Books
My two favorite things in life are probably books and television. (Not to mention TV shows based on books.) There's nothing I love more than getting wrapped up in a new story, making best friends with the characters, and living in their world for as long as possible. And I know I'm not the only one.
Books are being adapted into television shows left and right. With the rise of streaming services, it's also been popular to structure a television show much like a novel. Plus, many readers (myself included) like to read books that are connected to the TV shows they're watching. It makes sense that books and TV go together because both forms of entertainment are ways in which you can engage with a story for a long period of time, exploring every nook and cranny of a world.
This list has book-to-TV adaptations as well as shows that feature the reading life, these TV shows are perfect for the sensibilities of a book-lover. (In fact, many of them play on the tropes of books to create an incredibly entertaining viewing experience.) Plus, they're all easily accessible on streaming services, making it so easy to veg out. So, get your popcorn ready and settle in with one of these fantastic TV shows:
1
'Jane the Virgin'
Inspired by a Venezuelan telenovela, Jane The Virgin is the story of a young woman who accidentally gets artificially inseminated, becomes pregnant, and finds herself caught up in the middle of a steamy love triangle. Jane is an aspiring writer who loves books and worships Isabel Allende — so, basically, every reader and aspiring writer will relate.
2
'The Magicians'
We've all wanted to step inside the world of our favorite books. In this series (based on the book series of the same name by Lev Grossman), a group of students do just that, and find themselves transported to a world of magic and mayhem.
3
'Black Books'
This quirky British comedy follows the adventures of Bernard Black, an antisocial bookshop owner who detests his customers, and his best friend is Fran, who owns the arts-and-crafts store next door.
4
'Anne with an E'
This new Netflix show puts a new spin on the story of a 13-year-old orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with an aging brother and sister.
5
'Sherlock'
This fantastic BBC series is required watching for any bibliophlle. A modern twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, this show is exciting, clever, and incredibly gripping.
6
'Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'
Based on novels by Kerry Greenwood, this series follows a female sleuth in the 1920s, and it's the perfect balance of mystery and old Hollywood glamour.
7
'A Series of Unfortunate Events'
This beloved book series from our childhood has come to the silver screen. Starring Neil Patrick Harris as the notorious Count Olaf, the Netflix adaptation tells the gloomy (and yet, somehow still endearing) tale of the Baudelaire orphans who are, quite possibly, the most unlucky kids in the world.
