What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMy Mad Fat Diary
Rae Earl · Series · 2013
If you loved My Mad Fat Diary, start with It's Kind of a Funny Story (Anna Boden, 2010) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to My Mad Fat Diary across media.
You loved My Mad Fat Diary because it turns the messy, painful process of navigating mental health into an intimate, honest coming-of-age journey.
Books on the same thread
Anne Frank's Diary
Anne Frank · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with My Mad Fat Diary: Coming-of-age.
Much like Rae in My Mad Fat Diary, Anne uses her diary as a vital, private outlet to process the overwhelming reality of her world during a turbulent adolescence.
The Bell Jar
Sylvia Plath · Book · 1972
Shares 2 threads with My Mad Fat Diary: Mental Illness, Coming-of-Age.
If the raw, internal struggle of My Mad Fat Diary resonated with you, this classic depiction of a mental breakdown offers a similarly unfiltered look at identity and depression.
Smile
Raina Telgemeier · Book
Shares 2 threads with My Mad Fat Diary: self-discovery, coming-of-age.
You will recognize the awkward, relatable pains of growing up seen in My Mad Fat Diary, as Raina navigates the social anxieties and physical insecurities that define her teenage years.
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher · Book · 2017
Explores: Suicide, Bullying, Mental Health.
This story mirrors the heavy, complex exploration of suicide and mental health found in My Mad Fat Diary, focusing on the lasting impact these struggles leave on a peer group.
Films on the same thread
Mary and Max
Adam Elliot · Film · 2009
Explores: Loneliness, Social Isolation, Mental Health.
The unlikely bond between these pen pals echoes the poignant, unconventional friendships that help Rae find her footing and combat deep-seated loneliness in My Mad Fat Diary.
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Anna Boden · Film · 2010
Shares 3 threads with My Mad Fat Diary: Mental Illness, Self-Discovery, Coming-of-Age.
This film captures the same transition from psychiatric care back to reality that Rae faces in My Mad Fat Diary, highlighting the struggle to find community while managing depression.
Girl, Interrupted
James Mangold · Film · 1999
Shares 2 threads with My Mad Fat Diary: Mental Illness, Mental Health Drama.
Fans of the institutionalized perspective in My Mad Fat Diary will appreciate this exploration of the thin, often confusing line between sanity and the need for professional mental health support.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon · Film · 2015
Shares 3 threads with My Mad Fat Diary: Friendship, Self-Discovery, Coming-of-Age.
The blend of dark humor and genuine teenage vulnerability in this film reflects the tone of My Mad Fat Diary, centering on an outsider trying to navigate life and connection.
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 conversational, community-driven approach to discussing difficult topics mirrors the candid female friendship dynamic that makes the protagonist's journey in My Mad Fat Diary feel so authentic and necessary.
Mad, Sad and Bad with Paloma Faith
Podcast
Explores: mental health, emotional wellbeing, self-perception.
If the honest self-reflection of My Mad Fat Diary moved you, this podcast provides a similar space to unpack the labels and emotional baggage that shape our personal identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is My Mad Fat Diary based on a true story?
My Mad Fat Diary is a television series based on the writings of Rae Earl. It follows the story of a troubled young girl in 1996 Lincolnshire who attempts to navigate her social life after spending four months in a psychiatric hospital following a suicide attempt.
What is the premise of My Mad Fat Diary?
Set in 1996, My Mad Fat Diary tells the story of Rae, a teenager who returns to her social circle after four months in a psychiatric hospital. Her friends believe she was in France, and she must hide her mental health and body image struggles from them.
How does Rae hide her past in My Mad Fat Diary?
In My Mad Fat Diary, Rae attempts to reconnect with her best friend Chloe and their group of friends while keeping her four-month stay at a psychiatric hospital a secret. She allows them to continue believing she was in France during her absence.
What time period is My Mad Fat Diary set in?
My Mad Fat Diary is set in 1996 in Lincolnshire. The story focuses on Rae, a young girl dealing with body image issues and mental health struggles after returning from a four-month stay at a psychiatric hospital to rejoin her group of friends.