The 2025 Emmy Awards, set to air on September 14, 2025, on CBS and Paramount+, have highlighted a range of outstanding television shows, many of which draw inspiration from or resonate with literary works. Below is a curated list of top Emmy-nominated shows for 2025, alongside book recommendations that either inspired these shows or capture similar themes and vibes, based on insights from the New York Public Library and other sources.
Top 2025 Emmy-Nominated Shows and Book Recommendations
1. Severance (Apple TV+, 27 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This cerebral drama, leading with 27 nominations, explores a dystopian workplace at Lumon Industries where employees’ work and personal lives are surgically separated. The second season delves deeper into Mark’s (Adam Scott) quest for truth about his identity and Lumon’s secrets.
- Book Recommendations:
- The Circle by Dave Eggers: A chilling dystopian novel about a tech company that blurs the lines between personal and professional life, echoing Severance’s themes of corporate control and surveillance.
- The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa: This haunting story of a society where memories are erased mirrors the psychological fragmentation in Severance.
- Workplace Fiction for Fans of Severance (NYPL List): A curated collection of novels exploring menacing and mundane workplace dynamics, perfect for fans of the show’s unsettling atmosphere.
2. The Penguin (HBO Max, 24 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This limited series, a Batman spinoff, follows Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s rise in Gotham’s criminal underworld, earning nominations for Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti.
- Book Recommendations:
- Gotham Central by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka: A gritty graphic novel series focusing on Gotham’s criminal underbelly, offering a vibe akin to The Penguin’s noirish storytelling.
- American Tabloid by James Ellroy: A dark, sprawling crime novel about power and corruption, resonating with the show’s exploration of criminal ambition.
3. The White Lotus (HBO Max, 23 Nominations)
- Show Overview: Season 3 of Mike White’s social satire, set in a luxury resort, critiques wealth and privilege with a star-studded cast, including Walton Goggins and Parker Posey.
- Book Recommendations:
- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith: A psychological thriller about deception and privilege in elite settings, capturing The White Lotus’s dark humor and social commentary.
- What to Read If You’re Missing The White Lotus (NYPL List): A selection of novels with ensemble casts and luxury settings, evoking the show’s mix of satire and mystery.
4. The Studio (Apple TV+, 23 Nominations)
- Show Overview: Seth Rogen’s satirical comedy about Hollywood’s film industry tied the record for most comedy nominations, exploring the tension between art and commerce.
- Book Recommendations:
- The Player by Michael Tolkin: A sharp satire about a Hollywood studio executive, mirroring The Studio’s critique of the entertainment industry.
- Hollywood by Charles Bukowski: A raw, semi-autobiographical novel about the chaotic filmmaking process, aligning with the show’s irreverent tone.
5. The Last of Us (HBO Max, 16 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This post-apocalyptic drama, based on the video game, follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a ravaged America, earning nods for its emotional storytelling.
- Book Recommendations:
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: A beautifully written novel about survival and hope in a post-apocalyptic world, resonating with the show’s themes.
- Gripping Zombie-ish Reads for Fans of The Last of Us (NYPL List): A mix of horror and survival-focused novels, capturing the show’s intense moral dilemmas.
6. The Bear (FX, 13 Nominations)
- Show Overview: Season 3 of this culinary drama, set in a Chicago restaurant, continues to captivate with its intense portrayal of chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and his team.
- Book Recommendations:
- Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain: A raw memoir about the culinary world’s highs and lows, perfect for The Bear’s gritty kitchen vibe.
- Back of the House Culinary Memoirs (NYPL List): A collection of chef memoirs that dive into the chaotic, passionate world of restaurants, mirroring the show’s energy.
7. Hacks (HBO Max, 14 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This comedy explores the mentorship between comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and a young writer, tackling showbiz’s cutthroat nature.
- Book Recommendations:
- I’m Dying Up Here by William Knoedelseder: A history of stand-up comedy’s rise, capturing the competitive and personal struggles depicted in Hacks.
- City of Night by John Rechy: A novel about hustling and performance, offering a darker take on Hacks’ themes of fame and reinvention.
8. Adolescence (Netflix, 13 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This British psychological miniseries, starring Stephen Graham, unravels a young accused murderer’s story, earning nods for its complex characters.
- Book Recommendations:
- We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver: A gripping novel about guilt and societal judgment, echoing Adolescence’s exploration of morality.
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt: A psychological thriller about crime and complicity, aligning with the show’s intense narrative.
9. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu, 7 Nominations)
- Show Overview: This lighthearted mystery-comedy, starring Martin Short, follows amateur sleuths solving crimes in their NYC building.
- Book Recommendations:
10. Slow Horses (Apple TV+, 5 Nominations)
- Show Overview: Based on Mick Herron’s Slough House series, this drama follows disgraced MI5 spies, led by Gary Oldman, seeking redemption.
- Book Recommendations:
- Slough House by Mick Herron: The source novel series, starting with Slow Horses, offers espionage thrills and dark humor directly tied to the show.
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré: A classic spy novel with intricate plotting, ideal for fans of Slow Horses’ gritty espionage.
Shows Adapted from Books
Several 2025 Emmy nominees are directly based on novels, offering a chance to dive deeper into their worlds:
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock, Outstanding Television Movie): Based on Helen Fielding’s novel, it follows Bridget in contemporary London, navigating modern romance.
- Disclaimer (Apple TV+, Outstanding Lead Actress – Cate Blanchett): Based on Renee Knight’s novel, a documentary filmmaker confronts a dark secret revealed in a mysterious book.
- The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, Outstanding Guest Actress – Cherry Jones): Based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic, depicting a repressive regime where women are stripped of rights.
- Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+, Outstanding Actor – Jake Gyllenhaal): Based on Scott Turow’s legal thriller about a prosecutor accused of murder.
- The Residence (Netflix, Outstanding Lead Actress – Uzo Aduba): Loosely based on Kate Andersen Brower’s The Residence, an inside look at White House staff.
Where to Watch and Read
- Streaming Platforms: Most shows are available on their respective platforms (e.g., Apple TV+, HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock). Check grok.com or the X iOS/Android app for access, with free usage quotas available.
- Books: Borrow these titles from libraries like the New York Public Library or purchase from retailers like Amazon or Bookshop.org. NYPL’s curated lists are accessible at www.nypl.org.
Why These Recommendations?
The book recommendations align with the Emmy-nominated shows’ themes, from dystopian workplaces (Severance) to culinary chaos (The Bear), offering readers a chance to explore similar narratives or source material. The NYPL’s lists, tailored for fans, provide additional depth, while standalone novels complement the shows’ tones and settings. For real-time updates on Emmy buzz, check X posts from @BuzzFeeders or @BuzzFeedCeleb, which highlight these book-show connections.
Enjoy diving into these acclaimed shows and their literary counterparts as the 77th Emmy Awards approach!
Sources: NYPL.org, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, TelevisionAcademy.com, X Posts by @BuzzFeeders, @BuzzFeedCeleb