What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWelcome to the Sticks
Film · 2008
If you loved Welcome to the Sticks, start with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Yu Je-won, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Welcome to the Sticks across media.
You loved the way Welcome to the Sticks finds humor and heart in the culture shock of relocating to an unfamiliar, provincial landscape.
Books on the same thread
The Stranger (L'Étranger)
Albert Camus · Book · 1942
Explores: Absurdity of Life, Alienation, Indifference.
While darker than Welcome to the Sticks, this story explores the profound sense of alienation that occurs when an individual finds himself an outsider within a new, foreign landscape.
The Stranger
Albert Camus · Book · 1993
Explores: Existential crisis, Moral indifference, Alienation.
Mirroring the theme of alienation in Welcome to the Sticks, this work examines the moral ambiguity and disorientation that arise when a man is displaced into a new environment.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik Backman · Book · 2016
Explores: Grumbling protagonist, Unexpected friendship, Redemption.
Like Welcome to the Sticks, this story centers on a curmudgeonly man forced to confront his biases when he is thrust into the unpredictable, close-knit life of his neighbors.
A Distant Shore
Caryl Phillips · Book · 2005
Explores: Immigrant experience, Social alienation, Intergenerational trauma.
While more dramatic, this narrative echoes the displacement seen in Welcome to the Sticks, focusing on the social alienation of characters trying to find their place in a new village.
Series on the same thread
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Yu Je-won · Series · 2021
Explores: Small Town Romance, City Slicker vs. Small Town, Healing.
Much like the professional relocation at the heart of Welcome to the Sticks, this series captures the comedic friction and eventual healing found when a city professional moves seaside.
Schitt's Creek
Eugene Levy · Series · 2015
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Family dynamics, Class differences.
This show mirrors the fish-out-of-water comedy of Welcome to the Sticks by dropping a wealthy family into a small town where their social expectations are completely upended.
North & South
Elizabeth Gaskell · Series · 2004
Explores: class conflict, social injustice, forbidden love.
If you enjoyed the regional clash in Welcome to the Sticks, you will appreciate this drama that explores the profound cultural divide between a southerner and a northern town.
Cheers
Les Charles · Series · 1982
Explores: Friendship, Community, Finding your place.
This classic sitcom captures the community building and workplace camaraderie that made the post office setting of Welcome to the Sticks such a charming and memorable environment for viewers.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
Like Welcome to the Sticks, this podcast turns a sociological lens toward the quirks of provincial life, using a comedic perspective to examine the unique rhythm of small towns.
THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
ADAM BUXTON · Podcast
Explores: east anglia, family life, dog ownership.
This podcast shares the conversational, observational humor found in Welcome to the Sticks, grounding its appeal in the relatable, everyday realities of family life and local surroundings.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Welcome to the Sticks a comedy about a transfer to the French Riviera?
Welcome to the Sticks follows Philippe Abrams as he attempts to secure a transfer to the French Riviera to please his wife, Julie. However, his plan fails when he is caught scamming an inspector, leading to his immediate reassignment instead of the seaside location he originally desired.
Why does Philippe Abrams try to get a transfer in Welcome to the Sticks?
In Welcome to the Sticks, Philippe Abrams seeks a transfer to the French Riviera because his wife, Julie, has been feeling depressed while living in Salon-de-Provence. He attempts to obtain this seaside position at any cost to improve her mood and overall well-being.
What happens to Philippe Abrams after he is caught scamming in Welcome to the Sticks?
After Philippe Abrams is caught red-handed while trying to scam an inspector in Welcome to the Sticks, he faces immediate consequences for his actions. The film details how this failed attempt to secure a transfer to the French Riviera impacts his career and current living situation.
Where does the story of Welcome to the Sticks begin?
The story of Welcome to the Sticks begins in the town of Salon-de-Provence in the South of France. This is where Philippe Abrams and his wife, Julie, are living a comfortable life before her persistent feelings of depression prompt Philippe to seek a transfer to the seaside.