Closing date for issue 40 is midnight 12th October 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 39 is midnight 5th October 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Let's just say it, book to TV adaptations can be controversial.

Readers have spent so long with these characters and creating worlds in their heads, that someone else’s re-imagining of those worlds can sometimes just feel plain wrong. When it’s done right though, it’s the best feeling in the world to see your beloved characters come to life.

In 2026, there were a lot of book adaptations that graced our TV screens. The streaming services - and an especial shout-out to Netflix here - are bringing multiple bestselling novels to life, with authors like George R. R. Martin, Margaret Atwood, Marian Keyes and Harlan Coben all hitting the small screen in 2026.

We’ve also included links to buy the books in case you’ve come at these adaptation from the other direction i.e. seen the TV show and loved it so much that now you want to read the novel. You're welcome.

Here is TVChoice’s definitive list of the very best TV adaptations of books released in 2026 - as well as the ones that we’re looking forward to watching when they air later this year.

12 Book-To-Screen Adaptations

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)

Based on: Tales of Dunk and Egg by George R. R. Martin

Genre: Fantasy drama

Release date: 19 January 2026

To quote The Guardian, ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has saved the Game of Thrones universe’. High praise indeed!

Available to view on HBO Max, this fantasy drama - which serves as a prequel to Game of Thrones and a sequel to House of the Dragon - follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as the mismatched duo journey across Westeros. Dunk and Egg make for unlikely heroes, but there’s just something about their chemistry that makes the pair extremely watchable.

The plethora of talent making up the rest of the characters (Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen and Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen – we’ll admit that it’s a little sparse when it comes to female characters) is also a joy to behold.

The first series of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s short story The Hedge Knight – the first in a series of novellas entitled Tales of Dunk and Egg – published in 1998. The second novella The Sworn Sword is said to form the basis for the second series of the show which is currently filming in Spain and is expected to be released on HBO Max in 2027.

His & Hers (Netflix)

Based on: His and Hers by Alice Fenney

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 8 January 2026

The responses to Netflix’s His & Hers when it was released in early January were a real mix. Some people loved how gripping the mystery thriller was, whilst others chided the script for its occasional (maybe that should be frequent) deviations from reality and plausibility. Tessa Thompson’s performance as Anna Andrews however, was concluded to be the show’s biggest strength.

Set in Atlanta, His & Hers follows former news anchor Anna (Tess Thompson) as she begins investigating and reporting on a murder that occurred in a Dahlonega – the small Georgian town that she grew up in. It doesn’t help (well, occasionally it does) that her estranged husband Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal) is the lead detective on the case and seems to have some mysterious connection to the female victim found in the woods.

If anyone can write a completely crazy thriller ripe for a TV adaptation, it’s Alice Feeney author of I Know Who You Are , Beautiful Ugly , and His & Hers  – the latter of which Netflix’s His & Hers is based on. Her other novels Sometimes I Lie  and Rock Paper Scissors  have also been optioned for adaptations.

Imperfect Women (Apple TV)

Based on: Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 18 March 2026

Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Moss and Kate Mara as the three female leads of an Apple TV drama? We don’t even need to know the plot – sign us up immediately!

When Nancy (Kate Mara) is found dead, her two best friends: devoted mother Mary (Elizabeth Moss) and perpetually single philanthropist Eleanor (Kerry Washington) take it upon themselves to solve her murder. But as the title of the psychological thriller Imperfect Women suggests, that’s not easy when they’re hiding plenty of secrets too.

Both Elizabeth Moss and Kerry Washington served as executive producers in this TV adaptation of Araminta Hall’s 2020 novel Imperfect Women – as did Araminta Hall herself.

Lord of the Flies (BBC)

Based on: Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 8 February 2026

Considering William Golding’s debut novel Lord of the Flies has been mandatory study in numerous schools across the UK since its release in 1954, it’s surprising that no TV adaptation yet exists. Perhaps no one felt brave (or crazy) enough to commit to filming a group of schoolboys descending into savagery on a tropical island. Enter Writer Jack Thorne and Director Marc Munden.

When a deadly plane crash leaves a group of 40 schoolboys aged between five and 12 stranded on a tropical island with no adults, they attempt to organise themselves in the hopes of survival. The thoughtful Ralph (Winston Sawyers) is initially voted leader with the intellectual Piggy (David McKenna) as his second, but they face competition from the ambitious Jack (Lox Pratt) who is determined to prove himself.

Set like the novel in a paranoid, early Cold War period, each episode of this BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies unfolds from the perspective of a different boy.

Man on Fire (Netflix)

Based on: Man on Fire by A. J. Quinnell

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 30 April 2026

Suffering from severe PTSD after his U.S. Army Special Forces team was ambushed and killed in Mexico City, John Creasy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is recruited to a security assignment in Brazil. But when a bomb detonates killing his best friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale), leaving his eldest daughter Poe Rayburn (Bilie Boullet) alive, Creasy is determined to seek revenge – whatever it takes.

This Netflix action thriller is (very) loosely based on A. J. Quinnell’s novel Man on Fire about member of the French Foreign Legion and mercenary Marcus Creasy. The 1980 tale received a far more faithful big screen adaptation in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning which wasn’t hugely well received by critics, but the public (and A. J. Quinnell himself) loved it.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

Based on: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Genre: Comedy Drama

Release date: 15 April 2026

With a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and two nominations at the Gotham TV Awards (for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series for Elle Fanning and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series for Michelle Pfeiffer), it’s no surprise that everyone is talking about this Apple TV adaptation of Rufi Thorpe’s 2024 novel Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Rufi Thorpe is also the author of The Knockout Queen , and Dear Fang, With Love .

Unlike the controversy (well one of many) surrounding the latest season of Euphoria, Margo’s Got Money Troubles has been praised for being a relatively realistic portrayal of OnlyFans. After becoming pregnant by her English professor (Michael Angarano), Margo (Elle Fanning) turns to OnlyFans to support herself and her baby – much to the chagrin of both her newly engaged mother Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and former wrestler father Jinx (Nick Offerman).

Off Campus (Prime Video)

Based on: The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release date: 13 May 2026

Fans of Heated Rivalry and the To All The Boys I Loved Before film franchise were surely delighted to hear that Elle Kennedy’s internationally best-selling series were getting the small screen treatment.

Series one of Off Campus - which aired on 13 May – is based off the first book of the series called The Deal and tells the story of quiet singer-songwriter Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) as she attempts to make her crush Justin (Josh Heuston) jealous by getting into a fake relationship with hot hockey jock Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli).

Look, the plot’s not exactly groundbreaking, but we’ll never tire of this particular trope – it’s a well-worn trope for a reason!

Scarpetta (Prime Video)

Based on: Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 11 March 2026

You didn’t think we were going to create this list without mentioning something that Nicole Kidman led the cast of, did you? The award-winning actress is (along with Reese Witherspoon) is the Queen of the book to TV adaptation, having starred and executive produced various shows over the years like Big Little Lies – based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty – and Nine Perfect Strangers  - based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. And in 2026, the TV adaptation that she threw her weight behind was Scarpetta.

Weaving together Patricia Cornwell’s 1990 debut Postmortem with her 2021 bestseller Autopsy, Scarpetta tells the story of forensic scientist Dr Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) in a dual-timeline narrative across her 30s and her 50s. We first meet Scarpetta in the present day as she begins investigating a serial killer in Virginia that has eerie similarities with a case from the late 1990s.

Secret Service (ITV)

Based on: Secret Service by Tom Brady

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 27 April 2026

This year, ITV News presenter Tom Brady’s 2019 novel Secret Service was adapted into a big budget drama series for… well ITV of course.

The glossy, dramatic five-part thriller starred Gemma Arteron as Kate Henderson – a senior MI6 officer who discovers that a high-ranking UK politician is actually as Russian asset. Kate’s attempts to uncover the mole naturally leave her family in danger. Will she be able to resolve the mess in time?

The Testaments (Disney+)

Based on: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Genre: Dystopian Drama

Release date: 8 April 2026

After the overwhelming success of The Handmaid’s Tale – which made history in 2017 to become the first streaming series to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series – a spin-off series was released this year. Disney+’s The Testaments is based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale  entitled The Testaments.

Set 15 years after the original in the hallowed halls of Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) Academy – an elite preparatory school for future wives - this coming-of-age story follows Agnes Mackenzie (Chase Infiniti), the daughter of Elizabeth Moss’s June Osborne, as she is given the task of taking new arrival Daisy (Lucy Halliday) under her wing.

The Walsh Sisters (BBC)

Based on: Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

Genre: Drama

Release date: 21 February 2026

Dysfunctional and chaotic but oh so relatable, in 2026 the Walshes became our new favourite TV family when the TV adaptation landed on BBC iPlayer in the UK. Consisting of five sisters - single mum Claire (Danielle Galligan), maternal Maggie (Stefanie Pressner, who also wrote this TV adaptation), attention-seeking Rachel (Caroline Menton), impulsive Anna (Louisa Harland), and the baby of the family Helen (Mairead Tyers) - presided over by their judgemental mother (Carrie Crowley) and gentle father (Aidan Quinn), you just can’t help but fall in love with them.

Based on the novels Rachel’s Holiday and Anybody Out There by prolific and beloved Irish author Marian Keyes, The Walsh Sisters disarmingly deals with a plethora of emotional topics. Rachel’s drug addiction and Anna’s car crash may take centre stage, but all the sisters are perfectly imperfect.

Vladimir (Netflix)

Based on: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

Genre: Drama

Release date: 5 March 2026

When we meet English professor M (Rachel Weisz), her world is starting to unravel. Her husband John (John Slattery), also a college professor, has been suspended from teaching after multiple affairs with students. The arrival of respected novelist, visiting professor and younger (married) man Vladimir (Leo Woodall) however, provides M with the perfect opportunity to get her own back on her husband.

Netflix’s Vladimir is based on Brooklyn-based author, playwright and theatre director Julia May Jonas’ debut novel of the same name which was published in 2022. Critics called Vladimir (the novel) ‘a provocative, razor-sharp and timely debut novel’. High praise indeed!

Young Sherlock (Prime Video)

Based on: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Release date: 4 March 2026

From the mind of British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous fictional characters ever created. He appeared in four novels and 56 short stories, which were mostly set in the then-present day of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. As well as generating numerous TV series and films, the iconic detective also spawned several spin-off books including the Young Sherlock franchise – which includes the books Death Cloud , Red Leech , and Black Ice  among others - by author Andrew Lane.

Loosely following the plots of the Young Sherlock books, the TV show introduces us to Sherlock Holmes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) in the 1870s when he is studying at Oxford University. Naturally the teenager is already solving mysteries, but surprisingly it’s with the help of his close pal (although eventual great nemesis) James Moriarty (Dónal Finn).

56 Days (Prime Video)

Based on: 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Release date: 18 February 2026

Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia) and Ciara Wyse’s (Dove Cameron) relationship starts like a romcom. A meet-cute in a supermarket sparks an instant attraction, and soon the pair are head over heels. Cut to 56 days later though, and homicide detectives Lee Reardon (Karla Souza) and Karl Connolly (Dorian Missick) have found a decaying body in the bathtub of Oliver’s apartment.

At first Oliver and Ciara’s relationship seems ideal – two Boston newbies learning about the city together – but it isn’t long before viewers gain a sense that neither of them are being completely truthful about their lives. We soon learn that Oliver may not be as unfamiliar with the Chicago city as he makes out. And Ciara clearly has an agenda of her own too.

Unlike some of the other TV series on this list, 56 Days isn’t exactly a faithful adaptation of its source material. 56 Days is a bestselling psychological thriller by Irish author Catherine Ryan Howard and features Ciara and Oliver, but the original story was set in Dublin during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Upcoming Book-To-TV Adaptations Still To Be Released In 2026:

East of Eden (Netflix)

Based on: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Genre: Drama

Release date: Autumn 2026

John Steinbeck’s acclaimed novel East of Eden is getting a small screen adaptation thanks to Netflix.

Actress and writer Zoe Kazan – whose grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 film adaptation – has written the screenplay, whilst Florence Pugh (Little Women, Dune), Joseph Zada (Total Control), Christopher Abbott (Girls), Mike Faist (Challengers, West Side Story) and Ciaran Hinds (Belfast, Persuasion) have all signed on to star.

The 1952 family saga details the interweaving lives of the California-based Hamilton family and the Trask family at the end of WWI - although there is a large time jump back to the American Civil War that provides some backstory.

I Will Find You (Netflix)

Based on: I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

Genre: Thriller

Release date: 18 June 2026

Another year, another Harlan Coben adaptation. This year it’s the turn of his 2023 novel I Will Find You which tells the story of David (Sam Worthington) who is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his son.

Alongside Avatar’s Sam Worthington, the Netflix adaptation will also Britt Lower (Severance), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), and Erin Richards.

Little House on the Prairie (Netflix)

Based on: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Genre: Western Drama

Release date: 9 July 2026

Before the first series had even debuted on Netflix, it was confirmed that the upcoming TV adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie had been renewed for a second series.

Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood in the American Midwest, the series of children’s novels – the first of which is entitled Little House in the Big Woods – the confirmed cast consists of Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls, Luke Bracey as Charles Ingalls, Crosby Fitzgerald as Caroline Ingalls and Skywalker Hughes as Mary Ingalls.

This isn’t the first TV adaptation of Little House on the Prairie to hit our screens as there was one back in the 80s. That show actually marked the start of Jason Bateman’s prolific TV and film career – having been a part of the cast as James Cooper, an orphaned boy who is adopted by the Ingalls family.

Lucky (Apple TV)

Based on: Lucky by Marissa Stapley

Genre: Heist thriller

Release date: 15 July 2026

Lucky is an upcoming crime thriller set to land on Apple TV on 15 July 2026. Based on Marissa Stapley’s 2021 novel of the same name, the show will tell the story of Lucky Armstrong (Ana Taylor-Joy) after she manages to pull off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend Cary (Drew Starkey). Then things start going wrong, and Lucky finds herself alone.

Other confirmed cast members for the TV adaptation of Lucky – produced by Reese Witherspoon – include Annette Bening as Priscilla a dangerous mob leader, Timothy Olyphant as John, Lucky’s father, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Agent Billie Rand.

Pride and Prejudice (Netflix)

Based on: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Genre: Period Drama

Release date: 2026

The hotly anticipated TV adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice will be landing on Netflix later this year.

And for those of you dismissing this latest adaptation as unnecessary following the beauty of the Colin Firth TV adaptation, as well as the Kiera Knightley and Matthew McFayden film adaptation we’ve got two words for you: Dolly Alderton. Yep, the critically acclaimed writer has turned her hand to adapting the well-trodden story of Elizabeth Bennet and her search for love.

Another selling point is the hugely impressive cast list. We’re talking Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Lowden as Mr Dracy, Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet, Rufus Sewell as Mr Bennet, Daryl McCormack as Charles Bingley, Louis Partridge as Mr Wickham, and Fiona Shaw as Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

The Five-Star Weekend (NOW TV)

Based on: The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Genre: Drama

Release date: July 2026

Speaking of impressive cast, have you seen the announced cast list for the upcoming NOW TV adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s 2023 novel The Five-Star Weekend?

The show – which tells the story of a food blogger as she tries to combat loss with a luxury weekend with her friends – stars Jennifer Garner as Hollis Shaw, Chloe Sevigny as Tatum McKenzie, Regina Hall as Dru-Ann Jones, Gemma Chan as Gigi Ling, D’Arcy Crden as Brooke Kirtley and Timothy Olyphant as Jack.

With streaming platforms competing harder than ever for established IP, book-to-screen adaptations are only getting bigger. Whether you love fantasy, romance, thrillers or literary drama, 2026 is packed with TV series that could become your next obsession.

Daisy Hall became a writer for TVChoice after realising that she could make a career out of her incredible ability to extensively name an actor's credits when they randomly pop up in whatever she's watching. Her friends find it infuriating, but hopefully you find it useful!

Closing date for issue 38 is midnight 28th September 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.