Are these screen adaptations better than the books?
Guess we’ll just have to binge-watch to find out
When I read Harry Potter, in my head, the characters were wildly different from the ones that came alive on screen. Hermione had wild hair and horse teeth, a far cry from Emma Watson’s polished portrayal. Luna was more energetic and animated, and as brilliant as Daniel Radcliffe was, my imagined Harry was someone entirely different. That’s the quiet, personal magic of reading—we all cast the movies in our heads. Then comes the screen adaptation, and with it the thrill (and sometimes heartbreak) of seeing your favourite story take on a new form. The books you loved are no longer just sitting on dusty shelves; they are lighting up screens on Netflix, Prime Video and even in Bollywood.
A great screen adaptation does not aim to be a copy of the book, it strives to capture its soul. It distills its essence into visual imagery, serving readers eager to see their beloved book come to life, while giving non-readers a way to partake in works of literature —and even becoming their gateway to reading. In fact, according to Nielsen’s Books and Consumers survey data, 6% of all books bought in the UK in 2023 were discovered through a film or TV adaptation. And while 6% might not sound like a lot, that is 21 million book purchases, 21 million new journeys into stories, thanks to the screen.
Books and their screen counterparts are not rivals—or they don’t have to be. At their best, they are collaborators in storytelling. The book offers you the quiet intimacy of imagination, while a TV or film adaptation, gives you the thrill of shared experience. One speaks to your solitude, the other to connection. Here are the 9 screen adaptations of captivating books that are dominating our feeds right now.
9 screen adaptations that give the books stiff competition
Thursday Murder Club (2025)
This film brings Richard Osman’s bestselling novel (2020) to Netflix as a star-studded crime-comedy caper directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone and Harry Potter). It is set in Coopers Chase, a luxurious retirement home in the town of Fairhaven, and follows a group of four friends—Joyce (Celia Imrie), Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan) and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley)—who meet every Thursday to crack cold murder cases for kicks. Until one day, things turn serious and they find themselves embroiled in an actual murder case, a high-stakes one at that. As they work in tandem with the authorities to solve it, we’re treated to the juxtaposition of retirement-village charm with ominous crime scenes. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a side of British humour and quirky characters, don’t forget to catch this one.
Pick the book up if you like your reads breezy yet completely immersive. Osman’s novel is a masterclass in warm, witty prose, with each character’s backstory woven into a larger tapestry which is all heart and hilarity.
Black Warrant (2025)
This ’80s crime drama is adapted from Black Warrant: Confessions Of A Tihar Jailer (2019), the memoir of Tihar’s former superintendent Sunil Gupta, written with journalist Sunetra Choudhury. It brings raw energy to the stories of infamous criminals like the serial killer Charles Sobhraj’s jail escape, the execution of the Delhi-killer-duo Ranga-Billa, and the double death sentence of separatist leader, Maqbool Bhat. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, and starring the intense Zahan Kapoor as the jailer, this seven-episode series uses gritty, claustrophobic visuals to capture the prison’s atmosphere, from dimly-lit cells to chaotic gang-war scenes. The show does not shy away from exploring caste hierarchies, systemic violence and the moral toll of capital punishment. Each episode is a tightly-curated jolt, leaving you craving for more.
Pick the book up if you are after an unfiltered, firsthand account of Tihar’s darkest corners in deeper detail—at a lean 176 pages, Gupta’s plain-speaking memoir covers a broader array of criminals than the series’ selective focus.
Mismatched (2020- Present)
This vibrant rom-com spanning four seasons adapts Sandhya Menon’s novel, When Dimple Met Rishi (2017), a colourful ode to young love and ambition. Tech-savvy Dimple (Prajakta Koli) dreams of making it big in her career even as her family persists in finding her a match, while Rishi Shekawat (Rohit Saraf), an unassuming Rajasthani royal is keen to find love in the traditional way. The series sets off with Dimple’s iconic cold-coffee-to-the-face greeting to Rishi at their meet-cute, which eventually blossoms into your typical enemies-to-lovers story. There’s a lot to enjoy here: Koli and Saraf’s electrifying chemistry, the show’s well-paced subplots that explore college-life chaos, friendships and family drama, and career dreams—as well as the sunlit aesthetics of Jaipur and Hyderabad, where the show is primarily shot. You’ll really have to make an effort to not become invested.
Pick the book up if you need something quick and cosy—with a side of teenage nostalgia, witty dialogue in spades, and sharp cultural insights—to snap you out of a reading slump.
Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life (2024)
This Malayalam film adapts Benyamin’s famous novel Aadujeevitham (Goat Days) (2008) into a visceral tale of survival. Directed by Blessy, the film follows Najeeb (Prithviraj Sukumaran), a Malayali migrant who ends up being enslaved on a goat farm in rural Saudi Arabia. Stark, endless desert landscapes and gritty close-ups mirror Najeeb’s physical and emotional decay. Sukumaran’s performance carries the film’s heavy silence, letting actions scream louder than words. The sparse dialogue and the haunting score by AR Rahman amplify the claustrophobia, making this a raw, unforgettable watch about the human cost of migration.
Pick the book up if you are drawn to psychologically-rich narratives. Benyamin’s use of stream of consciousness plunges you into Najeeb’s confinement, isolation, and eventually, his mental unravelling.
Mandala Murders (2025)
The nucleus of this Netflix series is Mahendra Jakhar’s novel Butcher of Benares (2014), about a series of murders in Varanasi that begin with the shocking death of a young American woman that rips through the holy city. The show is set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, where detectives Rea Thomas (Vaani kapoor) and Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Singh) unravel ritualistic killings tied to a secret society. Directors Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat infuse the story with eerie, fog-drenched visuals, blending Indian folklore with supernatural chills, while exploring the fight between science and faith, love and sacrifice. You can make a (scary) Sunday of the eight episodes.
Pick the book up if you prefer detailed world-building and mystic explorations rooted in history and culture—Jakhar’s layered prose and deep, weaving narrative will captivate you.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022 – Present)
Jenny Han’s young-adult romance trilogy The Summer I Turned Pretty comes to life with sun-drenched cinematography, nostalgic beach vibes and a soundtrack so on point, it feels like Taylor Swift made songs for each scene. Following teenager Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin’s coming-of-age summer escapades at her favourite beach getaway—mainly her love triangle with two cute brothers—the show captures the essence of growing up and the whirlwind of first love. While the show expands on the characters’ back-stories—especially the brothers’ family dynamics—it sometimes trades the book’s quiet introspection for dramatics. But still, the coastal setting, the emotional beats, and the thriving Team Jeremiah vs Team Conrad debates online, make this a good binge.
Pick the book up if you are looking for a more layered perspective of growing pains and young love, without skimping on the sweetness—the drama here is more tempered and affecting.
Heartstopper (2022- Present)
Adapted from Alice Oseman’s cherished LGBTQ+ webcomic-turned-graphic-novel Heartstopper (2016), the series traces the romance Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), teenage boys at a British Grammar School who become friends and then fall in love. Director Euros Lyn weaves the themes of teenage love, self-love, friendship and resilience into a comforting, universally resonant embrace, while the pastel palette, intimate close-ups, and animated elements mirror the comic’s art. It is comfort television that has gotten viewers sobbing and embracing mush unselfconsciously.
Pick the book up if you are either a seasoned graphic novel fan or completely new to the format—the clean, emotive artwork, and simple yet profound storytelling, are the hallmarks of this medium, and you can read a lot in one sitting without even noticing.
The On1y One (2024)
This Taiwanese drama adapted from Mu Su Li’s web novel A Certain Someone, is a masterclass in slow-burn romance that hits like a perfectly spiced hotpot. The story delves into the forbidden love of step-brothers Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian, against a backdrop of tense family dynamics and societal expectations. Directed by Liu Kuang Hui, the series is shot with a delicate, almost painterly aesthetic, to amplify the emotional weight of every glance between the protagonists. The actors Benjamin Sang and Liu Dong Qin deliver performances that crackle with restrained longing. You’ll be left aching for romance that isn’t about the grand gestures, but telegraphed in the subtlest of gestures and silences.
Pick the book up if you crave deeply-etched characters with affecting inner lives, explored tenderly and incisively with rich cultural detailing.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024 to Present)
This show turns Holly Jackson’s YA crime thriller into a gripping-yet-whimsy six-episode series about Pip, a teenage girl who starts poking at a cold murder case in her town. She is convinced something is amiss, and produces her findings inventively, in the form of a college report. Pip (brilliantly essayed by Emma Myers) is joined by the murder accused’s brother Ravi Singh (Zain Iqbal) in her quest to clear names and unravel secrets with a mix of high stakes confrontations and clever twists. The noir aesthetic projected on an idyllic English small town makes for cosy thrills.
Pick the book up if you are obsessed with true crime and like a protagonist that is more brain than bravado—the college-report investigative format is fresh and full of fun details like spreadsheets and evidence boards marked with internal monologues.
