10 Amazing TV Shows based on bestselling novels

Some of the best shows on television today didn’t begin as original ideas for the screen. They started as bestselling books that already had a loyal following. Watching these stories unfold over several episodes gives the audience a chance to really stay with the characters and their choices.

A book tells you what a character thinks, but a series shows how they live it. That difference is what makes adaptations so appealing. They take the heart of the novel and stretch it across a format where every scene matters.

It is not just fans of the books who tune in. A strong adaptation often pushes new viewers to pick up the book after finishing the show. Suddenly, a novel that has been out for years is back on bestseller lists. It proves that a good story can keep finding an audience. These shows offer something for everyone, from sweeping historical pieces to sharp crime dramas to quiet romances.

Here are ten standout shows that managed to bring the best parts of their source material to life. Each one proves why adapting a book for television still works better than ever.

---

TV Shows based on bestselling novels

1. Shōgun

James Clavell’s Shōgun became a landmark historical novel when it released in 1975. The 2024 FX series stays close to the original story. It follows Blackthorne’s arrival in Japan and focuses on his survival within a brutal political landscape.

Characters like Toranaga and Mariko are shown with the same layered detail as in the book. The series chooses to use Japanese dialogue authentically rather than filter everything through English. That decision adds realism and respects the novel’s cultural backdrop. The adaptation does not cut corners, which helps bring Clavell’s world-building to life without losing the tension or scope of the book.

---

2. Outlander

Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander centers on Claire Randall’s accidental time travel from 1945 to 18th-century Scotland. The Starz show follows the book’s major plot points. Claire’s struggle between her two lives plays out with the same tension as in Gabaldon's popular books.

While some secondary storylines are condensed, the relationship between Claire and Jamie remains steady. Historical details like the Jacobite uprising and clan politics remain unchanged. The show sticks with Gabaldon’s tone, balancing romance with historical accuracy. That loyalty to the book helped cement Outlander as more than just a period drama. It became essential viewing for readers and newcomers alike.

---

3. The Queen’s Gambit

Walter Tevis published The Queen’s Gambit in 1983. The Netflix series keeps the novel’s structure intact. It tracks Beth Harmon’s chess career while showing her dependence on tranquilizers and alcohol. The show strengthens minor characters like Jolene but avoids rewriting major events.

Beth’s internal loneliness is treated the same way Tevis intended. Chess matches use real strategies reflecting Tevis’ dedication to authenticity. Even the final match outcome aligns with the book’s ending. Those careful choices made the adaptation feel complete rather than overworked. Viewers discovered Tevis’ story through this faithful approach, bringing overdue attention to the original novel.

---

4. Normal People

Sally Rooney’s Normal People became a bestseller because of its raw honesty about Connell and Marianne. The Hulu series mirrors that honesty scene by scene. Rooney’s dialogue appears word-for-word in key moments. The show avoids adding unnecessary drama and keeps focus on the quiet shifts between the characters.

It includes Connell’s mental health struggles and Marianne’s isolation, exactly as the book described. Visual storytelling replaces internal narration, but nothing important changes. The adaptation remains close to Rooney’s structure, and it keeps the same emotional weight. It gave viewers the same vulnerability that made the book stand out.

---

5. The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale set the foundation for the Hulu adaptation. Season one sticks directly to the novel’s story. It shows Offred’s life under Gilead’s rule with no significant deviations. The Ceremony and the control of women are portrayed as Atwood wrote them.

However, later seasons push beyond the book’s original ending. Characters like June are expanded in ways Atwood left open-ended. The show uses that freedom to build new arcs while maintaining Gilead’s oppressive system. By starting faithful and later expanding the story, it kept the themes of power and control central without rewriting the world Atwood imagined.

---

6. Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies was set in Australia, but HBO shifted the story to California without changing the plot. The series follows the book’s focus on domestic abuse and hidden lives. Key characters like Celeste and Madeline keep their original arcs.

The murder mystery structure uses flashbacks, which are lifted straight from the novel. Season two extends past the book but does not rewrite its events. HBO stayed true to Moriarty’s themes about control and secrecy. This made the show feel sharp and relevant and kept it grounded in what made the book so compelling in the first place.

---

7. Bridgerton

Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s novels, with the first season pulling directly from The Duke and I. Daphne’s arranged courtship with Simon closely follows the book’s plot. The show expands side characters earlier but keeps the main storyline unchanged.

One significant shift is the introduction of racial diversity, which was not part of Quinn’s original series. Lady Whistledown’s identity is also revealed sooner. None of these updates interfere with the romance at the center. Staying faithful to the books while making key modern changes helped turn Bridgerton into something bigger than a typical historical romance adaptation.

---

8. The Night Manager

John le Carré’s The Night Manager came out in the nineties, but the miniseries updates it without losing the story. Jonathan Pine’s role in infiltrating arms dealer Richard Roper’s world plays out just as le Carré wrote it. The setting moves to a more current time, but the focus on corruption and betrayal remains untouched.

The show changes Leonard Burr to Angela Burr, but the character’s purpose stays the same. These minor updates do not alter the book’s core. By keeping the original plot structure intact, the series succeeds in bringing le Carré’s cold espionage world to a broader audience.

---

9. Heartstopper

Netflix’s Heartstopper sticks closely to Alice Oseman’s graphic novels. The show follows Nick and Charlie’s relationship with the same pace and warmth. Scenes often mirror exact panels from the books. Dialogue is mostly unchanged. Their struggles with identity, friendship, and mental health remain as Oseman wrote them.

The series adds minor background moments but does not change major story beats. Animated visuals like floating leaves reflect the book’s style rather than altering it. Because the show stays loyal to both tone and plot, it became one of the rare adaptations embraced by longtime readers and new viewers equally.

---

10. Pachinko

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko tells a multigenerational story about a Korean family. The Apple TV+ adaptation keeps the key plot points from the novel intact. Sunja’s early life, her move to Japan, and her family’s struggles unfold precisely as written. The show shifts the timeline by presenting different eras side by side, but it does not change the story’s events.

Characters like Hansu and Isak are portrayed as close to the book as possible. Using Korean and Japanese languages adds to the accuracy. The adaptation respects Lee’s original themes about identity and survival without rewriting her work.

---

Stay tuned for more stories.