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Love These TV Shows? Check Out These 8 Books!

by  | October 23
Fall TV Shows Book Recommendations

Just finished bingeing your favorite TV show and you’re now waiting a whole other year for new episodes? Or are you, like me, anxiously anticipating the last episode of the season—trying to draw out the sweet, sweet, silver-screen goodness before the show goes on hiatus? (I’m waiting to watch Season 3 of The Good Place until I have at least five episodes I can binge in one sitting!)

Well, we can’t help make your favorite TV show come back any quicker, BUT we can offer books that will help you pass the time while you wait. Check out our guide on what to read, based on what you like to watch!

You (Media Tie-In Edition)

You (Media Tie-In Edition)

by Caroline Kepnes

Like: You (Lifetime)
Read: You

If you’ve been following the new Lifetime series You, you know that Penn Badgley plays a surprisingly good stalker (or maybe not so surprising, if you saw the series finale of Gossip Girl). The book by Caroline Kepnes is even creepier. Dive into the psychological thriller and check out the original treatment—a little less funny, and a little more telling about Joe’s horrific logic and his status as an unreliable narrator.

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The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

by Issa Rae

Like: Insecure (HBO)
Read: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

I wasn’t sure if I would like Insecure when I first started, but there is a lot for 20-somethings like me to identify with—like the fickle world of dating. It’s funny, and at times over-the-top, but also speaks true to the millennial, modern, women-of-color experience. And if you love the show, you must love Issa Rae, given that she is the heart, soul, and inspiration behind it. Before Issa “made it,” she created a web series called Awkward Black Girl, as well as a book of essays of the same name. If you can’t wait for Insecure Season 4, check out The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl for Issa’s signature witty and self-deprecating style as she shares trying to live life as an awkward, introverted girl.

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This Will Only Hurt a Little

This Will Only Hurt a Little

by Busy Philipps

Like: Busy Tonight (E!)
Read: This Will Only Hurt a Little

So, I’m getting a little ahead of myself on this one—but I couldn’t not mention Busy Philipps’ upcoming talk show Busy Tonight, which premieres on E! on Sunday, October 28th. According to the official logline, the show will feature “everyone’s favorite unfiltered Hollywood best friend giving her hilarious and outspoken opinions on the latest pop culture stories and trending topics with candid celebrity guest interviews and original comedic segments.” I cannot wait to see Busy chatting up a storm with the likes of Tina Fey, Issa Rae, and more—and will be watching avidly every week. Once you start, you’ll know that Busy’s “real talk” is addicting, and you can find more of it in her memoir This Will Only Hurt a Little!

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The Lost Queen

The Lost Queen

by Signe Pike

Like: Outlander (Starz)
Read: The Lost Queen

Outlander finally returns on November 4th! We all know we’re going to plow through this season, and will quickly find ourselves in another #Droutlander. So, to preemptively prepare for the pain to come—I suggest The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. It’s a new historical, fantastic epic (and the first book in a trilogy!) that follows Languoreth (a forgotten queen) and her brother Lailoken (the man who inspired the legend of Merlin) in sixth-century Scotland. There’s forbidden love, political alliances, clashing religions, war, and—my favorite—a woman in charge.

For even more books to read if you love Outlander, check out this list!

via GIPHY

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Good Omens

Good Omens

by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Like: The Good Place (NBC)
Read: Good Omens

The Good Place is possibly my most favorite show on the air right now—it’s hilarious, heartwarming, and so smart! While Good Omens mostly takes place in neither heaven nor hell, it is a similarly ridiculous and hilarious take on how the whole “system” works, and involves an angel and a devil who have a lot of #workanxiety, a whole lot of hijinks, and at least 21 moments that will make you go, “What the fork?!”

In addition to this romp by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, check out Off the Shelf’s recommendations of books to die for if you love The Good Place!

via GIPHY

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The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House

by Shirley Jackson

Like: The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Read: The Haunting of Hill House

If you’re a Netflix-fanatic, then you’ve probably been hit with ads for The Haunting of Hill House—or have already binged it! If you’re done with the show, or you’re just a regular old thrill-junkie, then I suggest you check out the original novel from Shirley Jackson, one of the og thriller writers, and one of the first female authors to truly be recognized for her skill in the horror/suspense genre. This creepy tale follows a Dr. Montague and his three guests (who have all previously experienced paranormal events) as they go to a place called Hill House to find evidence of the supernatural. As the story progresses, there is an increase in spooky and disturbing events—but Jackson leaves us to wonder whether it’s the result of ghostly forces, or if it’s just the mental workings of one or more of the characters. Read the book and decide for yourself!

If you’re looking for other titles to get you in the Halloween spirit, check out these books!

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Mr. Mercedes

Mr. Mercedes

by Stephen King

Like: Mr. Mercedes (AT&T)
Read: Mr. Mercedes

As we near the end of Mr. Mercedes Season 2, I highly suggest you check out the inspiration for the show—aka the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King, which comprises Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch. The story begins when a Mercedes plows into a group of people at a job fair, killing eight, and injuring many more. Later, detective Bill Hodges receives a letter from the person claiming to be responsible—and so begins their game of cat and mouse as the downtrodden detective and two unlikely allies try to stop the psychopath from further murders.

If you are a Stephen King fanatic, try your hand at our “Can You Guess These Stephen King Novels by Their First Lines?” quiz!

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The Sinner

The Sinner

by Petra Hammesfahr

Like: The Sinner (USA Network)
Read: The Sinner

Finished watching Season 2 of The Sinner? Then go back to the source material—The Sinner by German crime writer Petra Hammesfahr, which was the basis for Season 1. If you watched the show, then you already have a pretty high tolerance for the dark and disturbing. The novel is (somewhat improbably) quite a bit more intense than the show. The violence—and particularly the sex scenes—are more explicit and take a much closer look at all the terrible things Cora goes through. Brace yourself for a deep dive into the world of psychological trauma.

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Categories // TV

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Shefali is a former digital marketer of the Corporate Digital Marketing team at Simon & Schuster. Because her whole life is #reading, it’s hard for her to pick a favorite genre—anything with strong voice is amazing. She sometimes has unpopular opinions, loves Jane Austen, and finds snark, sassiness, and Oxford commas to be necessary parts of life. Follow her on Twitter at @ShefaliLohia or Instagram at @shefallsgracefully.
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