The highly anticipated “Girls Like Girls” film is coming to theaters on June 19, in time for Pride month. It is an adaptation of the book “Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko, originally based on her song of the same name.
Kiyoko was a cornerstone of queer media in the 2010s. She was one of the first lesbians in mainstream media during that era, and she was looked up to by many young queer girls.
Hayley Kiyoko
While the song “Girls Like Girls” was released over a decade ago in 2015, the book came out in 2023 and the movie was first announced at the end of 2024. Kiyoko remained in creative control as the films’ director and screenwriter.
In addition to paperback and hardcover copies, the “Girls Like Girls” audiobook is widely available on platforms like Spotify and Audible, and is read by a fully queer cast.
This movie features Maya da Costa as Coley and Myra Molloy as Sonya. Costa is known mainly for her role as Maya Longetter in “Under the Bridge” by Hulu. She is also making an appearance in the newest Descendants movie, coming out this year.
Molloy started performing at 13 when she won Thailand’s Got Talent, and later started regularly performing with the Siam Sinfonietta Orchestra and Bangkok Opera. She started her acting career with a part in HBO’s Asia series “Halfworld II”. She has a lot of experience in theatre, singing, and songwriting.
The story is a coming of age romance set in 2006 rural Oregon. Coley, a 17-year old girl, moves in with her estranged father after her mother’s passing. She then meets a group of teenagers including Sonya and her boyfriend Trenton.
The book focuses on Coley’s tumultuous relationship with Sonya, and Sonya’s reluctance to admit her feelings. She does this all while uncovering more of her mother’s past and the reason behind her suicide.
Coley and her new group of friends get into funny and difficult situations while living out their final summer before senior year of high school. It is a beautiful coming of age story that captures the feeling of the last summer before part of your life changes forever, and the discovery and development of queer love.