If You Loved ‘Normal People’ You’ll Love These Other Book-to-Series Adaptations

Published in

The Indiependent

4 min readJun 17, 2020

In the past few years, book to screen adaptations have been all the rage. The BBC’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People earlier this year seriously raised the bar, dominating social media and group chats everywhere. There’s even an Instagram account for Connell’s chain.

However, this is not the only book to series adaptation that’s worth the watch. Whether you’re a bookworm who is curious to see how your favourite novels and characters are portrayed on screen, or someone who doesn’t enjoy sitting down to read but loves getting right into a good storyline, while away the endless lockdown hours with these must-see adaptations. Clear your diary, binging will be necessary.

Killing Eve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MBjBavIC9U&t=12s

The BBC smash-hit Killing Eve is based on a series of novels by Luke Jennings entitled Codename Vilanelle. It follows the twisted relationship between a trained assassin and the MI5 security officer hired to track her down. The show is now on its third season, and if you’re not already hooked then you certainly will be from the moment you start watching. Honestly, it’s worth watching just for Jodie Comer (Vilanelle), whose performance is flawless from start to finish.

Available on BBC iPlayer

A Series of Unfortunate Events

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tup-5yOcJuM&t=4s

This series came as the best treat for anyone who, like me, was the biggest fan of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events books growing up. Ever since the 2004 film only covered the first three books, we’ve been longing for something more. The style might take a couple of episodes to get into as it’s pretty quirky, but once you’re in you will be stuck. It’s exactly what everyone needs right now, a series filled with whimsical storytelling and twisted humour.

Available on Netflix

Big Little Lies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XgMvMpvCFI

Liane Moriarty’s novel Nine Perfect Strangers blew up last year, and it’s set to be made into a star studded movie later this year. She also wrote Big Little Lies, which has been turned into a TV show by HBO. The series revolves around three seemingly perfect mothers who find themselves wound up in a murder investigation. The cast is stunning, and whether or not you’ve read the book, you’ll find yourself becoming connected to their individual stories. If you love a show that intertwines delicious drama with magnificent mystery, this is the one for you.

Available on HBO

The Stranger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwUWlxAQj-o&t=2s

Netflix’s The Stranger is one of those ‘just one more episode’ shows, where you’re four episodes deep before realising you haven’t blinked in hours. Gripping is an understatement. It’s based on the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben, and if you managed to miss this one during its major hype earlier this year then what are you waiting for? If it leaves you wanting more then don’t worry, it’s rumoured to be granted a second series. In the meantime, Netflix’s Safeis based on a book by the same author and is just as brilliant.

Available on Netflix

Sex and the City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFu3BlX9uGw&t=7s

What more is there to say about this absolute classic. Sure, it’s not the kind of show you’d sit down to watch if you’re craving any kind of intellectual stimulation, but if you fancy something chilled and chick flick-y then it’s perfect. If you like the films then you’ll love the series, based on the books by Candace Bushnell. Be aware though, it may make you want to move to New York, find yourself a glamorous apartment you can’t afford and head out to a champagne brunch with your best girlfriends.

Available on HBO

His Dark Materials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64JAZKy8BpA&t=4s

Another nostalgic childhood adaptation that we’re all here for. Whether you read the trilogy when you were younger or gawked over the magical parallel world in the films, Philip Pullman sure knows how to pull on a heart string. The BBC’s new series His Dark Materials is cinematically stunning, and truly brings to life the pages of the novels. All eight episodes of the first season are available to watch on BBC iPlayer, and a second season has been confirmed to keep us all on the edge of our seats.

Available on BBC iPlayer

The Handmaid’s Tale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVLiDETfx1c

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a masterpiece that would be difficult to do justice through any means of adaptation. Hulu have done a good job though, and find a good balance between staying true to the book and putting their own spin on it. The first series mostly sticks to the plot of the novel, but the second and third series are the creators’ own ideas of what may have happened after its close. The series is a hard watch at times but still well worth it, as Atwood’s feminist speculative fiction has a lot to say about gender in our own society today.

Available on Amazon Prime

Little Fires Everywhere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWGkX8ClhBI&t=3s

A couple of years ago, Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere was everyone’s summer read, so it was about time it was made into a TV series. With the kind of drama we all love, secrets and lies included, and an incredible looking cast, it quickly leapt to the top of the must-watch list. It’s only been out for a couple of weeks and is already raking in the five star reviews, which can’t be a bad sign. We’re hoping that, since this is such a hit, Ng’s other bestseller Everything I Never Told You might follow suit.