Read It Like You Stream It: Gilmore Girls

Fangirl: The Manga adapted by Sam Maggs

If you’ve ever found comfort in fictional worlds the way Rory did, you’ll see yourself in Cath, a shy writer who pours her heart into fanfiction. This charming manga adaptation perfectly captures that mix of bookish passion, awkward growing pains, and finding your voice—ideal for anyone who ever used stories to make sense of real life.

“Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can’t let go. Now that they’re in college, Cath must decide if she’s ready to start living her own life. But does she even want to if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? Cath doesn’t need friends IRL. She has her twin sister, Wren, and she’s a popular fanfic writer in the Simon Snow community with thousands of fans online. But now that she’s in college, Cath is completely outside of her comfort zone. There are suddenly all these new people in her life. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming boyfriend, a writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome new writing partner… And she’s barely heard from Wren all semester!”

-Provided by Publisher

Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Witty, heartfelt, and full of pop-culture charm? Wait, are we talking about this book or the show? Lorelai and Rory would absolutely invite Simon over for junk food movie night – he’d bring the Oreos. Think the fast-paced humor of Lorelai combined with the emotional honesty of Rory—plus a romance that will make you grin like Luke watching Lorelai babble about snow.

“Sixteen-year-old, not-so-openly-gay Simon Spier is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity–and that of his pen pal–will be revealed.”

-Provided by Publisher

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Rory would totally approve of this queer, gender-bent reimagining of Austen’s classic. Since she was canonically an Austen fan, even giving Dean a copy of Pride and Prejudice to read, Rory would appreciate that this adaptation is sharp, romantic, and full of social commentary, blending old-school charm with modern edge. 

“Oliver Bennet, trapped by societal expectations to live as female, discovers the possibility of love and freedom when he forms a connection with Darcy, but is faced with the choice of living a secure but inauthentic life or risking everything for true self-expression and love.”

Not Here to be Liked by Michelle Quach

For anyone who’s ever been told they’re “too much” or “not nice enough,” this one’s for you. Eliza Quan is ambitious, unapologetically smart, and not afraid to take up space—basically, if Paris Geller and Rory became one person. Expect sharp feminism, high school politics, and just the right dose of romantic tension that feels like a mix of Rory’s rivalry with Paris and chemistry with Logan.

“After losing the editor-in-chief job of the student newspaper to an inexperienced newcomer, Len, Eliza inadvertently starts a feminist movement in her school, but amid growing tensions within the school, she begins developing feelings for Len.”

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Told entirely through notes between a busy mom and her teenage daughter, this slim but powerful novel will tug at your heartstrings. It’s a quiet, emotional look at the distance love has to cross—something Lorelai and Rory fans will instantly connect with (I’m looking at you season 6). Warning: an entire box of tissues may be required.

“Claire and her mother are running out of time, but they don’t know it. They rarely find themselves in the same room at the same time, and it often seems that the only thing they can count on are notes to each other on the refrigerator door. When home is threatened by a crisis, their relationship experiences a momentous change. Forced to reevaluate the delicate balance between their personal lives and their bond as mother and daughter, Claire and her mother find new love and devotion for one another deeper than anything they had ever imagined.”

How to Love by Katie Cotugno

If you always wished the show used flashbacks to explore Lorelai’s journey as a teen mother navigating love, loss, and self-discovery, this book is for you. Cotugno’s book uses raw emotional honesty to depict the messiness of growing up, the ache of second chances, and the strength it takes to rebuild your life on your own terms. It’s tender, complicated, and full of resillience—just like Lorelai.

“A tumultuous love affair between Reena and Sawyer ends when Sawyer abruptly abandons their Florida town, causing Reena to bear their child alone and struggle with mistrust when Sawyer returns three years later.”

American Panda by Gloria Chao

This one is for any Lane Kim stans out there. Lane’s struggle to balance her parents’ strict expectations with her own dreams of music and independence is beautifully paralleled in Chao’s novel. Just replace Lane’s drumming with dancing and you’ve got Chao’s protagonist Mei.

“A freshman at MIT, seventeen-year-old Mei Lu tries to live up to her Taiwanese parents’ expectations, but no amount of tradition, obligation, or guilt prevent her from hiding several truths–that she is a germaphobe who cannot become a doctor, she prefers dancing to biology, she decides to reconnect with her estranged older brother, and she is dating a Japanese boy.”

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi

The only thing you need to know about this book is that the dedication literally says, “What if Rory and Paris got together?”

“Aminah Mae Safi’s Tell Me How You Really Feel is an ode to romantic comedies, following two girls on opposite sides of the social scale as they work together to make a movie and try very hard not to fall in love. The first time Sana Khan asked out a girl — Rachel Recht — it went so badly that she never did it again. Rachel is a film buff and aspiring director, and she’s seen Carrie enough times to learn you can never trust cheerleaders (and beautiful people). Rachel was furious that Sana tried to prank her by asking her on a date. But when it comes time for Rachel to cast her senior project, she realizes that there’s no more perfect lead than Sana — the girl she’s sneered at in the halls for the past three years. And poor Sana — she says yes. She never did really get over that first crush, even if Rachel can barely stand to be in the same room as her.”

-Provided by Publisher

Because I was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages edited by Melissa De La Cruz

From Emily Gilmore to Miss Patty to Sookie, Gilmore Girls has no shortage of inspirational, empowered, and capable women. This anthology of real stories from women who broke barriers is the perfect example of the type of women Rory and Paris were studying at Chilton. From authors to activists to athletes, it’s a celebration of girlhood, resilience, and ambition. A reminder that “because you’re a girl” is never a limitation.

“Because I Was a Girl is an inspiring collection of true stories by women and girls about the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities they’ve faced…because of their gender. The collection includes writings from an impressive array of girls and women who are trailblazers in their fields, including bestselling authors Victoria Aveyard, Libba Bray, and Margaret Stohl; industry pioneers like Dolores Huerta, Trish McEvoy, and Holly Knight; renowned chef Katie Button; aerospace and mechanical engineer Emily Calandrelli; and many more.”

-Amazon

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni’s story—balancing motherhood, high school, and her passion for cooking—radiates heart and determination. The lush writing and rich food descriptions will make you feel like you’re in Sookie’s kitchen, surrounded by warmth, creativity, and a whole lot of flavor, while Emoni’s struggles and joys as a teen mother feel reminiscent of Lorelai’s own journey.

“Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago has been doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. She dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, but knows that is impossible. But once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.”

-Adapted from Jacket

The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer

If you’re looking for a series to read, Tiff, author of the blog Mostly YA Lit, found fun parallels between the Gilmore Girls heartthrobs and the men of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series!

• Cinder (Book 1): Kai = Logan — Smart and strategic, but a snarky rich boy at the end of the day.
• Scarlet (Book 2): Wolf = Luke — The grumpiest of sunshines. Great heart … odd way of showing it.

*Bonus: Ran Kesley (Wolf’s brother) = Christopher — literally just keeps coming back to get in the way of the better guy.

• Cress (Book 3): Thorne = Jess — Has an attitude problem and can’t stay out of trouble, but wants to be a better man for the girl he loves.
• Winter (Book 4): Jacin = Dean — protective first love that wants to be the knight in shining armor.

*Unless otherwise noted, all book descriptions were pulled from COSMOS.