FromHeartstopper, toBridgerton, toOne Day, toRivals, the last few years have been fantastic forromance novelsthat have been adapted intotelevisionshows.Romancenovels make for great movies as well, likeTo All the Boys I’ve Loved BeforeandLove at First Sight, but the television format lends itself particularly well to them. In aTV show,the romance has the opportunity to build over time, there’s room to give attention to the side characters, and viewers get to live in that world for a while longer.
While there is a lot to love on television for romance fans right now,there can never be enough romance shows, and there are plenty of great books out there that have yet to be adapted. For fans of subgenres ranging from contemporary romance, to romantasy, to groundedfantasyinvolving time travel andghosts, these are 10 romance novels that would be perfect TV shows.
10’The Simple Wild'
By K.A. Tucker
The Simple WildbyK.A. Tuckerfollows Calla Fletcher, a woman in her mid-twenties who loves her fast-paced life in Toronto. Calla once lived in rural Alaska when she was a baby, but she hasn’t been back since her mother left with her in tow, and she barely knows her father, Wren, who still lives there. When Calla learns that Wren is dying,Calla visits to stay with him for a while, and to get to know him in the time that he has left.
The Simple Wildwould make a fantastic TV show, due to its idyllic setting and compelling cast of side characters.
While Calla gets reacquainted with Wren and his small town, she meets Jonah, a pilot who works for her dad. Calla and Jonahinitially can’t stand each other,due to how different they are from one another. They reluctantly end up spending more time together, and in spite of their initial impressions of each other, they slowly fall for one another.The Simple Wildwould make a fantastic TV show, due to its idyllic setting and compelling cast of side characters. Initially,Calla and Jonah’s journey from annoyance to lovewould be a lot of fun to watch over the course of a season, and there are two more books in the series that could be continuing seasons.
9’Cemetery Boys'
By Aiden Thomas
Cemetery BoysbyAiden Thomasfollows Yadriel Vélez Flores, a teenage boy who comes from a family of brujos and brujas. Yadriel is transgender, and his family is not fully accepting of his gender, so he decides to prove himself as a brujo.In an attempt to prove himself to his family, Yadriel tries to summon the ghost of his cousin, whom he believes has been killed. The ritual doesn’t go as planned, though, and he ends up summoning Julian Diaz, a former classmate of his who has just died.
Yadriel is transgender, and his family is not fully accepting of his gender, so he decides to prove himself as a brujo.
Due to its fantasy elements, many plot twists, and large cast of characters,Cemetery Boyswould make for a great TV show. Theromantic comedy-esque dynamicbetween Yadriel and Julian, combined with the high stakes of the supernatural variety, would make for a fun and nailbiting season of television. Additionally, with the sequel,Espíritu, set to release later this year,Cemetery Boyshas a lot of content to expand on for a TV series.
8’I’ve Got Your Number'
By Sophie Kinsella
When happily engaged Poppy Wyatt loses both her engagement ring and her cellphone one afternoon, she takes a phone that she has found in the trash, and gives out the number in case her ring is found. Unfortunately for Poppy, it is the work phone of a grumpy businessman named Sam Roxton, but he agrees to share it with her, anyway. Such isI’ve Got Your NumberbySophie Kinsella,an extremely cute rom-com where two polar opposites slowly grow to fall for each other when in a forced proximity situation.
…A movie wouldn’t do justice to the moments of quiet pining that happen between the two of them throughout the novel…
I’ve Got Your Numberwould be an excellent TV show, becauseit could show Poppy and Sam’s separate lives over the course of a season, as they gradually begin to communicate more and more through the phone. Their romanceis a true slow-burn,and a movie wouldn’t do justice to the moments of quiet pining that happen between the two of them throughout the novel, as her wedding day draws closer.
7’An Enchantment of Ravens'
By Margaret Rogerson
There is definitely a need for more television shows about faeries, andAn Enchantment of Ravenswould perfectly fill this void. This romantasy novel follows Isobel, a human and a very talented painter. In exchange for enchantments,she paints portraits of the fair folk, who are unable to do any human craft themselves. When Isobel accidentally paints sorrow in the eyes of the autumn prince, Rook, she finds herself in a dangerous situation.
There is definitely a need for more television shows about faeries, andAn Enchantment of Ravenswould perfectly fill this void.
As punishment for making him look weak, Rook brings Isobel with him to his kingdom to go on trial. The journey becomes an epicquest full of unexpected adventures, and along the way,Isobel and Rook slowly start to change their minds about each other.An Enchantment of Ravenswould make for an excellent TV series. It has a beautiful fantasy setting, a sweet romance that develops over time, and an exciting quest that builds up to one dangerous event: Isobel’s trial.
6’One Last Stop'
By Casey McQuiston
AfterRed, White, & Royal Blue, it is common knowledge thatCasey McQuiston novels make excellent adaptations. McQuiston’sOne Last Stopwould be best adapted as a TV show instead of a movie, though, due to its time-travel elements and dynamic central friend group.One Last Stopfollows August Landry, an isolated college student with a complicated family history, who moves to New York City looking for a fresh start. While regularly commuting on the subway, August meets Jane Su, a woman who is always there at the same time as her.
McQuiston’sOne Last Stopwould be best adapted as a TV show instead of a movie, though, due to its time-travel elements and dynamic central friend group.
Unfortunately, the relationship can go nowhere,because Jane is actually from the ’70s, and she’s been trapped on the subwayfor as long as she can remember. While working at a local pancake restaurant and becoming friends with her new roommates, August spends her time trying to help Jane reignite memories from her past– even if it means that she will lose her.One Last Stopwould be a perfect TV show, to show August and Jane’s relationship developing over time, and it could even have a flashback episode dedicated to Jane’s past.
Red, White & Royal Blue
5’The Song of Achilles'
By Madeline Miller
The Song of AchillesbyMadeline Millerwould make foran absolutely devastating historical romance miniseriesthat leaves viewers heartbroken at the end. The novel is a retelling of the story of Patroclus and Achilles, from meeting and becoming friends while young, to falling in love in spite of everything that stands in their path. Set over a long period of time, and with a significant portion of the novel against the backdrop of The Trojan War,The Song of Achilleswould make an amazing TV show.
The novel is a retelling of the story of Patroclus and Achilles, from meeting and becoming friends while young, to falling in love in spite of everything that stands in their path.
There is something so compelling and captivating about a tragic romance, and a TV show would giveThe Song of Achillesthe room it needs toexplore the dynamic between Patroclus and Achilles with the nuance it deserves. Additionally, the time jumps in the novel could naturally occur at the beginnings of specific episodes, in the waythat the adaptation ofOne Daydid.
Based on the novel by David Nicholls, One Day is a 2024 romantic drama series created by Nicole Taylor. Despite their lives drifting apart after high school, Dex and Emma reunite one day every year as their lives run parallel. Love, heartbreak, and the experience of growing apart together lie at the center of this decade-spanning love story.
4’Get a Life, Chloe Brown'
By Talia Hibbert
Get a Life, Chloe Brownwould make an excellent first season of a TV show, and the following novels about Chloe’s sisters, Dani and Eve, could easily be the second and third seasons,in the style ofBridgerton. The contemporary rom-com follows Chloe Brown, a chronically ill woman whose life has slowly and increasingly become much smaller than she ever intended. Finally,after a scare, Chloe decides to change her life.
Each episode could have Chloe and Red checking a separate item off of the list as they gradually fall for each other.
Chloe creates a list of items to push herself out of her comfort zone, and she vows to complete the list with the help of her handsome new neighbor, Red.Get a Life, Chloe Brownwould work so well as a TV show. Each episode could have Chloe and Red checking a separate item off of the list as they gradually fall for each other. Additionally,Chloe’s journey of fighting to get her life back while suffering from chronic pain is incredibly moving,and it would translate beautifully to the medium of television.
Bridgerton
Set in the glamorous world of Regency London, the Bridgerton family maneuvers through the opulent and treacherous landscape of high society. Daphne Bridgerton, the family’s eldest daughter, enters the marriage market, sparking a whirlwind romance with the enigmatic Duke of Hastings.
3’Anna and the French Kiss'
By Stephanie Perkins
AfterXO, Kitty, television fans may be looking foranother boarding school romanceabout an American girl who goes to school abroad. One such novel that fits the description isAnna and the French KissbyStephanie Perkins. The novel follows Anna Oliphant, a teenage girl entering her senior year of high school. With a great best friend, and a job at a local movie theater where she gets to work with her crush,Anna is very upset when her father sends her to boarding school in Paris against her wishes.
Due to its picturesque setting, sweet central love story, and hilarious dialogue,Anna and the French Kisswould be an amazing TV show.
Anna soon finds herself joining a close-knit friend group at School for America in Paris, also known as SOAP. This is where she meets Étienne St. Clair, with whom she immediately feels an intense spark. Unfortunately for Anna, St. Clair has a serious girlfriend, though. The two become extremely close friends, andhe helps her get to know the city, as she gradually falls in love with both Paris and St. Clair. Due to its picturesque setting, sweet central love story, and hilarious dialogue,Anna and the French Kisswould be an amazing TV show.
2’Check, Please!'
By Ngozi Ukazu
Check, Please!byNgozi Ukazuis a series of two graphic novels that follows all four years of college for Eric “Bitty” Bittle, a former figure skating champion who loves to bake.Now on a scholarship to play hockey for Samwell University, Bitty has to adjust to the unexpected parts of playing hockey– namely checking, which scares him a great deal. Over time, Bitty slowly gets the hang of hockey, thanks to his reluctant team captain, Jack Zimmermann, who doesn’t seem to like him all that much.
Check, Please!by Ngozi Ukazu is a series of two graphic novels that follows all four years of college for Eric “Bitty” Bittle…
With an entertaining and hilarious cast of characters, as well asa really lovely slowburn romance,Check, Please!would make for an amazing sitcom.Bitty and Jack’s love story develops very slowly, with Jack initially coming off as a mean grump, before gradually revealing his kind and caring nature. A TV series would allow the romance to take its time, while also giving focus to Bitty’s teammates, and to his vlog.
1’Shatter Me'
By Tahereh Mafi
With seven novels, five novellas, and a sequel series on the way,Shatter MebyTahereh Mafiwould make an incredible television series. The first book is a dystopian novel that follows Juliette Ferrars, a teenage girl whose touch is lethal to everyone around her.Locked away from the world as punishment for an accidental killing, Juliette’s life in isolation changes one day when she is given a cellmate: Adam Kent, a guy she once knew when they were kids.
The first book is a dystopian novel that follows Juliette Ferrars, a teenage girl whose touch is lethal to everyone around her.
Due to unforeseen circumstances,Juliette is taken away one day to be trained as a weaponfor The Reestablishment, an organization that is now in charge of everything. TheShatter Meseries would make for a phenomenal TV show, due toits complex dystopian world,its fast-paced plot that is full of twists, and its central love triangle between Juliette, the guy she’s always pined after, and the guy for whom she never thought she could feel anything but hate.
