What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedYoung Adult
Jason Reitman · Film · 2011
If you loved Young Adult, start with Enlightened (Mike White, 2011) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Young Adult across media.
You are drawn to the messy, self-destructive ways people return to their pasts to fix mistakes that cannot be undone.
Books on the same thread
You Can't Go Home Again
Thomas Wolfe · Book · 1998
Shares a thread with Young Adult: small town life.
Like the protagonist of Young Adult, George Webber experiences the bitter reality that one can never truly return to their hometown without disrupting the ghosts of the past.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with Young Adult: Nostalgia.
Jay Gatsby mirrors the delusional fixation found in Young Adult, as both characters desperately attempt to recapture a lost love who has moved on to a different life.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Shares a thread with Young Adult: Nostalgia.
This exploration of obsession and the failure of the American Dream echoes the central frustration of Young Adult, where a protagonist refuses to accept the passage of time.
The Making of Dr. Truelove
Derrick Barnes · Book · 2008
Explores: Alter Ego, Insecurity, Relationship Advice.
Just as the lead in Young Adult uses denial to mask her insecurities, Diego creates a false identity to cope with the pain of losing a past relationship.
Series on the same thread
Master of None
Alan Yang · Series · 2015
Shares 2 threads with Young Adult: Dramedy, Indie Comedy.
The existential malaise and messy dating life of Dev in this series provide a modern, comedic counterpart to the stagnant, self-sabotaging lifestyle depicted in Young Adult.
Eastbound & Down
Danny McBride · Series · 2009
Shares 2 threads with Young Adult: Small Town Life, Dark Comedy.
This show captures the same uncomfortable energy of Young Adult as a disgraced, ego-driven adult returns to their small town, unable to reconcile their past with their present.
Californication
Tom Kapinos · Series · 2007
Shares 3 threads with Young Adult: Self-Destructive Behavior, Dark Comedy, Dramedy.
Hank Moody is the spiritual sibling to the protagonist of Young Adult, both serving as self-destructive writers who sabotage their relationships while struggling with their own internal crises.
Enlightened
Mike White · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Young Adult: Dramedy.
If you appreciated the uncomfortable, raw character study of Young Adult, you will recognize the same struggle for redemption following a public breakdown and deep personal disillusionment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast shares the dark, ironic perspective on small town life found in Young Adult, blending tragic circumstances with a sharp, cynical, and observational comedic tone.
NerdCast
Jovem Nerd · Podcast
Explores: humor, satire, current events commentary.
Much like the satirical lens applied to the protagonist of Young Adult, this podcast uses humor and cultural analysis to pick apart the absurdities of the modern world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Young Adult a story about a writer returning home?
Yes, Young Adult follows a divorced writer who travels back to her hometown in the Midwest. She intends to reconnect with an old flame from her past, though she discovers that he is now married and has started a family.
What is the premise of the movie Young Adult?
Young Adult focuses on a divorced writer who leaves her current life to return to her hometown. Her primary goal is to reconnect with a man she once dated, despite the fact that he is currently married with a family.
Does Young Adult feature a protagonist who is divorced?
Yes, the main character in Young Adult is a divorced writer. The plot centers on her decision to return to her hometown to pursue an old flame who has since moved on to married life with a family.
What brings the main character back to her hometown in Young Adult?
The protagonist of Young Adult returns to her hometown specifically to reconnect with an old flame. Upon her arrival, she finds that the man she is seeking is now married and living a life with his family.