What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Half of It
Alice Wu · Film · 2020
If you loved The Half of It, start with Heartstopper (Alice Oseman, 2022) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Half of It across media.
What hooked you in The Half of It was the way messy, quiet self-discovery blooms through unexpected connections in high school.
Books on the same thread
Heartstopper, Vol. 1
Alice Oseman · Book
Shares 2 threads with The Half of It: self-discovery, LGBTQ+ romance.
Like The Half of It, this graphic novel captures the tender, nervous energy of two high schoolers forming a bond that slowly evolves into something much more profound.
Half His Age
Jennette McCurdy · Book
Explores: forbidden attraction, mentor-student dynamics, adolescent longing.
If The Half of It hit, Half His Age shares the thread.
If We Were a Movie
Zakiya N Jamal · Book · 2025
Shares a thread with The Half of It: Self-Discovery.
If the intellectual banter and academic setting of The Half of It resonated with you, this queer romance delivers a similar sharp-witted tension within a charming, atmospheric backdrop.
Deep End
Ali Hazelwood · Book
Explores: high-stakes competition, slow burn, emotional vulnerability.
If The Half of It hit, Deep End shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with The Half of It: Self-Discovery, Coming-of-Age Story.
This series mirrors the emotional sincerity of The Half of It, focusing on the quiet, transformative power of an unlikely friendship between two teenagers navigating their true identities.
Love, Victor
Elizabeth Berger · Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with The Half of It: Self-discovery, Coming-of-age story.
Much like Ellie in The Half of It, Victor undergoes a deeply personal journey of self-discovery, balancing the pressures of high school life with the complexity of hidden feelings.
Sex Education
Laurie Nunn · Series · 2019
Shares 2 threads with The Half of It: Self-Discovery, Coming-of-Age Story.
The partnership between Otis and Maeve echoes the unconventional team-up found in The Half of It, blending social awkwardness with the shared vulnerability of navigating teenage relationship dynamics.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Moon Ji-won · Series · 2022
Explores: Autism representation, Acceptance, Overcoming prejudice.
If The Half of It hit, Extraordinary Attorney Woo shares the thread.
Podcasts on the same thread
Unsent Podcast
Podcast · 2023
Shares a thread with The Half of It: Unrequited love.
If The Half of It hit, Unsent Podcast shares the thread.
A New Untold Story
Podcast
Explores: Small-town life, Overcoming adversity, Single motherhood.
If The Half of It hit, A New Untold Story shares the thread.
Common questions
Is The Half of It a story about a love triangle?
Yes, The Half of It centers on a complex dynamic where Ellie helps Paul woo the most popular girl in school, only to realize she has feelings for that same girl herself. This creates an unlikely friendship and a complicated romantic situation between the three characters.
What is the premise of The Half of It?
The Half of It follows a shy, straight-A student named Ellie who is hired by an inarticulate jock named Paul to help him write letters to win over a girl. The situation becomes difficult when Ellie discovers that she is also interested in the girl Paul is pursuing.
Does The Half of It focus on a high school setting?
Yes, The Half of It takes place in a high school environment. The plot revolves around Ellie, a student who navigates academic life alongside her newfound friendship with Paul and her growing feelings for a classmate who is considered the most popular girl in their school.
Who are the main characters in The Half of It?
The main characters in The Half of It include Ellie, a shy and studious academic, and Paul, a sweet but inarticulate jock. The story also features the most popular girl in school, who becomes the shared focus of both Ellie and Paul's romantic interests throughout the film.