Few people know that The Vampire Diaries is adapted from a series of books by L.J. Smith. This is because much of the show features original storylines different from the book and distinct characters. The books provided a beautiful framework to work off of, but the CW show took a life of its own once it came out into the world.
Still, both veteran and casual fans of the show argue about which medium did it better. The Vampire Diaries continues to be a cult hit, but even the novels have a huge fan base that wishes the show adapted a bit more faithfully. Damon, Stefan, and Elena’s story was intriguing and gripping in both the books and the show, but which one did it better?
Updated by Fawzia Khan on February 6th, 2025: The Vampire Diaries remains incredibly popular, with a dedicated fanbase that continues to grow eight years after the series finale. While the show shares core themes with the novels, there are significant differences in plot, character arcs, and world-building that set them apart. This list has been updated with more ways in which the show and books told the supernatural story better.
What Does The Vampire Diaries Show Do Better?
Elena’s Character Is More Empathetic
The biggest difference between The Vampire Diaries show and the books is Elena’s character. In The Vampire Diaries books, Elena is snarky and mean-spirited, and other characters have learned to be wary of her. The show changed that for good, as Elena was the polar opposite of a mean girl. Elena was known for her empathy, selflessness, and sweet demeanor, and that was what made her so special. Her great qualities inspired her friends and the Salvatores to protect her because she would do the same for them.
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Elena would rather give up her own life than hurt Caroline, Bonnie, or any other of her friends. She used to be a cheerleader in the show too, but had grown out of petty high school politics a while back. This evolution was welcomed by book readers. Elena in the books was very much stuck in the high school mindset, which made her quite unlikable. Even her appearance was one of blonde perfection in the books, which was replaced by a more relatable look in Nina Dobrev’s Elena, who was brunette and like a girl next door. Her character was the moral center of the show, which made her an idol for young viewers to look up to.
The Villains Are More Relatable
While The Vampire Diaries had some of the most lovable protagonists, the villains were the most compelling characters on the show. They weren’t one-dimensionally evil, as most fantasy shows tend to paint their antagonists to be. Instead, every villain, from Klaus to Rayna Cruz was given backstories that resonated with the audience. These villains did abhorrent things, but they had audience sympathies.
This was missing from the novels, as villains like Klaus in the text were just not as charismatic. In the show, the villains often toed the line between evil and good, which was an interesting dynamic to see them in. Many of the villains were much more loved than the protagonists — proving how well-written these bad guys were.
Aunt Jenna Was a Much More Likable Guardian
Between the books and the show, many Vampire Diaries characters were swapped out for other ones. The books had Aunt Judith, who was Elena’s father’s sister, and quite removed from her life. She was warm, but like an adult, and she later moved away when she got married. Fans much preferred Aunt Jenna from the show, who was younger, sweeter, and a lot more fun.
Aunt Jenna was Elena’s mother’s sister, and only in her 20s when she became the guardian of the Gilbert kids. Due to her youth, Jenna understood the teenagers better than anyone could and gave them advice that was both sisterly, as well as responsible. She deserved to have a longer arc on the show but was unceremoniously killed by Klaus. Jenna was the guiding light Elena needed during a tough time.
Klaus and Caroline’s Romance Is Beautiful
While romances abounded in the novels, the most wistful love affair was not a part of them — Klaus and Caroline. Fondly called Klaroline by Vampire Diaries fans, this romance was a forbidden one, but one where neither the Original nor the vampire could resist the attraction they felt. Even so, they knew that their love was doomed, as Klaus had harmed Caroline and her friends too much to be with her. He still offered her the world and so much more because he cared for her deeply.
The angst and tension in this slow-burn love were some of the best on the show. Some would argue that this love story was even better than the main love triangle between Stefan, Damon, and Elena. Klaus and Caroline could never be together traditionally, but their affection for each other transcended time, space, and generations as they were always there for each other when times got hard.
The Friendships Are Deeper
Elena shared an unbreakable bond with the Mystic Falls gang, which included Caroline, Bonnie, Matt, and Tyler. They were all childhood friends who had grown up together, which was why Elena considered them her family. She never deliberately did anything to hurt them, and they would, in turn, give up their lives for Elena, who had been through tragedy after tragedy. They understood each other at a level that few others could, as they had seen each other grow up and evolve over the years.
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This was something that was missing in the books, as the relationships were a little too mean. Caroline and Elena hated each other, and their bonds were never strong in the text. Petty fights, getting back at each other, and silly tiffs were a regular part of the novels, and the show got rid of these toxic elements completely. Book Elena could be very shrewd, so friendship was never too important for her. The show, however, emphasized these relationships, and Elena leaned on her friends during tough times.
The Doppelganger Storyline Is Stellar
The doppelgangers were exclusive to The Vampire Diaries, and they did not make an appearance in the books at all. Katherine and Elena were half-sisters in novels, which explained their similarity in looks, but there was no supernatural pattern involved. This was not the case in the show, as Elena and Katherine were a part of a long line of Petrova doppelgangers, whose existence was attributed to the sins of Silas and Amara.
Silas and Amara had betrayed Qetsiyah by taking the immortality elixir together, and this betrayal gave rise to the Other Side, the Cure, as well as two lines of doppelgangers. It was one of the best plotlines of the show, as it connected Elena and the doppelgangers to all the magical events and villains who turned up in every season. Additionally, fans got extremely excited when new doppelgangers like Tom and Tatia would appear from the woodwork, as they could see their favorite actors in different characters. Katherine and Elena’s rivalry was also thrilling, as neither of them liked the other or their roles in the lives of the Salvatores.
Elena Finds Love In Damon
The love triangle was arguably the most vital part of The Vampire Diaries, and the outcome of the three-way relationship was vastly different on the show. Elena was with Stefan first, but a thirst for adventure and excitement drew her into Damon’s arms. She tried her hardest to fight her feelings, but they won out eventually, and she could not resist Damon’s charms. Her transition into a vampire also contributed to her final decision between the brothers.
Elena’s endgame with Damon was a triumph for those who believe in following your heart and living life to the fullest. Elena shattered societal expectations and chose to live her life as she pleased, despite her friends telling her to stay with Stefan. She made Damon a better person, and seeing the forbidden love trope become the real thing was immensely satisfying for fans who were hopeless romantics. It also gave a great message to viewers, that it’s okay to change one’s mind if something better comes along, instead of unhappily sticking to an original decision just because time and effort were invested in it.
The Brothers Are Closer In the Show
Damon and Stefan’s relationship became the mainstay of The Vampire Diaries, especially after Elena’s sudden departure. They may have hated each other in Season 1, but that faded and evolved into one of the strongest bonds in later seasons. Stefan and Damon could do anything to save each other’s lives, even sacrificing themselves to the Devil and various other villains to do so, which was a huge improvement from their initial hateful interactions with each other.
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The show also delved deep into the Salvatore brothers’ lives before and after becoming vampires, providing insight into why they felt the way they did about each other. Their motivations were made clear, which was why it was always a joy to watch the interactions between Damon and Stefan. These brothers had issues to resolve, and they worked hard to make their bond into one of warmth and love, which was missing from the novels.
What Makes the Books Better?
More Realistic About Human Nature and Its Evolution
One of the most appealing aspects of the books was how authentic its characters were. The show had a habit of adding goodness to every character, even when they were not good, but the books kept things closer to reality. Elena and Caroline could be mean girls, and they had intense rivalries that were a lot more realistic than being overly tolerant or empathetic all the time.
Thus, the Vampire Diaries novels became a study of authentic relationships with humans and vampires and how people sincerely react under stressful situations. While they were targeted at young adults, the books offered a mature look at human dynamics. This was a welcome break from its TV counterpart, as everyone was just a little too nice on screen without any real motivation to do so.
The Books Have Several Interesting Spinoffs
While both The Vampire Diaries media have spin-offs, the text went way deeper into the universe than The Originals or Legacies did. Stefan’s Diaries were six novels long, and they showcased his past in great detail, the way the show never could. After the original series was concluded, three more trilogies continued the story from different perspectives —they were called The Return, The Hunters, and The Salvation.
While both TV and books explored every crevice of their supernatural universes, the books had the liberty to go to new worlds and dimensions. They could tap into the thoughts and feelings of different characters, which added a new layer to the TVD universe. Thus, the novel spin-offs were a lot more engrossing than the television spin-offs were, by virtue of the type of medium they were produced in.
The Vampires Have More Powers
While the vampires in The Vampire Diaries were strong, their book counterparts were formidable. In addition to the powers of super strength, super speed, and compulsion, they could also read minds. One can only imagine how invincible the TV vamps would have been if they could read thoughts (and therefore foresee attacks or strategies) during a fight. Book vampires could also shapeshift and become animals, which was a rather interesting ability that the show missed out on.
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The books gave them a lot more freedom and made them more dangerous, thus raising the stakes during supernatural fights. In many ways, the books felt a lot more mature than the show, as they weren’t afraid to make the vampires and other characters less likable or safe. These extra powers added a new dimension to these supernatural creatures, elevating them from friendly vampires to those who posed a real threat.
Damon and Bonnie Have a Romance
Bonnie was underserved in many ways during the show, and many fans felt that her chemistry with Damon went to waste. After their time in the Prison World, there were romantic sparks between the two, but they went unexplored. In the books, however, Damon and Bonnie had a very intense romance that was implied to be a soul connection.
Damon was very protective towards little Bonnie, and he couldn’t help but be attracted to her. They had a relationship unlike any other, but it was one of the main romances of the books. Bonnie and Damon could very well have become an endgame romance, but it seemed that the showrunners avoided it to appease Delena fans. Thus, the Bamon romance wasn’t available on the show, but show fans can turn to the books to see what a Damon and Bonnie relationship looked like, as it was quite wonderful.
The Salvatores Are More Vicious
While Damon and Stefan are fan-favorite characters on The Vampire Diaries show, their paper counterparts would appeal to those who want to see some real vampire action. In the text, Damon and Stefan were a lot more violent and weren’t afraid to get vicious if the fight called for it. They had ingested vampire blood sometime in the 15th and 16th centuries and died when they got into a terrible fight with each other. Losing their tempers was what led to their transition, proving how different their natures were from the show.
Thus, Stefan and Damon were also much older in the text — 520 years old and 523 years old respectively. They also ingested human blood regularly, which wasn’t the case for Stefan on the show. In the show, the brothers were only one-and-a-half centuries old. Older meant more lethal, and the Salvatores were not nearly as forgiving in the books as they were in the CW show. Thus, the vampire aspect of the story came through much more in the novels by L.J. Smith.
There Are More Supernatural Creatures
While TVD had some spectacular supernatural species that kept fans hooked, the books had even more. In addition to vampires, werewolves, hybrids, sirens, and the Devil himself, the novels had guardians, kitsune, phantoms, and even druids. The guardians were essentially angels, and Elena herself was half-guardian, which granted her some unusual powers.
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As a fantasy series, The Vampire Diaries was always going to be better with lots of different supernatural creatures in it. The creatures in the novels were inspired by several old, native legends, which tied into the lore of TVD quite well. There was a larger variety of supernaturals, and they were inspired by folklore from around the world. This made the universe a lot richer and expansive, and fans of fantasy would enjoy the books a lot more.
The Endgame Will Surprise Stelena Fans
Stelena fans may like the books more than the show because the endgame favored their ship. In the books, Elena’s love for Stefan stays true, and she eventually returns to him despite her attraction to Damon. She had a soul connection with Stefan in the books, and her choice was revealed in “The Hunters: Destiny Rising.”
In this way, the book shined brighter than the show, especially for those who felt Damon was bad for Elena. She deserved someone who truly cared for her, and that had always been Stefan. She stuck to her first choice in the novels, and that made the novels superior to the show in some ways. Many fans wished this happened in the show too, because Elena and Stefan’s love seemed much more grounded and sincere since it had foundations in respect, and not just the way Damon and Elena sometimes appeared to be.
