Whether it’s a hint of a theme or a character in common, I love to read books that remind me of other stories that I love. Seriously, I would sell my soul to the devil for someone to make a romance series based on Bones. That has yet to happen, but there are several books out there that are perfect if you are a fan of these popular TV shows looking for something to read.
House of the Dragon + The Rogue X Ara Series by JD Linton
HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon took over the BookTok edits for a solid month when it came out thanks to one very sexy Matt Smith with his hand on a wall. If you loved the action, fantasy, and sexual tension of House of the Dragon then you might love the Rogue x Ara series by JD Linton. Rogue x Ara is an ongoing two-book enemies-to-lovers fantasy, with the first two books in the trilogy out so far. There’s a dragon, lots of action, and such incredible spice. It’s even better than House of the Dragon because the main characters aren’t related.
Spice: 3.5
Writing: 4.5
Maid + It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
If you liked Netflix’s Maid, and are looking for another story with a strong young woman trying to navigate a sometimes brutal world of relationships and recovering from heartbreak, you might want to try It Ends With Us, and its sequel, It Starts With Us. While these stories are in many ways very different, there are a lot of similarities in the main characters and both deal with similar themes when it comes to relationships and trauma. They also both have the power to make you feel so many things. Seriously, all the feelings. Don’t read this book if you’re not ready to cry, but if you are, it’s incredible.
Spice: 2
Writing: 4.5
Yellowstone + Trails of Sin Series by Pam Godwin
With Yellowstone on hiatus, you might be looking to fill a cowboy-shaped hole in your entertainment schedule. If that is the case, you can get your fix with the Trails of Sin series by Pam Godwin. Everyone knows the best part of Yellowstone is Rip Wheeler peacock, cowboys. if you love Rip Wheeler, and these boys capture his energy and more. They are dedicated to their ranch and their women in equal measure, with some definite “who did this to you?” vibes. This series is a slightly darker, more haunted take on ranch life, but not by all that much. It’s fast-paced, easy to read, and perfect for anyone who’s ever wanted to save a horse and ride a cowboy.
Spice: 4
Writing: 3
True Detective + Hollow’s Row by Trisha Wolfe
Weird dark detective stories with just a touch of the occult can be found both in HBO’s True Detective (the first season) and in the Hollow’s Row series. Slightly unhinged detectives chasing ritualistic serial killers can be found in both of these stories and while True Detective is more in-depth and serious, the romance novels still capture the creepy, unsettling feeling and add a love story to the mystery. These books are a little genre-bending, existing somewhere in between a detective mystery and erotica, and aren’t for the faint of heart. Neither is the show, but if you’re up for something dark and twisty, these books might be for you.
Spice: 4.5
Writing: 3
Once Upon a Time + Wicked Villains by Katee Robert
Fairytale retellings are always so much fun, whether they’re on TV or on the page. Once Upon a Time is a Disney Plus show that retells all of the classic fairytales from Snow White to Peter Pan in a modern world. This is exactly the same thing Katee Robert does with the Wicked Villains series, just with a spicy edge. Both of these series have enemies-to-lovers dynamics (okay, this is a stretch for Once Upon a Time but Hook and Emma’s love hate thing was amazing) and take familiar Disney stories and give them a whole new life.
Important note: this television show is appropriate for children. These books are NOT, I repeat NOT, under any circumstances appropriate for children. Good talk.
Spice: 4.5
Writing: 4
Poker Face + Sinners Condemned by Somme Sketcher
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