Craving a little TV time this holiday season? Pick a new show and get ready to chill…
The holiday time can be hectic, but there are also plenty of chances to gather in front of the fire, snuggle up and watch a new movie or series. Here are some suggestions along with the trailers, many of which are based on books!
Apple TV
Lessons in Chemistry (Adapted from the novel by Bonnie Garmus)
So many people have raved about Lessons in Chemistry so I decided to pick up a copy to see what all the hype was about.
Elizabeth Zott is an intelligent and determined chemist who is faced with sexism and discrimination in the workplace, typical of the 1950s and 60s. She wants to be taken seriously, doing important scientific research, but in order to pay her bills she accepts a job as a talk show host for a cooking show. She uses her scientific background to explain her kitchen escapades to the audience, all the while encouraging the women watching to succeed in achieving their goals. (Read BookNationbyJen’s full review and check out the author interview.)
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Netflix
All the Light We Cannot See (Adapted from the novel by Anthony Doerr)
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, the beloved instant New York Times bestseller and New York Times Book Review Top 10 Book about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A Nearly Normal Family (Adapted from the novel by M.T. Edvardsson)
M.T. Edvardsson’s A Nearly Normal Family is a gripping legal thriller that forces the reader to consider: How far would you go to protect the ones you love? In this twisted narrative of love and murder, a horrific crime makes a seemingly normal family question everything they thought they knew about their life―and one another.
A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson
My Life with the Walter Boys (Adapted from the novel by Ali Novak)
When a tragic accident leads Jackie to move into a house filled with twelve boys, she gets far more than she ever expected. This sweet YA romance is perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenny Han―and is one of the most beloved Wattpad books ever!
My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Leave the World Behind (Adapted from the novel by Rumaan Alam)
Definitely an unexpected premise, this book had an element of doom which exacerbated the existing angst during this time of Covid-19, but nevertheless was un-put-down-able. Amanda and Clay and their teenaged son and daughter head to and AirBnB in the Hamptons for a vacation. After a stop at the grocery store to stock up on food and a full day at the beach the family is relaxing in the evening when a strange, older black couple knocks on the door. They say they are the owners of the home and there is a power outage in NYC so they would like to stay overnight. Unclear if they can be trusted, the family reluctantly agrees. The unexpected visitors and the news of a blackout put everyone is an uncomfortable state of hypervigilance, and then they all get word of a possible hurricane approaching the east coast, followed by the loss of their internet connection. (Read the rest of the review from BookNationbyJen!)
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Hulu
Black Cake (Adapted from the novel by Charmaine Wilkerson)
I loved Black Cake, this story of family, parenting, young love, hidden secrets and sibling relationships coming full circle. Byron and Benny, estranged brother and sister are brought together when their mother passes away. They have a lot to work through between the two of them and in addition, they have a lot to learn about where they came from. Their inheritance includes a Black Cake, made from a traditional recipe from their Caribbean heritage, and a voice recording from their mother that reveals her secrets of the past, including who she really was, her relationships and even an unknown relative. (Read the full review from BookNationbyJen.)
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Other Recommendations Worth Checking Out
Fisk on Netflix
Documentaries:
Take Care of Maya on Netflix
Wild Wild Country on Netflix
This article originally appeared on BookNationByJen.
