Holiday programming will flood streaming services from now until the end of the year. For anyone in search of a respite from all things merry and bright, check out these recent book-to-screen adaptations on Apple TV+.
The Buccaneers
Bridgerton fans eagerly awaiting its return should bide their time with The Buccaneers. Adapted from the book of the same name by Edith Wharton (The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth), The Buccaneers follows a group of young American women in the 1870s searching for partners in London’s high society. With a cast of mostly newer faces – aside from Christina Hendricks and Alisha Boe – The Buccaneers is a cheeky romp that’ll break up any monotony felt from holiday programming.
The Last Thing He Told Me
The Last Thing He Told Me aired on Apple TV+ in the spring, serving as one of the several book-to-screen adaptations on the platform in early-mid 2023. The series features strong female leads like Jennifer Garner, Aisha Tyler, and Angourie Rice, the last of whom plays Cady Heron in the upcoming Mean Girls musical movie. While most readers and viewers agreed the book was better than the series, The Last Thing He Told Me is a quick binge for anyone who’s exhausted their book-to-screen adaptation options.
Pachinko
Pachinko isn’t nearly as recent as the other book-to-screen adaptations on this list – it first aired in March 2022. However, the book from which the series is adapted is a New York Times Bestseller with great reviews, and the reception of the series was just as strong. Emmy-nominated in 2022, Pachinko is set to return for a second season, continuing the important story of the racism and discrimination a Korean family faced when immigrating to Japan. A release date for Season 2 has yet to be announced, but with filming allegedly wrapped, its return shouldn’t be too far away.
Lessons in Chemistry
The adapters of Lessons in Chemistry made some notable creative changes from the book, but the changes only made the story and the characters it follows richer. With themes of discrimination in every major sense of the word, religious trauma, and more, Lessons in Chemistry is one of the best dramas this fall. Thanks to a strong script and great performances, particularly from Brie Larson and Aja Naomi King, viewers will enjoy the series even if they haven’t read the book.
Each of these book-to-screen adaptations is streaming now on Apple TV+.
