What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMay We be Forgiven
A. M. Homes · Book · 2013
If you loved May We be Forgiven, start with Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Marielle Heller, 2018) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to May We be Forgiven across media.
What hooked you in May We be Forgiven was the way domestic stability fractures under the weight of moral catastrophe.
Films on the same thread
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Marielle Heller · Film · 2018
Explores: Writer's Block, Literary Forgery, Female Anti-Hero.
Just as in May We be Forgiven, this story explores the desperate, often dark choices people make when their perceived social standing and professional identities begin to crumble.
American Beauty
Film · 1999
Explores: Mid-life crisis, Suburban malaise, Obsession.
You will recognize the suburban malaise of May We be Forgiven in this portrait of a man whose mid-life crisis leads to an impulsive, life-altering pursuit of liberation.
American Fiction
Cord Jefferson · Film · 2023
Explores: Authenticity, Identity, Hypocrisy.
The biting social commentary of May We be Forgiven finds a direct parallel here as a protagonist navigates the absurdity of hypocrisy while attempting to redefine his own identity.
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood · Film · 1992
Shares a thread with May We be Forgiven: Moral ambiguity.
This film mirrors the preoccupation with redemption and the long-term consequences of violence that define the central struggle of Harold in May We be Forgiven.
Series on the same thread
Unforgiven
Sally Wainwright · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with May We be Forgiven: Guilt and Redemption.
If the weight of past actions and the search for forgiveness in May We be Forgiven resonated with you, this drama offers a similarly intense look at reintegration.
Shameless
Paul Abbott · Series · 2011
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Poverty, Resilience.
The chaotic family dynamics present in May We be Forgiven are pushed to an extreme here, focusing on the dark humor found within a profoundly broken domestic structure.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with May We be Forgiven: midlife crisis.
This narrative captures the same suburban decay and moral ambiguity found in May We be Forgiven, focusing on a man whose life unravels into a web of deception.
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
Explores: Intergenerational relationships, Family secrets, Trauma and healing.
The complex, intergenerational family secrets that drive the plot of May We be Forgiven are central to this story, emphasizing the lasting impact of trauma and healing.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
Much like the narrative voice in May We be Forgiven, these stories masterfully balance the absurdity of the human condition with profound, unexpected emotional stakes and plot turns.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
The curiosity-driven exploration of obscure lives reflects the same interest in the hidden depths of individuals that makes May We be Forgiven such a compelling character study.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is May We be Forgiven about sibling rivalry?
Yes, May We be Forgiven focuses on Harold, who feels overshadowed by his more successful younger brother. Their relationship is irrevocably changed when the brother commits a violent act, forcing Harold to take on unexpected caregiving responsibilities for his brother’s children and their aging parents.
What is the central conflict in May We be Forgiven?
The central conflict in May We be Forgiven begins when Harold’s younger brother commits a violent act. This event disrupts their lives and forces Harold to step into the role of a father figure for his brother’s adolescent children while also caring for his aging parents.
Does May We be Forgiven feature the perspective of a brother?
Yes, May We be Forgiven centers on Harold, a man who has lived in the shadow of his younger brother. The narrative explores the aftermath of the brother's violent actions and how Harold must navigate his new responsibilities as a caregiver for his brother's family.
Who are the primary characters in May We be Forgiven?
May We be Forgiven follows Harold, his younger brother, his brother’s adolescent children, and his aging parents. The story revolves around how these characters' lives are irrevocably changed following a violent act committed by the younger brother, which leaves Harold to manage their collective care.