Netflix is the world’s most dominant video streaming landscape. With millions of hours of views per day, users are always hungry for new content. And where better for the company to draw inspiration than from literary favorites?
Here are the 10 best Netflix shows based on books.
Read the books then watch these Netflix TV shows
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone is the New York Times bestselling young adult novel by Leigh Bardugo. The thrilling fantasy story is packed with relatable characters who embark on an adventure in a marvelous fictional world.
The Netflix series’ first season was released in 2021, while the second season came out in February 2023.
The Queen’s Gambit
If you’re a passionate Netflix user, you’ve probably already watched The Queen’s Gambit.
The original novel was written by Walter Tevis in 1983. The book follows the life of chess prodigy Beth Harmon portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy in the show. The girl becomes an orphan at the age of 8 and moves to a Methuen home in Kentucky. She learns how to play chess with the janitor. The story follows Beth’s coming of age.
Bridgerton
Bridgerton is another Netflix favorite based on a book. The author of the romance novel series is Julia Quinn. The novels in the series include:
- The Duke & I
- The Viscount Who Loved Me
- An Offer from a Gentleman
- Romancing Mister Bridgerton
- To Sir Phillip, With Love
- When He Was Wicked
- It’s in His Kiss
- On the Way to the Wedding
The first season was based on the first book, while the second season follows the plot of The Viscount Who Loved Me. The stories follow the life of the royal Bridgerton family and their relationships with friends, well-wishers, and other family members.
Mindhunter
This Netflix series was based on John E. Douglas’s work Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. John is a real-life FBI agent, and the series shares Douglas’ experience in the FBI while hunting serial killers and criminals.
The crime TV series was released in 2017 and ended after two seasons.
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House was written by Shirley Jackson in 1956. The novel is one of the best literary ghost stories of the 20th century, and it received two film adaptations before the official Netflix series.
The series was published in 2018. The book only served as the basis for the series, and numerous adaptations were made by Netflix producers. You can expect a rather different reading experience.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
The name of this Netflix show points out that the series is written by Lemony Snicket (pen name of Daniel Handler). The original book series follows the lives of three orphaned siblings who lost their parents in a bizarre fire. The children’s life adventures are packed with mystery and disasters.
Alias Grace
Alias Grace is a historical fiction novel penned by Margaret Atwood. The work traces the story of Grace Marks, a 19th-century murderess. The protagonist is accused of the murder of her employer, his mistress, and his housekeeper.
Some people find Alias innocent, while others think she’s insane. Either way, she now serves a life sentence.
The plot served as the basis for the Netflix drama show that aired in 2017 for one season.
Firefly Lane
Firefly Lane is a novel by Kristin Hannah. The story spans over 30 years and takes place across the Pacific Northwest, telling the captivating story of a friendship dealing with a tremendous amount of anger, resentment, and jealousy.
One of Netflix’s most popular TV shows based on books was first aired in 2021, with the last set of six episodes scheduled for April 27, 2023.
Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black is a memoir by Piper Kerman. The young woman’s past catches up with her 10 years later when she’s in a happy relationship and has a career. Delivering one suitcase of drug money long ago puts her behind bars.
The novel traces Kerman’s experience in prison and is a heartbreaking but also humorous portrait of women’s lives in prison.
The Netflix original series aired for seven seasons and is one of their most popular TV shows based on books.
13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why is Jay Asher’s debut novel and a New York Times bestseller. Clay Jensen, the protagonist, finds a package with cassette tapes on his porch. His crush and classmate, who committed suicide days before, explained the 13 reasons why she took her life and recorded them on those cassettes. As it turns out, Clay is one of the reasons.
Clay crisscrosses the town listening to Hannah’s recordings and witnessing her pain.
The Netflix drama aired for four seasons starting in 2017.
Honorable mentions
Other popular Netflix shows and miniseries based on books include:
- The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski
- The Haunting of Bly Manor by Henry James
- Sweet Magnolias by Sherryl Wood
- The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Virgin River by Robyn Carr
- You by Caroline Kepnes
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
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FAQ
What is the #1 Netflix series of all time?
At the time of writing, Stranger Things is the most-watched Netflix series of all time.
Who created the Netflix series Stranger Things?
Matt and Ross Duffer, or the Duffer brothers, created the Stranger Things series.
Do TV shows based on books change the source material?
Most TV shows only use the source material as the basis. The producers often change the names and storylines according to their tastes or preferences, mostly to make the series more attractive to the target audience.
