Books That Feel Like TV Shows: Part Two
For readers who binge-watch and book-binge in equal measure, four more novels that play out like your favourite series.
Welcome back to the corner of the internet where I “still not the most thrilling person online” continues to revolve entirely around three things: TV, working in TV, and books (some things never change). If you’ve read part one, you already know the drill: I live for a solid plot twist, a perfectly cast ensemble, and a story that could double as a binge-worthy series. Whether I’m wrangling talent at a film premiere or deep in a Goodreads rabbit hole, my brain is basically one big, cinematic mood board. I need books that feel like TV high stakes, snappy dialogue, visual worlds I can fully sink into. So, if you're also someone who wants your novels with a side of screen energy, here’s part two of Books That Feel Like TV Shows more page-turners that practically storyboard themselves.
If you watched The Severance you should Read: The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
If you watched Severance and found yourself obsessing over the eerie tension between the personal and professional, then The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi is your next literary fix. Imagine the polished front of a language school in London that promises fluency overnight; too good to be true, of course. But behind the glossy brochure is a deeply unsettling secret, one that sucks in our quietly ambitious narrator, Anisa, as she becomes enmeshed in something far darker than self-improvement. With the stylish unease of Severance and the kind of creeping dread that unfolds like a silk scarf being pulled from a sleeve, The Centre is as much about identity, power, and cultural ownership as it is about what we’re willing to sacrifice to belong. It's addictive, clever, and quietly horrifying, exactly the kind of thing you'd text all your friends about at 2am.
If you watched Hacks you should Read: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
If you watched Hacks and adored its whip-smart dialogue, behind-the-scenes glimpses of comedy writing, and the complicated brilliance of women in entertainment, then Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld will feel like slipping into your favourite worn-in blazer: sharp, stylish, and secretly comforting. The novel follows Sally, a seasoned sketch writer on a late-night comedy show suspiciously like SNL, who’s long sworn off the idea that dazzling male celebrities would ever date mere mortals like her. That is, until she meets Noah, a charming pop star who might just be the exception to her own cynical rule. It’s funny, fizzy, and full of emotional intelligence, asking big questions about gender, creativity, and vulnerability, without ever losing its bite. Basically, it’s Hacks if Deborah Vance had a crush on Harry Styles.
If you watched Only Murders in the Building you should read: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
If you watched Only Murders in the Building and loved its cosy crime meets chaos energy, complete with unlikely sleuths, clever twists, and just the right amount of heart, then The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is exactly the book-shaped hug you need. Set in a sleepy retirement village, a quartet of charmingly eccentric pensioners spend their Thursdays solving cold cases for fun, until a real murder lands on their doorstep and things get delightfully out of hand. It’s witty, warm, and full of British charm, with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing but never too grizzly to ruin your cup of tea. Think: septuagenarian Sherlocks with a Waitrose loyalty card: what more could you want?
If you watch Love Island you should read: Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
If you watch Love Island for the messy romance, big personalities, and the low-key existential chaos bubbling beneath all that lip gloss and flirtation, then Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen is your perfect post-villa palate cleanser. This gloriously weird, darkly funny novel follows a group of reality dating show contestants whisked off to a remote island to find love (or, more accurately, a brand deal), only to discover that something “or someone” out there has other plans. Enter Patricia, a cryptic with a cuddling agenda, and suddenly it's less can I pull you for a chat? and more can I run for my life? It’s part satire, part horror, and completely bonkers in the best way, like Love Island got lost in the woods and grew teeth.
So there you have it, four books that bring the same energy as your favourite shows, whether you're into dystopian corporate nightmares, behind-the-scenes comedy drama, cosy whodunnits, or chaotic reality TV with a monstrous twist. If, like me, your ideal story lives somewhere between a script and a page, hopefully one of these will scratch that very specific itch. And let’s be honest, until someone invents a streaming service for books, this is the next best thing. Got more recommendations that feel like they deserve their own opening credits? Slide into my DMs or drop them in the comments. I’m always watching, always reading.
About Twenty Five Reset
Hi, I’m Niamh, and everyone was right 25 really is a turning point. I finally know who I am, what I want, and my purpose… but it’s nothing like I expected.
I work in TV, but it doesn’t define me. This space is my reset embracing the mess, reflecting, and creating again. You can expect:
Pop Culture and a lot of chats about 2000 - 2020 TV Shows
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