What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedIt's Okay to Not Be Okay
Park Shin-woo · Series · 2020
If you loved It's Okay to Not Be Okay, start with It's Kind of a Funny Story (Anna Boden, 2010) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to It's Okay to Not Be Okay across media.
You connected with It's Okay to Not Be Okay because of how it tenderly navigates the messy, non-linear journey of healing trauma.
Books on the same thread
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Trauma recovery.
If you appreciated the clinical yet deeply human approach to psychological recovery in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, this book offers the essential science behind those emotional breakthroughs.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Lori Gottlieb · Book · 2019
Explores: Therapy, Mental Health Struggles, Self-Discovery.
Much like the psychiatric ward setting in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, this memoir pulls back the curtain on the vulnerable, complex relationship between a therapist and their patient.
Normal People
Sally Rooney · Book · 2020
Explores: Relationship Dynamics, Class Differences, Miscommunication.
Fans of the intense, transformative romantic connection in It's Okay to Not Be Okay will recognize the same raw, character-driven exploration of how past baggage shapes current intimate relationships.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2015
Explores: Grief, Family Secrets, Intergenerational Relationships.
This story mirrors the whimsical yet poignant search for identity found in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, using a unique narrative structure to process deep grief and family secrets.
Films on the same thread
Silver Linings Playbook
David O. Russell · Film · 2012
Shares a thread with It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Romantic Comedy Drama.
This film captures the same messy, unconventional romance between two people navigating mental health struggles that made the central relationship in It's Okay to Not Be Okay so compelling.
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Anna Boden · Film · 2010
Explores: Teenage Depression, Mental Illness, Self-Discovery.
If you valued the way It's Okay to Not Be Okay finds hope within a psychiatric ward, this film offers a similar look at finding community during a mental health crisis.
Castaway on the Moon
Lee Hae-jun · Film · 2009
Shares a thread with It's Okay to Not Be Okay: Romantic Comedy Drama.
This film echoes the introspective, isolated journey of the protagonists in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, focusing on the quiet, surreal process of rediscovering oneself after hitting rock bottom.
Talk to Her
Pedro Almodóvar · Film · 2002
Explores: Coma, Male Friendship, Unconventional Relationships.
Those drawn to the psychological depth and unconventional bonds in It's Okay to Not Be Okay will appreciate this slow-burn exploration of loneliness, caretaking, and the complexity of human connection.
Podcasts on the same thread
feel your feelings with Ethan Jewell
Podcast
Explores: Emotional Wellbeing, Personal Growth, Vulnerability.
If you resonated with the candid approach to mental health in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, this podcast provides an accessible, conversational space to continue that journey of self-acceptance.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Chris & Rosie Ramsey · Podcast · 2026
Explores: domestic life, modern marriage, parenthood struggles.
While lighter in tone, this podcast provides a grounded look at the realities of modern relationships and life's annoyances that often serve as the backdrop for the characters in It's Okay to Not Be Okay.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is It's Okay to Not Be Okay about a psychiatric ward worker?
Yes, It's Okay to Not Be Okay follows a psychiatric ward worker who is desperate to escape his emotional baggage and the heavy responsibilities he has carried throughout his life.
Does the female lead in It's Okay to Not Be Okay write books?
In It's Okay to Not Be Okay, the female lead is a woman who writes fairy tales. However, she does not believe in the stories she creates.
What is the central theme of It's Okay to Not Be Okay?
The central theme of It's Okay to Not Be Okay involves the healing process between a psychiatric ward worker and a fairy tale writer as they help each other move past their respective emotional burdens.
Who directed It's Okay to Not Be Okay?
It's Okay to Not Be Okay is a 2020 television series directed by Park Shin-woo. The show focuses on the unexpected connection between a psychiatric worker and a cynical fairy tale author.