2025 has brought many of our favorite books to the small screen, but these ten TV shows go above and beyond in entertainment value, cinematography quality, and the adaptation of the original story. Storytelling is a part of the human experience.
Stories help us understand ourselves and the world around us, expanding our horizons in new ways. Luckily, storytelling formats aren’t siloed. Some of the best movies have spurred novel series. Some books have become graphic novels. Similarly, some of the best TV shows started as books.
Reflecting on this past year, 2025 has brought us many TV shows based on novels. The best of them transform the source material with fantastic visuals, compelling performances, and top-notch storytelling. Here are our top 10 picks, ranked.
10
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Based On The Summer I Turned Pretty Books By Jenny Han
The cast of The Summer I Turned Pretty dressed for a wedding.
The Summer I Turned Pretty returned in 2025 for its final season, and it didn’t disappoint. The season has excellent writing and pacing. All of the actors gave it their all this season, with Lola Tung proving that she has what it takes to make it in Hollywood.
Belly gets some much-needed character growth and self-reflection. She takes steps to rectify some of the damage she did throughout the show. The plot also finally concludes the love triangle between Jeremiah, Conrad, and Belly.
Ultimately, The Summer I Turned Pretty cemented itself as one of the best book-to-TV adaptations in 2025 by knowing when to deviate from the source material. Unlike the book, the Prime Video show allows Belly to choose herself. She got self-love first and romantic love second. However, the fact that it took her so long to get to that point is what puts the show at the bottom of the list.
9
Missing You
Based On Missing You By Harlan Coben
Kat and Josh smiling together in Netflix’s Missing You
No matter my personal feelings about Harlan Coben’s stories, it’s hard to deny that Missing You was one of the most popular shows of the year, and it deserves its place among the best book-to-TV adaptations of the year. Missing You is everything that’s expected from a Harlan Coben adaptation.
The story features a romantic interest disappearing, a decades-old mystery returning, and friends with uncannily helpful professions. Characters have dark secrets that come to light. Side plots that don’t really make sense but are extremely dramatic. The story includes a great villain. Then, at the end, we get a shocking twist that could never have been predicted because it comes completely out of left field.
Tropes and storytelling choices that would be flaws in other stories are strengths in Harlan Coben adaptations, contributing to its status as one of the best book-to-TV adaptations of 2025. However, those same things make it fall towards the bottom of the list.
8
Ballard
Based On The Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly
Renee Ballard looks upset in Ballard season 1
Prime Video’s Ballard, based on the books by Michael Connelly, had an impossible challenge when it debuted. It was spinning off the wildly popular Bosch and Bosch: Legacy TV shows, and Renee Ballard really wasn’t an established character that audiences invested in. She’d only appeared in the Bosch: Legacy finale. Despite this, Ballard largely won over audiences.
Ballard brought a fresh perspective to police procedurals, tackling topics like gender bias, abuse of power, injustice, and police corruption. While some of these are explored in Bosch, Ballard explores them through the lens of a woman of color. On top of the themes, the story is compelling, blending together cases of the week and an overarching storyline.
Maggie Q gives the character of Renee Ballard her absolute all. Add to that the minor role of Titus Welliver’s Bosch, and Ballard earns its spot among the best book-to-TV adaptations in 2025. However, minor pacing issues and a predictable twist ending make it lower on the list than other shows.
7
Reacher
Based On Reacher by Lee Child
The Reacher books by Lee Child were adapted for TV by Prime Video, and the show has remained popular ever since. The third season was released in 2025, and it’s already been renewed for season 4.
If Reacher were being judged based on all the seasons, it would be much higher on this list. The first two seasons were incredible. However, the third season, while one of the best 2025 shows based on a book, isn’t quite as deep as the previous two storylines. Additionally, the dialogue took a hit.
That being said, Alan Ritchson is as convincing as ever as Jack Reacher, making us care deeply about the ex-military man. The action sequences in the third season are pretty compelling.
6
Apple Cider Vinegar
Based On The Woman Who Fooled The World by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano
Belle Gibson wears a pink turtle neck in Apple Cider Vinegar
The show Apple Cider Vinegar did an incredible job of tying together the stories of Belle Gibson, her victims, and the people responsible for taking her down. The miniseries critiques influencer culture, wellness gurus, medical misinformation, and the systems that promote them.
Despite its heavy storyline, Apple Cider Vinegar blends dark comedy and tragedy in a brilliant way. The breaking of the fourth wall can be distracting in other series, but it enhances the story in Apple Cider Vinegar. Similarly, the visual style, interweaving narratives, and soundtrack help make the show one of the best TV shows based on a book in 2025.
The biggest reason why Apple Cider Vinegar isn’t at the top of this list is because of some pacing issues. Additionally, the movement from story to story isn’t an issue, but the time jumps got a little confusing at points.
5
Slow Horses
Based On The Slough House Books By Mick Herron
Gary Oldman’s Lamb looking upset while sitting in a booth in Slow Horses season 5
Despite London Rules being the weakest book of the Slough House series, the fifth season of the TV show did a great job bringing it to life. Slow Horses season 5 brings back that slow-burning espionage feeling of the first two seasons, lessening the action from seasons 3 and 4.
There’s even more comedy than in past seasons, which helps balance out the heaviness of Slow Horses season 4. Gary Oldman gives his best performance yet as Jackson Lamb. What’s more, the quick turnaround between seasons allowed audiences to actually feel excitement and anticipation for season 5, knowing it would come in 2025.
If there’s one fault that prevents Slow Horses from being at the top of the 2025 book adaptations list, it’s the fact that, like every other season of the show, the story telegraphs the ending. However, this has been the case for every season, making it a trait of the show. For this reason, it’s not as egregious a fault.
4
Death By Lightning
Based On Destiny Of The Republic By Candice Millard
James A. Garfield gives a speech in Death by LightningCourtesy of Netflix
Death by Lightning only has 4 episodes, but it brilliantly weaves together the stories of President James A. Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau, leading up to the murder. The miniseries has brilliant writing, editing, and costuming. They put great attention to detail, and the story is mostly historically accurate.
The most significant reason to praise Death by Lightning is the acting. Every person in the Death by Lightning cast gives the show their all. However, special praise must go to Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Guiteau, and Michael Shannon, who plays James A. Garfield.
Garfield shows how the everyman can rise to greatness, while Guiteau shows how a parasocial relationship can become obsessive and dangerous. Infused in every scene is true emotion. If there’s any weakness to Death by Lightning, it’s the removal of Charles Guiteau’s trial, which was a major historical moment.
3
It: Welcome To Derry
Based On It By Stephen King
The TV show It: Welcome to Derry ties into Andy Muschietti’s It duology, but it also adapts portions of the book that haven’t yet been brought to the screen. The first season focuses on the Second Interlude from Stephen King’s It, which tells the story of the burning of the Black Spot.
Luckily, the story is even gorier and more brutal than the films. The plot doesn’t give most of the characters plot armor. The show points out the fact that It can mentally influence the citizens of Derry towards violence. It: Welcome to Derry even expands Pennywise’s lore in exciting and creative new ways. Stephen King even consulted on the changes and creative liberties.
Ultimately, It: Welcome to Derry is one of the best horror TV shows based on movies. The only reason this show falls in third is not because of its weaknesses but because the top two truly knock it out of the park.
2
Long Bright River
Based On Long Bright River By Liz Moore
The poster for Long Bright River shows Amanda Seyfried with a river running down her face
Peacock’s Long Bright River is an extremely slow-burning murder mystery that is less about the murder and more about a broken community that has been harmed by poverty and the opioid crisis. It’s deeply underrated and largely went under the radar.
The series is not for the faint of heart, as it’s super bleak and depressing. However, it gives a very real exploration of addiction, poverty, sexism, and stigma towards sex work in a very raw way. The writers consulted with the Kensington organization, Savage Sisters, to ensure they accurately portrayed substance abuse in the neighborhood, which served as the setting.
To show gratitude to the Savage Sisters, Peacock surprised them by providing funding to lease a new recovery home and cover all the rent, food, and utilities (via Philly Voice).
Between Amanda Seyfried’s award-worthy performance and the show’s dedication to getting the story right, Long Bright River deserves its place as one of the best TV shows based on a book in 2025.
1
Murderbot
Based On The Murderbot Diaries By Martha Wells
Alexander Skarsgard in a futuristic suit in Murderbot
If you’d have told me at the start of the year that Murderbot would be the best TV show based on a book of 2025, I would’ve balked at the idea. The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells is absolutely incredible, but nearly impossible to adapt because a large portion of the book exists as first-person internal monologue.
However, Apple TV defied all odds by turning Murderbot into one of 2025’s best sci-fi shows, best shows based on books, and best shows overall.
The show is smart, funny, and thoughtful. It’s prestige science fiction while still feeling attainable and geeky. Alexander Skarsgård gives the perfect performance as MurderBot, with a flat affect and clear disdain for social interactions. All he wants is to be left alone so he can watch the TV show he’s obsessed with.
Murderbot also uses voiceover as a tool without overdoing it. It feels like a beneficial addition rather than a requirement. Ultimately, this show is so clever and entertaining that even non-sci-fi fans could find themselves appreciating the story. Luckily, Murderbot has already been picked up for a second season, so Apple TV will adapt future Martha Wells books.