What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedKill Your Darlings
Film · 2013
If you loved Kill Your Darlings, start with Kill Your Darlings (L. E. Harper, 2022) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Kill Your Darlings across media.
You were drawn to the volatile intersection of intellectual obsession, secret desires, and the dangerous consequences of youthful rebellion.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
Like Kill Your Darlings, this classic explores the destructive allure of high society and the tragic obsession with recapturing an idealized past that inevitably leads to ruin.
On the Road
Jack Kerouac · Book · 1976
Explores: existential quest, wanderlust, nonconformity.
If the literary energy of Kill Your Darlings captivated you, this foundational text offers the raw, authentic pursuit of freedom and originality that defined the Beat Generation.
The Secret History
Donna Tartt · Book · 1993
Explores: Secrets, Guilt, Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of Kill Your Darlings will recognize the same intoxicating blend of intellectual elitism, moral ambiguity, and the dark, life-altering secrets shared among a small group of students.
11/22/63: A Novel
Stephen King · Book · 2011
Explores: Time Travel Consequences, Nostalgia, Assassination.
The sense of historical immersion found in Kill Your Darlings carries over here, as the narrative explores the weight of the past and the consequences of altering history.
Series on the same thread
Fellow Travelers
Ron Nyswaner · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with Kill Your Darlings: Forbidden Love.
This series mirrors the forbidden love and intense vulnerability of Kill Your Darlings, focusing on the high personal stakes of maintaining a secret relationship during a period of persecution.
Angels in America
Series · 2003
Explores: AIDS Epidemic, Identity, Sexuality.
Much like the emotional landscape of Kill Your Darlings, this story examines the intersection of identity, political climate, and the profound struggles of outsiders navigating a shifting, often hostile society.
11.22.63
Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Kill Your Darlings: Forbidden Love.
The nostalgic pull and moral dilemmas presented in Kill Your Darlings are echoed here, as a character confronts the personal cost of trying to rewrite history in a bygone era.
How to Get Away with Murder
Peter Nowalk · Series · 2014
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Secrets and Lies, Consequences of Actions.
This thriller captures the same tension between academic ambition and lethal secrets seen in Kill Your Darlings, showing how quickly students can become trapped by their own dangerous choices.
Podcasts on the same thread
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.
If the darker side of human nature in Kill Your Darlings intrigued you, this investigation of real-world crimes provides a similarly gripping look at the motives behind destructive behavior.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Those who appreciated the conversational, storytelling focus of the Beat Generation in Kill Your Darlings will enjoy this podcast's deep dive into the compelling, often tragic nature of true crime.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Kill Your Darlings based on a true story?
The 2013 movie Kill Your Darlings depicts the real-life 1944 murder that brought together the founding members of the Beat Generation, including Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs. It focuses on the historical events and personal relationships that shaped these poets during that pivotal year.
Are there multiple versions of Kill Your Darlings?
Yes, the title Kill Your Darlings refers to both a 2013 film and a 2022 book. While the movie explores the 1944 murder involving Ginsberg, Kerouac, and Burroughs, the 2022 book shares the same title, though they are distinct works released in different formats and years.
Should I watch the Kill Your Darlings movie before reading the book?
Because the 2013 movie Kill Your Darlings and the 2022 book Kill Your Darlings are separate adaptations, there is no required order. You can choose to start with either the film depicting the 1944 murder or the book to explore the story of these Beat Generation poets.
What is the 2013 Kill Your Darlings movie about?
The 2013 movie Kill Your Darlings follows the lives of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs. The plot centers on a 1944 murder that serves as the catalyst for bringing these influential Beat Generation poets together and shaping their future literary careers.