Top 8 Gripping Novels Behind Hit TV Series to Read for Your Next Cozy Night In
There's a special kind of magic in finishing a TV series you’ve completely fallen for. You’ve lived with the characters, agonized over their decisions, and celebrated their triumphs. But then, the final credits roll on the season finale, and a familiar emptiness sets in. What now? The remote feels heavy, and the thought of starting a new show feels like a betrayal.
What if I told you there’s a way to prolong the magic, to dive even deeper into the worlds you've grown to love? The secret is hiding in plain sight: the original novel. Reading the book that inspired your favorite series isn’t about choosing a side in the endless "book vs. show" debate. It's about getting the director's cut, the uncut story, the rich inner monologues, and the hidden subplots that simply couldn't fit on screen. It’s an invitation to experience the story in a new, more intimate way.
So, grab your fuzziest blanket, pour a cup of your favorite tea, and get ready to settle in. We’ve curated a list of eight absolutely gripping novels that spawned some of television's biggest hits. This is your ultimate guide for your next perfect, cozy night in.
1. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (The book behind Bridgerton)
If you, like the rest of the world, were captivated by the dazzling ballgowns, scandalous gossip, and simmering romance of Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton, you're in for a treat. The show is based on a delightful series of romance novels by Julia Quinn, and the first season draws its story from The Duke and I. While the series is a brilliant ensemble piece, the book offers a much more focused and intimate lens on the whirlwind courtship of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings.
The novel gives you something the show can't: unfiltered access to Daphne and Simon’s thoughts. You'll experience their witty banter not just as spoken dialogue, but as a part of their internal monologues, filled with all the anxiety, attraction, and hilarious misunderstandings that define their relationship. The pacing is different, too, allowing for a slower, more detailed exploration of their emotional journey. Lady Whistledown's columns are still a highlight, but the central romance is the undeniable heart of the story.
Read this if: You adored the chemistry between Daphne and the Duke and want to spend more time inside their heads. It’s also a fantastic starting point for the entire Bridgerton book series, as each subsequent novel follows a different Bridgerton sibling on their own quest for love. Reading the books is like getting a sneak peek into the potential future seasons of the show!
2. The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
The Netflix limited series was a global phenomenon, praised for its stunning cinematography, flawless period detail, and Anya Taylor-Joy's mesmerizing performance as chess prodigy Beth Harmon. But before it was a visual masterpiece, The Queen's Gambit was a quiet, profound 1983 novel by Walter Tevis that explores the mind of a genius with breathtaking clarity.
The book is a masterclass in character study. While the series visualizes Beth’s struggles and genius, the novel internalizes them. Tevis puts you directly inside Beth's mind, making the complex strategies of chess feel intensely personal and dramatic. Her battles with addiction and her deep-seated loneliness are rendered with a stark, poignant honesty that is incredibly powerful. You don't just watch Beth play chess; you feel the weight of every piece and the thrill of every calculated move right alongside her.
Read this if: You were fascinated by the psychology of Beth Harmon. The book strips away some of the show's stylistic glamour to deliver a raw, focused, and deeply moving portrait of a young woman fighting for control in a world that consistently tries to take it from her. It’s a compelling look at the cost of genius.
3. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The glossy, star-studded HBO series transported us to the wealthy, picturesque, and secretly treacherous community of Monterey, California. But the dark, witty, and suspenseful story of Madeline, Celeste, and Jane first unfolded on the sun-drenched beaches of Sydney, Australia, in Liane Moriarty's bestselling novel. Reading the book is like hearing the original, unfiltered gossip from the source.
Moriarty is a genius at blending domestic drama with nail-biting suspense, and her signature wit shines even brighter on the page. The novel provides extensive backstories and inner monologues for all the women, giving you a much deeper understanding of their motivations, fears, and secrets. The story, I was recently discussing with Goh Ling Yong, feels both funnier and, at times, even darker in the book, as Moriarty expertly peels back the layers of these "perfect" lives to reveal the messy truths underneath.
Read this if: You love a juicy mystery wrapped in sharp social commentary. The novel offers a richer context for the characters' relationships and a slightly different (but equally shocking) climax. If you thought you knew all the secrets of Pirriwee Public School, think again.
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (The book behind Game of Thrones)
For a decade, the HBO series was the undisputed king of television. But the world of Westeros is infinitely larger, richer, and more complex in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, which begins with A Game of Thrones. If the show was an epic fantasy blockbuster, the books are a sprawling, intricate historical tapestry woven with magic, prophecy, and political nuance.
The single greatest gift of the books is the point-of-view (POV) chapter structure. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, plunging you directly into their thoughts, biases, and schemes. You don’t just see Ned Stark make a fateful decision; you live his struggle with honor and duty. You experience Daenerys’s transformation from a frightened girl to a powerful queen from the inside out. The books are filled with characters, prophecies, and historical lore that the show, for time and clarity, had to leave out.
Read this if: You want the full, unadulterated Westeros experience. Be prepared for a dense and detailed read, but the payoff is an unparalleled understanding of the world and its players. It’s essential reading for anyone who misses the world of the Seven Kingdoms and wants to explore its deepest corners.
5. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Emmy-winning series has become a cultural touchstone, a chilling vision of a dystopian future that feels terrifyingly relevant. The show, starring Elisabeth Moss, has expanded the world of Gilead far beyond the confines of Margaret Atwood's original 1985 novel. Reading the book is a fascinating exercise in returning to the source of the nightmare.
Atwood's novel is a more claustrophobic, intimate, and ambiguous affair. The story is told entirely from Offred's perspective, and we are trapped inside her head with her, privy only to her memories, her fears, and her small acts of rebellion. The world of Gilead is less defined, its history more mysterious, which only adds to the suffocating sense of dread. The book’s power lies in its quiet intensity and its famously ambiguous ending, which leaves the reader with haunting questions.
Read this if: You appreciate literary fiction and psychological horror. The show is a sprawling epic of rebellion, while the book is a contained, deeply personal story of survival. Reading the original novel provides the essential, poetic foundation upon which the entire television universe was built.
6. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Few adaptations have been as celebrated for their faithfulness as the series based on Sally Rooney's Normal People. The show beautifully captured the novel's tender, aching, and intoxicating portrayal of Marianne and Connell's relationship. So why read the book if the show did it so well? Because Rooney’s prose is an experience in and of itself.
The book is written in a distinctive, minimalist style that focuses intensely on the characters' interior lives. Rooney masterfully articulates the unspoken thoughts, the subtle shifts in power, and the profound miscommunications that define Marianne and Connell's connection. You understand why they fail to say what they mean, because you are right there in their heads as they overthink every text and second-guess every conversation. It’s an incredibly intimate and immersive reading experience.
Read this if: You were moved by the show's emotional depth and want to understand it on an even more profound level. The book and the show are perfect companions; one visualizes the longing, and the other articulates it with heartbreaking precision.
7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
The Netflix series plunged viewers into the Grishaverse, a fantasy world torn apart by a shadowy rift, by cleverly weaving together two of Leigh Bardugo's book series: the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. For fans of the show, reading the first book, Shadow and Bone, offers a chance to experience the story as it was originally told.
The novel is a more traditional "chosen one" fantasy, focusing squarely on Alina Starkov's journey as she discovers her power as the Sun Summoner. Without the parallel storyline of the Crows, Alina's story has more room to breathe. We spend more time with her at the Little Palace, delve deeper into her relationships with Mal and the Darkling, and get a more detailed understanding of the world's politics and magic system. It’s a focused, propulsive read that lays the essential groundwork for the entire universe.
Read this if: You want to understand the origins of the Grishaverse. Starting with Shadow and Bone allows you to follow Alina’s journey from the very beginning, and it makes the eventual introduction of the beloved characters from Six of Crows even more exciting. It’s a more linear but equally magical way to experience the world.
8. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (The book behind The Witcher)
Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia is a man of few words, but in Andrzej Sapkowski’s original Polish stories, the witcher is surprisingly philosophical and, dare we say, chatty. The first season of The Witcher draws heavily from The Last Wish, a collection of short stories that introduce Geralt and the gritty, monster-filled world he inhabits.
Unlike the show's complex, time-hopping narrative, The Last Wish presents Geralt's early adventures as a series of standalone tales framed by a present-day storyline. Each story is a masterful fantasy adventure, often a dark and clever retelling of a classic fairy tale (like "Beauty and the Beast" or "Snow White"). This structure allows you to get to know Geralt on his own terms: as a monster-hunter-for-hire, a weary outsider, and a man grappling with his own code of ethics. The dialogue is sharp, the action is visceral, and the world-building is top-notch. It's a point Goh Ling Yong often makes: the lore in source material like this is just so rich.
Read this if: You want more monster-slaying adventures and a deeper dive into Geralt's character. The short story format is perfect for picking up and putting down, and it provides crucial context for the epic events that unfold in the later novels and seasons of the show.
Reading the book behind the series is more than just a way to pass the time until the next season. It's an opportunity to enrich your love for a story, to connect with the characters on a new level, and to appreciate the incredible artistry involved in both creating a world on the page and bringing it to life on the screen. Each offers a unique and irreplaceable experience.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. Which book-to-screen adaptation is your all-time favorite? Are there any hidden gems I missed on this list? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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