What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLife in a Year
Film · 2020
If you loved Life in a Year, start with Move to Heaven (Yoon Ji-ryun, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Life in a Year across media.
If you loved Life in a Year, you likely crave these stories that find profound, heartbreaking meaning within the ticking clock.
Books on the same thread
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green · Book · 2012
Explores: Teenage Cancer, Love and Loss, Existentialism.
Like Life in a Year, this story centers on the raw intensity of young love facing a terminal diagnosis, exploring how mortality shapes the way we experience deep affection.
A Walk to Remember
Nicholas Sparks · Book · 2000
Shares a thread with Life in a Year: Terminal illness.
This narrative mirrors the emotional weight of Life in a Year by focusing on a life-altering romance that finds strength and beauty despite the shadow of a terminal illness.
Love Story
Erich Segal · Book · 1970
Shares 2 threads with Life in a Year: Terminal Illness, Tragedy.
This classic shares the core tragedy found in Life in a Year, highlighting the urgency and sacrifice inherent in loving someone while confronting an inevitable and heartbreaking end.
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera · Book · 2021
Explores: Death, Fate, Friendship.
Similar to the premise of Life in a Year, this story captures the desperate beauty of living fully and loving deeply when you know your time is running out.
Series on the same thread
My Life with the Walter Boys
Melanie Halsall · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with Life in a Year: teen drama.
Fans of Life in a Year will appreciate how this series navigates the process of grief and healing, showing how new connections can emerge in the wake of sudden tragedy.
13 Reasons Why
Brian Yorkey · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Life in a Year: Teen Drama.
If the heavy emotional stakes of Life in a Year resonated with you, this series offers a similarly intense exploration of how a tragic death impacts everyone left behind.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Lim Sang-choon · Series · 2025
Explores: First Love, Childhood Sweethearts, Island Life.
While different in setting, this story captures the enduring spirit of love across time that defines the central relationship in Life in a Year, emphasizing resilience through every trial.
Move to Heaven
Yoon Ji-ryun · Series · 2021
Explores: Grief, Death and Dying, Family Relationships.
This series echoes the somber yet poignant reflection on death seen in Life in a Year, focusing on the stories and legacies that people leave behind after they are gone.
Podcasts on the same thread
Cande Sanchez
Podcast
Explores: Love, Relationships, Heartbreak.
Those moved by the honest look at heartbreak in Life in a Year will find comfort in these personal discussions about the complexities of love and human relationships.
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If you appreciated the emotional impact of Life in a Year, this collection of personal narratives provides a similar depth of human feeling and poignant reflection on reality.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Life in a Year based on a true story?
Life in a Year is a 2020 film about a 17-year-old boy who learns his girlfriend is dying. The story follows his commitment to providing her with a full lifetime of experiences during her final year. It is a fictional narrative rather than a documented true story.
What is the primary premise of Life in a Year?
The core premise of Life in a Year centers on a teenager who discovers his girlfriend has a terminal illness. In response, he dedicates himself to ensuring she experiences the milestones of an entire lifetime within the limited span of the one year she has remaining.
How long is the runtime for Life in a Year?
Life in a Year is a 2020 film production. While the specific length can vary by platform, the central narrative spans the final year of the protagonist's girlfriend's life as the lead character attempts to condense a lifetime of experiences into that single timeframe.
Does Life in a Year focus on the relationship between the two main characters?
Yes, the plot of Life in a Year is entirely focused on the relationship between a 17-year-old boy and his girlfriend. The narrative is driven by his goal to give her an entire life of memories during the final year before she passes away.