There are numerous TV shows based on books. And in most cases, the book is usually better.
For whatever reason, nearly all adaptations just don’t do the source material justice.
However, there are a few excellent TV shows. Not necessarily better than the book upon which it was based, but on par…
Which TV show was based on a book?
As aforementioned, countless TV shows were based on or inspired by books.
But these are the best in our humble opinion:
The Handmaid’s Tale
Based on the Margaret Atwood book of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian drama set in the totalitarian, theocratic society of Gilead, where fertile women — called ‘Handmaids’ — are enslaved to bear children for wealthy men and their barren wives.
The series stars Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June.
Rounding out the cast are Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley, Amanda Brugel, Bradley Whitford, and Sam Jaeger.
The series, which ran for six seasons and has, so far, won 15 Emmy Awards, is an incredibly faithful adaptation of Margaret’s 1985 book.
However, as with any adaptation, there are a few differences.
For instance, Offred/June is more of a central figure in the resistance against Gilead, whereas in the book, her rebellion is more subdued.
You can watch Seasons 1 to 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale on Stan. However, the sixth and final season is only available on SBS OnDemand.
And you can purchase The Handmaid’s Tale book via Dymocks.
Bridgerton
Bridgerton is based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn.
Each of the eight books follows one of the eight Bridgerton siblings and how they met the love of their life, all the while a mysterious gossip columnist named Lady Whistledown spills
The TV adaptation has followed this anthology style; Season 1 of the period drama focused on Daphne Bridgerton, Season 2 on Anthony Bridgerton, and Season 3 on Colin Bridgerton.
The upcoming Season 4 will focus on Benedict Bridgerton.
There are quite a few differences between the books and the show, though; you can read them all here.
You can watch Bridgerton via Netflix and buy the books via Dymocks.
Sex and the City
Beloved franchise Sex and the City now boasts six seasons, two movies, two (soon to be three) seasons of its spin-off And Just Like That, and seven Emmy Awards.
However, it all started as a newspaper column that was ultimately turned into a book…
From 1994 to 1996, Candice Bushnell wrote a column titled Sex and the City for The New York Observer.
It was based on her and her friend’s experiences as single women in their thirties living in The Big Apple.
And while Candice initially wrote it from a first-person perspective, she quickly invented the semi-autobiographical character Carrie so her parents would be able to read it without getting a play-by-play of her sex life.
In 1996, the Sex and the City book — an anthology of Candice’s columns — was published.
A year before the book’s release, Candice profiled Darren Star for Vogue.
The two quickly became friends, and when it came time for Sex and the City — both the column and book — to be optioned, Darren snapped it up.
In June 1997, he wrote the pilot episode with Sarah Jessica Parker in mind for Carrie, soon after convinced SJP to play the character, and just like that history was made…
You can watch Sex and the City on Max and buy the book via Dymocks.
Big Little Lies
Based on the Liane Moriarty book of the same name, Big Little Lies stars Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern.
The series is a murder mystery that follows a group of women brought together as their children attend the same school.
To date, Big Little Lies has won eight Emmy Awards and is currently gearing up for its third season.
There aren’t too many differences between the show and the book. However, the show is set in California while the book is set here in Australia (Liane is Australian).
You can watch Big Little Lies on Max and purchase the book via Dymocks.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones was a cultural phenomenon when it was airing.
The show ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019, and won a staggering 59 Emmy Awards.
Of course, Game of Thrones is based on the George RR Martin fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Sadly, George has not finished the series. He has released books one to five, respectively titled A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons.
But books six and seven — The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring — are yet to be released. Many fans believe George will never release them, especially as it’s been more than ten years since the last one hit bookshelves.
In terms of the TV adaptation, seasons 1 to 5 of Game of Thrones are excellent. 10 out of 10 television.
However, after season 5, the show had to seriously diverge from the books as the storyline had outpaced the books.
And sadly, as a result of no longer being based on George’s books, the quality does start to diminish.
Season 8 is particularly woeful in comparison to earlier seasons.
With all of that being said though, the series overall is still definitely worth watching. That’s how good Seasons 1 to 5 are!
You can watch all eight seasons of Game of Thrones on Max and buy the books via Dymocks.
You
The series You is based on the novel of the same name by Caroline Kepnes.
The psychological thriller centres on Joe Goldberg, played to perfection by Penn Badgley, a charming but dangerously obsessive man who will do anything for love, even murder.
After premiering in 2018, the series quickly became renowned for its dark plot twists and abhorrent narration.
While the show and book share many plot points, the show has expanded significantly on Joe’s story. It also introduced new characters, locations, and victims.
To be perfectly honest, this is one of those rare cases where the adaptation is slightly better than the book. However, we advise that you read the book, watch the show, and then make your mind up!
You can watch Seasons 1 to 4 of You on Netflix and purchase the book via Dymocks.
The fifth and final season of You premieres on Netflix on April 24, 2025.
Defending Jacob
Based on the 2012 legal thriller by William Landay, Defending Jacob is a gripping limited series.
Starring Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, and Jaeden Martell, the series follows Assistant District Attorney Andy Barber, whose life unravels when his 14-year-old son is accused of murdering a classmate.
The show stays largely faithful to the book’s slow-burn suspense and emotional intensity, though there are a few key changes, particularly the ending, which differs in tone and conclusion.
We highly recommend checking out both!
You can watch Defending Jacob on Apple TV+ and buy the book via Dymocks.
