What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson · Film · 2009
If you loved The Lovely Bones, start with The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold, 2002) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Lovely Bones across media.
What hooked you in The Lovely Bones was the way it explores the lingering, spectral presence of the departed within our own living world.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Ghost Story
Peter Straub · Book · 1979
Explores: Guilt, Past Trauma, Revenge.
Like The Lovely Bones, this story examines the heavy, inescapable weight of past trauma and the way ancient, unresolved guilt continues to haunt the living long after a death.
Looking for Alaska
John Green · Book · 2014
Explores: Grief, Mortality, Existentialism.
You will recognize the profound, existential ache of sudden loss found in The Lovely Bones as this narrative navigates the difficult transition from innocence to the reality of mortality.
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak · Book · 2013
Explores: World War II, Death and Dying, Loss and Grief.
Just as The Lovely Bones uses a unique perspective to frame tragedy, this novel employs the voice of Death itself to provide a compassionate lens on human grief and survival.
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson · Book · 1979
Explores: Childhood Imagination, Loss and Grief, Friendship.
This story mirrors the delicate exploration of childhood loss seen in The Lovely Bones, focusing on how imagination and memory serve as vital tools for processing an sudden absence.
Series on the same thread
The Leftovers
Damon Lindelof · Series · 2014
Explores: Grief, Loss, Faith.
If you were drawn to the aftermath of tragedy in The Lovely Bones, this series offers an equally haunting look at how communities attempt to function after an inexplicable loss.
Locke & Key
Meredith Averill · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Lovely Bones: Supernatural Drama.
This series captures the same intersection of family trauma and supernatural mystery present in The Lovely Bones, showing how the living must confront secrets left behind by the deceased.
AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Series · 2011
Shares 2 threads with The Lovely Bones: Loss of Innocence, Supernatural Drama.
Echoing the central premise of The Lovely Bones, this story follows a group of friends grappling with the persistent, lingering spirit of a companion lost during their formative years.
Hotel Del Luna
Hong Jeong-eun · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with The Lovely Bones: Supernatural Drama.
This show shares the ethereal, afterlife-focused atmosphere of The Lovely Bones, centered on the idea that those who have passed still maintain deep, complicated connections to the mortal realm.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bound by Love
Podcast
Explores: pregnancy loss, infant loss, grief.
For those moved by the emotional journey of the Salmon family in The Lovely Bones, this podcast provides a grounded space to explore the enduring, invisible bonds of grief.
Family Flowers Only by Grief Ireland
Podcast
Explores: grief, loss, mourning.
Following the intense, personal loss depicted in The Lovely Bones, this resource addresses the necessity of breaking the silence surrounding bereavement to find healing within a supportive, shared community.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Lovely Bones movie based on the book?
Yes, the 2009 film directed by Peter Jackson is an adaptation of the 2002 novel titled The Lovely Bones. Both the book and the movie follow the story of Susie Salmon as she watches her family from heaven after her murder.
What is the premise of The Lovely Bones?
The Lovely Bones follows 14-year-old Susie Salmon, who is murdered and watches her grief-stricken family from heaven. Susie observes their daily lives while struggling to balance her desire for revenge against her killer with the hope that her family will eventually find a way to heal.
Should I read the book or watch The Lovely Bones movie first?
You can choose either order, as both the 2002 book and the 2009 movie adaptation tell the same story of Susie Salmon. The book provides the original source material, while the movie offers Peter Jackson's visual interpretation of Susie watching her family from heaven.
Does The Lovely Bones show Susie Salmon interacting with her killer?
In The Lovely Bones, Susie Salmon watches her killer from heaven after her death. She observes his actions and the impact of her murder on her family, while navigating her own complex emotions regarding justice and her family's healing process.