Novels are such a great place to find material for TV shows. They tend to have rich and imaginative stories with worlds in which you can easily lose yourself, full of rich and compelling characters that are well-suited to long-form serialized storytelling. It’s always exciting to see your favorite books come to life on screen, to see what changes the writers made, and to see how the actors have chosen to bring these characters to life. There are so many television shows out there that you may not even realize some of your favorite shows actually started as novels. Here are the best shows based on books on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of thebest showsandmovies on Netflix.
Bridgerton
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | IMDb: 7.4/10
The seriesBridgertonis based on books byJulia Quinn. The first season primarily follows the first book titledThe Duke and I. Daphne Bridgerton is the oldest daughter in the family, and the show begins with her making her debut into the marriage market of Regency London. Daphne is close with her seven siblings, and the story follows the group as they navigate this new world. With lavish costumes and beautiful sets, this show is a feast for the eyes. It has romance and intrigue. The series has been a huge hit for Netflix, and Season 2 is based onThe Viscount Who Loved Me, with two more seasons and a spin-off in the works!Watch on Netflix
The Fall of the House of Usher
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.9/10
Inspired by the 1839Edgar Allan Poeshort story of the same name, as well as others by the great writer,The Fall of the House of Usherdetails the brutal and unconventional deaths of a corrupt pharmaceutical company CEO’s adult children. The likes ofWilla Fitzgerald,Carla Gugino,Kate Siegel, andMark Hamillexcel with the eye-popping gothic style of the story, with fans ofMike Flanagansure to see his authorial stamp on every frame. Filled to the brim with suspense,The Fall of the House of Usheris both refreshingly original and respectful to its literary roots, with the story ebbing and flowing between Flanagan-esque uniquenesses and odes to the gothic horror writer who inspired not just this but many more acclaimed works. -Jake HodgesWatch on Netflix
Heartstopper
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Joe LockeandKit Conner(His Dark Materials) dazzle in the touching seriesHeartstopperfromAlice Oseman. Transforming Oseman’s beloved graphic novels into a teenage drama series,Heartstopperleans into animated elements with the intention of emphasizing the live-action sparks between characters. With a first season that slowly introduced characters and relationships, season two of the hit queer coming-of-age series only builds on the solid foundation set forth by Locke, Conner, and their engaging co-starsYasmin Finney, Tobie Donovan,andWilliam Gao.Heartstopper’s gorgeous and talented cast, along with moving messages of self-discovery, is a reminder of how beautiful the world can really be.– Yael TygielWatch on Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.3/10
Maidis an emotional mini-series from creatorMolly Smith Metzlerinspired by the best-selling memoir byStephanie Land.MaidstarsMargaret Qualleyas a young woman who escapes an abusive relationship and begins cleaning houses in order to provide for her daughter. In addition to the grounded performances from Qualley andNick Robinson(Love, Victor),Maidalso features Qualley’s real-life mother,Andie MacDowell(Magic Mike XXL), in the role of her mother. Setting a deliberately uncomfortable tone,Maidcarefully explores its sensitive subject matter with nuanced depictions through 10 powerful episodes.– Yael TygielWatch on Netflix
The Lincoln Lawyer
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Neve Campbell(Scream) andManuel Garcia-Rulfo(Murder on the Orient Express) co-star inThe Lincoln Lawyer,based on theMichael Connellynovels. Adapted for television byDavid E. Kelley(Boston Legal,Ally McBeal) andTed Humphrey(The Good Wife),The Lincoln Lawyerfollows Mickey Haller (Garcia-Rulfo), a lawyer who practices law out of his Lincoln Town Car. With a clever script,The Lincoln Lawyerweaves drama through action and mystery, with a stellar supporting cast that includes the underratedBecki Newton(Ugly Betty) andChristopher Gorham. Topped with comedic quips and intriguing cases,The Lincoln Lawyeris an engrossing legal series.– Yael TygielWatch on Netflix
Tales of the City
Set in 1970s San Francisco, this series follows Mary Ann Singleton, who moves to the city and finds a new family among the eccentric residents of 28 Barbary Lane. The show explores themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Based on the groundbreaking novels byArmistead Maupin,Tales of the CityreunitesLaura Linney,Paul Gross, Olympia Dukakis,andBarbara Garrickto reprise their memorable roles from the original mini-series of the early 1990s, as well as the subsequent sequels. Serving as Dukakis’ final television performance before her death,Tales of the Citycontinued the story of these beloved characters while introducing a new generation of city folk, includingElliot Page(The Umbrella Academy) as Shawna Hawkins, the adopted child of Linney’s Mary Ann Singleton. Upholding the themes of the chapters that came before it,Tales of the Cityis a touching update to the franchise.– Yael TygielWatch on Netflix
Tiny Pretty Things
Rotten Tomatoes: 53% | IMDb: 5.9/10
Based on the novel by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton,Tiny Pretty Thingstakes place in at an ultra-competitive ballet school in Chicago. Unusually for Hollywood, all of the actors do their own dancing – a rarity with stunts of this caliber – which makes the performances all the more impressive. Though, at times, it can rely a bit too much on scandal and sex as opposed to diving deeper into these characters’ interesting psyches, if you’re looking for a fun, soapy watch set in a fascinating world, make this your next binge. –Taylor GatesWatch on Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 7.0/10
Trinketsfollows a trio of friends who meet at a Shoplifters Anonymous meeting. Though they have one major thing in common, in other ways, they couldn’t be more different. Elodie (Brianna Hildebrand) is shy, while Moe (Kiana Madeira) is rebellious and Tabitha (Quintessa Swindell) comes from a well-off family. Despite keeping their relationship at school a secret, the three of them lean on each other when dealing with family and romantic issues.- Taylor GatesWatch on Netflix
Shadow and Bone
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Shadow and Boneis based on the Grishaverse novels written byLeigh Bardugo. This show is a fun fantasy series that is based on two different series of books, theShadow and Bonetrilogy and theSix of Crowsduology. The Netflix show follows Alina, a mapmaker who discovers an ability to summon light which will be able to change the tide of the war against dark forces. Separately, a trio of non-magic thieves are tasked with kidnapping Alina and must make their way through treacherous territory. Season 2 is confirmed.Watch on Netflix
Mindhunter
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.6/10
OhMindhunter, how we miss you so. While it is unlikely we will get a third season of the show anytime soon, the first two seasons capture some of the most unnerving and fascinating elements of serial killers ever put to screen while being a quite good adaptation ofMindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unitwritten by real life FBI agentsJohn E. DouglasandMark Olshakerto boot. It follows Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and Dr. Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) as they attempt to gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychology of history’s most horrible monsters. Deliberately paced and meticulously acted, the show doesn’t offer all that many explicit answers as it instead finds its terror in the darkness of the unknown. With each new horrific killer Ford and Tench interview, the show gets deeper into the darkness of the mind of such murderers. Each such scene takes its time, capturing a suffocating sense of tension in seeing ordinary people talk about the most horrible of violence. It isn’t always easy to stomach, though my goodness does it stick with you. —Chase HutchinsonWatch on Netflix
