What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLa La Land
Damien Chazelle · Film · 2016
If you loved La La Land, start with Love (Judd Apatow, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to La La Land across media.
What hooked you in La La Land was the way the pursuit of grand professional ambition inevitably complicates the intimacy of love.
Books on the same thread
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
Like La La Land, this explores the collision between high-stakes romantic longing and the hollow, consuming nature of the American Dream in a world defined by status and excess.
Valley of the Dolls
Jacqueline Susann · Book · 1966
Explores: Fame and Addiction, Female Friendship, Hollywood.
If the dark side of Hollywood fame in La La Land intrigued you, this cautionary tale provides a grittier look at the personal cost of chasing entertainment industry success.
Love Story
Erich Segal · Book · 1970
Explores: Forbidden Love, Class Differences, Terminal Illness.
This story mirrors the bittersweet romantic tension found in La La Land, focusing on how personal sacrifice and social differences create unavoidable obstacles for two people deeply in love.
Dreamland
Nicholas Sparks · Book
Explores: escapism, domestic abuse recovery, second chances.
Much like the musicians in La La Land, these characters must navigate the intersection of their creative passions and the personal challenges that threaten to derail their romantic connections.
Series on the same thread
Love
Judd Apatow · Series · 2016
Explores: Modern Relationships, Dating in LA, Personal Growth.
This series captures the same modern, messy reality of dating in Los Angeles that defined La La Land, highlighting how individual growth and personal flaws affect romantic relationships.
Start-Up
Park Hye-ryun · Series · 2020
Explores: Entrepreneurship, Technological Innovation, First Love.
Just as in La La Land, this drama centers on young, driven individuals who must balance their intense career ambitions with the unpredictable nature of falling in love.
Atlanta
Donald Glover · Series · 2016
Explores: Race and Identity, The American Dream, Urban Life.
This show echoes the struggle for artistic recognition seen in La La Land, portraying the difficult path of musicians trying to improve their lives within a competitive industry.
The Get Down
Baz Luhrmann · Series · 2016
Explores: Urban Decay, Youth Culture, Musical Innovation.
You will recognize the vibrant musical energy of La La Land here, as young dreamers attempt to transform their circumstances while navigating the high-stakes world of music history.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Big Picture
Podcast
Explores: Hollywood, Awards Season, Film Criticism.
If you appreciated the cinematic craft and Hollywood atmosphere of La La Land, this podcast provides the deep-dive analysis into the industry culture that fueled your appreciation.
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
These stories mirror the emotional resonance of La La Land, offering narrative portraits of the human condition that feel like small, intimate movies about life and difficult choices.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is La La Land a story about a couple?
Yes, La La Land follows the relationship between Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a jazz musician. As they pursue their individual dreams, the pressure of their mounting success begins to fray the fabric of their love affair and threatens their bond.
What is the primary conflict in La La Land?
The primary conflict in La La Land involves Mia and Sebastian balancing their personal ambitions with their relationship. As they work hard to maintain their respective dreams of acting and jazz music, the decisions they make for their careers begin to pull their romance apart.
Does La La Land feature characters struggling with their careers?
Yes, La La Land focuses on the professional struggles of its leads. Mia serves lattes to movie stars while attending auditions, and Sebastian earns a living playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, both fighting to maintain their dreams in a difficult industry.
Are the characters in La La Land successful at the start of the movie?
No, the characters in La La Land are not successful at the beginning. Mia is an aspiring actress working in a coffee shop, and Sebastian is a jazz musician scraping by with low-level gigs. Their journey involves navigating the challenges that arise as their professional success begins to mount.