There is something slightly disappointing about watching a favorite book turn into a show. Not because it is always bad, but because it almost never feels the same. Lately, with series like Boys of Tommen and the Off-Campus books gaining traction for adaptation, it feels like every popular book is simply waiting to become content. Not every story needs to be.
Reading is personal in a way that television is not. When people read, they construct everything themselves, from characters’ voices to their expressions to the tone of each scene. The experience is shaped entirely by individual interpretation. Once a book becomes a show, that version is replaced with someone else’s. The character a reader spent hours connecting with may look different, act differently and sometimes no longer feel like the same person. That disconnect is especially noticeable in emotionally driven series like Boys of Tommen, where much of the story exists in the characters’ internal thoughts.
Often, the issue is not just casting but compression. Books allow for space, while shows operate within tighter constraints. Character arcs are shortened or removed, subtle relationships become more surface level and moments that once had emotional buildup can feel rushed. The Off-Campus series, for example, relies on slow developing relationships and internal dialogue. Translating that into a faster paced format risks losing what made the story meaningful.
“I actually like when books become shows because it makes the story more accessible and easier to follow,” freshman Zixuan Li said.
That perspective is valid. Adaptations can make stories more accessible and introduce them to wider audiences. Not everyone has the time or patience to read a long novel and shows can bring attention to stories that might otherwise remain less known. However, accessibility should not come at the cost of depth. When a story is simplified to fit a different format, it can lose the qualities that made it compelling.
Another issue is the emphasis on visuals over substance. A book can spend pages building tension or exploring a character’s mindset, while a show often replaces that with dramatic scenes or visually appealing moments. While this may be engaging, it does not always carry the same emotional weight. Stories that rely heavily on internal conflict are particularly affected.
“I feel like seeing characters on screen makes them more real and sometimes that’s better than imagining everything,” junior Daniel Sofiev said.
That sense of realism can also be limiting. Once a character is portrayed on screen, that version often becomes the standard. It becomes more difficult for readers to return to their own interpretations when a widely accepted version exists. What was once a personal experience becomes more uniform.
Expectations also play a significant role. Readers often approach adaptations with specific ideas of how a story should look and feel. These expectations are frequently unmet, not necessarily because the adaptation is poor in quality, but because it differs from the original. That difference can feel disappointing, particularly when the emotional connection to the book is strong.
“Even if it’s not exactly like the book, I still think it’s interesting to see how the story changes,” junior Sigal Hakimi said.
At times, those changes can be effective. However, when they alter key relationships, tone or character development, the result can feel less like an interpretation and more like a different story entirely. In those cases, it raises the question of why not create something original.
Not all adaptations fail, but enough fall short that the trend raises broader concerns. It is worth asking whether books are being adapted because they translate well to screen or because they are already popular. Often, it seems to be the latter. Instead of preserving what made these stories meaningful, adaptations can reduce them to something more marketable but less impactful.
“I think adaptations are good because they give people more ways to enjoy the same story,” junior Brielle Biniamin said.
While that idea is appealing, it assumes the story remains unchanged. In reality, elements are often lost in translation. For readers who formed strong connections to the original, that loss is noticeable.
Books and shows are fundamentally different experiences. Not every story needs to exist in both forms. Some stories are meant to be read quietly, imagined personally and experienced without a defined visual interpretation. Rather than adapting every successful book, it may be worth allowing some stories to remain as they are.
