What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe New Girl
Cassandra Calin · Book
If you loved The New Girl, start with Never Have I Ever (Mindy Kaling, 2020) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The New Girl across media.
If you loved The New Girl, you’ll appreciate these stories that capture the awkward, transformative process of finding your place in a new world.
Films on the same thread
Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham · Film · 2018
Shares a thread with The New Girl: Coming-of-age.
Like Lia in The New Girl, Kayla experiences the overwhelming weight of social anxiety and self-consciousness, making this an essential watch for those who value authentic portrayals of adolescent discomfort.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Kelly Fremon Craig · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with The New Girl: Coming-of-age.
This film mirrors the core experience of The New Girl by focusing on a young girl navigating the emotional turbulence of moving to a new home and starting over.
The Princess Diaries
Garry Marshall · Film · 2001
Explores: Self-Discovery, Unexpected Inheritance, Transformation.
Much like the protagonist of The New Girl, Mia struggles with the feeling of not belonging and the sudden, awkward shifts in identity that come with adjusting to an entirely new environment.
Inside Out 2
Kelsey Mann · Film · 2024
Explores: Emotional development, Teenage angst, Mental health.
Riley’s internal emotional evolution parallels the psychological growth found in The New Girl, offering a relatable look at the messy, confusing transition into the teenage years.
Series on the same thread
Never Have I Ever
Mindy Kaling · Series · 2020
Explores: Indian-American Identity, First Generation American, Grief and Loss.
If the immigrant experience and identity formation in The New Girl resonated with you, this show provides a similarly sharp, heartfelt exploration of finding one's voice while balancing cultural expectations.
Derry Girls
Lisa McGee · Series · 2018
Explores: Female friendship, Adolescent awkwardness, The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The New Girl excels at showing the absurdity of teenage life, and this series captures that same spirit by highlighting how young people survive social awkwardness amidst larger external conflicts.
The O.C.
Josh Schwartz · Series · 2003
Explores: Class Differences, Privilege, Identity.
This drama mirrors the fish-out-of-water premise of The New Girl, exploring the friction and personal growth that occur when a teenager is dropped into a completely foreign social landscape.
Daria
Glenn Eichler · Series · 1997
Shares a thread with The New Girl: Coming-of-Age.
Daria’s cynical outsider perspective on a new school environment perfectly complements the themes of cultural adjustment and social observation explored throughout the pages of The New Girl.
Podcasts on the same thread
Call Her Daddy
Alex Cooper · Podcast · 2026
Explores: female empowerment, sexual autonomy, brutal honesty.
If The New Girl hit, Call Her Daddy shares the thread.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The New Girl hit, 1619 shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The New Girl based on the author's real life?
The New Girl by Cassandra Calin follows the story of Lia, a character who moves with her family from Romania. The narrative focuses on her personal journey of adjusting to multiple life changes simultaneously after relocating to a new environment.
What is the main conflict in The New Girl?
The primary conflict in The New Girl involves the protagonist, Lia, struggling to adjust to a series of significant life changes. These challenges arise after she moves with her family from Romania, forcing her to navigate a new situation while dealing with simultaneous transitions.
Who is the main character in The New Girl?
The main character in The New Girl is a girl named Lia. The story documents her experiences and difficulties as she attempts to adapt to the various changes occurring in her life following her family's relocation from Romania.
Does The New Girl focus on the experience of moving?
Yes, The New Girl centers on Lia's experience moving from Romania with her family. The book explores the specific challenges she faces while trying to adjust to the many changes happening at the same time during this transition period.