From BookTok to Hollywood: 12 Book-to-Screen Adaptations You’ll Be Obsessed With This Year
Young adult romance, fast-paced thrillers, love stories … there truly is something for everyone
There’s nothing quite like seeing your favorite book characters come to life in a movie or TV show. From seeing if they resemble the image you had in your head to discovering new aspects of their personalities you might not have known, it truly is something incredibly special. And this year, several production companies are gearing up to bring a variety of popular BookTok (book TikTok) books to the big—and small—screen!
For instance, we’re only one month away from seeing who Belly ends up with in season 3 of the hit Amazon Prime show The Summer I Turned Pretty. Author Jenny Han has said this final season is going to be full of “surprises” no one will see coming. If you’re more of a mystery fan, you won’t want to miss Netflix’s adaptation of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, which director Chris Columbus says will make mystery fans “very happy.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about these books becoming movies and TV shows and to discover details on casting, plots and release dates!
‘We Were Liars’ by E. Lockhart
This bestselling psychological thriller follows 17-year-old Cadence as she returns to her family’s private island, seeking answers after a mysterious accident leaves her with memory loss. As she reconnects with her cousins, dubbed “the Liars,” long-buried truths begin to surface. A perfect blend of privilege, family drama. trauma and betrayal.
When and where to watch: We Were Liars was made into an Amazon Prime Video TV show starring Emily Alyn Lind, Ester McGregor, Shubham Maheshwari and Joseph Zeda earlier this month. You can watch it here!
‘The Housemaid’ by Freida McFadden
Revered for her addicting, pulse-pounding psychological thrillers, Freida McFadden has sold 2 million copies of her bestselling Housemaid series and holds a record-breaking half a billion reads on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription. In book one of the series, Millie is hired as a maid for the Winchesters. Every day she cleans, cooks, picks their daughter up from school and daydreams about having a life like theirs, but she can’t help feeling like there’s something terribly wrong with Mrs. Winchester. Then, one day, Mrs.Winchester discovers that Millie has tried on one of her dresses … so she locks Millie in her attic bedroom. What follows is a startling series of events with a jaw-dropping twist.
When and where to watch: The Housemaid film adaptation will premiere in theaters nationwide on December 25, starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried and 1923’s Brandon Skelnar. As of publication, no trailer has been released.
‘Forever’ by Judy Blume
Judy Blume’s beloved young adult novel follows Katherine and Michael, two teenagers who fall deeply in love. After losing their virginity to each other, Katherine believes it’s a forever kind of love. But when the two are separated for the summer, Katherine’s feelings begin to drift to someone else. What does this say about her love for Michael? A seminal coming-of-age story about the euphoric highs and intense lows of teenage love—and how it all stays with you forever.
When and where to watch: Forever was made into a Netflix show starring Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. It has been renewed for a second season, and you can watch the first season here.
‘Save Me’—a.k.a. ‘Maxton Hall’—by Mona Kasten
The first book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series, Save Me follows the smart, straight-laced Ruby Bell. After Ruby is awarded a scholarship to Maxton Hall, one of England’s most prestigious and expensive private schools, she spends her days studying, planning her future at Oxford University and keeping her distance from other students, especially the rich, handsome and arrogant James Beaufort. When Ruby stumbles upon a scandal involving the Beauforts, James confronts her. The two are forced to work together to plan the school’s upcoming gala, and they clash in every possible way. But as they grow closer, Ruby finds herself drawn to James. As they both desperately fight their feelings, other dramas arise that may alter their worlds and futures.
When and where to watch: Maxton Hall Season 2 will release on Amazon Prime Video on November 7 and will have the two leads—Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matteb—returning as James and Ruby, respectively. You can stream Season 1 here.
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ by Emily Henry
From bestselling author Emily Henry comes a swoonworthy friends-to-lovers tale. When they met in college, wild-child Poppy and straight-laced Alex didn’t hit it off. Then, after doing a car-share for summer break, the unlikely pair became best friends. Now, years later, Poppy works in New York City while schoolteacher Alex stays in their hometown. For 10 summers, the pair took a vacation together—until two years ago, when they ruined it all. They haven’t spoken since, but when Poppy gets a work travel assignment and asks Alex to join her, he agrees. Can they fix their friendship and address the truth that’s been hiding in plain sight for so long?
When and where to watch: The People We Meet on Vacation movie is expected to stream on Netflix sometime this year, with Emily Bader and Tom Blyth set to portray Poppy and Alex.
‘Wicked’ by Gregory Maguire
In Gregory Maguire’s bestselling book, readers learn what happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) might be a smart girl with good intentions, but she is burdened with unsightly green skin. And Glinda (the Good Witch) is a beautiful girl with somewhat selfish intentions. Soon, the two find themselves roommates at Shiz University, and the true lines of wickedness and goodness become as blurred as ever.
When and where to watch: The Wicked: For Good movie will hit theaters on November 21 and star Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey. It will be the second film in the series, and you can watch the first one here!
‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman
Friends, foes and a fun murder mystery abound in this best-selling novel written by Richard Osman. In a retirement village in England, four friends get together each week for the Thursday Murder Club, where they piece together unsolved crimes just for the thrill of it. But when a local property developer is murdered, the group decides to crack the case for themselves.
When and where to watch: The Thursday Murder Club movie will release on Netflix on August 28 and star Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan.
‘Regretting You’ by Colleen Hoover
For fans of P.S. I Love You and One Day, Colleen Hoover’s novel delivers moments that are evocative and heartfelt. The plot follows Morgan Grant and her 16-year-old daughter, Clara, who struggle to get along. Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father, is the anchor who brings peace to their family. So when Chris is in a tragic accident, their lives are forever changed. A stirring mother-daughter story full of hope, loss and great love.
When and where to watch: The Regretting You movie is expected to hit theaters nationwide on October 24, featuring Willa Fitzgerald, Mason Thames, McKenna Grace, Scott Eastwood and Dave Franco.
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ by Rick Riordan
The first of Rick Riordan’s beloved YA fantasy series follows a 12-year-old kid named Percy Jackson who has always struggled to fit in. Then his pre-algebra teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him. Now Percy must travel across the country on a quest to prevent a deadly war from breaking out between the Greek Gods. A groundbreaking, wonderful adventure.
When and where to watch: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 will release on Disney+ in December 2025, starring Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri. You can watch Season 1 of the show here.
‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ by Ruth Ware
Bestselling author Ruth Ware—a.k.a. the “Queen of the Twist”—delivers a deeply chilling tale in this fan favorite thriller novel. When journalist Lo Blacklock boards the luxury ship Aurora to cover its first trip, the last thing she expects is to hear a woman being thrown overboard. But with all passengers accounted for, no one is concerned, leaving Lo to prove that something terrible has happened—before it’s too late.
When and where to watch: The Woman in Cabin 10 movie will release on Netflix later this year and star Kiera Knightley—and the sequel to the book releases July 8.
‘My Oxford Year’ by Julia Whelan
From award-winning audiobook narrator Julia Whelan comes a dazzling debut novel filled with love and heart. Ella Durran has always dreamed of studying at Oxford, and after receiving a Rhodes Scholarship, that dream came true. Shortly after arriving in England, Ella learns that she has been offered a position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. Not wanting to abandon Oxford, she makes her prospective employer a deal: She will work for them from England for a year and then come back to the States when the program ends. Then she meets the handsome Jamie Davenport and her plan begins to fall apart. Now, Ella must decide if she wants to return to the life she’d always dreamed of or step into one she never even imagined. What follows is a battle of hearts and bravery.
When and where to watch: The My Oxford Year movie will release on Netflix on August 1 and star Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ by Jenny Han
Jenny Han perfectly captures the essence of young love in her novel The Summer I Turned Pretty. Belly Conklin is prepping for another summer at the Fishers’ beach house—and she’s hoping this will be the summer she falls in love. After pining over the oldest Fisher brother, Conrad, for years, Belly hopes his feelings will change. But when she arrives, everything is not what it seems: Conrad is acting strange, his brother, Jeremiah, is cuter than she remembered and family drama is slowly unearthed.
When and where you can watch: Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty will release on Amazon Prime Video on July 16, and all three of the main cast members—Gavin Casalegno, Lola Tung and Christopher Briney will return. To watch the first two seasons of the show, click here!
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