What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMilkman
Anna Burns · Book · 2019
If you loved Milkman, start with Derry Girls (Lisa McGee, 2018) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Milkman across media.
What hooked you in Milkman was the way the crushing weight of societal surveillance and political instability forces individuals into dangerous, claustrophobic power dynamics.
Films on the same thread
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
Like the protagonist in Milkman, you will recognize the suffocating atmosphere of a woman trapped by volatile power dynamics, where every personal choice becomes a dangerous game of survival.
Manhattan
Woody Allen · Film · 1979
Explores: Infidelity, Age Gap Romance, Existential Crisis.
If the moral ambiguity and social tension of Milkman resonated with you, you will appreciate how this film examines the complicated, often neurotic relationships formed within a rigid social landscape.
The Handmaiden
Film · 2016
Shares a thread with Milkman: Identity.
This story mirrors the intense manipulation found in Milkman, showing how two women navigate a landscape of deception and forbidden power dynamics under the watchful eyes of their community.
The Third Man
Carol Reed · Film · 1949
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Post-War Disillusionment, Betrayal.
Much like the unnamed city in Milkman, this film captures the pervasive sense of paranoia and post-war disillusionment that forces ordinary people to confront the dangerous secrets of others.
Series on the same thread
Derry Girls
Lisa McGee · Series · 2018
Explores: Female friendship, Adolescent awkwardness, The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
While lighter in tone than Milkman, this show brilliantly explores the same theme of navigating adolescent life while living under the constant shadow of political conflict and social pressure.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin · Series · 2019
Explores: Nuclear Disaster, Government Cover-Up, Sacrifice.
This series captures the same feeling of systemic dread found in Milkman, illustrating how government cover-ups and political failures dictate the lives of those caught in the fallout.
Maid
Molly Smith Metzler · Series · 2021
Explores: Single Motherhood, Breaking the Cycle of Abuse, Resilience.
You will find the same resilience against systemic abuse in this story that defined the middle sister in Milkman, as she struggles to escape the pressures of her environment.
Midsomer Murders
Anthony Horowitz · Series · 1997
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Investigation, Rural Crime.
The small-town secrets that fuel the plot here mirror the intense gossip culture of Milkman, where every resident is under constant scrutiny and the pressure to conform is absolute.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If you valued the deep sociopolitical commentary in Milkman, this series provides a rigorous examination of how historical power structures continue to define and constrain our modern national identity.
Slaggy Book Club
Podcast
Explores: Contemporary Literature, Book Recommendations, Literary Analysis.
These discussions offer the same intellectual rigor found in Milkman, providing a space to unpack the complexities of contemporary literary fiction and the themes that shape our society.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Milkman a prize-winning novel?
Yes, Milkman is a recipient of the Man Booker Prize. The book was written by Anna Burns and achieved status as a New York Times bestseller following its 2019 publication.
What is the setting of the book Milkman?
The story of Milkman takes place in an unnamed city. The narrative follows a middle sister who draws unwanted attention from a local paramilitary figure known as the milkman while she attempts to live her life.
Why does the protagonist of Milkman attract attention?
The middle sister in Milkman stands out because she reads while walking and attends French night classes downtown. These activities make her interesting to the local paramilitary figure known as the milkman, which is the exact opposite of what she desires.
Who is the author of Milkman?
The book Milkman was written by Anna Burns. It is a New York Times bestselling novel that earned the Man Booker Prize and focuses on a middle sister navigating the unwanted pursuit of a local paramilitary figure.