15 Best Netflix Original Shows Based On Books, Ranked

Though Netflix sometimes has a reputation for prioritizing quantity over quality, the streamer offers plenty of choice programming for your next binge-watch. One area where they’ve found success is book-to-screen adaptations, and novels have provided material for many of their best shows. Books don’t always translate well to the small screen, but these series honor the

You may have never heard of some of these books, while others are classics given new life. From romance to crime dramas to YA and riveting true stories, these series are the best book adaptations Netflix has to offer. You don’t have to read these books to enjoy their TV shows — we’ll give you all the background info you need to become an informed viewer. Whether you’re a voracious reader or a dedicated binge-watcher, these series are the cream of the literature-based crop. Feel free to drop your personal favorites in the comments below.

15. Bridgerton

Based on Julia Quinn’s book series, “Bridgerton” has been a smash hit for Netflix, premiering with the streamer’s biggest opening month ever. A delightful alternate history show, “Bridgerton” takes place in a much more egalitarian version of the Regency era wherein racial equality has been achieved. The series follows the titular Bridgerton family, comprised of eight siblings, as they navigate romance and marriage within Britain’s aristocratic society. Each season follows one coupling, while other storylines develop alongside the central pair.

Gleefully anachronistic (the series often features orchestral covers of modern pop songs), “Bridgerton” won’t appeal to everyone, but for the romance-inclined, it’s a sugary delight filled with melodrama and juicy sexual escapades. The show’s cast is strong, and standouts like Nicola Coughlan add some lovely charm to the proceedings. It casts aside the usual stiffness of period pieces for something more frothy and jos costumes

14. Anne With an E

“Anne with an E” is an underrated coming-of-age show that explores itss 1908 novel “Anne of Green Gables,” the Netflix series follows 13-year-old Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), an orphan sent to live with two elderly siblings on the picturesque Prince Edward Island in Canada. Armed with an indomitable sense of optimism, Anne faces down bullies and the precarity of her circumstances with the bravery of a young heroine

Though “Anne with an E” is accessible to all ages, creator Moira Walley-Beckett, who wrote the famous “Breaking Bad” episode “Ozymandias,” injects the series with a sense of gravity and gutsy realism that differentiates this adaptation from others. The series is attentive to the social inequities of the time, taking Anne’s experience with bullies and prejudice seriously. Yet, it never gets too dark, in large part thanks to McNulty’s astonishing performance. She perfectly embodies Anne’s earnest, open-minded attitude, and the show shares her belief in goodness and the beauty of all things.

13. The Lincoln Lawyer

Following Prime Video’s success with their adaptation of the Harry Bosch novels, Netflix took a stab at tackling another Michael Connelly series with “The Lincoln Lawyer,” based on his books about criminal defense lawyer Mickey Haller. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plays one of TV’s smartest lawyers, known for working out of his Lincoln, though the first season sees him move into a real office. He’s joined by his second ex-wife, Lorna (Becki Newton), and Cisco (Angus Sampson), a former biker and investigator.

Each season follows Mickey and Co. as they take on a new case and try to keep the firm afloat. Mickey often crosses paths with his first ex-wife, Maggie (Neve Campbell), a prosecutor with whom he shares a child. Garcia-Rulfo is effortlessly charming in the title role, and his chemistry with Campbell, who does great work here, is off the charts. Newton is also a standout, and her effervescence makes the show sing. Though somewhat formulaic in its plotting, “The Lincoln Lawyer” is a wholly entertaining ride populated by charming actors and featuring cases that will keep you clicking to the next episode.

12. The End of the F***ing World

Though it initially aired on Channel 4 in the U.K., Netflix distributed “The End of the F***ing World” internationally, where it sadly failed to make an impact with American audiences. Still, it’s one of our favorite TV shows based on books, and it’s worth a watch. Adapted from Charles Forsman’s minicomic of the same name, the series stars Alex Lawther as James, a 17-year-old who believes himself to be a psychopath. Hoping to graduate to his first human murder victim, James sets his sights on Alyssa (Jessica Barden), a fellow outcast who shows an interest in him.

Alyssa proposes that they go on a road trip together to escape their unsatisfactory home lives, and James sees this as the perfect opportunity to carry out his murder plot. The problem? James actually thinks Alyssa is pretty cool, and his desire to take her life wanes. Despite a rather disturbing premise, “The End of the F***ing World” is oddly sweet, uniquely exploring the effects of repressed emotions and the chance meeting of two weirdos. Original in every sense of the word, the series is a dark comedy of the highest order.

11. One Day

“One Day” is one of Netflix’s most swoon-worthy romances, and it will make you laugh as much as it will bring out the waterworks. Based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls (which was adapted into a mediocre 2011 film), “One Day” follows nearly 20 years in the lives of school friends and sometimes lovers Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall). We first meet them on July 15, 1989, and pop in on their lives on that day for the next two decades. We see the characters at their best and at their worst, through periods of togetherness and estrangement.

A uniquely structured take on a love story, “One Day” succeeds because of the talent and chemistry of its two leads. Mod, known for her comedy, is very funny here, but hits all the more nuanced emotional beats just as well. Woodall has the requisite kind of boyish charm to pull off the role, yet he isn’t afraid to go dark. Their palpable chemistry is ultimately what sells the whole series. Any of the show’s faults are more to do with the novel than its adaptation, though the series made several significant changes to the source material.

10. YOU

“YOU,” which originally aired on Lifetime before switching over to Netflix for Season 2, is a dark tale about the difference between obsession and love. Based on a book series by Caroline Kepnes, Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, a charming bookstore manager in New York City. Joe’s take on love slides into obsession, and his stalking of Season 1’s love interest, Beck (Elizabeth Lail), leads him down a path of thinly veiled malevolence and murder.

“YOU” is not a subtle show, and it’s better for it. While Joe is the protagonist, it’s clear we’re not meant to root for him in the typical sense, though we do get an uncomfortably intimate look at his demented psyche. The show’s juicy first season introduces us to Joe’s brand of toxic masculinity, while Season 2 shakes things up with the introduction of the unpredictable Love (a fantastic Victoria Pedretti). The series is chock-full of twists and soapy melodrama that keep the viewer hooked, and the show is clever enough to allow Joe to continually fall into old habits without getting stagnant.

9. Ripley

Patricia Highsmith’s novels have been adapted into several critically acclaimed films, including “Strangers on a Train,” “Carol,” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” The latter book has once again been adapted for the screen, this time in a gorgeous, haunting Netflix series simply titled “Ripley.” Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Zaillian and shot by the great Robert Elswit, the series stars Andrew Scott as the title character, who in this iteration is a worn-out grifter who jumps at the chance to travel to Italy on behalf of a wealthy industrialist.

In Europe, he finds wayward playboy Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), who invites Ripley into his home, and Dickie’s girlfriend, Marge (Dakota Fanning), who is less trusting of this interloper. Shot in gorgeous, stark black and white, the show’s striking palette recalls a Hitchcockian noir, alluding to the emptiness of Ripley’s soul. Scott gives a phenomenal performance, revealing only hollowed-out blackness behind Ripley’s eyes and a desire for abjection. The slow-moving series nonetheless builds up an exquisite tension, as Ripley is forced into a defensive position and his true nature is revealed.

8. The Haunting of Hill House

Though Mike Flanagan has since built a veritable horror TV empire, his 2018 series “The Haunting of Hill House” is where it all began, and it arguably remains his very best show. Based on Shirley Jackson’s famed 1959 novel of the same name, “Hill House” takes Jackson’s classic haunted house story and gives it a familial twist. The show centers on the Crain family, who move into Hill House in the 1990s and are still reckoning with their time there in the present day.

The series is expertly constructed, with powerful acting from its cast and a narrative that ties together family trauma and the supernatural. Flanagan is a master at crafting emotional monologues and placing hidden ghosts, both of which this show has in spades. The gothic atmosphere of “Hill House” is perfectly moody, and the show’s shocking climax is as heartbreaking as it is horrifying. Flanagan’s take on the haunted house tale is defined by technically brilliant filmmaking, like it’s one-shot funeral episode, and tragically beautiful storytelling, as seen through the life of Nell (Victoria Pedretti).

7. The Queen’s Gambit

Is there anyone who didn’t watch “The Queen’s Gambit” when it came out in 2020, at the height of our lockdown-induced restlessness? The show was Netflix’s most-watched scripted series at the time, and even inspired a 215% increase in chess sales. Looking back on that period of hysteria, we can safely say that “The Queen’s Gambit” is worth the hype, thanks to a brilliant performance from star Anya Taylor-Joy and the show’s peculiar ability to make chess sexy.

Based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, the series follows Beth Harmon (Taylor-Joy), a chess prodigy in the 1950s and 1960s. Beth learned to play chess while living in an orphanage, where she also developed an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Taylor-Joy plays Beth with a transfixing intelligence and interiority, portraying Beth’s emotions through her huge eyes rather than through dialogue. Much of Taylor-Joy’s performance is silent, as she ponders her next chess move. Inventive cinematography, which illustrates Beth’s visualization techniques via chess pieces on the ceiling, makes “The Queen’s Gambit” a surprisingly invigorating watch.

6. The Baby-Sitters Club

It’s always tricky to adapt a beloved book series that legions of readers grew up with, but Netflix managed to stick the landing with their adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club novels. Created by Rachel Shukert and featuring collaborators like Lucia Aniello of “Hacks,” the series does a wonderful job transporting the very analog-based novels from the 1980s and 1990s to the present day. Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace) still has her “great idea” for a babysitter’s club, and her feminist business plan is just as impactful today.

Earnest but never patronizing, the show succeeds thanks to an effervescent young cast who have believable chemistry and strong personalities. The girls’ family members, played by the likes of Alicia Silverstone and Mark Feuerstein, are equally strong. The show’s unabashedly progressive message, which is present in the books, is heartwarming without feeling pedantic, covering topics like trans acceptance and divorce while never losing track of its tween POV. We’re still upset that one of Netflix’s best original series was canceled after its second season, but we won’t soon forget the lessons we learned along the way.

5. Heartstopper

“Heartstopper” is one of the best feel-good shows on Netflix, and it’s bound to put you in a good mood when you’re feeling down. Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series of the same name, “Heartstopper” follows English teenager Charlie (Joe Locke). Bullied at school for being gay, Charlie struggles with his mental health. He begins a relationship with Nick (Kit Connor), a popular lacrosse player who inspires him to come out of his shell.

Locke and Connor have lovely chemistry, and the show is unabashedly sweet and earnest. Though Charlie and Nick’s relationship is the most central narrative, Charlie’s friends also get plenty of screen time as they navigate their own coming of age and support one another through big life changes. Purposefully diverse and touching on serious issues like homophobia, transphobia, mental health, and eating disorders, “Heartstopper” never feels preachy, but rather depicts a dreamy world where everyone does their best to be a good person. It’s an absolute delight to watch, and it may even restore your faith in humanity.

4. A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events novels are very dark fare. Though about and written for children, they center on orphans faced with careless and downright evil adults who constantly put them in harm’s way. The Netflix series retains this surprising darkness while avoiding a consistently depressing tone that would make it unwatchable. The orphans in question are 14-year-old Violet (Malina Weissman), a keen inventor; 12-year-old Klaus (Louis Hynes), a bookish type; and Sunny (Presley Smith, “voiced” by Tara Strong), who can bite through anything with her one tooth.

Neil Patrick Harris has a ball as the villainous Count Olaf, whose theatricality hides a bitterness and desire to be liked. As in many tales about orphans, the Baudelaires can’t rely on anyone but themselves, and despite their tragic circumstances, this is ultimately a hopeful sentiment. Their ingenuity and will to survive are inspiring, and their youthful determination acts as a balm to all the dreary disappointment. The wonderfully moody, gothic production design helps bring the world into focus, and Patrick Warburton brings a comforting melancholy as the show’s narrator, Lemony Snicket himself. The novels are difficult material to adapt, and this series gets an A+ for both effort and execution.

3. Alias Grace

Though the Netflix series “Alias Grace” is adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, it’s also based on a harrowing true story. The show follows Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), an Irish immigrant working as a servant in Canada. Grace is convicted of the sensational double murder of her employer and his housekeeper, and in real life, she spent 30 years in prison. As in the novel, the story is told via Grace’s conversations with a psychologist sent to ascertain whether she should be released or not. This non-linear storytelling device gives the narrative a sense of suspense, as we’re never quite sure if Grace is guilty or not.

Ultimately, though, Grace’s guilt is a moot point, and the CBC-produced series, which was is more concerned with the dreadful circumstances of Grace’s life that led to that point. To that end, “Alias Grace” can have a dreariness to it, but Gadon’s mesmerizing performance and the central narrative device do wonders to keep the viewer enraptured. The series builds to a killer finish that is well worth the wait

2. Forever

Judy Blume is one of the most revered authors of books for children and young adults, though her works have rarely been adapted for the screen. Her 1975 book “Forever…,” which concerns a teenage relationship and burgeoning sexuality, was the source of the 2025 Netflix series of the same name, which premiered to rave reviews. Created by Mara Brock Akil, the mind behind “Girlfriends,” the series follows two teenagers living in Los Angeles. Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) is an ambitious track star from a working-class background, while Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) is a basketball player trying to decide what he wants in life. They fall in love, but the opinions of their parents and the expectations placed on them as young people frequently get in the way.

Like Blume’s novel, the series is unafraid to depict teenagers in all their messy glory as they navigate sex, intimacy, relationships, and family dynamics. It’s refreshing to watch two Black teenagers fall in love without any tragedy, and Keisha and Justin’s relationship has a lived-in specificity that still feels universally relatable. Their parents are written and acted with great care, never unfair authoritarians or beatific sources of wisdom, but people trying to protect and care for their kids. It’s a stunningly holistic look at these teens’ lives that cleverly updates Blume’s book for the 21st century.

1. Maid

Based on a memoir by Stephanie Land, “Maid” is one of the most underrated Netflix shows of all time. The series stars Margaret Qualley as Alex Russell, a young woman who leaves home in the middle of the night with her 2-year-old to escape her emotionally abusive boyfriend, Sean (Nick Robinson). Struggling to retain custody of her daughter with no money to her name, Alex runs into a constant stream of roadblocks trying to make ends meet, illustrating to the blissfully ignorant viewer how expensive it is to be poor.

Though not exactly a cheerful subject for a show, “Maid” is never a slog to get through, thanks to some welcome moments of humor and Alex’s consistent determination to keep going. Qualley delivers a breathtaking performance, movingly depicting the fear and self-doubt beneath Alex’s will to survive. Alex’s mom, Paula, a chaotic woman with bipolar disorder, is played by Qualley’s real-life mother, Andie MacDowell, and her scenes are as heartbreaking as they are frustrating. The overall impact of the series is massive; it’s both a moving portrait of a woman escaping abuse and a condemnation of the capitalist system that grinds so many beneath its boot.