We’ve all heard it before: “The book was better.” It’s almost a standard, a given, so natural. And that got me thinking, are there adaptations of books that were actually better? I mean, it’s possible, right?

And so I began thinking really, really hard about it… And I managed to come up with three. That’s right, three. I’m sure there are more, but I couldn’t think of them. So here are the screen adaptations that I liked better than the book:

1. Pretty Little Liars

This show is like cotton candy to me. I will devour it. It’s not good for me, but I can’t stop watching it. The writing is so cheesy, and yet it works. I went to read the books in the hope that it would satiate the hole left in me between seasons, and I was so, so, so utterly disappointed. Perhaps it would be different if I had gone the other way and read the book first, but the writing was so choppy and dialogue heavy (not in a good way) that I could hardly make it through the first book (of 16ish). Phew. I’ll stick with the stellar (and quite attractive) cast.

2. A Series of Unfortunate Events

So, confession. I haven’t read the books. I kept trying and trying and trying, and could just never get into them. And I want to be clear, I am referring to the new Netflix series adaptation, you know, with Neil Patrick Harris and most certainly NOT the movie. The movie is dead to me. But the television series, holy cow! So amazing. The wit, the writing, the intrigue. I just can’t say enough how much I LOVE the show. And NPH. I love NPH. Do yourself a favor, and watch this show if you haven’t already.

3. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs may well be one of my favorite movies of all time. It has that sense of humor that strikes me silly. Wait… a second one with NPH? Hmmm maybe there is something to that… But it also has Mr. T, Bill Hader, and Anna Feris. And don’t forget the outrageous food jokes. I can’t recommend it enough. The book was cute, and is a classic children’s book, but the movie just outshines it in almost every way. Still, the illustrations in the book were beautiful.

And there you have it, the times when I thought the book wasn’t better. Are there others? Probably. Let me know if you thought of anymore!