If You Liked This Show, Read This Book!

You may be shocked to learn that reading is not the only way that I spend my free time. In fact, I consider myself to be a bit of a TV show connoisseur. Today, I will be combining my love for books and TV shows! I am going to attempt to provide you with a comprehensive reading/watching companion guide. In true Madison Loves Books fashion, the format of this post is more of a, "Oh hey! Did you like this popular TV show, or does the premise of this show sound interesting to you? Cool! If you like that, you should probably check out this book!". If nothing else, you can add some new shows to your list for any upcoming binge-watching sessions.

If you enjoyed The Office, you should read this book:

The Office is probably my favorite show, ever. It may not be for everyone, but it is for me and that is why I have included it here on this list! The Office is a mockumentary sitcom television series that depicts the everyday work lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

"Attachments" by Rainbow Rowell

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now—reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers—not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained—and captivated—by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ?

There are many romantic couples explored throughout the 9 seasons of The Office. Rainbow Rowell's "Attachments" explores office romances like those seen in The Office: Jim and Pam, Angela and Dwight, Michael and Holly, Kelly and Ryan, and Stanley and his soft pretzels. Also--- the show is known for its dark and inappropriate humor. There is even a whole episode dedicated to sexual harassment training following a string of chain emails (which contain inappropriate jokes) accidentally get forwarded to some of the higher-ups. This is similar to the email theme that is explored in this book, making it the perfect fit!

If you enjoyed Friends, you should check out this book:

Friends is another television staple. The show's impact on popular culture is almost unmatched. The show features an ensemble cast and ran for 10 seasons from 1994-2004. It follows group of six friends in their 20s and 30s living in Manhattan. The show often features their career ventures, their dating life, and how the dynamics of their individual friendships shift and change.

"The Vactioners" by Emma Straub

For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan.

But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.

Some of my favorite episodes in the whole series are when the group goes to stay at a beach house so that Phoebe can connect with a friend of her mother. The two episode storyline totally reminded me of this book. Also, if you've watched Friends, you know all about Monica and Ross' bickering and sibling rivalry. Similar rivalries are showcased throughout the book, which immediately had me thinking of Ross and Monica! If you like beach-y vibes, family/friend drama, and old but not-so-forgotten secrets you should add this book to your list!

If you enjoyed The Bachelor/ette, you should check out these books:

The Bachelor/ette franchise has a diehard fanbase. I love trashy reality TV! What can I say, its a guilty pleasure of mine. I was a big Bachelor/ette fan and have spoken about some memoirs written by my favorite personalities from the show. However in recent years, my interest has tapered off a bit. If you aren't familiar with the show, there is a lead (either the Bachelor or the Bachelorette) who is presented with a group of 30-ish potential suitors. Each week, the lead has the opportunity to go on dates with one (or multiple) suitors. In every episode, a few potential suitors are eliminated until the lead has narrowed down to only 2 or 3 people. In the end, the lead typically proposes to (or accepts a proposal from) the suitor of their choice. It is definitely not science, though. Most of these couples do break-up afterwards. The women (Bachelorettes) have a far better track record when it comes to long-lasting relationships and marriages than the men (Bachelors) are.

I am going to provide a non-fiction and a fiction recommendation for this one. My non-fiction rec is a bit of 'low hanging fruit' as it is a memoir from a former lead, like I mentioned earlier.

"God Bless This Mess: Learning to Live and Love Through Life's Best (and Worst) Moments" by Hannah Brown

Suddenly in the spotlight, twenty-four-year-old Hannah Brown realized that she wasn't sure what she wanted. After years of competing in beauty pageants, and then starring on The Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars, she had become incredibly visible. There she was, in her early twenties, with millions around the world examining and weighing in on her every decision. She found herself wondering what it would mean to live on her terms. What it would mean to stop seeking approval from others and decide--for the first time--what it was she wanted from her own life.

An honest and earnest examination of her own mid-twenties, God Bless This Mess is a memoir thatdoesn't claim to have all the answers. Hannah knows she doesn't have all the answers. What she does have is the insight of someone who has spent critical years of her youth under public scrutiny. Thus what emerges is a quarter-life memoir that speaks to the set of difficulties young women face, and how to move through them with grace. By pushing against her engrained need to seek approval, and learning how to think critically about her own goals and desires, Hannah inspires others to do the same - and to embrace the messiness that comes hand-in-hand with self-discovery (even it that sometimes means falling flat on your face).

Hannah Brown is easily one of my favorite personalities to come out of the Bachelor/ette franchise. I have documented my personal growth when it comes to branching out past strictly physical books. Slowly but surely, I am becoming an audiobook person. Memoirs have always been an audiobook sweet spot for me. Fiction audiobooks used to be tough for me to get into, but I love listening to memoirs because typically the author reads their own life story. Listening to memoirs makes me feel like I am listening to a conversation. This would be a good pick for any audiobook lovers. I would point you in the direction of this book if you are a fan of the show, are a fan of Hannah's, or are just looking for a good memoir to read!

"One to Watch" by Kate Stayman-London

Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers--and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition--under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She's in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That's it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She's in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale.

Its only fitting that my fiction recommendation for this one was actually inspired by the show, itself. Not to be a broken record or anything---- but I love diversity and representation (especially when it comes to lead characters) as mentioned in the synopsis above, this one features a plus-sized lead! I think this is the perfect pairing and if you enjoy the show, I think you should add "One to Watch" to your list!

If you enjoyed Euphoria, you should check out these books:

Euphoria is an HBO show which stars Zendaya and features an ensemble cast. It has recieved a lot of critical acclaim, including 49 award nominations. The series follows a group of high school students through their experiences of identity, trauma, drugs, family, friendships, love, and sex. The show's first season was released in 2019. Its second season concluded last week and it was recently renewed for a third season. I binge-watched this show after hearing so many good things about it on the internet and having it reccommended to me on a few occasions. Euphoria deals with a host of sensitive topics and issues which do plague young adults today. With that being said, there is a lot of graphic depictions of drug and alcohol abuse, sexual content, violence, and language. While I personally enjoy the show for what it is and recognize the importance of starting conversations on some of these issues, I do want to put a MASSIVE disclaimer out there----this show is not for everyone. As always, viewer/reader's discretion is advised.

I'll be providing two different fiction recommendations for this one!

"Heroine" by Mindy McGinnis

When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she’s ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she’s been prescribed can help her get there.

The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good.

With a new circle of friends—fellow injured athletes, others with just time to kill—Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue.

But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control.

Teenage drug use and abuse is covered extensively in Euphoria. It is also a main focus throughout this book. This book is very heavy and contains very realistic and graphic descriptions of drug use. Though it may leave you feeling hollow, I think it is absolutely worth the read. If you have personally struggled with drug abuse, this book may be triggering for you.

If the drug themes are triggering or are too heavy for you, that's totally okay! Here is an alternative Euphoria-themed recommendation for you:

"Hello Girls" by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry

Winona has been starving for life in the seemingly perfect home that she shares with her seemingly perfect father, celebrity weatherman Stormy Olsen. No one knows that he locks the pantry door to control her eating and leaves bruises where no one can see them.

Lucille has been suffocating beneath the needs of her mother and her drug-dealing brother, wondering if there’s more out there for her than disappearing waitress tips and a lifetime of barely getting by.

One harrowing night, Winona and Lucille realize they can’t wait until graduation to start their new lives. They need out. Now. One hour later, they’re armed with a plan that will take them from their small Michigan town to Chicago. Chased by the oppression, toxicity, and powerlessness that has held them down, Winona and Lucille must reclaim their strength if they are going to make their daring escape—and get away with it.

I picked this book because it really reminds me of the relationship/dynamic between Rue and Jules in Euphoria. There is just something about two girls who are ready to escape and leave the world behind. If that sounds like your thing, you should add this one to your list!

There are so many good TV series out there, it would be literally impossible for me to even scratch the surface here. If I forgot one of your favorite series, let me know so that I can include it next time! In the meantime, I'll be binge watching more shows so that I am prepared to make another list like this in the future.

As always, thank you for reading!

XO,

Madison