Before You Watch the Series — Read these Books

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Dear Joyvity™ Friends,

Here are the books behind some of the most buzzed-about series — some already released, others still streaming strong. From sweeping literary dramas to twisty thrillers and pop-forward romances, they’re all worth reading first.

So before you binge, crack open the book.

1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel weaves the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy during WWII into a haunting, luminous story. The Netflix adaptation (released late 2023) is beautiful, but the novel’s quiet emotional power stays with you in a way no screen can match.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Netflix Mini-Series

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Elizabeth Zott is not your average 1960s housewife. She’s a chemist turned TV host — and a fierce voice for women everywhere. The show brought a splash of color and charm, but the book holds deeper wit, heartbreak, and brilliance. A must-read before (or after) watching.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Apple TV+

3. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

This intimate Italian saga of friendship, identity, and class begins in childhood and stretches across decades. The HBO series is masterful, but Ferrante’s writing offers layers that only words can capture — raw, sharp, and emotionally complex.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: HBO Series.

4. The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han

A sun-soaked coming-of-age story that pairs teenage longing with breezy nostalgia. The show is beloved by fans, but reading the trilogy gives you the full emotional arc — the kind of summer you feel in your bones.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Prime Video

5. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

When the First Son of the United States falls for the Prince of England, sparks — and tweets — fly. The rom-com adaptation was a hit, but the novel is where the heart is: funnier, deeper, and full of warmth that leaps off the page.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Prime Video

6. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Told in oral-history format, this novel about a fictional 1970s rock band feels so real you’ll want to look them up on Spotify. The series brings the music, but the book gives you the inner chaos, heartbreak, and brilliance that made the band unforgettable.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Prime Video

7. The Night Agent by Matthew Quirk

Need a page-turning thriller? This fast-paced political suspense story — about an FBI agent thrown into a high-stakes conspiracy — became a breakout series. But the book dives even deeper into the danger, paranoia, and moral murk.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Netflix Series

8. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

When Hannah’s husband disappears, leaving only a cryptic note, she’s forced to unravel his secrets to protect her stepdaughter. A quick, emotional read with twists that translate well to screen — but reading it first makes each reveal hit harder.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Apple TV+

9. One Day by David Nicholls

Spanning two decades, this tender story checks in on Emma and Dexter on the same day each year. The series is beautifully done, but the novel captures the aching passage of time, missed chances, and enduring love in unforgettable prose.

👉 Find it on Amazon here

Adaptation: Netflix Series

✦ Final Thoughts

Whether you’re already obsessed with the show or just spotted the trailer, give the book a chance first. You’ll experience the story through your own lens — and maybe even love the adaptation more because of it.

Which one will you read next?

Happy reading, and may the next story find you at just the right time.
Ana