Believe it or not, plenty of novels have been successfully adapted onto Netflix's streaming platform, and while some are not mentioned on this list, here are our top 11 recommended TV shows based on books and why they made it to this article.
Anne with An E (2017-2019)
Despite getting cancelled after airing season 3, Anne with an E ran for a solid 3 seasons on Netflix. Based on the original novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, the live adaptation turned out to be one of the most faithful yet progressive interpretations of how Anne Shirley-Cuthbert would be in the real world.
Bridgerton (2020-Present)
Bridgerton climbed up to the top of Netflix when it first arrived. If you liked Gossip Girl set in the olden days, Bridgerton knocked that out of the park for you. This series is based on Julia Quinn's novels of the same name, and just as each season is dedicated to showing each Bridgerton sibling's love stories, the novels do just the same.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Living in a haunted mansion couldn't have been creepier until The Haunting of Hill House came out. Based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, the show follows the story of the Crain family, whose traumatic and haunting childhood experiences force the family to confront their ghosts.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
The fictional orphan chess prodigy named Beth Harmon rises to the top of the male-dominated world of chess, which unfortunately led to her battling addiction to tranquilizers and alcohol. Walter Tevis's 1983 novel title seemingly projects how much Beth had to sacrifice to build her career, especially after leaving the orphanage.
Lupin (2021-Present)
This French mystery thriller is no ordinary series on Netflix. Lupin is a loose adaptation of the novels of the same name by Maurice Leblanc, which centers on Assane Diop (whose fictional gentleman thief is originally named Arsène Lupin). Lupin explores how Assane uses the fictional gentleman thief's iconic tactics from the book to get revenge on a wealthy family who framed his father for a crime he didn't commit.
One Hundred Years of Solitude (2024-Present)
Gabriel García Márquez's work, One Hundred Years of Solitude, remains one of the classic novels in history, and through the live adaptation on Netflix, viewers get to witness seven generations of the Buendia family unravel in the mythical Colombian town of Macondo. The story chronicles the town's rise and fall while watching the personal and public histories of the family, somehow connected to its progression.
One Piece (2023-Present)
Although One Piece is not based on a written work, the original anime came from the Japanese manga artist Eiichiro Oda. The manga made its historic debut in 1997, which was first developed into an anime adaptation in 1999, before landing a live-action adaptation deal with Netflix.
One Piece is essentially about pirates and thieves, specifically a young man named Monkey D. Luffy, who set sail with his pirate crew called the Straw Hat Pirates, to find the legendary treasure known as "One Piece" so Luffy could become the next pirate king!
Ripley (2024)
A grifter named Tom Ripley was hired to go to Italy and convince Dickie Greenleaf to return home. But nothing's as simple as that in any psychological thriller. Over time, Ripley turned his mission into an obsession with Dickie that led him down a path of deceit, fraud, and murder. The Netflix series is based on Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley.
The Witcher (2019-Present)
Watch as the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia, a sorceress named Yennefer of Vengerberg, and a young princess named Ciri, intertwine their destinies as they navigate the dark fantasy world of The Witcher, which is based on the work of Polish fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2024-Present)
Based on Holly Jackson's 2019 young adult mystery novel of the same name, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder sees a young detective take on a shocking case of the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl in a small English town. Catch the first season streaming on Netflix before season 2, Good Girl, Bad Blood, comes out soon.
3 Body Problem (2024-Present)
Based on the best-selling novels by Cixin Liu, the epic drama of 3 Body Problem imagines what happens when a young scientist makes a bold decision in 1960s China that would lead to a major global anomaly in their research. As a result, a group of scientists is now forced to confront an ancient threat from an alien civilization and a chaotic solar system.
Did your favorite picks make it on our top 11 list? Let us know in the comments below!
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