By Gia Huynh 
So last Sunday I’m scrolling TikTok, right? And I keep seeing these super cute clips from movies with girls falling for each other. Got me thinking – why don’t I share my own favorites? Like, the ones that truly hit the spot, y’know?
How I Started Out
First thing, I grabbed my trusty but battered notebook. Yeah, the one with coffee stains. I needed to jot down everything I already liked or had heard whispers about. My brain felt kinda fried. Where do I even start? Old classics? New stuff? Books hiding in my Kindle? Ugh.
Then I went full detective mode. Instagram, Reddit… even those niche forums where people really go deep into these stories. My phone was like 🔥, tabs exploding everywhere. Biggest mistake? Thinking I could easily just pick a few. There are SO many out there! I started making a list, but it got messy real quick.
Digging Deeper & Feeling Things
Here’s the messy truth: I ended up revisiting stuff while researching. Like, suddenly I HAD to watch THAT scene from ‘Imagine Me & You’ again. Lena Headey staring at Piper Perabo? Come on! Tears might have happened. Then I remembered that gut-punch book, you know the one – ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’. Had to flip through some parts, and damn, the emotion flooded back.
Started grouping them in my notes:
Sweet & Funny: Like ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ (classic camp chaos!). Heart-Wrenching Dramas: Movies like ‘Blue is the Warmest Color’, books like ‘Annie On My Mind’. Badasses & Fantasy: ‘The Carmilla Movie’ series vibes. Each category needed time. Felt like trying to herd cats sometimes.
The “OMG My Notes Are a Disaster” Phase
My notebook looked like crazy person scribbles. Circles everywhere. Arrows pointing sideways. Sticky notes falling off. Had to take a break to actually breathe. Went for a walk, listened to some chill indie music, stopped thinking about kissing girls in period dramas for 20 minutes. Crucial step, people!
Picking the Real Gems
Sat back down. Time to be ruthless. Which ones really stuck with me? Which ones did I recommend constantly? Which had characters I genuinely loved, flaws and all? Had to ditch the ones that were just ‘okay’ or that felt forced.
This part took longer than finding the stuff! Kept asking myself: Did this story make me feel seen? Did the romance feel real? Did it leave me wanting more? Sometimes I got stuck staring at the ceiling, debating two similar options forever.
My Final Cut Top Picks
Alright, after much internal drama, here’s what made the cut for my list:
- Movies: ‘Imagine Me & You’, ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’, ‘The Handmaiden’, ‘Carol’ (that tension!), ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’, ‘The Half of It’.
- Books: ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’, ‘Annie on My Mind’, ‘Written in the Stars’, ‘Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating’, ‘One Last Stop’.
Feels good to finally have it out there! Sharing this felt important, you know? Like, finding those sparks is special. Hope someone finds their next favorite flick or book here. Maybe I’ll dive into a different niche next time… maybe Sci-Fi? Oof, my brain needs coffee first!
Dung Huynh 