Reading guides, adaptation news, and series deep-dives.
Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR series has five books and a spinoff universe. Here's the complete reading order, what order to read ACOTAR and Crescent City, and where to start.
These are the book series that BookTok made into phenomena — from ACOTAR to The Atlas Six. A guide to what blew up, why, and whether the hype is deserved.
Dark romance is BookTok's most controversial and fastest-growing subgenre. Here's what it is, how it differs from regular romance, and the best series to start with.
Colleen Hoover became the most talked-about author on BookTok. Here's the complete reading order for her standalone novels, how her books connect, and the best place to start.
Cosy fantasy is the BookTok genre that proved fantasy doesn't have to be brutal to be brilliant. Here's what it is, why it blew up, and the best series to start with.
Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing became the fastest-selling romantasy debut in history. Here's the complete Empyrean series reading order and what to expect from each book.
Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy is one of fae fantasy's most beloved series. Here's the complete reading order including the related novels and how the series connects.
Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson universe spans five series and dozens of books. Here's the complete reading order for the Riordanverse, from Percy Jackson to Magnus Chase.
Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series spans 24 novels across 35 years. Here's the complete reading order, why it must be read in sequence, and where the series stands today.
Sarah J. Maas writes three interconnected series — Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City. Here's the complete reading order for the entire Maasverse and how the series connect.
Romantasy — romantic fantasy — is BookTok's defining genre. Here's what it is, how it differs from fantasy romance, and the best series to start with from ACOTAR to Fourth Wing.
Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse spans two trilogies, a duology, and standalone novels. Here's the complete reading order, how Six of Crows connects, and the Netflix adaptation.
Finished A Song of Ice and Fire or the HBO series and need more epic fantasy? Here are the best series to read next, from Joe Abercrombie to Robin Hobb.
Loved Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty? Here are the best domestic thrillers, psychological suspense novels, and women's fiction reads to try next.
Finished Fourth Wing and need more? Here are the best romantasy and fantasy series to read next — from ACOTAR to From Blood and Ash — with reading order guides.
Loved Gone Girl's unreliable narrators, twists, and dark marriage? Here are the best psychological thrillers and domestic noir novels to read next.
Finished Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series? Here are the best historical romance and historical fiction series to read next, from Philippa Gregory to Bernard Cornwell.
Loved Twilight's paranormal romance and vampire love story? Here are the best series to read next — from vampire romance to paranormal YA and adult paranormal fiction.
Anne Rice's interconnected universe spans the Vampire Chronicles, Mayfair Witches, and more. Here's the complete reading order and how the AMC adaptations relate to the books.
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere spans 20+ interconnected books across multiple series. Here's the complete reading order, the best entry point, and how all the series connect.
Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles spans 20+ books across 6+ series. Here's the complete reading order, the best place to start, and how all the series connect.
Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series crosses over with ACOTAR in Book 3. Here's the complete reading order and the answer to whether you need to read ACOTAR before starting.
Some series must be read in order. Others you can start anywhere. Here's how to tell the difference — with specific guidance on crime fiction, fantasy, romance, and thriller series.
Joe Abercrombie's First Law world spans a trilogy, three standalones, and a second trilogy. Here's the complete reading order and whether you need the original trilogy before the standalones.
Suzanne Collins has now published two Hunger Games prequels. Here's the complete reading order, whether to start with the prequels or the original trilogy, and what comes next.
James Patterson has published over 300 books across multiple series. Here's how to navigate his backlist — from Alex Cross to the Women's Murder Club — and the best place to start.
Stephen King has published over 65 novels across horror, thriller, and fantasy. Here's the best place to start, which books connect, and how to navigate his enormous backlist.
Six of Crows is more popular than Shadow and Bone, but it's not the first Grishaverse book. Here's whether you can start with Six of Crows and what you'll miss.
Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive is a 5-book arc with novellas. Here's the complete reading order, where the novellas fit, and whether you need Mistborn first.
Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series has 8 books including a prequel novella collection. Here's the complete reading order and the answer to the Assassin's Blade debate.
Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series has a six-book spinoff called Bloodlines. Here's the complete reading order and whether you need to read Vampire Academy before Bloodlines.
Finished Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us and need something that hits the same way? Here are the best emotional reads — from dark romance to literary fiction about difficult relationships.
Finished the Harry Potter series and looking for what's next? Here are the best fantasy series for readers of all ages — from His Dark Materials to The Name of the Wind.
Finished the Hunger Games trilogy and prequels? Here are the best YA dystopian and fantasy series to read next — from Divergent to An Ember in the Ashes.
George R.R. Martin's Winds of Winter still hasn't arrived. Here's the best epic fantasy to read while you wait — plus Martin's own work in the meantime.
Dune: Prophecy is a prequel series set 10,000 years before the original Dune. Here's whether you need Frank Herbert's novels before watching or reading the Dune prequel.
Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb series blends necromancy, space opera, and gothic horror into something unlike anything else in fantasy. Here's the reading order and where to start.
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander universe includes a spinoff series following Lord John Grey. Here's how the two series interlock and whether you need Outlander to read Lord John.
Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood and Ash series is one of BookTok's most-recommended romantasy series. Here's the complete reading order including the connected Flesh and Fire series.
Finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and need more? Here are the best romantasy and fae fantasy series to read next — with reading order guides and buy links.
Ann Cleeves writes two beloved crime series — Vera and Shetland — both adapted for ITV and BBC. Here's the complete reading order and how the shows compare to the books.
Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies was adapted into one of HBO's most successful limited series. Here's how they compare — and what Moriarty's other novels offer.
Michael Connelly's Bosch universe has two major streaming adaptations — Amazon's Bosch and Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer. Here's how they compare to the novels and what to watch first.
Jeff Lindsay's Dexter novels and the Showtime series share a premise but diverge radically. Here's the complete book reading order and how the two versions compare.
Frank Herbert's Dune is one of science fiction's greatest novels. Denis Villeneuve's two-part film adaptation is equally extraordinary. Here's how they compare and where to start.
George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones diverge dramatically after Season 5. Here's what the books do differently and whether The Winds of Winter will ever arrive.
Isaac Asimov's Foundation is one of science fiction's defining series. Apple TV+ adapted it from 2021. Here's the complete reading order and how radically the show diverges from the books.
Gillian Flynn wrote three crime novels, all adapted for film or TV. Here's how each book compares to its adaptation and which to read first.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a landmark of dystopian fiction. The Hulu series ran for six seasons. Here's how they diverge and whether The Testaments is essential.
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has been adapted twice. Here's how the BBC/HBO series compares to the novels, and whether you should read the Book of Dust trilogy.
Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series is one of the most beloved in crime fiction. Here's the complete reading order, why it must be read in order, and the Amazon Prime adaptation.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan appears in 14 novels by multiple authors. The Amazon Prime series is a loose adaptation. Here's the complete reading order and how to navigate the Ryanverse.
Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series spans 900 years of history in four novels. The Pillars of the Earth has been adapted twice. Here's the complete reading order and how they connect.
Killing Eve began as four novellas by Luke Jennings. The BBC series ran for four seasons. Here's how the books and show compare, and whether the novellas are worth reading.
Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers was adapted by Hulu with Nicole Kidman. Here's how the book and series compare and what Moriarty's other novels offer.
Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series follows a psychologist-detective through interwar Britain. Here's the complete reading order and why this series must be read in sequence.
Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is one of the world's most beloved series. Here's the complete reading order, the BBC/HBO adaptation, and how his other series connect.
Winston Graham wrote 12 Poldark novels over 45 years. The BBC adapted the first seven. Here's the complete reading order and how the two versions of Poldark compare.
Amazon Prime's Reacher series finally got Jack Reacher right. Here's how the show compares to Lee Child's novels, what it changes, and which books each season adapts.
Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series blends police procedural with urban fantasy in a uniquely British way. Here's the complete reading order including novellas and graphic novels.
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four Sherlock Holmes novels and five short story collections. Here's the complete reading order, the best TV adaptations, and which Holmes stories are essential.
Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series is the biggest crime fiction debut in decades. Here's the complete reading order and what to know about the Netflix film adaptation.
Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy is the greatest historical fiction of the modern era. The BBC adapted both novels. Here's the reading order and how the adaptations compare.
The Witcher began as Polish short stories in 1986. Netflix's series adaptation diverges significantly from the books. Here's the correct reading order and what the show changes.
A look at how the Scarpetta TV series weaves together multiple Patricia Cornwell novels using dual timelines.
George Smiley appears across multiple le Carré novels, with the Karla Trilogy at the centre. Here's the correct reading order for the greatest spy fiction ever written.
Harlan Coben writes two interconnected series and dozens of standalones — many adapted for Netflix. Here's how they all connect and the best place to start.
Brandon Sanderson has written two of modern fantasy's greatest series — and they're set in the same universe. Here's which to start with and how they connect.
Ian Fleming wrote 14 James Bond novels. Dozens of continuation novels followed. Here's the complete reading order and which continuation authors are worth your time.
Karin Slaughter writes two interconnected series set in Georgia. Here's the reading order, the crossover points, and whether you need to read both.
TNT's Rizzoli & Isles ran for seven seasons. Tess Gerritsen's novels are darker, stranger, and quite different. Here's how they compare and where to start.
Alex Cross has been one of the most popular thriller series for 30 years. Here's the complete reading order, the publication vs chronological question, and the best place to start.
Bernard Cornwell has written two of historical fiction's greatest series. Here's how Sharpe and the Saxon Stories compare, and the best order to read both.
Jim Butcher's Dresden Files is one urban fantasy series you absolutely must read in order. Here's why, and exactly how to do it.
Ian Rankin's two detective series — Inspector Rebus and Malcolm Fox — share the same city and increasingly the same cases. Here's how they connect.
Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb are the same person — and the In Death series is the longest-running crime series in publishing. Here's what you need to know.
Nine novels and eight novellas make up the Expanse saga. Here's exactly where each novella fits in the reading order, and how the Amazon show compares.
HBO's True Blood ran for seven seasons. The Sookie Stackhouse novels ran for thirteen books. Here's how they diverge — and why the books are worth reading even if you've watched the show.
Netflix's Bridgerton doesn't follow the books in order — and changes far more than just the sequence. Here's what's different and where to start with Julia Quinn's novels.
66 detective novels across 50 years. Should you read Agatha Christie in publication order or by character? Here's the definitive guide to her Poirot and Marple series.
14 novels, a prequel, and two authors. Here's everything you need to know about reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time in the right order.
Eight main novels, connections to dozens of other King books, and a recommended reading order that's different from publication order. Here's your Dark Tower guide.
Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse spawned three TV series spanning 60 years of British television. Here's how the books and shows connect, and where to start.
Beyond the five main novels, George R.R. Martin's world includes history books, novellas, and prequels. Here's the complete reading order and where each fits.
Nine main novels, novellas, and a Lord John spin-off series. Here's the definitive guide to reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander in the right order.
Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series has a tricky reading order. The short stories come first, the novels continue — and Netflix changed almost everything. Here's your guide.
Harry Bosch, Mickey Haller, and Renée Ballard all share the same Los Angeles. Here's how their stories connect and the best order to read them.
41 Discworld novels and no idea where to start? Here are five different reading approaches depending on what kind of reader you are.
Should you read the Jack Reacher series in publication order or chronological order? We break down both options and tell you the best place to start.