What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMy Girl
Film · 1991
If you loved My Girl, start with My Girl (Hong Jeong-eun, 2005) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to My Girl across media.
What hooked you in My Girl was the bittersweet balance between the innocence of childhood and the heavy, inevitable reality of grief.
Start with the source
Adaptation
My Girl
Hong Jeong-eun · Series · 2005
Books on the same thread
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)
Haruki Murakami · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with My Girl: Coming-of-Age.
Like My Girl, this novel explores how the sudden, tragic loss of a friend forces young characters to navigate the complex, often painful transition into an uncertain adulthood.
Missing May (Scholastic Gold)
Cynthia Rylant · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with My Girl: Coming-of-Age.
If the emotional weight of My Girl resonated with you, this story offers a poignant look at how children process grief and find healing after losing a maternal figure.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
Much like the protagonist of My Girl, Harry must navigate the world as an orphan, finding a sense of belonging through deep, enduring friendships that define his coming-of-age journey.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier · Book
Shares a thread with My Girl: coming-of-age.
This memoir captures the same awkward, vulnerable spirit found in My Girl, focusing on the trials of growing up and the messy process of discovering your own identity.
Series on the same thread
My So-Called Life
Winnie Holzman · Series · 1994
Explores: Identity formation, Parent-child alienation, Social outsider.
The angst and emotional honesty that define the lead character in My Girl are mirrored here, as she navigates the complicated relationships between parents and their maturing children.
Boy Meets World
Michael Jacobs · Series · 1993
Explores: First love, Friendship, Family relationships.
If you valued the central friendship in My Girl, you will appreciate how this series tracks the evolution of childhood bonds and family dynamics across many formative years.
New Girl
Elizabeth Meriwether · Series · 2011
Explores: Friendship, Coming of Age, Relationships.
Much like Vada’s quirky perspective in My Girl, this series centers on a vulnerable, offbeat character learning to find her place and build a chosen family after personal upheaval.
Six Feet Under
Alan Ball · Series · 2001
Shares a thread with My Girl: Family Drama.
Since My Girl is set within the walls of a funeral home, you will find this series’ focus on the intersection of daily life and death familiar and deeply compelling.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
The way My Girl balances dark subject matter with humor is echoed in this podcast, which uses conversational storytelling to process life’s heavier moments alongside a trusted friend.
Girl Talk
Podcast
Explores: Friendship, Relatable Experiences, Everyday Life.
The focus on the intimacy and support found in close female friendships in My Girl is reflected here, providing a space for relatable, everyday conversations about growing up.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is My Girl based on a book or is it an original movie?
The 1991 movie My Girl is an original film centered on Vada Sultenfuss, a young girl obsessed with death, and her best friend Thomas J. The narrative explores her complex relationship with her father, the funeral parlor he runs, and her experiences during a transformative summer.
What order should I watch the My Girl titles in?
You should start with the 1991 film My Girl, which introduces Vada and Thomas J. Following that, you can watch the 2005 My Girl television adaptation. These titles provide different perspectives on the story of a girl dealing with the realities of life and death.
Is My Girl a series or just one movie?
My Girl exists as both a 1991 movie and a 2005 television adaptation. The 1991 film follows Vada Sultenfuss as she navigates her father's funeral parlor business and her friendship with Thomas J. The 2005 television title serves as another adaptation of the core story.
Does the 1991 My Girl movie feature the character Thomas J?
Yes, Thomas J is a central character in the 1991 movie My Girl. He is Vada Sultenfuss's best friend who is famously allergic to everything. Despite Vada's personal hangups and obsession with death, Thomas J remains by her side throughout the events of the film.