Play 2026 Book Bingo
Page-to-Screen: 21 Binge-Worthy TV Adaptations of Books
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.Whether you found this list as part of our 2026 Book Bingo challenge or by searching for book-to-TV adaptations, we’ve put together a list of recommendations that are binge-worthy in both formats. Some were developed as limited series that stick close to the book, while others continued for additional seasons that expanded the storyline beyond the on page conclusion.
While we still believe the book is (almost) always better, our picks on this list are not just excellent reads; they are screen adaptations that truly add something special to the story. Our recommendations span genres, eras, and perspectives, so there’s something for everyone.
Highly-Rated Books to TV Series Adaptations
For each TV series below, we’ve done our best to link to what appears to be the primary streaming platform as of December 10, 2025, but keep in mind that these may also be available through other services. Many of the platforms offer free trials that you may be able to take advantage of if you want to binge-watch the series.
All the Light We Cannot See
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
93% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
The author spent ten years creating this book, and the final result is a beautifully written historical fiction story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
Marie-Laure was twelve when the Nazis occupied Paris. She and her father flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo for their safety. Along with the other things they could carry, they have a valuable and dangerous jewel from the Museum of Natural History, where her father worked.
Meanwhile, Werner, a German orphan, becomes an expert at repairing radios, a skill that makes him a prime recruit for those hoping to track down Resistance members.
Recognition for This Novel
All the Light We Cannot See won the Pulitzer Prize and was a National Book Award finalist, both well-deserved, as Doerr captures the effects of war on two children in vivid detail.
About the Adaptation
The four-part Netflix limited series of All the Light We Cannot See, with Mark Ruffalo, was released in 2023.
The four roughly one-hour episodes cover the full story arc, but quite a few details and subplots were condensed along the way. The series also reorders some events to streamline the nonlinear structure of the book. Director Shawn Levy said that they removed some of the most upsetting late-book moments to make the on-screen ending feel more hopeful.
While the adaptation was not well-received by critics, 91% of Google users liked the show.
Lessons in Chemistry
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
94% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Elizabeth Zott is a quirky and brilliant female chemist working with an all-male team at the Hastings Research Institute. But her scientific qualifications don’t stop the “good old boys” from being frustrated that she won’t get coffee or make copies for them. When Elizabeth meets Calvin Evans, another scientist at the Institute, a different kind of chemistry results.
Fast forward a few years. It’s 1961, and Elizabeth is a 30-year-old single mother whose career has been detoured. Instead of working for Hastings, she’s now (somewhat reluctantly) the star of a much-loved cooking show called Supper at Six. Her cooking methods are unusual (“combine one tablespoon of acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”). As her popularity grows, it turns out she’s not just teaching women to cook, she’s also daring them to change the status quo.
What to Expect in This Novel
This novel is funny, but not in a laugh-out-loud sort of way; more in a way where you sometimes have to laugh so you don’t cry. The descriptions of the misogyny that Elizabeth faces (and specifically some of the language that is directed at her) offend some readers, but it’s an accurate representation of what she and so many women faced in the 1950s and 1960s.
By no means is our struggle for equality over, but this book gave us so much respect for the women who paved the way.
We have a printable Lessons in Chemistry book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, themed games, a printable bookmark, and more! You can also find free resources for your Lessons in Chemistry Book Club Discussion on our website.
About the Adaptation
You can watch the Lessons in Chemistry 8-episode series on Apple TV+. Released in 2023, the drama stars Academy Award winner Brie Larson, who received multiple award nominations for her portrayal of Elizabeth Zott.
The adaptation generally follows the storyline of Bonnie Garmus’s novel, but does make notable changes and additions. Specifically, it expands the social and political commentary beyond Elizabeth’s battles with sexism, taking on other issues such as racism and housing discrimination.
Fans of Elizabeth’s dog, Six-Thirty, will enjoy the Goldendoodle’s voiceover narration by B.J. Novak, although his role is less prominent in the series compared to the book.
Firefly Lane
Book Summary
From 8th grade, Kate and Tully cycle through the highs and lows of long-term friendships as they try to figure out what they want from the world and what they need from each other.
Tully seems to have both beauty and brains, while Kate feels doomed to be uncool forever. However, Tully doesn’t have it all. She longs to fill the void left when her mom abandoned her, and she funnels all her feelings into ambition at work. Kate is equally driven, but her life looks different as she becomes a wife and mother.
About the Book Series
In Firefly Lane and the sequel, Fly Away, Kristin Hannah uses the descriptive talent you know from her historical fiction books to share a more contemporary story of three decades between friends.
About the Adaptation
We’re typically of the opinion that the book is always better, but there’s no denying the popularity of the adaptation. It was the #1 Netflix series around the world the week it came out in 2021.
Portions of this two-season television series, starring Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl, are faithful to the novels, but there are also quite a few key differences. While the novels follow a linear timeline, the television show jumps back and forth. Additionally, there are major plot points from the novels missing in the adaptation, and others created solely for the television series.
All Creatures Great and Small
Book Summary
This is a heartwarming and often hilarious semi-autobiographical story about the life of a young country vet in Northern England. Fresh out of veterinary school, James dives headfirst into rural life, treating everything from stubborn cows to spoiled poodles—often in unpredictable weather and even more unpredictable barns.
He quickly learns that animal medicine is only half the job; the quirky farmers, eccentric villagers, and lovable pets are what really make the job unforgettable. With equal parts charm, chaos, and compassion, James shares his adventures (and misadventures) on the job, all told with a dry wit and a deep love for animals.
More About the Book
James Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, who was a veterinarian in Northern England. At the time of writing his books, British veterinary surgeons were prohibited from advertising. Publishing books under his real name could have been seen as self-promotion, which would have violated professional ethics.
All Creatures Great and Small is part of a series of eight books, though the editions were published and grouped differently in the US and the UK.
About the Adaptation
The PBS Masterpiece adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small is a British series that began airing in the UK in 2020 and in the US in 2021. It’s closely based on James Herriot’s books and maintains the cozy, rural Yorkshire feel while updating some storylines and character arcs for a modern audience. The series has received critical acclaim and comes highly recommended by a number of our readers who brought it to our attention.
*The first five seasons can be streamed on paid platforms, including PBS Passport, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.
Season 6 premieres on Masterpiece on PBS on January 11, 2026, and the episodes will be available free on PBS.org and on the PBS App for a limited time after the initial broadcast dates.
It has already been announced that the series has been renewed for seasons 7 and 8, which are expected in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Book Summary
This thriller follows Chicago journalist Camille Preaker as she returns home to her small Missouri hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a young girl and the disappearance of another.
For years, Camille has been estranged from her neurotic, hypochondriac mother. And she barely knows her thirteen-year-old half-sister, but she can see that the beautiful girl has an eerie grip on the town.
Staying in her old bedroom in the family’s Victorian mansion, Camille begins identifying with the young victims a bit too strongly. In order to get to the bottom of the story, she’ll have to face the demons from her own psychologically troubled past.
About the Adaptation
While Gillian Flynn is best known for her 2012 novel, Gone Girl, which was turned into a 2014 movie, the TV version of her debut novel, Sharp Objects, is widely praised as one of the best book-to-TV adaptations.
This 2018 eight-episode limited series stars Amy Adams and is closely tied to the novel’s storyline while amplifying the book’s dark Southern Gothic atmosphere. The series earned eight Emmy nominations, in addition to Golden Globe nods.
Bridgerton Series
Book Summary
Bridgerton is a series of Regency-era romances centered around the close-knit Bridgerton family. The family is made up of eight siblings, alphabetically named but with wildly different personalities. Each book focuses on one sibling’s journey to love, with plenty of banter, ballrooms, scandals, and slow-burning chemistry along the way.
About the Adaptation
The Bridgerton book series was adapted into a hit Netflix TV series. The series premiered in 2020, and there are currently three seasons available for streaming, with three more seasons announced. Season 4 is currently scheduled to be released in 2026.
The Netflix series is loosely based on the novels, generally keeping each season’s central couple and broad romantic arc from the books. However, the adaptation makes substantial changes to timelines, character backstories, and plot details, especially from Season 2 onward. Nonetheless, it’s been extremely popular with critics and viewers alike.
Little Fires Everywhere
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
92% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
In the Shaker Heights suburb of Ohio, the life of the picture-perfect Richardson family becomes intertwined with the lives of Mia and her daughter Pearl, who rent a house from the Richardsons when they arrive in town.
All four of the Richardson children befriend Pearl and are drawn in by artist Mia. As their relationships become more intertwined, the bonds that tie them will ultimately unravel both families.
This story is about complex family dynamics, small-town politics, and white privilege. When a local family decides to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle divides the town, with Mrs. Richardson and Mia on opposite sides. Mrs. Richardson becomes suspicious of Mia’s motives and digs into her past. The secrets she uncovers will change everything.
About the Adaptation
The Hulu adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere, starring Reese Witherspoon as Elena and Kerry Washington as Mia, premiered in 2020 as a limited series with one season and eight episodes. While much of the series’ plot mirrors the novel, the ending differs. Additionally, the series adaptation expands, and sometimes alters, the characters’ backstories.
Destiny of the Republic
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Less than four months after taking office, US President Garfield was shot twice in a train station in Washington, DC, by a disgruntled man with political aspirations. Doctors tried to save his life, but life-saving attempts led to infections as his surgeon, Dr. Bliss, didn’t believe in sanitizing hands or equipment.
A bullet remained lodged in his body, but it needed to be removed for the best chance of survival. Inventor Alexander Graham Bell thought he could develop new technology to locate the bullet, but it was a race against time and against a doctor who didn’t embrace evolving medical practices.
Thoughts on This Non-Fiction Book
Melissa’s husband originally recommended this book to us after rating it five stars. He said that, rather than reading like standard nonfiction, it reads like a movie or modern thriller, with multiple storylines involving Garfield, his assassin, his doctor, and Alexander Graham Bell as he raced to save the President.
About the Adaptation
While the book is non-fiction, the four-episode Netflix limited series adaptation, called Death by Lightning, is a dramatized version of the real-life events, which uses invented dialogue and compressed timelines to make the story fit the screen. Both Melissa and her husband enjoyed this series and highly recommend it.
There is also a 2016 two-hour PBS documentary based on the book called American Experience: Murder of a President.
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
90% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
In the early 1900s, teenage Sunja meets a wealthy man near her seaside home in Korea and becomes pregnant, only to discover he is married. He attempts to buy her off, but she instead accepts another man’s offer and follows him to Japan, where they are discriminated against both for being Korean and Christian.
Sunja’s decision to leave her home and reject her son’s powerful father sets the stage for this epic novel that follows four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family in 20th-century Japan. It is a history of one family and a political history of the relationship between the Japanese and Koreans throughout the 1900s.
More About the Book
This book is a bit slow to start, and it can take some time to become familiar with all of the characters, but the investment pays off for most readers! This epic deals with many challenging issues that some readers might find triggering.
Author Min Jin Lee was born in Seoul and attended Yale and Georgetown University Law School.
About the Adaptation
This two-season adaptation of the novel restructures the timeline and expands certain character arcs, but overall, it stays true to the original story. The existing two seasons cover roughly the first half of the family’s multigenerational tale. The series was originally envisioned to run for four seasons, but no announcement has yet been made regarding whether it will be picked up for seasons 3 and 4.
The series communicates with the audience in Korean, Japanese, and English. The language chosen in each scene can indicate power struggles or how characters are trying to fit in. The clever use of color-coded subtitles helps audiences follow these shifts.
This adaptation has received numerous honors, including a Peabody Award and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Series. Additionally, 93% of Google users report liking the show.
The Queen’s Gambit
Book Summary
At the age of just 8 years old, Beth Harmon was sent to a Kentucky orphanage where the children were routinely given little green pills to keep them subdued. In the basement, she discovers the janitor studying chess and persuades him to teach her to play. She practices every chance she gets.
As she progresses to the top of the US chess rankings, it becomes clear that the game is her chance to forge a different life for herself. But her self-destructive habits threaten to draw her off course.
About the Adaptation
The Queen’s Gambit is a seven-episode Netflix limited series released in 2020, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon. The series follows the same overall plot and character arc as the novel, with only relatively small changes.
The series earned multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, as well as Golden Globes for the show and for Taylor-Joy’s performance.
Dear Edward
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
97% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Twelve-year-old Edward boards a plane with his beloved older brother and his parents, bound for their new home and life in California. But when the plane tragically crashes, Edward emerges as the sole survivor. After recovering from his injuries, he goes to live with his mom’s sister and her husband, with the world’s eyes on him. Everyone is eager to hear his story.
His aunt and uncle work hard to shield him from all the attention and to allow him time to process his loss, but when Edward uncovers a stack of letters, he discovers an unexpected path to healing.
The chapters in the book alternate between Edward’s day-to-day life during the three years following the accident and a minute-by-minute recounting of the ill-fated flight, through which we are introduced to many of the other passengers.
The Book Girls Say…
Although the main character is young, this is not a YA book. Half of the book details the experiences of the adults on the plane. As you would expect, this book is heavy on the grief, so be prepared and keep the tissues close by.
Dear Edward was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Fiction in 2020. Though it is a work of fiction, the author has stated that it was loosely inspired by the 2010 crash of Libyan-operated Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771, in which the sole survivor was a 9-year-old boy. When Ann Napolitano learned about this crash, she said, “This story flayed me. I could not imagine how that boy would be OK, and I could feel from the stickiness of my obsession that I was going to have to write a book that created a set of circumstances to make him OK.”
About the Adaptation
The Apple TV+ adaptation of Dear Edward, starring Connie Britton, Taylor Schilling, and Colin O’Brien, premiered in 2023 and ran for a single 10-episode season. That one season gives Edward and several key characters full story arcs, although it diverges quite a bit from the novel. The TV series shifts more of the focus to the grieving loved ones of some of the passengers who died in the crash, while still centering on Edward as the lone crash survivor.
Season 1 ends with a sense of closure and no cliffhangers, but it was set up to allow for a potential continuation. However, it did not get picked up for a second season.
Don’t choose this one if you only like adaptations that closely mirror the book. But if, when reading, you found yourself curious to learn more about the secondary characters, this TV series allows you to experience an expansion of the story beyond the pages of the book.
Big Little Lies
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
97% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This novel tells the intertwined tale of three moms whose children attend the same primary school in suburban Sydney.
Forty-year-old Madeline is funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Celeste is beautiful, but the illusion of perfection comes at a price. Single mom Jane is new to town and has a mysterious past. She’s so young that other moms mistake her for a nanny.
The three women at the heart of this story are very different, but a schoolyard scandal threatens to expose each of their lies.
About the Adaptation
The HBO adaptation of Big Little Lies premiered in 2017, starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. While it was originally billed as a one-season limited series, there are currently two seasons (14 episodes), and a third season was announced in the fall of 2025, which is reportedly in the works.
Season 1 of the show keeps the novel’s central murder mystery and core group of women but relocates the story from Australia to Monterey, California. It also makes notable changes to certain subplots and the ending while preserving the overall arc.
Season 2 is original material that continues the lives of the main characters after the events of the novel’s climax, adding new conflicts and backstories.
Although Liane Moriarty has not yet officially announced that she’ll be releasing a new book in 2026, some sources are reporting that she’ll be publishing a sequel to Big Little Lies, which could provide the source material for the third season of the series.
Other Liane Moriarty Adaptations
Two other Liane Moriarty books have been adapted for the screen, and both are also worth your consideration.
Apples Never Fall was developed as a limited series that is now streaming on Peacock with a cast that includes Annette Bening and Sam Neill. Angela and her husband both enjoyed the TV adaptation, though they watched it several years after reading the book, so they didn’t find themselves comparing the details too closely. Keep in mind that the series is set in Florida, rather than in Australia, like the book.
Nine Perfect Strangers stars Nicole Kidman and is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The first two seasons are available now, with no word yet on whether it will be renewed for a third season. This adaptation has received mixed reviews, with many people praising the casting but criticizing that the pacing is too slow and the overall story development is underwhelming.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
92% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
At 91, Ptolemy has been largely forgotten by family, friends, and sometimes even himself as dementia sets in. His grand-nephew is the only person who keeps him grounded to the outside world. When he is killed in a drive-by shooting, Ptolemy becomes even more hermit-like.
Then, he meets Robyn, his niece’s 17-year-old lodger and the only person to take care of him at his grandnephew’s funeral. However, her kindness that day doesn’t mean she won’t challenge him. Robyn challenges Ptolemy to continue interacting with the world, which leads to a doctor with an experimental drug that will help his mind become clear again, but the treatment comes with a cost.
About the Adaptation
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey became a 2022 Apple TV+ limited series starring Samuel L. Jackson as Ptolemy Grey. Adapted by Walter Mosley from his own novel, it closely follows the book’s central mystery and Ptolemy’s experimental treatment and investigation. Because it spans six episodes, the series dives deeper into relationships and memory than would have been possible with a film-length adaptation.
Critically well-received, this adaptation earned numerous accolades, including multiple Black Reel Award wins and several NAACP Image Award nominations, as well as Critics’ Choice acting nominations for Jackson and Dominique Fishback.
Daisy Jones & The Six
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
93% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This novel chronicles the meteoric rise of a fictional, iconic 1970s rock band – The Six – and their beautiful lead singer, Daisy Jones. The story is told through a series of “behind the music” style interviews that will make you feel like you are right there with them in the hard-partying 70s music scene.
As you hear from each band member, the story of these complex characters unfolds, ultimately revealing the mystery behind the band’s infamous breakup.
The Book Girls Say…
This book was meant to be heard. Each member of the band is read by a different narrator, which fits perfectly with the novel’s rockumentary, interview style. And there’s even an original song at the end of the recording. The narrators include Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, and Pablo Schreiber.
About the Adaptation
The Prime Video adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six premiered in 2023 as a 10-episode limited series. The series follows the band’s rise-and-fall story from the novel and keeps the mock-documentary style readers loved, but it does tweak some plot points and shift the spotlight to a few characters (especially in the finale).
The series was well received overall, with 93% of Google users reporting they like it. Some viewers complained that they cast actors rather than musicians for the band roles. The creative team behind the screen adaptation said that, rather than casting musicians and hoping they could carry a heavy, character-driven drama, they instead focused on finding the right actors and then put them through an intensive 18 months of music training until they genuinely performed like a band.
The Marlow Murder Club
Book Summary
Seventy-seven-year-old Judith Potts lives in a faded mansion near Marlow, England. She enjoys doing crossword puzzles and is happy not to have a man in her life telling her what to do or how much whisky she can drink.
While out for a swim in the Thames one evening, Judith witnesses a murder. When the police don’t believe her story, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
She begins conducting an investigation with the help of Suzie, a dog-walker, and Becks, the prim wife of the local Vicar. Together they form the Marlow Murder Club. But when another person winds up dead, they realize they might be dealing with a serial killer, and they might be in danger themselves.
About the Adaptation
The Marlow Murder Club cozy mystery series was first adapted for the screen in 2024 when it premiered on the UK channel U&Drama before airing on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the U.S.
There are currently two seasons totaling 10 episodes. The first season follows a single serialized murder-mystery case that closely tracks the first book in the series, The Marlow Murder Club. Season 2 tackles three cases, each told via two-part episodes, with the first case coming from book 2, Death Comes to Marlow, followed by two original mysteries.
Filming is underway on season 3, with an anticipated release date sometime in 2026. As in season 2, it’s expected that the first two episodes of season 3 will be based on book 3, The Queen of Poisons, followed by original mysteries in the remaining episodes.
Black Cake
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
96% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This novel opens in present-day California shortly after Eleanor’s death. She has left behind a voice recording for her two adult children – Byron and Benny. She’s also left them a traditional Caribbean black cake that she tells them to share “when the time is right.”
Her children, it turns out, only know a small part of their mom’s life story. Posthumously, Eleanor is finally ready to share her truth so that Byron and Benny can truly know and understand their family history.
As the story unfolds, everything that her children thought they knew about their lineage and themselves will be rocked to the core, and by the time they finally share the black cake, another person will be joining them at the table.
Thoughts on This Book
Although Eleanor has already died when this novel begins, through her voice recordings, this novel traces the story of her life and shows how the choices she made over the years impacted not only her future but also those of everyone in her family.
Angela rated this book five stars and highly recommends the audiobook version because the accents really bring the story to life.
About the Adaptation
The Hulu adaptation of Black Cake, which premiered in 2023, is a one-season, eight-episode drama series. Although the series was not renewed for a second season, the story is not left hanging because season 1 was structured to cover the whole arc of the novel.
The series adaptation generally stays true to the book’s multi-timeline structure while streamlining certain events to make it better fit the screen format. The show changes some elements from the book, but it ultimately brings the central mystery and family storyline to a clear conclusion.
Despite its cancellation, the show was critically well-received and received multiple honors and nominations, including recognition from the Black Reel Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and NAACP Image Awards.
Friday Night Lights
Book Summary
This narrative non-fiction chronicles the 1988 football season of the Permian High School Panthers in Odessa, Texas. The book, published two years later, explores the deep cultural significance of high school football in this economically struggling West Texas town, where Friday night games dominate the social calendar and offer a sense of identity and pride.
Bissinger followed the players, coaches, and community as they navigated intense pressure, racial and class divisions, and personal challenges. Through vivid storytelling and in-depth reporting, his book reveals how the pursuit of athletic glory both united and divided the town.
The Book Girls Say…
H.G. Bissinger is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, recognized for his investigative reporting. In addition to being a New York Times bestseller, in 2002, Sports Illustrated named this book the best football book of all time.
About the Adaptations
In 2004, this book was adapted into a movie of the same name, and then a television series adaptation aired for five seasons, from 2006 to 2011.
Peter Berg developed both the movie and TV series, but while the movie closely follows the events of the book, the television series (available on Amazon Prime Video) reimagines the story with fictional characters and the fictional town of Dillon, Texas.
A new Friday Night Lights reboot series is said to be in development at Peacock, with Peter Berg once again on board. It is described as a new story with a new cast, still centered on Texas high school football, set in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, where a ragtag team and their interim coach make a run at the state championship to help rebuild their town’s spirit. There is no confirmed release date for this potential reboot, but we’ll continue to track any updates.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Book Summary
This dystopian fiction, set in the near future, tells of everyday life in what was formerly the United States, but is now called the Republic of Gilead. Concerned about declining birth rates, the monotheocratic government decides to revert to the repressive ways of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis very literally, with severe consequences for women.
The story is told through the eyes of Offred, who is deemed a Handmaid under the new social order.
The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, and in 2019, it finally received a long-awaited sequel titled The Testaments. This book picks up the story fifteen years after the timeline in the first book, and in it, the author aims to answer all the questions readers had been asking for decades.
About the Adaptation
The Hulu adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale premiered in 2017 and ran for six seasons (with more than 50 episodes in total). The sixth season was released in the spring of 2025 and was confirmed to be the final season.
The first seasons of the series track Margaret Atwood’s original 1985 novel quite closely, and then the series moves beyond the book into new storylines (later weaving in some of the elements and tone of The Testaments).
Popular with critics and audiences alike, the series won multiple Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe.
We Were the Lucky Ones
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
In 1939, the Kurc family of Radom, Poland, did their best to continue their normal lives. While the talk around the Seder table was of new babies and budding romances, the family is well aware of the looming shadow of war and the growing threat to Jews throughout the region. Soon, however, it becomes impossible for them to escape the horrors overtaking Europe.
Before long, the family is driven apart. One sibling is forced into exile while another attempts to flee the continent. Some family members work long hours in factories in the ghetto, and still others try to hide in plain sight by passing as gentiles.
Despite their fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs demonstrate hope, ingenuity, and strength, proving that even in the darkest moments, the human spirit can endure and thrive.
About the Adaptation
In 2024, We Were the Lucky Ones was adapted as a Hulu limited series with one season and eight episodes. The show closely follows the book’s overall arc and major events, including tracking the same family members across scattered locations, while making some changes to specific relationships and simplifying parts of the narrative for television.
Outlander
Book Summary
The Outlander series follows Claire Randall, a nurse, in 1945… except she doesn’t stay in 1945. She accidentally time-travels to the 1743 Scottish Highlands and finds herself in the middle of brutal fighting between the British Red Coats and a rebel group. Throughout the series, Claire is torn between her new life in the past and the world she left behind, including an unexpected romance.
About the Adaptation
The Starz adaptation of Outlander premiered in 2014 and currently has 7 seasons, with an 8th and final season already filmed and set to be released on March 6, 2026. Each season broadly follows one of Diana Gabaldon’s novels, with later seasons blending material from multiple books.
*The first six seasons of Outlander are available on Netflix, as well as the first half of season 7, but the final eight episodes of season 7 aren’t expected to be on Netflix until early in 2027. To watch the remainder of season 7, as well as the new Season 8, you’ll need a Starz subscription, either directly or as an add-on to services like Prime Video, Hulu, or Apple TV.
Book Summary
Amateur sleuth Hannah Swensen owns The Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. In between baking, she spends her time dodging her mom’s attempts to find her a husband.
In the first book, her milk deliveryman, Ron, is found behind her bakery, with her chocolate chip cookies scattered around his body. Terrified that the situation will give her shop a bad reputation, she sets out to find the killer.
Fans of this long-running series should also check out the companion cookbook – Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swensen’s Recipes from the Cookie Jar.
About the Adaptation
Beginning in 2015, Hallmark has produced a dozen movies adapted from this popular cozy book series. The first five in the series all have Murder, She Bakes at the start of the title, and movies in the series made after 2020 all have A Hannah Swensen Mystery at the end of the title.
While we think fans of the cozy mystery book series will enjoy these movies, keep in mind that the movies are only loosely based on the books, often changing the characters, motives, and other details. Further, the order of the movies does not match the order of the books.
There are currently 12 Hallmark movies in the series, with the two most recent having been released in 2025. There is no new installment confirmed for 2026, but the series is still considered active and ongoing, so keep an eye out for more.
The full collection of movies is available with a Hallmark+ subscription or with the Hallmark Mystery add-on to Hulu. Additionally, some of the individual movies are available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime.
You are welcome to choose any book you’d like to read for the challenge, but we hope this list of books has given you a good starting point.
Sign Up for Reading Challenge Bingo
Sign up for our email list below to receive a free Book Bingo card and a bonus printable tracker. Our email newsletter helps you stay on track with friendly reminders while still allowing you the flexibility to read at your own pace.
Printable Version of This Book List
Readers who support The Book Girls’ Guide through our Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) membership site can access printable versions of the reading challenge book lists.
We offer two membership levels. Both our BFF members and our Inner Circle members get access to the printable book lists for each of the monthly surprise prompts for Reading Challenge Bingo. Visit our Buy Me a Coffee membership page for a full list of benefits for each level.
Our BMAC members help cover the cost of running the challenges so we can keep them free for everyone!
Book Recommendations for Every Bingo Prompt
We provide book recommendations for each and every square on the Bingo card so that you can spend less time researching and more time reading. Find all the book recommendation lists in one place here.
