriends Past across media.
You loved how Ghosts of Girlfriends Past used supernatural intervention and second chances to force characters to confront their romantic regrets.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Scrooge
Brian Desmond Hurst · Film · 1951
Adaptation
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Burny Mattinson · Film · 1983
Books on the same thread
Ghost Story
Peter Straub · Book · 1979
Explores: Guilt, Past Trauma, Revenge.
If Ghosts of Girlfriends Past hit, Ghost Story shares the thread.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
Like the protagonist of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Gatsby is consumed by the ghost of a past romance, demonstrating how obsession with a former sweetheart leads to inevitable tragedy.
The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks · Book · 2008
Shares a thread with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Second chance romance.
If the second-chance romance dynamic in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past captivated you, this story of two lovers finding their way back together after years apart will resonate deeply.
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens · Book · 2018
Shares 2 threads with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Redemption, Ghost Story.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past draws its structural DNA from this classic tale, which uses ghostly visits to inspire redemption in a man cynical about the spirit of love.
Series on the same thread
Marry My Husband
Shin Yoo-dam · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Romantic Comedy.
This series mirrors the supernatural second-chance premise of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, where a character is granted a surreal opportunity to fix past mistakes and rewrite their romantic future.
Emma
Jim O'Hanlon · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Romantic Comedy.
Much like the journey of self-discovery in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, this story centers on a protagonist who must finally confront their own romantic blind spots to find happiness.
The Vampire Diaries
Julie Plec · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Redemption.
The conflict between brothers over a shared romantic history found in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is mirrored here through supernatural stakes, forbidden love, and the haunting weight of memory.
Boys Over Flowers
Yoon Ji-ryun · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Romantic Comedy.
The transformation of a cynical, privileged lead character through a challenging romance mirrors the arc of the bachelor protagonist you enjoyed watching in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If Ghosts of Girlfriends Past hit, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend shares the thread.
Everyone Has An Ex
Podcast
Explores: breakups, relationship experiences, heartbreak.
If the focus on lessons learned from past relationships in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past kept you watching, these personal narratives offer a real-world exploration of those exact themes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Ghosts of Girlfriends Past based on A Christmas Carol?
Yes, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is a modern romantic comedy adaptation inspired by the classic story A Christmas Carol. The film mirrors the structure of the original book by having a cynical protagonist visited by ghosts who show him the error of his ways regarding love.
Are there other versions of A Christmas Carol similar to Ghosts of Girlfriends Past?
If you enjoyed the narrative arc of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, you can watch other adaptations of the source material. Notable versions include the 1951 film Scrooge and the 1983 animated feature Mickey's Christmas Carol, both of which follow the same fundamental storyline as the 2018 book.
How does the plot of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past relate to the original A Christmas Carol?
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past adapts the core themes of A Christmas Carol by replacing the traditional holiday redemption arc with a romantic focus. Connor Mead undergoes a transformation similar to Scrooge, learning to value genuine human connections instead of his bachelor lifestyle through the intervention of supernatural visitations.
Should I watch Scrooge or Mickey's Christmas Carol after Ghosts of Girlfriends Past?
You can watch these titles to see the traditional source material that inspired Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. While those films focus on the classic Victorian setting of the original story, they share the same structural foundation and redemptive themes found in the 2009 romantic comedy film.