From small town murder investigations and twisted Martha’s Vineyard mysteries to beachy love triangles and heartwarming bookstore romcoms, these top tier TV shows adapted from YA novels are a must-watch. Whether you’ve read the original work or not, these four shows are enthralling and the perfect escape from a stressful second semester.
We Were Liars: Adapted from the lyrical novel “We Were Liars” by author E. Lockhart, this fantastic series is set on the sprawling Beachwood island and follows the wealthy Sinclair family who summers on Martha’s Vineyard annually. Cadence, the brilliant and reckless heir to her grandfather’s fortune, tells the story of the summer that changed everything alongside her cousins and the love of her life, Gat. Throughout the series, flashbacks of years past on the island and scenes of Cadence’s current 17th summer blur during the tale of a tragic accident where lies upon lies pile up. “We Were Liars” is an unforgettable series full of heartbreak, humor and mind bending mystery.
A Good Girls Guide to Murder: This eerie series is based on the British thriller novel by Holly Jackson. Set in the small town of Fairbanks, “A Good Girls Guide To Murder” follows high school senior Pip Fitz-Amobi as she attempts to crack a notorious closed case for her Extended Project Qualification. Everyone in town knows the tragic story: beautiful, beloved Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. Five years later, as Pip begins to obsess over uncovering the dark secrets that might prove Sal’s innocence with the help of his brother, Ravi, she becomes a target. Enthralling and twisty, the TV show does the book justice and makes for an incredibly exciting watch.
The Summer I Turned Pretty: The iconic TV show of the summer, TSITP is based on the novel series by Jenny Han. the story follows Belly Conklin who spends summer there each year at her mom’s best friend Susanna’s seaside home. In cousins beach, summers are when everything magical happens for Belly — not only because of the beautiful care-free beach days, but because of Susanna’s sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. They’ve been her brother figures and her best friends, but their relationships begin to shift during Belly’s 16th summer on Cousins. This series is an addictive love triangle with the perfect summer vibes that will make you wish it was June already.
Dash and Lily: Calling the book lovers and NYC-obsessed! Based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan comes the winter holiday-centered mini-series, Dash and Lily.
One day, 16-year-old Lily hopes to find the perfect guy by leaving a red notebook full of challenges in the iconic the Strand, iconic New York bookstore. Dash, a cynical boy who hates the holidays, picks up the notebook and decides to follow the dares. Throughout the holiday season, Dash and Lily get to know each other through exploring their favorite places in the city and get caught up in a whirlwind romance.
This adorable and funny TV show is perfect for the winter season and so incredibly underrrated. Out of the four TV shows, my favorite is “We Were Liars.” The twisty, shocking storyline is exciting and eerie. Additionally, the opulent beach estate, cottages, elegant east coast fashion and charming seaside town bring the book to life and build the Sinclairs’ world perfectly.
