Netflix’s ‘Crew Girl’ Left Fans Wanting More YA Drama, Here Is What To Watch Next

Netflix’s rowing centered teen drama ‘Crew Girl’ follows Teagan Tao, a gifted 16 year old single sculler whose promising future is derailed by a family scandal, forcing her to relocate to the East Coast with her mother Ella after her father is caught stealing from clients. Once she arrives at her new prep school, Teagan discovers there is no girls rowing team, leaving her to find her place among the boys.

The season has drawn mixed reviews, with critics comparing its issues to other recent YA dramas including Netflix’s ‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ and Prime Video’s ‘The Runarounds,’ noting the story lacks real heart, soul, or texture. Still, plenty of viewers have connected with the show’s team dynamic, which means the search for a similar next watch is already underway. Here are several coming of age series worth adding to the list.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

Fans looking for the same love triangle energy will find it here. ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ is about as close to ‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ as possible, involving a girl caught in a love triangle with two brothers over the course of one seemingly perfect summer.

The series leans into a similar sense of escapism as ‘Crew Girl,’ trading a rowing dock for a beach house and swapping teammates for siblings. It has become one of the most talked about entries in the current wave of YA adaptations.

My Life with the Walter Boys

The show most frequently mentioned alongside ‘Crew Girl’ is worth watching in its own right. Based on Ali Novak’s 2014 novel of the same name, the Netflix series follows Jackie Howard, an orphaned teen who moves from New York City to rural Colorado to live with the Walter family.

Like Teagan, Jackie has to build a new life among a group of boys who eventually become her chosen family. The parallels in tone and structure make it an easy transition for anyone finishing ‘Crew Girl.’

The Runarounds

Another show explicitly compared to ‘Crew Girl’ by critics is this Prime Video music drama. ‘The Runarounds’ follows a group of recent high school graduates from Wilmington, North Carolina, who form a rock band over one summer, chasing a near impossible dream while falling in love and into trouble along the way.

The series leaned on the same team building formula that defines ‘Crew Girl,’ just with instruments instead of oars. It did not survive long term, as Prime Video opted not to renew the show for a second season after its eight episode first run.

XO, Kitty

For viewers who want the family drama layered with romance, this spinoff fits the mold. The series follows Kitty, the younger sister of Lara Jean Covey from ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,’ as she navigates her own shifting emotions and revolving crushes.

It carries the same glossy, hopeful tone that has made ‘Crew Girl’ appealing to younger audiences, even if the setting swaps rowing for boarding school life abroad.

Heartstopper

Those drawn to the found family aspect of Teagan’s rowing team may connect with this British series instead. ‘Heartstopper’ follows two schoolboys, Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, at the fictional Truham Grammar School as they navigate typical high school drama alongside the challenges of coming out and starting a relationship.

The show is frequently cited as one of the gentler entries in the genre, prioritizing warmth over conflict in a way that still resonates with fans of ensemble teen dramas.

Never Have I Ever

Viewers who liked the grief thread running underneath ‘Crew Girl’ will find a stronger version of it here. ‘Never Have I Ever’ follows Devi, an Indian American high school student dealing with the sudden death of her father while navigating high school and a love triangle over which boy to choose.

The series balances comedy with heavier emotional beats, which makes it a natural next step for anyone who appreciated how ‘Crew Girl’ mixed family fallout with lighter teen romance.

Forever

For a more grounded alternative, this Netflix series stands out among recent YA offerings. ‘Forever’ explores the experience of growing up as a Black teenager in the 21st century and, unlike some of its genre peers, feels more realistic in its storyline.

It trades ‘Crew Girl’s’ prep school gloss for something rawer, but the central focus on identity and belonging within a tight knit group still lines up with what made Teagan’s journey compelling.

With ‘Crew Girl’ now streaming its full first season, is there a series on this list you are planning to watch next, or one you think deserves a spot alongside Teagan and her crew.