Updated
2025-02-14T17:17:18Z
- Several highly rated TV shows were actually based on novels or book series.
- YA novel series like "Pretty Little Liars" and "Gossip Girl" were reimagined for the screen.
- Some book-to-TV adaptations, like "You," "Mindhunter," and "Bones," are rather dark.
Some of the most popular TV series to date were based on books.
From "Gossip Girl" to "You," here are some of the most successful adaptations, ranked from worst to best based on critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
"Dexter" is based on a whole series of books.
Critic score: 71%
Showtime's "Dexter," which ran for eight seasons and inspired the prequel series "Dexter: Original Sin," is based on a series of crime thrillers by Jeff Lindsay.
Airing from 2006 to 2013, the dark drama follows a professional forensic analyst who moonlights as a serial killer.
"Killing Eve" is inspired by a quartet of online novellas.
Critic score: 80%
BBC America/AMC's "Killing Eve" was adapted from Luke Jennings' "Codename Villanelle" novellas.
Eve's desk job as an M15 officer didn't exactly measure up to her spy fantasies — until she's handed the mission to track down the unpredictable assassin Villanelle. The two become completely obsessed with each other as the hunt for Villanelle unfolds.
"Pretty Little Liars" built suspense by straying from the book series it was based on.
Critic Score: 81%
Based on Sara Shepard's young-adult book series, "Pretty Little Liars" ran for seven seasons on ABC Family (now Freeform).
The story starts with four friends — Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, and Emily Fields — who are reunited one year after the disappearance of their ringleader, Alison DiLaurentis.
Notably, Shepard's novels also inspired the show's spin-off, "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists," which earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes despite being canceled after one season.
"The Handmaid’s Tale" goes beyond the plot of the novel.
Critic score: 83%
Based on the feminist dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, "The Handmaid's Tale" is set in a totalitarian society that sees fertile women as property.
The Hulu drama has been applauded for its incredible acting and its plot deviations, which allowed the show to continue past the book's ending.
The prequel series "The Carrie Diaries" scored higher marks than the original show.
Critic score: 84%
Candace Bushnell is perhaps best known for writing the book that inspired "Sex and the City," which has a 70% critic score.
However, "The Carrie Diaries," inspired by Bushnell's prequel series, received higher critic ratings than the original HBO show.
The CW show follows Carrie Bradshaw through her high-school years as she tries to become a famous writer while tackling friendships and romance.
The short-lived show ends with Carrie moving to New York City and meeting Samantha Jones — the lead-up to the storyline of "Sex and the City."
Fans got to live vicariously through NYC’s richest teens on "Gossip Girl."
Critic score: 84%
Cecily von Ziegesar's hit YA series was turned into an addictive CW TV show about rich teen Manhattanites.
Although the TV adaptation's ending was a tad unbelievable, the show gave viewers plenty of outfits, apartments, boyfriends, and exclusive parties to lust after.
The science of human sexuality is reborn on "Masters of Sex."
Critic score: 84%
Showtime's "Masters of Sex" is based on the biography of Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson, written by Thomas Maier.
The series takes place in 1950s St. Louis, where Masters and Johnson's research on sexuality and intimacy sparks a "sexual revolution" across the country.
"Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency" turned a tricky plot into delightful fun.
Critic score: 85%
Creator Max Landis was able to turn Douglas Adams' science-fiction book series about a time-traveling holistic detective into a fun romp — that's surprisingly easy to follow.
The BBC America series was canceled after its second season, but a petition to renew it has since reached over 160,000 signatures.
"Shrill" approached weight-centric stereotypes and prejudices in America.
Critic score: 88%
Humorist Lindy West's memoir "Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman" inspired the Hulu series of the same name, which is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Elizabeth Banks.
The show follows Annie Easton, a young woman who is desperate to change up her life but adamant about not changing her body to do so.
"Poldark" was reimagined for a new audience.
Critic score: 89%
PBS's "Poldark" is the second TV adaptation of Winston Graham's book series. The first aired for two seasons in the 1970s, and the modern adaptation premiered in 2015.
The series follows American Revolution veteran Ross Poldark's return home to Cornwall, England, after the war.
His family thought he was dead, his fiancée-to-be is now engaged to his cousin, and his land is in shambles.
However, the writers of the modern "Poldark" introduced an original plot for the series' fifth season that deviates from Graham's books.
"Game of Thrones" kept viewers on their toes with its twists and deaths.
Critic score: 89%
The epic TV show "Game of Thrones" is based on the best-selling "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin.
Known for its dragons, betrayals, and battles, the HBO series is so popular that even some non-watchers know about the infamous Red Wedding episode.
Readers of the books may have had an edge on earlier seasons, but by its end, the show veered away from the books it was based on.
"Big Little Lies" is a surprising study of female relationships.
Critic score: 89%
The second HBO series directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, "Big Little Lies," is a dark mystery set in a California beach town that chronicles what happens when a new mom comes to town.
The drama series is based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty.
Claire Randall is torn between times on "Outlander."
Critic score: 90%
Based on the series by Diana Gabaldon, Starz's "Outlander" tells the heart-wrenching story of a World War II combat nurse who is suddenly sent back in time to 1743 Scotland.
She must defend her own life as she navigates the complicated nature of time travel — made worse by the fact that she is in love with two men from different times.
"Orange Is the New Black" turned the book's characters into multi-dimensional people.
Critic score: 90%
Based on Piper Kerman's memoir "Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison," Netflix's hit show took creative liberties, juxtaposing Piper's privileged experience with lovable fictional characters.
Critics felt the show's willingness to focus on the ensemble — not just Piper — was the key to its success.
The main character on "Bones" is said to be based on the book series' author, not the protagonist.
Critic score: 90%
Based on Kathy Reichs' "Temperance Brennan" series, "Bones" ran for 12 successful seasons on Fox.
Temperance "Bones" Brennan possesses the advantageous ability to solve murder cases from the victims' bones. She teams up with the cocky agent, Seeley Booth, to solve crimes for the FBI.
Although Bones is named after the main character of the books, the TV character is said to be based more closely on Reichs, who was a forensic anthropologist.
Set in Ireland, the drama "Normal People" focuses on a complicated relationship.
Critic score: 91%
Based on the hit novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, "Normal People" follows two individuals from different backgrounds. They have a complicated relationship throughout the years as they grow up and leave their small town in Ireland.
The Hulu limited series debuted in 2020 and was praised by critics for its impressive adaptation of the source material.
"You" brings the thriller series to life with in-depth characters.
Critic score: 92%
The Lifetime-turned-Netflix series "You" caught viewers' and critics' attention when it started widely streaming in 2018.
The story, based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes, follows Joe Goldberg as he proves that he would do anything for love — by taking out anyone who stands in his way.
The series' second season is also loosely based on Kepnes' follow-up novel, "Hidden Bodies."
A new generation of teens can relate to "Looking for Alaska."
Critic score: 92%
Based on the young-adult novel by John Green, "Looking for Alaska" brings to life the complicated nature of teenagehood through the lens of Miles "Pudge" Halter.
Miles is a new student at Culver Creek Boarding School who, in the quest for a "Great Perhaps," falls in love with a troubled girl named Alaska Young.
The eight-episode Hulu series is set in 2005 — when the book was first released — and holds true to the book's original plot, dialogue, and characters.
The dark, female-led "Sharp Objects" was a big hit.
Critic score: 92%
Based on the novel "Sharp Objects" by Gillian Flynn, the gothic HBO mystery follows Camille Preaker, an investigative reporter with a haunting past and personal connections to her town's murders.
"Boardwalk Empire" highlights the corruption in 1920s Atlantic City.
Critic score: 92%
Nelson Johnson's nonfiction book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City" is brought to life on HBO's original series.
With the help of his mobster cohorts, local politician Enoch "Nucky" Thompson runs Atlantic City in the Prohibition era — until the federal government catches on to him.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a perfect gentleman with a murderous streak on "Hannibal."
Critic score: 93%
Using the characters from Thomas Harris' novels, Bryan Fuller's TV NBC series is a masterpiece in cinematography and character study.
On the show, characters see Hannibal before he becomes the flesh-eating monster in "The Silence of the Lambs."
"Fresh Off the Boat" gives culture shock a comedic twist.
Critic score: 94%
Inspired by Eddie Huang's memoir, ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat" follows the Huang family as they move from Washington, DC, to Orlando in search of the American dream.
Culture shock ensues as the Taiwanese-American family tries to embrace the — at times hilarious — culture of 1990s Florida.
"Elementary" brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famed stories to modern-day America.
Critic score: 95%
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" series has been adapted for film and TV many times, but few adaptations have had the critical success of CBS's "Elementary."
A modern-day derivative of the original book series, the show features Holmes moving to New York to help with investigations for the NYPD. It also introduces Watson as a former surgeon who's hired to keep Holmes on track.
"A Series of Unfortunate Events" got Count Olaf's creepiness right.
Critic score: 96%
The morbid children's novels by Daniel Handler, who wrote under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket, were turned into a darkly charming Netflix show in 2017.
The series follows three orphans as they investigate their parents' mysterious deaths and end up in the care of an evil guardian named Count Olaf.
"The Queen's Gambit" examines the cost of genius through the story of an elite chess player.
Critic score: 96%
Based on the book of the same name by Walter Tevis, "The Queen's Gambit" follows orphan Beth Harmon as she rises through the ranks as a US champion chess player.
The book and Netflix's limited series both examined the cost of greatness as Beth continues to hone her skills while growing more isolated and obsessive.
"Friday Night Lights" brought the franchise into the TV world.
Critic score: 97%
"Friday Night Lights" premiered on NBC in 2006, two years after Buzz Bissinger's nonfiction novel was adapted into the film of the same name.
The TV series takes a more in-depth look at the pride and joy of Dillon, Texas: the Dillon Panthers high-school football team.
For the citizens of small-town Texas, football is like a religion, and both the team and the community surrounding it have their ups and downs throughout the show's five highly rated seasons.
Viewers get a peek into the inner workings of the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit on "Mindhunter."
Critic score: 97%
The Netflix series took inspiration from retired FBI agents John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker's nonfiction crime book "Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit."
The show is set in the 1970s and follows two FBI agents who interview serial killers in an attempt to learn more about how their brains work.
Throughout the first two seasons, agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench innovate the field by developing their own methods for extracting motives from sociopathic minds.
"Heartstopper" is a coming-of-age story about coming out.
Critic score: 98%
The popular Netflix original is based on a series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman.
The plot of the first season follows the endearing friendship-turned-love story between teens Charlie and Nick.
"Dash and Lily" tells a festive teen love story set in New York City.
Critic score: 100%
Netflix's festive original series is based on the novel "Dash and Lily's Book of Dares" by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn.
The show centers on two teens, Scrooge-like Dash and Christmas-loving Lily, as they anonymously meet and correspond via a red notebook throughout the holiday season.
Although there are a few major differences between the book and the show — particularly the endings — the series brings the lovable characters to life in festive locations around New York City.
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