As book lovers, we all have vivid and creative imaginations. Many of us (me included) like to think that the pictures and scenes we conjure up in our heads while we’re reading qualify as a movie itself. However, as much as those feel real to us, there is something about seeing our favorite books come to life on the big screen.
Related: Where the Crawdads Sing Doesn’t Need to Be a Movie
Now, all of our tastes are different. We all love different books and genres, characters, and writing styles. Out of the countless amount of books at our disposal, a few are chosen to have their own film adaptations. From a young adult series to an LGBTQ+ period drama, here are some of the most popular titles that you should crack open before they hit the big screen.
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
As a book and Harry Styles lover, as soon as I heard that this book was being made into a film, I knew it had to be mine. Just to put it simply, it did not disappoint. My Policeman by Bethan Roberts is a period LGBTQ+ drama/romance that follows the intricate love story between Marion, Tom, and Patrick. Taking place in 1950s Brighton when identifying as part of the LGTBQ+ community could get you imprisoned and even killed, this heartwrenching novel exposes themes surrounding wasted time, homophobia, true love, and passion. It had me rolling around in my own tears.
The movie will be starring an ensemble of David Dawson, Harry Styles, and Emma Corrin. Now, the theater will be pulling me in like a magnet on Oct. 21 when it releases. However, it will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on Nov. 4. So, make sure you get this book at the top of your “to be read” pile ASAP!
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In terms of popular books, anyone familiar with viral titles knows the name Taylor Jenkins Reid. Reid is responsible for many books that went viral online. Her novel Daisy Jones & The Six will be adapted into documentary-style series for Amazon Prime Video. Daisy Jones & The Six happens to be one of my favorite books of all time. Therefore, the announcement of this series adaption has me jumping for joy and excitement.
It follows the fateful merging of entertainment socialite and musician Daisy Jones and the “on-the-rise” rock band The Six. Taking place during the height of 1970s rock & roll music, the novel is set up in a unique script/transcript format. It exposes the rise and fall of the great band known as Daisy Jones & The Six. From addiction and sex to music and the crippling realities of touring, this book is a must-read. Daisy Jones & The Six will be starring Sam Claflin as Billy Dune and Riley Keough as Daisy Jones. The show is anticipating a release sometime next year.
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
I like to think that one of my superpowers is that I am not lactose intolerant. Therefore, I will start by saying that I absolutely LOVE cheese. Honestly, what’s a good contemporary romance novel without some cheese? Red, White, and Royal Blue is a gay romance novel written by Casey McQuiston. It follows the love story between Alex, the son of the President of the United States, and Henry, a British Prince.
This is a “booktok” favorite, and when the cast was announced, the hype skyrocketed. Alex will be played by The Kissing Booth actor Taylor Zakhar Perez. Henry will be played by Purple Hearts star Nicholas Galitzine. The show has just recently wrapped up filming the first season. So, the time is now to get your hands on this novel before the show comes out!
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
It Ends With Us might just be the queen of all romance books when it comes to viral sensations. Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, has made herself a household name in contemporary fiction. This happens to be one of my all-time favorite reads of the last year. The book follows the life of Lily Bloom, a young woman living in Boston, who falls in love with Ryle, a neurosurgeon.
However, once a man from her past, her first love, comes back into the picture, the realities of her own relationship begin to unravel. This book is more than a tear-jerker. The novel is being adapted into a movie and will be directed by Jane The Virgin star and Five Feet Apart director Justin Baldoni.
The Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman
Heartstopper is a viral young adult LGBTQ+ 4-book graphic novel series by Alice Oseman. The first season of the Netflix series Heartstopper came out in April this year and became an instant hit. The Heartstopper series has broken some necessary ground in LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment tailored to younger audiences. In this story, Charlie and Nick attempt to navigate their feelings for each other.
That, paired with the typical road bumps of being a teenager, make this story perfect for young adults. Even if you are not into young adult novels or are looking for a change of pace, give this one a go. Keep an eye out for a release date for the next season, but for now, it is time to pick it up and binge-watch the first season!
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Anyone who is anyone has heard about Bridgerton. The Bridgerton series has continued to be one of the most popular shows on Netflix and has had all of us romance lovers in an absolute frenzy. The book series by Julia Quinn has a whopping nine books, each covering the love story of a Bridgerton sibling. In fact, with two seasons already wrapped up, the third reveals that the Netflix series will not be going in the order of the novels.
The third season of Bridgerton will cover Penelope and Colin’s story, the fourth book in Quinn’s original series. Anticipating a release in 2023, it’s time to get cracking to stay up to date on the Bridgerton siblings! If you want to read them all in order of release, just make sure you get to Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (the fourth book) before the show releases!
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Although Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series has already been adapted into a movie series starring Logan Lerman, the new and upcoming series for Disney+ has got people talking again. Many fans of the novel both new and old are gearing up for more adventures with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. When the original film adaptation sort of fizzled out after the second movie, fans like myself have been waiting for someone, ANYONE, to breathe some life back into this franchise.
The new show Percy Jackson and the Olympians will star Walker Scobell as Percy, Leah Jeffries as Annabeth, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover. Don’t worry, because you still have time to read this series! The show is set to release in early 2024. If you are looking for a sign to read this series or if you just want to light some nostalgic fire, consider this it!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games trilogy might be one of the most successful young adult dystopian movie trilogies to have ever graced our screens. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins had readers in a whirlwind of emotions as we followed Katniss Everdeen’s journey towards rebellion against the leaders of Panem and The Capitol. Outside of the trilogy, however, Collins came out with a prequel spin-off novel titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2020. This novel takes place 64 years prior to the original trilogy and shows the life of a young Coriolanus Snow as he prepares to become a mentor for District 12.
Fans like myself have been speculating for some time now that this novel will come to film and our prayers have been answered! The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has a star-studded cast to gape at. We have Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schaffer, Viola Davis, and so many more. The film is set to release in Nov. 2023, so make sure you check this one off your list before then.
