8 Books to Read If You Love Gilmore Girls
I re-watch Gilmore Girls all year round. It’s a show I always turn to when I’m feeling anxious or in need of a good smile or laugh. It’s my comfort show. Whether it’s the mother-daughter relationship between Lorelei and Rory, the many, many cups of coffee consumed, the small town that is Stars Hollow, or the legendary Richard and Emily Gilmore and the elite society of debutantes and country clubs, I will always put on Gilmore Girls.
When I’m looking for shows that make me feel good just as good as Gilmore Girls does, I can’t help but wonder what books I’d read that are similar to the show. Here are some recommendations I found after scouring the Internet.
Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I read this one in 2020, and I could not put it down! Set in a world of debutantes and country clubs and cotillion, the main character Sawyer is recruited by her grandmother to enter into cotillion. Sawyer lives with her mother, who got pregnant while she was in high school and was kicked out, forced to raise Sawyer all on her own. Does that story sound familiar? Present day: Sawyer goes to live with her maternal grandmother and enters the world of fancy dinners, white gloves, and snobby rich kids—oh, and a lot of drama.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
A multi-generational novel set between the 1940s and the 1990s, the story focuses on identical twin sisters Desiree and Stella. Raised in a small town in Louisiana, they both run away to New Orleans at age 16. However, Stella disappears. In the 1960s, Desiree returns with her eight-year-old daughter, Jude, who grows up to attend university in Los Angeles, who runs into Stella.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
I read this in my sophomore year English class, and I absolutely loved it. The story focuses on four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco who start a club playing mahjong. The story is divided between three mothers and four daughters.
They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
Picture Chilton, but with murder. The novel follows Jill Newman during her senior year of high school at an elite prep school. Three years ago, her best friend Shaila was killed by her boyfriend, Graham. He confessed and the case was closed, but three years later, she begins receiving mysterious texts and memories of the night Shaila was murdered suddenly come back to her. Now, Jill wants to uncover the truth about that night.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
This novel tells the story of Galaxy “Alex” Stern who is offered a full-ride to Yale University despite her background and lack of qualifications. While navigating the new campus, she finds herself investigating the secret societies that harbor dark occult magic and power, from Lethe, the ninth house.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
As a bonus, I’ll add the book that all Rory Gilmore fans love to read! It’s on the Gilmore Girls reading list if you want to “read like Rory Gilmore.”
Beach Read by Emily Henry
This very popular story of two authors stuck in neighboring beach houses is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls! With both lighthearted and emotional moments, the story dives into the complexities of life, love, and the creative process.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Bookish, quirky, and brimming with charm, Nina Hill’s life is thrown into chaos when she learns she has a big, eccentric family she never knew about. Fans of Rory Gilmore will relate to Nina’s love of books, while the ensemble cast of family and friends adds the small-town vibes.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
A city girl and a small-town guy fall in love despite their worlds clashing in every way. The hero, Daniel, is a small-town carpenter with a heart of gold, while Alexis is a sophisticated doctor navigating her family’s expectations. Their romance is both heartfelt and funny, much like Lorelai and Luke’s dynamic.
