Hi Friends,
Last week, the Netflix original series Ginny & Georgia premiered season three. Now, I’ve seen the show off and on, but I’ve never fully watched the series. However, I do know that this season was messy, and the edits you can find on TikTok show just how intense it was. As a reader, of course I had to do some digging to find books to add to my TBR that give off Ginny & Georgia vibes. So if you’re a fan of the show or just looking for books with mother-daughter relationships, a bit of mystery, and small-town vibes, keep reading.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
A cryptic note reading “Protect her” is all that remains when Owen, Hannah’s husband, disappears. Hannah believes it refers to Bailey, her stepdaughter, who wants nothing to do with her. As secrets come to light and agents begin investigating, Hannah and Bailey set out to uncover Owen’s true identity. But discovering the truth about his past could change their future forever.
Why Read:
• It has a complex mother-daughter relationship. Although it’s between a stepmother and stepdaughter, it still mirrors Ginny and Georgia’s dynamic.
• Like Georgia in the TV series, a major theme in this book is dealing with a parent with a secret past.
• It’s an emotional thriller. Just like the show, it’s not really about what they did and how, but more about the why. A big theme in both the series and this book is making hard choices to protect the ones you love.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Set in 1970s Ohio, the Lee family begins to fall apart after the death of their daughter, Lydia. Her passing exposes buried family secrets and long-held tensions. The story explores identity, family, and the deep need for understanding.
Why Read:
• The daughter in this book is trying to figure out who she is and doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family. She struggles a lot with her identity, which really mirrors Ginny, especially in the first season.
• From what I know, the mother in this book has a few similarities to Georgia. She pushes and does what she can for her daughter, but doesn’t realize that maybe her actions aren’t always the best. Love and damage seem to go hand in hand with her character.
• This is also an emotional mystery. It isn’t super fast-paced, but as the story unfolds, different layers of the mystery are revealed. A major theme is the cost of silence and family secrets, which isn’t too different from the show.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Mia Warren and daughter Pearl rent from Elena Richardson in Shaker Heights. Secrets and clashing values unravel the community as the Warrens and Richardsons become entangled. A custody battle splits the town, pitting the two families against each other with unforeseen consequences. It’s a gripping story about motherhood, identity, and the illusion of control.
Why Read:
• This book features a mother-daughter relationship that, from what I gather, is a lot like Ginny and Georgia’s. Mia and her daughter Pearl have a close yet strained relationship. Mia keeps secrets from Pearl for her own good, which is very similar to what Georgia does with her kids.
• Pearl’s character, from what I’ve read, seems a lot like Ginny because she has to carry the weight of her mother’s choices.
• Just like in the show, every character in this book has their own secrets, regrets, and moral dilemmas. Everyone is facing their own battles in one way or another.
There you have it, three books to read if you’re a fan of the Netflix series Ginny & Georgia. Bonus: two of these books have been adapted into TV series as well. So if you’re not a reader, you can check out The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV and Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu.
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Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny
Jenny Hale
Hi Friends,