Books with Genuinely Entertaining Adaptations

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and Station Eleven from HBO

The novel that really put Mandel on the map, Station Eleven is about a troupe of travelling Shakespearean actors performing in the wake of a plague that wiped out 99% of humanity. Full of heart and profound prose, Mandel argues art is just as vital to survival as food or shelter. Though the TV show makes some different choices from the book (not to spoil anything) it is just as compelling. Its performances are stellar, especially from the lead actor, Mackenzie Davis, and I found it aching and hopeful and eminently watchable. If you haven’t watched the show and the loved the book, I highly encourage you to give it a try.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and Howl’s Moving Castle from Studio Ghibli

Here is a (rare?) instance where the movie adaptation might just be more famous than the novel upon which it was based. The first book in a trilogy Howl’s Moving Castle features the same beloved wizard Howl and Sophie from the film, and though there are differences (I think the war takes up a much larger presence in the novel) both forms of the story hold their own with aplomb. If you love the film (down to Christian Bale’s voice acting) and haven’t given the novel a try (or didn’t know it existed!) you should definitely pick it up (and then maybe arrange a watch party afterward with food cooked from the Unofficial Ghibli cookbook) or shop from our list of Gifts for Studio Ghibli Lovers.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman and Heartstopper from Netflix

Alice Oseman has every ounce of my wizened heart, and this series is entirely why. I don’t remember when I first picked up the graphic novel, but it was one of the first I ever read and stoked my love for the genre. The story of Charlie—an out gay kid who starts the show embroiled in a secret hookup relationship with another classmate who isn’t out—and Nick—a rugby star who never knew he liked boys—falling in love never ceases to fill me with joy. Oseman’s distinctive illustration style is winsome and inviting, and her storytelling chops are top-notch. The show (with the newly-released Season 2!) has the same charm aided by Oseman herself working on the series. There are panel for panel recreations in the show, but the two lead actors bring their own warmth to the roles. If you loved one, you’ll for sure love the other.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan and Crazy Rich Asians

Kevin Kwan’s novel might be a little bit older, so I get that it’s fallen off the map a little bit, but it is one of my favorite romance novels. Dishy, sharp, and full of big emotions, I tore through all three books with a quickness I can’t describe (and they are longer than you’d think!). The film adaptation isn’t able to follow as many characters as the book does (I love Astrid’s storyline in the book, which is much more fleshed out) but what it does have is a rich, saturated color palette and performances that have me laughing, gasping, and crying every time I watch it (which is often. Very often). If you’re still waiting on tenterhooks for the movie’s sequel, try reading China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems—it will fill the Henry Golding-sized hole in your heart.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman and Good Omens from Amazon Prime

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch is a story of the antichrist and the end of the world. And yet it is one of the most winsome, charming, and all around fun books I’ve ever read. Filled with angels, demons, witches, and other creatures of supernatural ilk, this book is a trip and one handled with aplomb by two of the greatest fantasy writers who ever walked the earth. The show (to me) is just as good (if not…better??) as the book, due in no small part to its two stars, David Tennant who plays the demon Crowley and Michael Sheen who plays the angel Azriaphale quite literally steal the show, and their dynamic is the fodder great fanfictions are made of. With the recent release of season 2, I can’t wait to spend more time at the end of the world.

The Last Wish (and the rest of The Witcher series) by Andrzej Sapkowski, translated by Danusia Stok and The Witcher from Netflix

Friends, we are going to ignore season 3 and also the impending usurpation of Henry Cavill by Liam Hemsworth—the first 2 seasons of Witcher are genuinely phenomenal. Jaskier’s little tunes (who doesn’t hum “Toss a Coin to your Witcher” to themselves every week?), Geralt’s smolder, Yennifer’s magic, and Ciri’s bravery are all ingredients that make a show I couldn’t tear myself away from. If you love the show, then the books are going to be a great place to bury your recasting sorrows in. The Last Wish is technically the first book and is a collection of short stories that throws you directly into monster fights. There a few more short story collections before you get to the main novelizations and they’re all so good. (Also if you haven’t played the games, at least give a playthrough a watch on YouTube. It’s worth it).

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and Alias Grace from Netflix

Often eclipsed by Atwood’s most famous novel The Handmaid’s Tale (which I adore, and its adaptation on Hulu is also amazing!), but this somewhat hidden gem blew me away when I first read it and first watched the show. Based on an actual historical murder trial in Victorian Canada, this is the story of Grace Marks, an immigrant from Ireland who works as a maid in a farm in the countryside. Soon after arriving at that job, the master of the estate and the head maid end up murdered, and Grace is charged with and convicted of her murder. But the story isn’t so interested in her guilt or innocence as it is in whether or not she was insane. Filled with twists and turns (and weirdly some romance?) this story always had me on the edge of my seat. The books adaptation is brilliant and the tiny, ephemeral, almost unnoticeable acting choices the lead actress, Sarah Gadon, makes adds so much depth to the character of Grace Marks.