From Books to Screen: TV Adaptations That Got It Right (and Wrong)

It seems like every time you fire up a streaming service, there’s a new series based on a bestselling novel. From epic fantasies to intimate dramas, best book to TV adaptations are everywhere, and there’s a good reason for it. 

For streamers, a successful book is a goldmine, it comes with a built-in fan base, a fully developed world, and a proven storyline. For us, the viewers, it’s a chance to see our favorite characters and stories brought to life in ways we could only imagine while reading. 

The debate over whether the book or the show is better is a tale as old as time, and the passion behind these discussions is what keeps these adaptations at the top of the trending lists.

7 TV Adaptations That Did the Book Justice

When a series truly honors its source material, it feels like a cinematic victory. Here are seven shows that are considered some of the best book to TV adaptations because they captured the spirit and story of their literary counterparts.

Shōgun (from the novel by James Clavell)

In a world of fast-paced storytelling and quick payoffs, the television adaptation of Shōgun stood out by taking its time to meticulously bring feudal Japan to life. 

The series was a masterclass in patient and thoughtful world-building, a quality that makes it one of the best book to TV adaptations. 

Unlike many adaptations that rush through key plot points, this show honored the intricate political and cultural nuances of James Clavell’s epic novel. 

It was praised for its astonishing historical accuracy, stunning visuals, and a deliberate commitment to telling the story from both Japanese and English perspectives. 

The show trusted its audience to appreciate the slow burn of political maneuvering, allowing the rich character development and complex plot to unfold organically and powerfully, just as they did on the page.

Lessons in Chemistry (from the novel by Bonnie Garmus)

The series Lessons in Chemistry perfectly captured the witty, poignant, and resilient spirit of the novel it was based on. 

Starring Brie Larson, the show wasn’t just a story about a brilliant female chemist in the 1950s; it made you feel the frustration, determination, and quiet triumphs of its protagonist, Elizabeth Zott. 

Through stunning production design and a deep emotional resonance, the adaptation brought the book’s core themes of misogyny, ambition, and the pursuit of knowledge to the forefront. 

It’s an example of how a great adaptation can capture the emotional core of its source material, making it a faithful and inspiring series that resonated deeply with fans of the novel and new viewers alike. 

This is a must-watch for anyone who loves best book to TV adaptations that champion a strong, intellectual lead.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (from the novel by Jenny Han)

This series succeeded by expanding on the source material without losing the heart that made Jenny Han’s book a fan-favorite.

The Summer I Turned Pretty took the beloved coming-of-age story and gave it a modern update, adding more diversity to its cast and giving key characters more depth. 

By perfectly capturing the sun-drenched, nostalgic atmosphere of summer and the emotional rollercoaster of first loves, the show became a teen romance phenomenon. 

Its expertly curated soundtrack and vibrant visual style helped it connect with a new generation while still honoring the essence of the original story. 

The adaptation proves that the best book to TV adaptations can evolve the story while staying true to its emotional core.

Game of Thrones (from the novels by George R.R. Martin)

For its first several seasons, Game of Thrones was widely considered the gold standard for adapting epic fantasy. It masterfully translated George R.R. Martin’s sprawling, complex world of Westeros to the screen on an unprecedented scale. 

The show’s success lay in its incredible attention to character, dialogue, and political intrigue, drawing viewers into a world of alliances, betrayal, and magic. 

By honoring the books’ complex narrative structure and rich lore, it transformed a niche fantasy series into a global television event, bringing a whole new audience into a world they never knew they needed. 

It’s a testament to how a show can respect its source material and still achieve monumental success.

Fleabag (from the play by Phoebe Waller-Bridge)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s television adaptation of her own one-woman stage play took a simple, raw story and turned it into a global phenomenon. 

Fleabag kept the raw humor, emotional vulnerability, and signature fourth-wall breaks of the original, but expertly used the visual medium to enhance the main character’s inner life. 

The series proved that a great story, even a short one, can be expanded into a television masterpiece by adding new layers of depth and context. 

It’s an innovative example, showing that the transition from one medium to another can lead to a more profound and enriching experience.

The Queen’s Gambit (from the novel by Walter Tevis)

This miniseries turned the seemingly niche world of competitive chess into a visually stunning and emotionally compelling drama. 

The Queen’s Gambit perfectly captured the intensity of the game and the complex inner world of its protagonist, Beth Harmon. 

The show’s beautiful cinematography, intricate period details, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s mesmerizing performance helped it become one of the most unexpected and celebrated adaptations of the decade. 

It’s a clear example that the best book to TV adaptations can elevate a story by focusing on visual storytelling and emotional resonance, making a niche topic accessible and captivating for a wide audience.

Normal People (from the novel by Sally Rooney)

This series proved that a great adaptation doesn’t need epic fantasy or high-stakes drama to be impactful. 

Normal People took Sally Rooney’s introspective novel and flawlessly brought the quiet, intimate story of Connell and Marianne to life. 

The show’s success lay in its raw and realistic portrayal of their relationship, filled with both unspoken moments and intense conversations. 

The dialogue, the silences, and the subtle gestures were all captured with incredible authenticity, making the series feel deeply personal and relatable. 

It’s an excellent example of how a series can be one of the best book to TV adaptations by simply being true to the emotional tone and psychological depth of the source material.

Adaptations That Missed the Mark (And Why)

Not every book-to-screen journey is a success. Sometimes, a series makes choices that frustrate fans of the original. Here’s a look at what can go wrong.

• The Witcher (Season 3): The first two seasons of the Netflix fantasy hit were a great start, but the third season veered sharply away from the source material. 

By making drastic plot changes and culminating in the departure of its lead actor, Henry Cavill, the show lost a significant portion of its fan base and became a cautionary tale about straying too far from the literary path.

• The Last Kingdom (Final Seasons): While this show was a fan-favorite, its final seasons suffered from a common adaptation problem: rushing the ending.

As the series caught up to the final novels by Bernard Cornwell, it began to condense events and skip over key plot points, leaving many fans feeling that the grand story was concluded too quickly and without the same emotional impact as the books.

• The Golden Compass (2007 Film): A classic example of a flawed adaptation, this film attempted to squeeze an entire book into a two-hour movie. 

It condensed the complex plot, removed key emotional beats, and, most importantly, completely stripped away the powerful anti-religious themes of Philip Pullman’s original novel, leaving fans of the source material feeling betrayed and disappointed.

How to Decide If You Should Read or Watch First

This is the ultimate dilemma for any fan. Should you read the book first, or watch the show and then read the book?

Reading allows you to build the world and characters in your own imagination. It gives you a deeper understanding of the story’s nuances and internal monologues. 

When you watch the adaptation afterward, you can truly appreciate the choices the creators made and see how they brought the story to life.

If you watch first, you avoid the disappointment that can come from a series not matching the picture in your head. You can be fully surprised by the story’s twists and turns. 

Then, when you read the book, you get to discover all the extra details and character backstories that didn’t make it to the screen.

Ultimately, both experiences have their own magic. Whether you read or watch first, the real joy lies in engaging with a powerful story and joining the conversation about it.

What are some of your own best book to TV adaptations? And which ones do you think missed the mark? Stay on our site and check out our other articles: Booktok Books in 2025: What is Going Viral on TikTok?