If you loved
Girlhood
Melissa Febos · Book · 2021
If you loved Girlhood, you will appreciate these stories that interrogate the complex, often painful process of defining oneself against societal expectations.
Films on the same thread
She Said
Maria Schrader · Film · 2022
Just as Girlhood examines the weight of the male gaze, this film exposes the systemic power dynamics and silence that shape women's lives and professional experiences.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2019
Like Girlhood, this adaptation explores the internal landscape of female coming-of-age, focusing on the tension between societal pressures and the desire for authentic artistic expression.
Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2017
This film mirrors the raw, messy reality of growing up found in Girlhood, capturing the volatile mother-daughter bond and the quest for identity during adolescence.
Colette
Wash Westmoreland · Film · 2018
Colette’s struggle for creative recognition echoes the themes of autonomy in Girlhood, highlighting the necessity of reclaiming one's narrative from those who seek to objectify it.
Series on the same thread
Dickinson
Alena Smith · Series · 2019
This series captures the same spirit of rebellion against restrictive norms seen in Girlhood, following a young woman determined to define her own legacy and voice.
ZeroZeroZero
Leonardo Fasoli · Series · 2020
If Girlhood hit, ZeroZeroZero shares the thread.
The Sex Lives of College Girls
Mindy Kaling · Series · 2021
While lighter in tone, this show explores the same formative sexual exploration and identity construction that Melissa Febos documents with such precision in Girlhood.
Girl from Nowhere
SOUR Bangkok · Series · 2018
Much like the cultural criticism in Girlhood, this series uses narrative to dismantle the lies surrounding female behavior, offering a sharp commentary on societal justice.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
This podcast investigates the same moral ambiguity and human complexity that Girlhood explores, focusing on the stories of those caught between societal expectations and personal reality.
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
These personal narratives mirror the essayistic style of Girlhood, using intimate storytelling to examine the human condition and the surprising twists of our lived experiences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Girlhood a critically recognized work?
Yes, Girlhood is a highly acclaimed title. It is a National Book Critics Circle Award winner, a national bestseller, and a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Numerous outlets, including Time, NPR, and The Washington Post, named it one of the best books of the year upon its release in 2021.
What kind of reception did Girlhood receive from major publications?
Girlhood received widespread critical praise. In addition to winning the National Book Critics Circle Award, it was featured on the best-of-the-year lists for many prominent publications, such as Kirkus Reviews, Electric Literature, Ms. Magazine, and the Washington Independent Review of Books, following its publication in 2021.
When was Girlhood by Melissa Febos published?
Girlhood by Melissa Febos was published in 2021. The book achieved significant success shortly after its release, becoming a national bestseller and earning recognition as a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a National Book Critics Circle Award winner.
Is Girlhood considered a national bestseller?
Yes, Girlhood is a national bestseller. Beyond its commercial success, the 2021 book by Melissa Febos earned significant critical acclaim, including a National Book Critics Circle Award win and recognition from various major media organizations as one of the best books of the year.