10 Shows To Watch If You Love HBO Max's Sex Lives Of College Girls

HBO Max's "The Sex Lives of College Girls" has won fans over with its colorful depiction of the college experience. Kimberly Finkle (Pauline Chalamet), Bela Malhotra (Amrit Kaur), Leighton Murray (Reneé Rapp), and Whitney Chase (Alyah Chanelle Scott) are new roommates at Vermont's Essex College. While they quickly bond and become friends, they also learn that their newfound independence comes with a great deal of uncertainty, drama, and responsibility. There are troubles around every corner, whether they be awkward flirting with cute classmates, the struggles of self-discovery, terrible jobs that pay for college, or the quest to land a coveted spot within Essex's most prestigious comedy organization. Luckily, these four friends are there for each other through it all.

Portrayals of leaving the nest are thick on the ground in the world of TV. Few handle them as well as "The Sex Lives of College Girls" does, but fans looking for something else to watch still have plenty of options to consider. Some series tackle college at its most raucous. Others contemplate the complex lives of community college students. Many delight in youth's soapiest possibilities. But no matter what draws you to Kimberly, Bela, Leighton, and Whitney's story, there's another series out there with your name on it. These are 10 shows to watch if you love "The Sex Lives of College Girls."

College Greek life offers students a tight-knit community on campus. Sometimes, where one chooses to rush can determine their entire college experience, and their later life. ABC Family's "Greek" explores the ins and outs of this long-standing world of fraternities and sororities with charm and wit. Rusty Cartwright (Jacob Zachar) is on his way to attend the same college as his older sister Casey (Spencer Grammer). But he's come to a decision: It's time for a new image. He no longer wants to be seen as the sort of geek he was in high school — he wants more. Unfortunately for Casey, no matter how the other students view Rusty, she's still stuck going to college with her little brother. 

Aside from the central sibling rivalry of Rusty and Casey, "Greek" touches on nearly every other aspect of life within frats and sororities. Classic college drama flourishes amidst love triangles, frat parties, and shocking realizations that the rest of one's life is trembling on the horizon. These are only a few of the tropes "Greek" explores with humor and heart. Notably, though, as "Greek" moves into later seasons, it becomes more about the relationships between characters, who are about to move into the post-graduate landscape, rather than rushes and parties. This results in some of the show's best moments. Though it ended in 2011, "Greek" is still hailed as a uniquely apt portrait of the college experience. As The Ringer wrote in 2021, "'Greek' cracked the college TV show in a way no series had before or has since."

The CW's "Gossip Girl" was a titan among teen-centric TV shows when it first aired in 2007. Several actors made their mainstream debut on this searing drama series, including Blake Lively (who played Serena van der Woodsen), Leighton Meester (who played Blair Waldorf), and Penn Badgley (who played Dan Humphrey). 

"Gossip Girl" is all about the salacious and scandalous lives of wealthy teenagers living on New York's Upper East Side. Not one bit of gossip regarding their doings is safe, as the omniscient blogger known only as Gossip Girl reveals all their dirty laundry the moment it's soiled. Despite the fact that these teenagers are in high school for a significant chunk of the series, it's thematically on par with "The Sex Lives of College Girls": Due to their money and privilege, the teens of "Gossip Girl" are essentially allowed to live adult lives. In later seasons, some of the characters are accepted into New York University, where the once-elite are forced to readjust. Before long, they're back on top — but can they stay there? 

Fashion, mystery, and scandalous New York City vibes make "Gossip Girl" into a teen classic. It's so good, in fact, that it got two shots at the TV-watching public. After the original show ended in 2012, "Gossip Girl" was revived in 2021, putting a new generation of wealthy New York high school students under the scrutiny of the mysterious titular spectator. It's juicy, dramatic, and a little bit ridiculous — which is exactly how fans like it.

If the shows on this list teach us anything about life, it's that not everything is shiny and perfect once we leave high school — or even after we leave college, as is the case with HBO's "Insecure." This brilliant series touches on what it's like to struggle with life's imperfections while everyone around you seemingly has it all together. It's an all-too-familiar feeling that plagues just about everyone. But here's a little secret for those of you too young to have figured it out for yourself yet: Everybody else is just as lost as you are.

The heroines of "Insecure" don't quite know this yet. The series follows long-time best friends Issa (Issa Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they try to figure out how to navigate life in their late 20s and early 30s. Issa, a youth liaison for a non-profit organization, has a tendency to fumble when it comes to taking control of her life. Molly, a hot-shot corporate attorney with a killer wardrobe, has things figured out career-wise, but struggles to make meaningful romantic connections. The two young women lean on each other for support and reassurance that they're pointed in the right direction. At this stage of life, that bond is invaluable. 

All five seasons of "Insecure" hold their own, buoyed by witty comedy that slashes through the sorts of stereotypes that plague Black female characters. The critics took notice, showering the series in glowing praise for its strong performances, sharp writing, and thoughtful topics. "Insecure" is a perfect blend of witty commentary, vibrant comedy, and heartfelt drama, all aimed at one of the most complex times of life.

Created by TV superstar Dan Harmon, best known now as the creator of "Rick and Morty," NBC's "Community" is a quirkily heartwarming and often sardonic sitcom about community college. When ex-lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) has no choice but to enroll in Greendale Community College to earn his degree after his license is revoked, he quickly meets a number of eccentric students. There's Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), who flew through high school as a king of the gridiron. There's Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), the uber-nerd with a pop culture reference for every occasion. There's Annie Edison (Alison Brie), an academically inclined wunderkind. They, and a number of other colorful characters, soon form a study group unlike any other.

This group proves to be a potent source of friendship and hilarity within the endlessly entertaining environment of their school. Greendale is a community college, but it's also a bizarre laboratory of weirdness, from the offbeat dean's costume closet to Halloween parties that accidentally unleash a zombie plague. The show never misses an opportunity to do something unique: Some of the best episodes of "Community" parody Ken Burns' celebrated documentaries, explore the multiverse, and turn games of Dungeons & Dragons into multifaceted adventures. Many years after it premiered, the show remains a pillar of comedy in the world of small screen entertainment. Its collection of one-liners is enough to make anyone buckle over in stitches, and the genuine warmth between characters like Troy and Abed is pure gold.

One of The WB's most beloved shows, "Gilmore Girls" has become a bonafide classic. Even after all these years, fans just can't get enough of Stars Hollow and its myriad comforts. Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her teenage daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) are two forces of nature. Fiercely independent Lorelai, who gave birth to Rory when she was 16 years old, runs an adorable inn. Whip-smart Rory has her eyes on the Ivy League. This mother-daughter duo is irresistible, and only grows more and more fascinating. 

Over the course of its run, "Gilmore Girls" explores family strife, first love, heartbreak, and loss, among other events and milestones. The show starts in Rory's sophomore year of high school, and follows her to Yale University, offering a lengthy look at young adulthood along the way. But of course, this is Lorelai's story as well. Viewers who'd like a little more maturity in their college-bound stories are especially encouraged to check "Gilmore Girls" out, especially since Netflix's "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" miniseries follows the two women into Rory's adulthood. With a glowing cast, famously quick-witted writing, and enough drama to satisfy anyone, "Gilmore Girls" is a must-see for fans of young adult stories.