When a movie or show is based on a book, it's usually never as good, but when it is good, it's great. The visual medium takes a story to the next level, and a killer soundtrack enhances the mood. We found the best book adaptations available on Hulu® right now so that you can read the book, then watch it!
For more binge-worthy content, check out book to screen Netflix® adaptations available now.
11/22/63
This mini-series starring James Franco is available to watch in full! Stephen King's books are rich with details, and at over 270,000 words this book especially is perfect for the mini-series format.
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood's quintessential dystopian novel is the story of one woman in a patriarchal society at its most extreme. Not for the faint of heart, neither the book nor the adaptation shy away from the horrors that might emerge in such a world. The series has won countless awards, and is currently done with 3 seasons, with season 4 recently in production.
Marvel's Runaways
Runaways is a part of the MCU, so you know you're in for a good time! But to get a deeper understanding of the characters and the lore that a show just can't cover, the comics are of course the place to go! Runaways features a cast of teenagers who have, you guessed it, runaway from their criminal parents.
Chance
Chance is the story of a forensic neuropsychiatrist, played by the renown Hugh Laurie in the adaptation, who gets mixed up with crooked cops in San Francisco. The book and show are both psychological thrillers. Reading the book first will give more dimension and meaning to the show's brilliant shots and dialogue. The second season of the show expands upon the book, continuing the story.
Castle Rock
Unlike the other entries here, Castle Rock is not a direct adaptation of a single story, but rather an adaptation of an idea. They idea is the terrifying town of Castle Rock, the setting of all of the King stories below. Like most Stephen King adaptations, this benefits greatly from being a series, which gives it time to really show-off the gruesome creativity that is a Stephen King story.
Light as a Feather
This young adult book series from Zoe Aarsen was adapted to a series in 2018 and now has two seasons under its belt. The story is a supernatural thriller focused on a group of teens who start to die under some mysterious, almost other-worldly, circumstances. The trilogy gives you all the information you need to get right into bingeing the show.
Looking for Alaska
Looking for Alaska was John Green's first book, and an instant classic with teens across the world. Green's writing is not something to be missed, with his mixture of metaphor and casual, natural teen language creating worlds that seem real, and characters you want to know (and usually, hug in sympathy). This book centers on Miles Halter, a teen boy, and Alaska Young, a teenage girl he is drawn to.
Catch-22
Another mini-series which proves that the mini-series format can be one of the best ways to adapt a book. Longer than a movie so you can get the details in, with none of the pressure of a series to add in extraneous details. The book and show tell the story of a World War II Air Force bombardier, and his struggles. Joseph Heller's words paint a vivid picture, putting you right into this pilot's mind, and the show is able to really showcase the action and chaos.
Normal People
Sally Rooney’s Normal People took off immediately after publishing and was nominated for the prestigious Man Booker prize. The story of a complicated relationship of old friends in Ireland set during the 2008 economic downturn resonated with a lot of readers. The book gives you a direct line into the character's thoughts, and the show is able to flesh out more of their time as teenagers, giving you more of their history.
Shrill
For those looking for a comedy, this show starring Aidy Bryant is sure to deliver laughs. The adaptation is a fictionalized version of Lindy West's memoir, recounting her real experiences as a plus-sized woman in a world that isn't designed for, or always kind to, her size. Her book uses humor to deal with the reality of living as a larger, sometimes loud, always hilarious, woman.
High Fidelity
You might be familiar with the John Cusack movie already, but this is not that! The latest adaptation is entirely different from both its predecessors. The show reimagines the main character as a younger woman, and updates the setting and time period for today's audiences. This is one where the book or the show might be better – they're so different one needs to experience both for the full picture!
Love, Victor
This one might be cheating since it is not a direct adaptation, but the list would be missing something of vital importance if we did not mention their foray into the famous Simon-verse. Love, Victor takes place in the same school as the mega-popular Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which spawned two more sequels featuring characters in the same school. Experience the whole Albertalli Simon-verse with the show and the three books.
