Studio Ghibli movies are more than just animated stories — they’re emotional journeys filled with deeply human themes and supernatural magic. Whether it’s the hidden complexity of My Neighbor Totoro or the breathtaking worldbuilding of Spirited Away, these movies have left a lasting impression on so many of us.
If you’ve ever wished you could jump back into the feeling of watching a Studio Ghibli movie for the first time, you’re in luck! These ten books offer the same charm and warmth as the Studio Ghibli movies they’re paired with.
Kiki’s Delivery Service — The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
While the protagonists of these stories couldn’t be more different, their journeys are strikingly similar. In Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki moves to a seaside country to explore her magical powers as a half-witch. She ends up finding a community where she feels she truly belongs.
Much like Kiki, Linus of The House in the Cerulean Sea is called to embark on a magical journey away from home. Linus ends up finding an unlikely found family in the very people that he is tasked with investigating. He is then forced to make an impossible choice: betray his found family or be responsible for their path of destruction.
Ocean Waves — My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Both of these stories focus on a friendship shared between a group of teenagers that lingers in their memories years after their connection ends. Ocean Waves, a lesser-known Studio Ghibli movie, is framed in reflection as Taku recalls his youth friend group, which shaped the person he came to be.
My Friends depicts a similar journey: the memory of a formative group of young friends physically represented by a painting that finds its way into the hands of Louisa 25 years later. Louisa embarks on a journey to discover the origin of the painting, but what will she find when she digs deeper?
Spirited Away — Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
These stories are incredibly similar, following young main characters who discover magical worlds. In Spirited Away, Chihiro happens upon a relaxing, spiritual resort for supernatural beings, where she is forced to work to save her parents and return to earth. Chihiro, during her time at the resort, discovers the importance of connection.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror explores the story of seven young students who each discover a magical mirror that leads them to a beautiful castle where they are tasked with finding a hidden key that will grant one of them a wish. In their search for the key, the students discover the comfort that friendship can provide.
Howl’s Moving Castle —The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Both of these stories follow young main characters involved in worlds of magic that feature moving attractions. Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, who befriends Howl, a wizard who lives in a flying castle. Howl must use his magic to fight an evil witch who cast a spell on Sophie.
Much like Howl and the Witch of Waste in Howl’s Moving Castle, young magicians Celia and Marco are battling each other in The Night Circus. Both magicians want to secure their spot in the circus, which appears and disappears sporadically. They are forced to navigate their growing feelings for each other as they continue the battle they’ve trained for since their youth. What will happen to their connection and the circus in this magical war?
The Secret World of Arrietty — The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Both of these stories are incredibly revealing, following main characters that are immersed in worlds wildly different than their own and learning the power that hides in difference. The Secret World of Arrietty explores the unexpected friendship shared between human Sho and non-human Arrietty. When Sho meets the usually hidden Arrietty, they discover solidarity in the differences between their worlds.
Genly Ai’s story begins when he is sent on a mission to convince Winter, an alien world, to join a growing community of other planets. Genly finds that the world of Winter is wildly different than his home, with inhabitants that, most of the time, have no gender. Will Genly succeed in his mission of learning how to connect with a new culture?
The Boy and the Heron — The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The newest release from Studio Ghibli, The Boy and the Heron, is an emotional tale of a boy named Mahito who navigates new changes in his life following his mother’s death. When he meets a heron that tells him his mother is alive, Mahito follows the heron to another world in search of her.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is an equally emotional story that navigates similar themes of loss and love. Our main character, Henry, has a unique condition that sporadically pulls him back and forth in time. With no control over where in time he travels, his story surrounds his struggle navigating his relationship with his wife, Clare. If you resonated with the emotional depth of Mahito’s journey, you are sure to connect with Henry’s story.
From Up on Poppy Hill — The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
These historical fiction pieces share incredibly similar journeys for our main characters as they explore the effects of war on life. Umi, of From Up on Poppy Hill, embarks on a journey with a friend, Shun, to stop the demolition of her school. The story of her father, a naval man who was killed in the Korean War, is intertwined with her own story throughout the movie, showing the lasting effects of death on the loved ones of those lost in war.
The Remains of the Day follows a butler, Stevens, on his six-day trip to the West Country, riddled with the memories of war and injustice. We watch as Stevens begins a late-in-life romance with England while learning more about the unjust past of the West Country. Both stories are guaranteed to touch your heart, each offering incredibly refined perspectives on post-war life and finding the light in dark times.
When Marnie Was There —The Offing by Benjamin Myers
When Marnie Was There is a beautiful story laced with memory and nostalgia as a young girl named Anna is sent to another country where she meets Marnie, a mysterious girl with whom she sparks a connection with. As Anna and Marnie get to know each other better, Anna eventually discovers that Marnie is not a girl but a spiritual guide with a closer connection to her than she once thought.
Similarly, The Offing explores a budding connection between Robert and Dulcie. Their unexpected friendship leaves Robert learning more about Dulcie’s world than he ever would have known otherwise. The Offing, an intellectual story exploring how the past can change our future, will leave you yearning to find new connections yourself.
Only Yesterday — Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
These stories center on the theme of nostalgia as they follow young girls on their journeys to self-discovery. Only Yesterday tells the story of Taeko, who rediscovers herself through flashbacks of her adolescence. As she remembers who she used to be, she begins to question whether she is living up to the dreams of her childhood.
Anne, of Anne of Green Gables, is an orphaned girl with a fierce personality that captures the hearts of her adoptive parents as she learns to love herself. A truly emotional coming-of-age story, Anne of Green Gables will inspire you to reconnect with your inner child.
My Neighborhood Totoro — The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
These heartwarming stories follow young main characters who navigate their troubled lives with the help of their connection to nature. Young Satsuke and Mei are faced with their mother’s illness in My Neighbor Totoro, relying on the spirits they find in the forest near their new home to lift their spirits.
The Secret Garden follows orphaned Mary who is living a life of loneliness. When Mary discovers a neglected secret garden, she dedicates herself to restoring its beauty, finding a healthier version of herself in the process. If you loved Satsuke and Mei’s journey in My Neighbor Totoro, you’ll appreciate the emotional depth of Mary’s story.
Rediscover the nostalgia of a classic Ghibli movie with these ten books. Each one captures a piece of the magic that Studio Ghibli offers — the kind that you’ll still be thinking about weeks from now. So brew a warm cup of tea, grab a blanket, and cozy up with one (or more) of these perfect book companions.
Want even more book recommendations based on your favorite Studio Ghibli movies? Check out this article!
Find these books on and more our Bookstr Team Recommendations shelf on Bookshop.
