The books adapted into TV shows that readers waited for in 2021 were The Pursuit of Love, Firefly Lane, Anatomy of a Scandal, This Is Going to Hurt and Where the Crawdads Sing. All have now been released: Firefly Lane on Netflix in 2021, The Pursuit of Love on BBC One in 2021, and the others in 2022.
When TSA first published this list, several of these projects were still in production. Below is an updated look at each book, the screen version it became, its cast and where it was released, with corrections where plans changed.
Quick facts
| Book | Author | Screen version | Released | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly Lane | Kristin Hannah | TV series, 2 seasons | 3 February 2021 | Netflix |
| The Pursuit of Love | Nancy Mitford | Mini-series, 3 episodes | 9 May 2021 | BBC One |
| This Is Going to Hurt | Adam Kay | Mini-series, 7 episodes | 8 February 2022 | BBC One, AMC+ |
| Anatomy of a Scandal | Sarah Vaughan | Mini-series, 6 episodes | 15 April 2022 | Netflix |
| Where the Crawdads Sing | Delia Owens | Feature film | 15 July 2022 (US) | Cinemas, Sony Pictures |
Books adapted into TV shows: the 2021 list, updated
1. Firefly Lane
Kristin Hannah’s novel follows two friends, Tully and Kate, across more than 30 years of highs, lows, love and jealousy. Netflix released the series on 3 February 2021, with Katherine Heigl as Tully and Sarah Chalke as Kate. Ben Lawson and Beau Garrett also star.
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The show ran for two seasons and 26 episodes. Season 1 had 10 episodes and season 2 had 16, released in two parts. The final episodes arrived on 27 April 2023, so the story is now complete.
2. The Pursuit of Love
Nancy Mitford’s 1945 novel is set between the two world wars and follows two friends, Linda Radlett and Fanny Logan, through love, marriage and a trip to Europe. The BBC adaptation premiered on BBC One on 9 May 2021, with three episodes released weekly.
Emily Mortimer wrote and directed all episodes and also plays The Bolter. Lily James plays Linda, Emily Beecham plays Fanny and narrates, Andrew Scott plays Lord Merlin, and Dominic West plays Lord Alconleigh. Amazon Studios was a co-producer.
3. This Is Going to Hurt
Adam Kay’s bestselling memoir is about his years as a junior doctor on the NHS frontline, told with dark humour and honesty about long shifts and pressure. Kay created the TV series and wrote every episode himself.
Our earlier version said it would be an eight-episode BBC Two drama. The BBC first commissioned it for BBC Two, but moved it to BBC One. It premiered on 8 February 2022 with seven episodes of about 45 minutes, and began airing on AMC+ in the US on 2 June 2022. Ben Whishaw plays Adam and won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor, while Kay won the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Best Writer: Drama.
4. Anatomy of a Scandal
Based on Sarah Vaughan’s novel, the story follows a British politician accused of a serious crime, his wife who believes he is innocent, and the barrister prosecuting the case. It deals with sexual assault and the trauma faced by survivors, and how a powerful family responds.
Netflix released all six episodes on 15 April 2022. David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson created the series. Sienna Miller plays Sophie Whitehouse, Rupert Friend plays her husband James, and Michelle Dockery plays prosecutor Kate Woodcroft. Naomi Scott also stars.
5. Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens’s novel follows Kya, a girl who grows up in a shack in the North Carolina marshlands and starts life as an outsider. In 2021, reports said Reese Witherspoon’s company Hello Sunshine was developing it with Sony Pictures.
It became a feature film rather than a TV show. Directed by Olivia Newman and produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter, it opened in US cinemas on 15 July 2022. Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kya, with Taylor John Smith and Harris Dickinson. The film earned about $144.3 million worldwide on a $24 million budget.
Why book adaptations work on screen
Novels come with a ready audience, tested characters and a story that has already found readers. A limited series of six to ten episodes also gives writers more room than a two-hour film to keep subplots and inner thoughts that often get cut.
For readers, the best approach is often to read the book first and then watch the show, so you can enjoy the changes rather than be confused by them. Comparing the two also makes a good topic for a book club, since every adaptation drops, merges or changes some characters. Find more picks in our entertainment section, and reading-related features in our education pages.
Further reading: “This is going to hurt”.
Frequently asked questions
Is Firefly Lane based on a book?
Yes. The Netflix series is based on Kristin Hannah’s novel Firefly Lane. It ran for two seasons, ending in April 2023.
Is Where the Crawdads Sing a TV show or a movie?
It is a movie. Sony Pictures released it in cinemas in July 2022, with Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya.
How many episodes does This Is Going to Hurt have?
Seven episodes. It premiered on BBC One on 8 February 2022, with Ben Whishaw as junior doctor Adam Kay.
Will there be a season 2 of Anatomy of a Scandal?
Netflix has not released a second season. The 2022 series has six episodes and tells a complete story.
Sources: Wikipedia: Firefly Lane, Wikipedia: The Pursuit of Love (TV series), Wikipedia: This Is Going to Hurt (TV series), Wikipedia: Where the Crawdads Sing (film).
