Romance novels lend themselves to being adapted into TV shows, as their character-driven stories connect with audiences and make for compelling narratives. It’s not surprising that so many of the best romantic television series are based on best-selling books consumed by a variety of readers. Screen iterations of literature make up a large part of film and television, and it follows that novel series would translate well to television. The multiple episodes and potential for many seasons mean that a long and complex story can be developed onscreen.
There are still many romance books that deserve TV show adaptations, as new and exciting additions to the genre are being published every day. The most important aspect of any romance story is the central relationship between the main couple. In books, the characters’ chemistry is created by the author, but in TV shows, it’s up to the actors to carry the plot and convince the audience that these people are destined to be together. When a romantic series is at its best, the couple’s development is centered, but the secondary plot lines also uplift it.
10 The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022–Present)
Written by Jenny Han
Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Jenny Han’s novel series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, has successfully followed in the footsteps of some of the most iconic teen drama TV shows. Revolving around the love triangle between Belly and the brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, The Summer I Turned Pretty chronicles the period of late adolescence when romance and budding feelings begin to take over. The first two seasons of the show saw Belly torn between the brothers while navigating her grief and the difficulty of balancing these complex emotions while coming of age.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
season 3 will be released in the summer of 2025 (via
Teen Vogue
).
There’s a good reason behind The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 delay, as the long-awaited next installment of the series will have more episodes than the first two seasons. This is a wise choice, as, based on Han’s final book, season 3 has a lot of ground to cover for Belly to get her happily ever after. From its big-budget soundtrack to its idyllic seaside setting, there’s a lot to recommend about The Summer I Turned Pretty and many reasons to keep rooting for Belly to find love within herself.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 86% | 77% |
| 2 | 64% | 59% |
9 The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
Written by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries took many liberties with the source material, but these changes typically worked in the show’s favor. Supernatural teen dramas are a popular niche within the romance genre, and The Vampire Diaries incorporated many of the classic tropes of these series, like the love triangle between Elena, Stefan, and Damon. However, as the seasons progressed, the show also transcended these formulas and leaned into the friendships and character development in conjunction with the love stories.
Throughout the series, the issue of vampires falling in love with humans, werewolves, witches, and many more fantastical individuals is a recurring conflict, but this always makes for compelling drama.
It’s important that romance shows include these additional facets, as watching the characters evolve and realize what they want out of a relationship makes the romances even more impactful. The Vampire Diaries series is a great example of books that blend fantasy and romance, as the supernatural elements of the story are instrumental in the development of the relationships. Throughout the series, the issue of vampires falling in love with humans, werewolves, witches, and many more fantastical individuals is a recurring conflict, but this always makes for compelling drama.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 73% | 78% |
| 2 | 100% | 80% |
| 3 | 90% | 77% |
| 4 | 69% | 69% |
| 5 | 100% | 70% |
| 6 | 81% | 72% |
| 7 | 77% | 64% |
| 8 | 100% | 64% |
8 A Discovery Of Witches (2018–2022)
Written by Deborah Harkness
Each season of A Discovery of Witches further develops the central romance between the witch Diana and the vampire Matthew. Though the two individuals are meant to be sworn enemies, it doesn’t take long for their connection to transcend the animosity between their peoples. However, they aren’t the only characters to receive an epic love story, as many of the supporting characters have just as much drama and intrigue in their narratives. However, the chemistry between Diana and Matthew is the most enduring part of the story.
A Discovery of Witches ran for three seasons, one for each of Deborah Harkness’ books, and fully encompasses the ups and downs that Matthew and Diana face as they attempt to protect the world while falling in love. Harkness’ books lend themselves well to screen adaptation as there’s time travel, academia, and gorgeous settings that are compelling both visually and in terms of narrative development. The relationships Harkness establishes in the books only grow more touching when brought to life for the series.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 94% | 83% |
| 2 | 82% | 83% |
| 3 | 86% | 75% |
7 High Fidelity (2020)
Written by Nick Hornby
High Fidelity is a great example of a book that’s made even better through its TV adaptation, as Hulu’s 2020 iteration of the show made many successful changes. Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel was first made into the 2000 movie starring John Cusack, and while the TV series hits many of the same beats, it modernizes the story without changing its integrity. The main character, Rob, becomes Robyn and is played by Zoë Kravitz, who gives a career-defining performance. As she seeks out her past romantic partners, this version of Rob is just as lost.
Though it was prematurely canceled after just one season,
High Fidelity
shouldn’t be forgotten and should be considered a blueprint for how to bring older books into the modern era.
Though it was prematurely canceled after just one season, High Fidelity shouldn’t be forgotten and should be considered a blueprint for how to bring older books into the modern era. By returning to her previous relationships, Rob gets to relive the best and worst parts of herself and lets this inform how she navigates the budding romances in her life. Kravitz is joined by a stellar supporting cast, including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, David H. Holmes, and Jake Lacy, who flesh out Rob’s world and make her more relatable.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 86% | 78% |
6 One Day (2024)
Written by David Nicholls
The recent Netflix adaptation of One Day has quickly become the definitive version of the story, a devastatingly tragic romance that will leave the audience sobbing by the end. Over the course of twenty years, the series catches up with the lives of Emma and Dexter after their final year of university and sees them rise and fall in their careers, relationships, and lifelong trajectories. At the heart of all this is the undeniable connection they share, which ebbs and flows as they meet other people and attempt to be what the other wants.
Simultaneously a friends-to-lovers arc and a will-they-won’t-they romance, the relationship between Dexter and Emma in One Day is a heart-wrenching tale of two people’s journey to find happiness. While the devastating twist does give One Day a bittersweet edge, it’s still worth watching. Even amid despair, the characters find a way to go on and be their best selves for the sake of the people in their lives. Imperfect but charming protagonists, Emma and Dexter are worth spending time with.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 91% | 85% |
5 Poldark (2015–2019)
Written by Winston Graham
Not only a memorable romance series, Poldark is also one of the best PBS Masterpiece TV shows. The titular character, Captain Ross Vennor Poldark, returns home to Cornwall after fighting on the side of the British in the American Revolutionary War. However, things are not as he left them, as his home is in disarray, and the woman he left behind to fight in the war has moved on with someone else. Thankfully, when Poldark meets Demelza, his life begins anew.
As much as
Poldark
is about Ross and Demelza and them building their life together, it also touches upon the changing political and social landscape in England during the late 1700s.
As much as Poldark is about Ross and Demelza and them building their life together, it also touches upon the changing political and social landscape in England during the late 1700s. The expansive Poldark novel series was deeply in conversation with British history and was first adapted for the screen in 1975. However, the more recent take on Poldark broadens the story even further and allows the romance between Ross and Demelza to be even more sweeping.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 91% | 88% |
| 2 | N/A | 83% |
| 3 | 100% | 88% |
| 4 | 81% | 91% |
| 5 | 86% | 49% |
4 Bridgerton (2020–Present)
Written by Julia Quinn
The upcoming Bridgerton season 4 will adapt Benedict Bridgerton’s story from the novel An Offer From a Gentleman and will soon take Netflix and the TV landscape by storm. Since the series’ inception in 2020, Bridgerton has been one of the biggest romance shows on television. Every installment of the show touches upon a new Bridgerton sibling’s journey to love, following the formula of Julia Quinn’s book series. Elements of friendship and empowerment also play key roles, as the romances of Bridgerton are based on respect and kindness.
One of the reasons Bridgerton is such a crossover hit is that, while it’s a period piece, it follows a revisionist version of Regency England. This has allowed the series to include a diverse cast, unlike many predominantly white period dramas, and Bridgerton season 3 has laid the groundwork for an LGBTQ+ romance to take center stage in the following installments. There will likely be many more seasons of Bridgerton in the coming years, and each will elevate Quinn’s books and enchant the audience.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 87% | 70% |
| 2 | 78% | 73% |
| 3 | 88% | 78% |
3 Outlander (2014–Present)
Written by Diana Gabaldon
Without Jamie and Claire, there is no Outlander; though their love spans generations, wars, and different lovers, they always make their way back to each other. Outlander is primarily a historical romance drama, as the series encompasses many major parts of the past, like the conflict between Scotland and England in the mid-1700s. However, there is a fantasy element thrown in, as Claire is sent back in time from the 1940s to the 1740s, which is where she meets Jamie and is thrown into his war.
As the series progresses, Jamie and Claire travel to multiple countries and are separated by time, again and again, but their love is the most enduring part of the story.
As the series progresses, Jamie and Claire travel to multiple countries and are separated by time, again and again, but their love is the most enduring part of the story. Audiences have connected to Outlander since the series premiered in 2014, and while part of this is the steamy subject matter of the narrative, it’s also because Jamie and Claire share a genuine love. Though their children have stepped into the spotlight in the later seasons, Outlander is still dedicated to Jamie and Claire.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 92% | 93% |
| 2 | 92% | 93% |
| 3 | 90% | 93% |
| 4 | 88% | 86% |
| 5 | 86% | 89% |
| 6 | 89% | 75% |
| 7 | 100% | 85% |
2 Normal People (2020
Written by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney has made her name writing quiet, compelling interpersonal dramas about people who love each other but let life get in the way. Connell and Marianne, the protagonists of Normal People, have the kind of connection that many people dream of, but that doesn’t mean they always make things easy for each other. The audience meets them in their last year of high school and watches as the couple breaks each other’s hearts while simultaneously saving each other through university and into young adulthood.
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal play Marianne and Connell, and their physical and emotional chemistry jumps off the screen in every scene. Their families, anxieties, and the flaws of the wider world are the issues that get in the way throughout the story, but even at their worst, it’s difficult to stop rooting for the couple to end up together. Though their romance takes center stage, watching Connell and Marianne grow as people is just as moving as their love.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 91% | 92% |
1 Pride And Prejudice (1995)
Written by Jane Austen
There have been many adaptations of Jane Austen’s iconic novel, Pride and Prejudice, but few live up to the BBC’s 1995 miniseries iteration. This version is the most faithful to the original text and the most rooted in the period it was written, making it the closest to what Austen’s vision for the narrative might have been. Starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, Pride and Prejudice sees the slow and chaste development of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s undeniable feelings for each other.
Austen’s works are frequently adapted because of how popular they are and also because they transcend time, remaining relatable and compelling in the contemporary era.
Arguably the best period romance TV show ever made, the 1995 Pride and Prejudice completely immerses the viewer in Elizabeth’s world, which is a fun place to be considering the sharp wit of Austen’s classic protagonist. Austen’s works are frequently adapted because of how popular they are and also because they transcend time, remaining relatable and compelling in the contemporary era. To be transported to another time and witness a universal tale of love is the appeal of a work like Pride and Prejudice.
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| 1 | 88% | 96% |
