Jenny Han became a successful writer and decided to work with Netflix on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The trilogy was a breath of fresh air for the platform and for the romance-starved viewers who haven’t seen anything like this in a while. The world Han created with Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) made everyone fall in love with her, and love again. The chemistry between Condor and Noah Centineo who plays Peter Kavinsky carried the trilogy on Netflix.
Now, after the trilogy ended on a high note, Han wanted to focus on the youngest sibling: Kitty (Anna Cathcart). Fans of the trilogy really did watch Cathcart grow up and grew to love Kitty as the annoyingly optimistic kid sister. She has now grown into an intelligent teenager but she feels like a part of her is missing because she never knew her mother. In XO, Kitty, Kitty is able to find herself and connect with her mother by attending the same boarding school she went to.
Even though the series may run a bit long with 10 episodes, Kitty uncovers how many people loved her mother and how she’s a lot like her. She goes through an identity crisis and begins to understand that life can be messy, but you can learn to love the mess and adapt.
The series below all have different journeys for teenagers and college students who have struggled with their place in the world. Some focus more on relationships, while others focus more on childhood trauma in order to move forward with their lives.
10 series like XO, Kitty, you must watch
Never Have I Ever (2020)
Mindy Kaling explores her adolescence by creating the character of Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and having her go through similar situations. Never Have I Ever is about the complicated life of a first-generation Indian-American teenage girl. She experiences love and heartbreak, all while adjusting to life without her father and how to process grief.
Heartstopper (2022)
Teens Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age series. Heartstopper is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, and the series of books have won the hearts of many across the globe.
The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021)
Four 18-year-old freshman roommates at Essex College in Vermont struggle with social status and friendships. They are all lovable and infuriating, but each episode brings a valuable life lesson that anyone can relate to.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)
Author Jenny Han has two successful series under her belt, and she sold the second one, The Summer I Turned Pretty, to Prime Video. A love triangle between one girl and two brothers is a story about true love, the first heartbreak, and the magic of that one perfect summer.
Dash & Lily (2020)
If you want some Holiday cheer any time of the year, then Dash & Lily definitely does that in New York City. A whirlwind holiday romance builds as cynical Dash and optimistic Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across the city.
Love, Victor (2020)
After the success of Love, Simon, Hulu and Disney+ created this series with Michael Cimino as the star. Victor is a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation.
True Beauty (2020)
After being bullied and discriminated against because of her “ugly looks”, a high school girl transforms herself into a gorgeous “goddess” and quickly rises to fame. However, as the series unfolds, she realizes that beauty comes from within. The series also explores beauty standards and how harmful they can be.
Sex Education (2019)
It’s always awkward having conversations surrounding contraceptives or sex in general with your parents, but Otis (Asa Butterfield), has a sex therapist for a mother. With the knowledge he gains just by listening to what his mother discusses with clients, he teams up with a classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school.
Outer Banks (2020)
On an island of haves and have-nots, teen John B (Chase Stokes) enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father’s disappearance. The more they dive into his father’s disappearance, the more secrets they uncover. The creators of Outer Banks did not plan to have more than one season, but it is now one of the strongest Netflix series.
Atypical (2017)
Sam (Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum, decides it’s time for him to find a girlfriend and be in a serious relationship. This sets his mom (Jennifer Jason Leigh) down her own life-changing path as her son wants to be more independent. After keeping such a watchful eye, she has to learn how to let go and re-discover herself.
Do you have any other recommendations for series like XO, Kitty? Let us know!
