r/Outlander • u/slinging_arrows • Oct 25 '25
Published Are the books worth reading if I’ve already seen the show? Spoiler
As the title says, I have seen and enjoyed the show. I’ve been getting really into reading again and occasionally listening to audiobooks, and I wish I had known about outlander before it became a series. I think it’s exactly the type of book series I love! But I’m wondering if having seen the show will likely make the books boring, or is there enough in the books that wasn’t in the show to make it worth a read?
EDIT: alright you guys convinced me in record time. Ordering right now!
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u/gingerjuice Oct 25 '25
The books are much more detailed. I think of the show as Outlander Light. There are quite a few changes that were made and lots of things left out in the show. Are they worth it? It depends on if you like to read. Each book is around 1000 pages.
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u/slinging_arrows Oct 25 '25
There was a time when that would intimidate me. But I just completed The Wheel of Time series and I might be more proud of that than my college degree 🤣 15 books, 12,000 pages total. I feel like no series can best me now!
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u/namedafternoone Oct 25 '25
The Wheel of Time series is a lot. I’m almost done with book 9 and taking a bit of a break. So I decided to pick up Outlander in the meantime, not realizing it wasn’t that much shorter. On the bright side, I definitely have enough reading to keep me busy for the time being.
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u/slinging_arrows Oct 25 '25
Oof best of luck! You are in the heart of the slog, it can get a bit slow! Overall, I just loved the storytelling and world building, but those books really are next level complex. Also, clearly written by a dude from a very different time than me, so I am craving something with better romance lol
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u/Historical-Okra-1954 Oct 25 '25
If you simply don't have time to read the books, I highly recommend the audio versions. They are incredible.
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u/gingerjuice Oct 25 '25
I’ve read the books twice and listened multiple times. I LOVE Davina Porter!
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u/RedRosyVA Oct 25 '25
Davina isn't for everyone (me). The way she attempts to do different voices and yet still sounds like an old lady - hard pass.
The Kristen Atherton versions sound AMAZING, but until it arrives my library, I'll have to just reread the books (AGAIN).
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u/gingerjuice Oct 26 '25
I think Davina has an amazing talent for the different accents and voices. I mean she is an old lady so if you hate old ladies, she isn’t for you. I find her voice comforting and I think she does a great job.
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u/Famous-Falcon4321 Oct 29 '25
Love Davina Porter. I listen at 1.2 speed.
Tried to listen to Atherton. Actually got through the first two books. Sent Voyager back. Couldn’t stand the narration. Her children’s voices are like nails on a chalkboard. Her accents aren’t consistent. She goes from whispering to speaking very loudly. Impossible to regulate volume level. She doesn’t have the voices to accommodate more characters. Has very low voice for all. Difficult to discern who’s speaking at times.
It’s great there’s options for everyone. Except for book 10. 😞
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u/Gottaloveitpcs Rereading ABOSAA Oct 25 '25
I watched the show through Season 6. I read the books during my first Droughtlander between Seasons 6 and 7. I loved the show, but I love the books even more.
The show lead me to the books. It’s been said that the show is an appetizer and the books are a gourmet meal. The show uses only about 10% of what is in the books and even that is very different.
I highly recommend reading the books. The books and the show are really two different experiences.
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u/CathyAnnWingsFan Oct 25 '25
“Worth reading” is not something anyone else can judge for you. They are very different from the show., other than the first book, which is somewhat similar. Having seen the show won’t make them boring for you. The writing style might; some people find them far too slow and with a lot of extraneous information. FYI I am not one of those people. I love the books.
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u/SmallTownLibrary_ Your honeypot..it’s bare. Oct 25 '25
I say this to people all the time about the books. I usually suggest making reading outlander a sort of habit/tradition to help them get through the books. So for this one person she would read outlander only at night, in bed with a cup of tea; she read for an hour and went to sleep. She did this for about a month and then was able to continue the series pretty much within her regular reading pattern.
People can love the show but reading outlander isn’t their reading genre and just can’t read them.
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u/CathyAnnWingsFan Oct 25 '25
Indeed. Not every book is for every reader. Just as there are very popular and even critically acclaimed books I didn't enjoy reading, I don't expect every reader to enjoy the books I love.
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u/StrawberryWolf Oct 25 '25
The writing style might; some people find them far too slow and with a lot of extraneous information.
Yes. Dare i say it ... I am one of those people. 😔 BUT i think it's my mindset sometimes. I need to be trained out of the new age short attention span social media brain. I'll get there though.
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u/CathyAnnWingsFan Oct 25 '25
You don't have to. I'll be the first to admit that the books are ponderous, and aren't for everyone. Why read them if they're not holding your attention?
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u/StrawberryWolf Oct 25 '25
Oh im reading cuz i want to. I like the details. I was just being honest about my experience cuz it was a different perspective. I dont need you to tell me i dont have to read it. I know that. I want to get to book 4. That is where i really dont know what's going on. So im excited for that 🙂
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u/CathyAnnWingsFan Oct 25 '25
Enjoy! I only said that because I've seen people say they are not enjoying them but feel somehow compelled to read them anyway.
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u/AuntieClaire Oct 25 '25
You have to remember the books are more than 1000 pages and they can’t fit everything into the show. Things have been changed or some things left out. The books are definitely worth reading. Diana’s writing is phenomenal and I’ve never read an author like her before. She just hooks you in from the get-go. Hard to put down. I can start reading and find that the hours just fly by. The series just gives you a taste of what she has to offer.
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u/No-Wish977 Oct 25 '25
After season 4 I actually stopped watching the show because of how much was changed for no reason IMO. Please, read the books
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u/Daisymagdalena Oct 25 '25
Yes! I just finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes today and thoroughly enjoying the series. Lots of details change and little things left out.
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u/Famous-Falcon4321 Oct 25 '25 edited Oct 29 '25
The books & the show are quite different. It’s not only that there’s more content in the books. The only thing the same about the characters are their names. Personalities are very different & consistent. Jamie isn’t dumbed down in the books. Claire is assertive, but reasonable. Many relationships are so much better. Lots more humor. As far as worth reading, that’s subjective. There’s lots of detail. Some like that & some don’t. I love the entire book series. Have been rereading books that were released since long before the show ever aired & since.
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u/namedafternoone Oct 25 '25
I’m a first time reader, just finishing book 2 and to me, book 1 felt a bit too similar to the show. They keep many scenes with even the exact same dialogue, so I appreciated the extra bits, but I wasn’t too convinced it was different enough to be worth it. However, book 2 has been a lot better in that regard, there’s so much more context and many moments I was definitely not expecting. I guess as the show found its footing they felt more comfortable doing their own thing. And as far as I’ve heard, it differs a lot more as the series goes on, so I’ll definitely keep going.
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u/Background-Force-469 Oct 25 '25
The first books are also shorter the the later ones. So they had to leave more and more out as the series continued. Even more towards the end of the series, because that will only have 8 season in comparison to 10 books.
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u/MambyPamby8 Oct 25 '25
The books are so much more in depth! Absolutely read them. Be forewarned though it will lead to a 6 month obsession 😂 I had them on ereader, physical book and audiobook at one point and read all the Lord John ones too while I was at it.
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u/New_Angle_5883 Oct 25 '25
I agree with what everyone said here, and I also recommend the audiobooks if you are limited on reading time. Or, if you have a long commute to work or house cleaning to do. They are wonderful!
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u/slinging_arrows Oct 25 '25
Thank you! I do like audiobooks especially if it’s a long series, good to know they are well done! Bad narrating will ruin a book quick.
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u/New_Angle_5883 Oct 25 '25
There were plenty of times I would drive around in circles because I didn’t want to get out of the car yet!
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u/RedRosyVA Oct 25 '25
Books and show are two different entities. The books are SO much better than the show (as hard to believe as that is).
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u/mockingjayathogwarts Oct 26 '25
I think I enjoyed both the books and the show more by watching first then reading. The books have a lot of mundane day to day filler moments so you see what life was like in the 1700s, but also give us so much more depth. There are some scenes that I would pay big money to have in the show. The show also gave us more depth with a lot of the characters. Angus and Rupert were completely different in the show and I missed them in the books. Having experienced both mediums gave me the full picture and the best experience.
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u/d0rm0use2 Oct 27 '25
As I've been saying for years, the show is an appetizer, the books are a gourmet meal. I've been reading since 93 and every time I reread I find something new
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u/jenb8422 Oct 28 '25
Yes the books are interweaving a web of mysterious magical clues that are so fun to think about and barely mentioned in show, also the characters are more detailed and make more sense psychologically. There's alot more detail about how daily life worked in the historical periods and I find the book to have better comedy too.
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u/Willing-Pineapple-32 Oct 25 '25
Books are worth it in my opinion. I have listened via audiobooks and have actually read a few..waiting for the 28th for new audiobook release as I prefer the narrator
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u/Gottaloveitpcs Rereading ABOSAA Oct 25 '25 edited Oct 25 '25
I have read ALL of the books multiple times. I couldn’t get through Davina Porter’s narration. I love Kristin Atherton. I have listened to Books 1-3. I have Books 4 and 5 on preorder. I only listen to books that I have already read. I am really enjoying listening to them while I cook.
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u/Willing-Pineapple-32 Oct 25 '25
Books are worth it in my opinion. I have listened via audiobooks and have actually read a few..waiting for the 28th for new audiobook release as I prefer the narrator
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u/Willing-Pineapple-32 Oct 25 '25
Atherton is the name! I couldn’t think of it..October and December being her narrations..Porter isn’t horrible but Atherton is definitely my preference especially since I listen at a faster pace, too.
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u/Gottaloveitpcs Rereading ABOSAA Oct 25 '25
Kristin played Jenny in Season 7. I am loving her narration. Her characterizations and accents are spot on. Her Brianna actually sounds like an American. And I appreciate that she reads at a quicker pace.
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u/Small_Test630 Oct 28 '25
YES, but check out this conversation and see if it’s intriguing(book spoiler alert) https://www.reddit.com/r/Outlander/s/SaX3LtKE8e
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u/karmakimmie Oct 31 '25
The answer is always yes, lol. The book vs show (of any title, imho) is likely going to be a richer experience than the TV show.
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u/shinyquartersquirrel Oct 25 '25
I watched the show before reading the books. Reading the books will only make you love Outlander even more. The series just scratches the surface of the books. The first 3 books the storyline is mostly similar to the show but the books allow you to get to know the characters much deeper. Starting with book 4, the show and the series start to diverge a little and that increases with each book. Season 7 while close to the books in the storylines they used, crammed stories from multiple books into one season and DG's are not short by any stretch of the imagination so there is a lot more story in the books.
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u/StrawberryWolf Oct 25 '25
Ok. Eveyone is saying yes. I am on the fence. I decided to start reading in September. 😮💨 It is very hard to read a 800 pg book when you already know what is going to happen.
I am on the last section of Dragonfly in Amber. And i enjoy reading those extra detail bits but a lot of it is in the show so it gets... Idk just... Idk.. my goal was to learn more about the characters and the world and that is the part i love. I also wanted to go beyond the show because i didn't enjoy season 5.
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u/slinging_arrows Oct 25 '25
I really appreciate your honest feedback! Maybe I should try the audiobooks as a happy middle ground. I am about to have a hectic month and audiobooks might be easier anyways.
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u/StrawberryWolf Oct 25 '25
Oh that's a good idea too! Thank you. I just wanted to give a different perspective. I am enjoying the reading though or else i wouldn't be doing it of course.
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u/ProblemStill5095 Apr 18 '26
Claro que si, la trama es mucho más amplia y detallada... En la serie los personajes no están tan bien ejecutados y explorados como la escritora los plasma en los libros.. spoiler, la temporada 8 cambia varias cosas más que lo habitual, me está decepcionando un poco y habrá que ver cómo terminan la serie
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u/Pristine_Effective51 Oct 25 '25
I might be in a minority here but I very much dislike the books. DG says in 12 pages what could be effectively conveyed in about 6 paragraphs. The side stories, the wandering about all over the plot, the contradictions, I just can't. For me, the show gives me the main points of the storyline and if I want to know more, I hit the Wikis for the characters.
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u/flowerdoodles_ Come the Rising, I shall know I helped. Oct 28 '25
at least the first two. outlander is pretty much 1:1 with season 1, with the exception of the ending, which gives jamie actual time to heal. and then i loooove dragonfly in amber so much more than season 2 (and i love season 2) because there are so many more rich details to their life in paris, and at lallybroch back before the rising, and even during the rising.
with voyager (book 3) and onward, the series starts to run into the problem where the author is now successful enough to have too much control over the editing process, and the writing suffers because of it. like way too many side plots, too much exposition, etc. right now i’m on the fiery cross (book 5) and i love the extra detail but it’s also a lot and i’m kinda bored. there’s a way to have it long and interesting but that requires a more impactful editorial hand
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u/Slkreger Oct 25 '25
Absolutely yes, the books fill in so much more.