What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSame As It Ever Was
Claire Lombardo · Book · 2025
If you loved Same As It Ever Was, start with Remarkably Bright Creatures (Olivia Newman, 2026) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Same As It Ever Was across media.
If you loved Same As It Ever Was, you likely crave stories that peel back the pristine veneer of suburban life to reveal complex, hidden truths.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Like Same As It Ever Was, this story explores how life-changing discoveries and hidden secrets can disrupt the quiet, expected routines of a woman in her later years.
Is This Thing On?
Bradley Cooper · Film · 2025
Explores: Divorce, Identity, Co-parenting.
Just as Julia Ames navigates the upheaval of her middle-aged reality in Same As It Ever Was, these characters face the messy, painful process of personal reinvention after marriage.
The Life List
Adam Brooks · Film · 2025
Explores: Self-Discovery, Family Secrets, Bucket List.
This narrative mirrors the journey of self-discovery found in Same As It Ever Was, using a quest to uncover family secrets as a catalyst for profound personal change.
There's Still Tomorrow
Film · 2023
Explores: Women's Empowerment, Domestic Abuse, Post-war Reconstruction.
This film captures the same emotional intensity regarding mother-daughter bonds and the courage required to transform one's life that resonated so deeply in Same As It Ever Was.
Series on the same thread
All Her Fault
Megan Gallagher · Series · 2025
Explores: Missing Child, Parental Fears, Suburban Secrets.
Readers drawn to the domestic tension in Same As It Ever Was will appreciate how this thriller exposes the terrifying volatility lurking beneath a seemingly normal suburban existence.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
If the suburban malaise in Same As It Ever Was captured your attention, you will recognize that same dissatisfaction here as characters grapple with identity amidst moral decay.
Little Fires Everywhere
Liz Tigelaar · Series · 2020
Explores: Class Conflict, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Secrets and Lies.
This series examines the same fragility of the picture-perfect family dynamic that Julia Ames experiences in Same As It Ever Was, emphasizing the weight of long-held secrets.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair
Linwood Boomer · Series · 2026
Explores: familial obligation, generational trauma, estrangement.
Fans of the complex family dynamics in Same As It Ever Was will find a darker, more humorous look at the lasting impact of generational trauma and estrangement.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If you appreciated the insightful, emotional exploration of the human condition in Same As It Ever Was, these personal narratives provide a similar depth of feeling and observation.
Slaggy Book Club
Podcast
Explores: Contemporary Literature, Book Recommendations, Literary Analysis.
For those who enjoyed the literary quality of Same As It Ever Was, this podcast offers the perfect space to continue exploring contemporary fiction and complex character studies.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Same As It Ever Was a standalone novel?
Yes, Same As It Ever Was is a standalone book by Claire Lombardo. There are no other books in this catalog related to the story or characters, as it is a singular narrative focused on the life of Julia Ames.
What is the premise of Same As It Ever Was?
Same As It Ever Was follows Julia Ames, a fifty-seven-year-old woman living in the suburbs. She enjoys a contented life with her husband and two children until she faces an unexpected turn of events that challenges her current reality.
Who is the author of Same As It Ever Was?
Same As It Ever Was was written by Claire Lombardo and published in 2025. The book has received praise for its witty and insightful writing style from various authors including Bonnie Garmus and Jessie Burton.
Does Same As It Ever Was have any sequels or related adaptations?
There are no sequels or related adaptations for Same As It Ever Was in the current catalog. The story is presented as a complete work focused on the life of the protagonist, Julia Ames, and her experiences at age fifty-seven.