Set in rural Oregon during the summer of 2006, Girls Like Girls follows seventeen-year-old Coley after the tragic suicide of her mother forces her to relocate to live with Curtis, her estranged father. Struggling with isolation and grief, Coley meets a local girl named Sonya at a diner, quickly being drawn into her circle alongside Sonya's possessive casual boyfriend Trenton, Alex, and SJ. An intimate companionship blossoms between Coley and Sonya, marked by stolen moments and shared vulnerabilities.
At a secluded spot near local railroad tracks, Coley confides the painful truth of her mother's death. Sonya comforts her, leading to a passionate kiss and an overnight embrace. The intimacy triggers immediate hesitation in Sonya, who retreats in panic, denies her attraction, and prepares to leave for dance camp. Left devastated and assuming Sonya betrayed her trust by gossiping to Alex, Coley falls into a deep depression and engages in an emotionally hollow encounter with a store clerk named Blake as her world unravels.
Sonya ends her relationship with Trenton and chooses to stop fleeing from her genuine feelings for Coley.
Coley repairs her fragile relationship with her estranged father Curtis after uncovering the truth behind her family's past.
A post-credits encounter solidifies the romantic bond between Coley and Sonya as they share a public kiss in the street.
The final act of Girls Like Girls begins with a turning point in Coley's family dynamic after her night away with Blake. When Coley returns home the next morning, Curtis expresses his intense worry over her disappearance. Coley angrily rebukes him, declaring that he has never cared about her due to his absence throughout her youth.
Curtis breaks his silence and reveals that it was actually Coley's mother who chose to walk out on him, despite his desperate desire to keep the family together. In a subsequent conversation, Coley bares her deepest grief, confessing that she feels entirely unwanted by everyone around her and carries immense guilt over her mother's suicide. Curtis firmly refutes her self-blame, offering comfort and proposing a fresh start.
The two spend the remainder of the summer forging a genuine bond by looking through old family photographs. Seeking stability, Coley secures employment at a local restaurant, where Sonya unexpectedly visits her. Sonya finally admits to harboring romantic feelings for Coley, though she admits she is not yet prepared to be open about them.
Clarity arrives soon after at the lake, where SJ approaches Coley to clear up the painful gossip regarding her mother's death. SJ explains that Sonya had only confided in her to ask how to properly support Coley during her grief, but Trenton had secretly eavesdropped on their private talk and spread the rumor himself. SJ then invites Coley to an upcoming gathering at her home.
At the party, Coley overhears Sonya officially breaking up with Trenton, ending their turbulent connection. Sonya wanders over to sit in solitude by the poolside. Coley walks up to join her, and Sonya softly confides that she is exhausted from running away.
Coley gently tells Sonya that she could stop running, and Sonya agrees, marking an unspoken emotional truce between them. In the concluding post-credits scene, Sonya chases after and stops Coley as she walks home, and the two girls share an affectionate kiss right in the street.
What does the ending of Girls Like Girls mean?
Girls Like Girls centers heavily on the intertwined journeys of personal grief, self-worth, and queer coming-of-age. Throughout the film, Coley carries the suffocating conviction that she is inherently unlovable, directly linking her mother's suicide and her father's perceived abandonment to her own lack of value. Her father's revelation dismantling this misconception serves as the emotional foundation Coley needs to establish her own self-esteem.
Parallel to this family healing is the narrative of queer self-acceptance. Sonya's struggle mirrors the internalized fear and social pressure often experienced by young people in small-town environments. Her initial flight from intimacy, defensive cruelty, and reliance on Trenton showcase how self-doubt can compel someone to deny their true feelings.
One reading of the narrative is that healing cannot be forced on another person; Coley has to heal her relationship with herself and her father before Sonya can find the courage to step outside her comfort zone. Ultimately, the story demonstrates that mutual vulnerability, honest communication, and shedding performative expectations are the essential steps toward genuine connection and personal liberation.
Average audience ratings from the source database. Click a title to read its ending explained.
Where to watch Girls Like Girls
How
Available on
Stream
Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
Rent
Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Buy
Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Listed for region US. Availability varies by country.
Girls Like Girls ending FAQ
Do Coley and Sonya end up together?
Yes, they reconcile their relationship by the story's conclusion. Sonya ends things with Trenton, acknowledges to Coley that she is weary of hiding from her true self, and later halts Coley on her journey home during a post-credits scene to share a romantic kiss in the street.
Did Sonya purposefully betray Coley's secret about her mother?
No, Sonya did not maliciously gossip about Coley's mother. SJ informs Coley that Sonya only confided in her to ask for advice on how best to provide emotional support. Trenton happened to overhear their private conversation and spread the news around town himself.
Why was Curtis absent from Coley's childhood?
Curtis explains that he never wanted to abandon Coley. He reveals that Coley's mother chose to pack up and leave him years ago, despite his active wish to stay together as a family, correcting the mistaken narrative Coley had believed her entire life.
Why did Coley sleep with Blake?
Following Sonya's harsh denial of their shared romantic chemistry, Coley plummeted into a depressive state. She spent time with Blake at her home to cope with feelings of worthlessness and emotional numbness, picturing Sonya in her mind during their sexual encounter.
What occurs in the post-credits scene of Girls Like Girls?
In the film's brief post-credits scene, Sonya stops Coley on her walk home. Embracing her feelings out in the open, Sonya shares a passionate kiss with Coley in the middle of the street, signaling the start of their romance.
Where can I watch Girls Like Girls?
Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus. Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home. Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home. Availability listed for region US and varies by country.
Girls Like Girls cast
Actor
Character
Maya da Costa
Coley
Myra Molloy
Sonya
Zach Braff
Curtis
Levon Hawke
Trenton
Alozie LaRose
Alex
Sierra Sidwell
SJ
Hunter Dillon
Goose
Sophia Carriere
Brooke
Movie
★ 8.3
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