24 Books To Buy ASAP If You Flew Through These TV Series And Movies
1.You watched: Atypical
You should read: Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan
Cazzie shipper? We've got the book for you. If you like queer track stars and complex family dynamics, you’ll love this book about an openly gay track star and the closeted bi girl she falls for that's full of angst, emotions, and personal growth arcs worth waiting for.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
2.You watched: Gossip Girl (2021)
You should read: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
The Gossip Girl reboot is modern, aka queer, and so is UK-based author Faridah’s debut about sex, lies, and an anonymous bully at a private school for the wealthy and morally-compromised. If you like drama, mess, and mystery in a private school setting, you'll be sucked in and won over by the stunning characters and clever writing.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
3.You watched: We Are Who We Are
You should read: With Teeth by Kristen Arnett
In Kristen Arnett's sophomore novel, the protagonist is afraid of her surly teenage son, whose demeanor resembles that of Fraser in We Are Who We Are. Both the show and this book explore queer family dynamics, with two moms raising a son who seems to be slipping away, wondering how they let it get this far.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
4.You watched: Never Have I Ever
You should read: Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan
If you were rooting for Devi and Paxton, you'll love this book about a Bangladeshi-American teen who falls for the bad boy she's been asked to tutor. Both the book and show their young protagonists grappling with who they want to be: in their own lives, in their families, and in their relationships. They also both show the protagonists fighting against the clock and having to stand up for what they want for themselves and their futures.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
5.You watched: Young Royals
You should read: Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
While there may be more obvious recs for fans of Young Royals, you shouldn't miss out on this sapphic YA novel about an American girl who escapes from her own drama at a boarding school in Scotland and falls for her roommate who is a literal princess.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
6.You watched: Starstruck
You should read: Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi
If you like stories about normies dating superstars, this one will appeal to you. In Mary H.K. Choi's YA crossover novel Permanent Record, Pablo, a college dropout swimming in student loan debt and working at an upscale 24-hour deli has a charged encounter with a mysterious customer who turns out to be a world-famous singer. Their lives are far from in sync, and it takes a lot to try to put them together, but the journey is full of sweet moments and enlightening ones.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
7.You watched: Love Victor
You should read: The Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman
Season 2 of Love Victor found us with a couple of love triangles, including one with Victor in the center. Similarly, the Heartstopper series finds one soft, kind boy saving another boy from an unhealthy situation and helping him realize he deserves better. Victor and his new love interest in Season 2 go through similar motions, with Victor casting some similarities to Heartstopper's Nick, an athlete coming to terms with his sexuality and dealing with his team's response to his queerness.
A bonus: An adaptation of Heartstopper is coming to Netflix soon!
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
8.You watched: Ted Lasso
You should read: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
If you enjoy the feel-good, spirit lifting essence of Ted Lasso, you might enjoy this Reese's Book Club pick that follows a woman in her late twenties, often viewed as odd by her peers, as she forms an unlikely friendship with Raymond, her unkempt, bumbling coworker. Despite her initial resistance, they get to know each other past the surface level and she discovers the joy that can be found when you let someone into your life, as Raymond teaches that kindness is often the best approach, because you never know what someone is dealing with.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
9.You watched: Cruel Summer
You should read: I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
Teen murder mysteries are not that hard to come by, but this particular one bears a striking resemblance to the Hulu original Cruel Summer. In I Killed Zoe Spanos, teen Anna arrives to a new town for a nanny gig, shortly after the disappearance of a local teen girl, Zoe Spanos. Anna happens to just look like her, and more than that, Zoe also uses to nanny for the same family. With all eyes on her, Anna confesses to murdering Zoe Spanos. But did she really do it?
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
10.You watched: Love Island
You should read: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Chances are, if you watch Love Island, you find the representation, erm...lacking, to say the least. If that's the case, let this book about a plus-size blogger getting to star on a matchmaking show of her own give you something you've been missing. Sure, it's still realistic: she gets the gig because she has a ton of followers and she's just doing it to boost her career, like most of the people on Love Island. But like the people on Love Island have found out (*cough* Molly Mae and Tommy), you can't always control who you fall for.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
11.You watched: Mare of Easttown
You should read: When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
Similar to the Kate Winslet-led drama, this book also follows a detective whose past keeps creeping into her present, forcing her to face her demons. The subject matter is heavy, but if a story that unravels years of familial trauma and seeks to solve murder mysteries sounds like your kind of read, you'll be satisfied with this New York Times bestseller.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
12.You watched: Shadow and Bone
You should read: Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
If you like motley crews trying to save their fantastical worlds from utter destruction, you'll definitely enjoy this book from Victoria Ayevard. Realm Breaker is about a chosen one tasked with a mighty mission, joined by a gang of misfits to take on an evil force. Readers will pick up on the similarities to the Netflix series, which incorporated elements from both the namesake book and author Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
13.You watched: Glow Up
You should read: Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia & Anna-Marie McLemore
Everyone loves an underdog, and no matter which aspiring make-up artist you root for on Glow Up, you'll be rooting for Lita and Chicky to upset the competition and come out on top in this book about two ex-best friends coming together for a good cause: paving the way for a new kind of face to be the face of the Miss Meteor beauty pageant.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
14.You watched: Virgin River
You should read: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Woman moves to small town? Check. Meets a mysterious man of the sea? Check. Widow finding love again? Check, but it's not what you'd expect. If you loved Jack and Melinda's story in Virgin River, you'll love Brendan and Piper in this charming, romantic story that's actually inspired by Schitt's Creek!
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
15.You watched: Fear Street series
You should read: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
If following multiple timelines is more exciting to you than confusing, like the different years of the Fear Street film trilogy, you'll probably love this dual-timeline mystery about an 18th century apothecary in London that serves women potions to take out the oppressive men in their lives — and the modern day historian whose trying to figure out where it all went wrong.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
16.You watched: We Are Lady Parts
You should read: The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod
While We Are Lady Parts takes place in London, and The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes is set in Philadelphia, both feature all-girl bands with big dreams. Toni B joins local girl group The Lilly's when they need to replace their hard-partying guitarist, but her intentions aren't all pure. The desire to use her place in the band to leverage her future, both professionally and possibly romantically, will remind readers of certain aspects of WALP. So will the aspects of strong female friendships and found family.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
17.You watched: Sex Life
You should read: Seven Days In June by Tia Williams
Fans of second chance romances and secret muses, as seen in Sex Life, will love Tia Williams' steamy and beautifully written romance about two writers whose almost-love story has been providing them both with inspiration for their work since the week they spent wrapped up in each other as teens, many years ago. When the muses reconnect unexpectedly one week in June, the spark from all those years ago is only stronger and impossible to ignore. But with new obstacles in their way as adults with plenty of baggage, can they make it work?
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
18.You watched: Loki
You should read: The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
If you're a fan of Loki, you probably enjoy bisexual morally-grey characters. And if you enjoy bisexual morally-grey characters, you'll love Nora, the main character of The Girls I've Been. The book is action-packed, complete with flashbacks, a messy love triangle, a bank robbery, and a girl coming to terms with all the things that have made her who she is.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
19.You watched: Kim's Convenience
You should read: Crying In H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
The much-loved Canadian sitcom about a Korean family living in Toronto is full of heart, much like the recently released, critically-acclaimed memoir of Michelle Zauner. The singer/songwriter/guitarist of Japanese Breakfast gets personal about her upbringing as a Korean American, her ties to her identity, her relationship with her mother and how it changed when she learned she was sick, and more. Fans of Kim's Convenience will find ties to Janet, Jung, and even Appa and Umma in this touching memoir.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
20.You watched: Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
You should read: XOXO by Axie Oh
In XOXO, Jenny, a determined cellist, finds herself falling for her classmate Jaewoo, despite her best efforts to remain focused solely on her studies. Jaewoo finds himself falling too, even though as a K-pop idol, dating is forbidden. Fans of Cherry and Smile's romance in the colorful and magnetic film, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, will swoon over the similarities of falling for someone despite your best efforts not to.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
21.You watched: Outer Banks
You should read: Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen
If you're thirsty for more high stakes summer romance, you'll want to drink up all that Loveboat, Taipei has to offer: a once-in-a-lifetime summer experience in a world that's new to its young participants from all different backgrounds. The characters are all looking for something — navigating complex friend and family dynamics in their search of something more — and landing into their fair share of messes and scandals on the way. And the romance definitely delivers.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
22.You watched: All American
You should read: Like Home by Louisa Onome
This debut touches on the realities of gentrification, the importance of community, and what it means to be part of a strong one, all while being a touching coming-of-age story. Fans of All American will note the similarities in how dynamics change when you move for different opportunities, like Spencer James does, and how things aren't always the same when you return to your old neighborhood, which we witness in the new season. With a widely diverse cast, a fiercely loyal main character in Chinelo, and a beautifully-painted, nostalgic tribute to a special neighborhood, Like Home will be an easy favorite.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
23.You watched: The White Lotus
You should read: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
If you've been watching HBO Max's dramedy/thriller The White Lotus and enjoying the threads of family secrets bubbling under the surface, the autobiographical graphic novel Fun Home, about one woman's life growing up in an intricate home with a cold family and the discovery of her late father living a double life, will likely be an enveloping read for you. And this time, there's no guessing about who's dead.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
24.You watched: DAVE
You should read: Vagablonde by Anna Dorn
FX's DAVE is a show people weren't expecting. The second season finds Dave, aka Lil Dicky, struggling with his recent surge in fame as a rap artist and having a hard time deciphering the blurred lines of real life, real intimacy, and the manufactured versions of those things and himself. Anna Dorn's Vagablonde has a similar premise: lawyer Prue van Tessen wants to be a famous rapper, and the book chronicles her journey to getting there and how she dissociates along the way. Both the show and book take place in Los Angeles, giving the already similar stories a similar backdrop.
Get it from Bookshop or a local bookstore through Indiebound here.
