Some books and films have created such a unique tone that it’s impossible to replicate. There’s nothing worse than finishing a book that, one, scratched the right spot and two, not knowing what to do next. Or when the final credits roll on a film, and you’re left feeling like you need more. What you need now is an encore of sorts but a little change in medium to keep things exciting. Here are some remarkably similar books and films to fill that hole in your heart.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: Rope
The vibes of these two are remarkably similar. In short, both follow elitists trying to get away with murder. Both of these touch on the themes of morality being inconsequential when intellectualism is superior and how these ideas are faulty. Both are also excellent at building tension. Tartt’s first line of the book is, “The snow in the mountains was melting, and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.” It is knowing the stakes and yet wanting to find out how things will end that gives her novel such charm. Rope, similarly, begins the film with a murder and increasing attempts to cover it up during a dinner party with the victim’s friends and family. For The Secret History, however, I recommend looking up content warnings.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Fleabag
One wouldn’t think to combine these two works; however, they have remarkably similar themes. Both stories center around morally questionable main characters that—when looking back at their actions—feel they must change their life (either for the better or the worse). Discussing morality, self-image, our relationships with others and how, despite how brief our time on earth may be, we want it to mean something, Oscar Wilde and Phoebe Waller-Bridge write relatable yet undesirable characters to showcase the tragedy of someone succumbing to the worst parts of themselves and yet evolving beyond that. These are two sides of the same coin divided by more than a century.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade: Starstruck (Yes, the Disney Channel Original Movie)
This might be an odd choice, but the plots are remarkably similar: a girl meets a famous guy, and their reputation is faltering, yet romance ensues. If you liked one, the other will be right up your alley. Spoiler Alert is about a fan that gets body shamed after posting a cosplay photo. An actor from the show she’s a fan of defends her, which somehow leads to them going on a date for publicity’s sake. They end up genuinely liking each other, despite their less-than-ideal beginning, and traverse through paparazzi, family issues and their public image. If you’ve seen Starstruck, then you know where I’m going with this. The movie is similarly about a pop star who has to keep away from paparazzi (for plot reasons) and a girl who gets thrown along for the ride, despite disliking his public image. Both are toothachingly sweet and will warm any fangirl’s hearts.
The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun: Unreal
If you’re a fan of The Bachelor, these might just be next on your list. The concepts of the two are alike but take drastic turns in their own way. The Charm Offensive is a rom-com book about a Bachelor-like reality tv show producer and the next Bachelor falling in love during the filming of the show. Similarly, Unreal is about a Bachelor-like reality tv show’s producer, the mental torment they put contestants under for the sake of entertainment, and how that affects the producer as well. Surprisingly, both talk about how fake everything is behind the scenes but also how that affects the people creating the show. There are some heavier warnings you should research if you decide to enjoy their stories.
The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic: Riverdale
Once again, two things I would never have thought to put together, but while thinking it over, these two pieces give off similarly absurd plots while very different. Make sure you heed the content warnings for The Foxhole Court. The book series includes the mafia, a fictional sport, a university and a very messy romance. The main character is trying to not get murdered by the mafia. I feel as if I don’t really need to go over Riverdale, as it has infamously messy plots and is absurd (once surrealist, now just fantastical). I would say that both aren’t very well made, and yet you can’t help but devour them.
Nightb*tch by Rachel Yoder: Fresh
In both of these, gender roles are questioned through bizarre situations. In Nightb*tch, the main character (unnamed but referred to as mother) believes she is turning into a dog. This is mostly a reaction to her dissatisfaction as a stay-at-home mom. In Fresh, (spoiler alert) after going on a date with a man, he turns out to be a cannibal. This story is more of a tale of relationships between men and women and how he devours her (or at least believes himself to have a right to). Both deal with the patriarchy and how the expectations of a woman’s role are, in a way, ridiculous in modern society and yet we are tied to it. Both are cathartic and feel as if the creators really understand the undefinable expectations and their toll on women.
Happy watching!
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