Any booklover knows that news of an adaptation can be complicated: Can we trust the directors, screenwriters, and actors to bring our favorite stories to life?
Next year’s movie slate is filled with books that are near and dear to thousands of readers, including classics that are hundreds of years old, like “Sense and Sensibility,” “The Odyssey,” and “Wuthering Heights.”
There are also some new classics set to be adapted next year, like “Project Hail Mary” and “The Dog Stars.”
We’ve compiled a list of 23 must-read books that you should crack open before they’re adapted next year.
‘People We Meet on Vacation’
“People We Meet on Vacation” (or “PWMOV”), by Emily Henry, was immediately beloved by BookTok after it was published in 2021. The film adaptation premieres on Netflix on January 9.
The story follows Poppy and Alex, two longtime friends who made a pact after graduating from college to take a vacation together once a year — and they did, until something happened on a trip to Croatia that caused them to stop speaking for years. The book jumps back and forth in time between Poppy and Alex’s past vacations and their current reunion in Palm Springs.
The movie stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as Poppy and Alex, respectively, with a supporting cast of Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, Lukas Gage, Alan Ruck, and Molly Shannon.
‘Box Hill’
“Box Hill,” a 2020 novel written by Adam Mars-Jones, is being turned into the film “Pillion,” which will be released in theaters on February 6.
The book (and film) follows Colin, a gay man, who becomes involved in a relationship with Ray, his polar opposite. While Colin is shy, introverted, and even a bit timid, Ray is confident and controlling.
The film stars Harry Melling as Colin and Alexander Skarsgård as Ray.
‘Wuthering Heights’
If you somehow escaped high school without reading Emily Brontë’s 1847 gothic classic “Wuthering Heights,” now is the perfect time to tick it off your reading list, ahead of its newest film adaptation releasing on February 13.
The film stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as doomed lovers Catherine and Heathcliff, who are torn apart by societal expectations, time, illness, resentment, and guilt.
But since this is an Emerald Fennell movie (director of “Saltburn” and “Promising Young Woman”), you shouldn’t expect a run-of-the-mill book-to-film adaptation.
‘Broken’
“Broken” is a 2020 collection of six novellas written by famed author Don Winslow. One of its short stories, “Crime 101,” has been adapted into a film that hits theaters on February 13.
The story takes its title from California’s iconic Highway 101, which runs from Los Angeles all the way up to the California-Portland border.
In it, a master jewel thief named Mike Davis perfectly executes heists up and down the 101 with an elite crew, but Detective Lou Lubesnick is on his tail.
Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo play Mike and Lou respectively, while the rest of the cast is filled out by Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, and more.
‘Cold Storage’
“Cold Storage” is the third book adaptation that will be released on February 13. It’s based on David Koepp’s 2019 novel of the same name and follows a trio of unlikely friends who team up to stop a mutant killing machine from ending the world.
It stars Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Liam Neeson.
‘Reminders of Him’
The first of two Colleen Hoover books to hit the big screen in 2026 is “Reminders of Him,” which was published in 2022. The film will be released on March 13.
Like all Hoover’s books, this story deals with heavy themes, including alcoholism, death, life after incarceration, grief, and redemption — and, of course, romance.
The story follows Kenna, a young woman who is released from prison after seven years and is desperately trying to get her life back and reconnect with her daughter, Diem. The story flashes back and forth in time to show how Kenna ended up in prison after the death of her boyfriend, Scotty, and how she’s finding new love with Scotty’s best friend, Ledger.
Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, and Rudy Pankow play Kenna, Ledger, and Scotty, respectively, while Scotty’s parents are played by Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford.
‘Project Hail Mary’
Andy Weir, author of the beloved novel “The Martian,” published “Project Hail Mary” in 2021 to critical acclaim. Five years later, the story of astronaut Ryland Grace, played by another RG (Ryan Gosling), is coming to cinemas on March 20.
The story begins with Ryland waking up aboard a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. From there, we flash back to learn that Ryland is a science teacher who was recruited for this mission to save the human race, as our sun is dying.
People love this book — and love its directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, the brains behind “Into the Spider-Verse” and “21 Jump Street” — so the hype is high for this one.
‘The Dog Stars’
“The Dog Stars,” written by Peter Heller, was published in 2012. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic society with the survivors of a flu-like pandemic. It follows a pilot living an isolated existence in Colorado with just one other (quite bitter) person for company. But when he hears a mysterious signal over his plane’s radio while flying one day, he resolves to seek out its source.
The film adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, will be released on March 27.
‘Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story’
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like: “Three Bags Full,” a German novel written in 2006 by Leonie Swann, focuses on a flock of sheep who become determined to solve the murder of their beloved shepherd, George.
The adaptation, which has been retitled “The Sheep Detectives,” stars Hugh Jackman as George, while his flock of sheep are voiced by Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart.
It will be released on May 8.
‘The Odyssey’
Homer’s epic poem has been translated from Homeric Greek a great many times since it was first translated in the 1500s.
But director Christopher Nolan told Empire Magazine that he was specifically working off Emily Wilson’s translation, published in 2017, so that’s the one we’ll recommend, too.
If it’s been a minute since you dusted off your Greek mythology gap, “The Odyssey” follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, on his decadeslong journey to return home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he meets some of the most iconic monsters, legends, and gods in the Greek canon, including the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, Athena, and more.
The film hits theaters on July 17, though tickets at some theaters are already sold out.
‘The Book of Magic’
Maybe you could’ve guessed from the cover, but “The Book of Magic,” written by Alice Hoffman, is the long-awaited sequel to her novel “Practical Magic.” The first book was published in 1995, and 26 years later, Hoffman published its follow-up in 2021.
The film adaptations will have a similarly long gap. “Practical Magic” was released in theaters in 1998, and its sequel, “Practical Magic 2,” will be released on September 18.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back as the witchy Owens sisters, as are Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as their magical aunts. Newcomers to the cast include Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace.
‘Sense and Sensibility’
Thirty years after “Sense and Sensibility” was adapted by Emma Thompson and Ang Lee, the 1811 novel by Jane Austen will once again return to the silver screen, this time starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum, and George MacKay, on September 25.
“Sense and Sensibility” is the tale of the Dashwood sisters, who are left penniless after their half-brother and his wife take almost all of their inheritance from their father. While Elinor (Edgar-Jones) tries to be practical, her younger sister Marianne (Creed-Miles) is determined to, as the kids say, romanticize her life.
‘Verity’
“Verity” is the second Colleen Hoover adaptation of 2026, though it couldn’t be more different from “Reminders of Him.”
“Verity,” published in 2018, is easily Hoover’s darkest book. It follows Lowen Ashleigh, a writer struggling to get by, who by chance gets hired to take over as the ghost writer for the now-comatose Verity Crawford. But when Lowen begins looking over Verity’s manuscript, she soon wonders if she’s reading a disturbing work of fiction, or a confession of heinous crimes.
The adaptation stars Dakota Johnson as Lowen, Anne Hathaway as Verity, and Josh Hartnett as Verity’s husband Jeremy. It will come to theaters on October 2.
‘Incidents Around the House’
This one isn’t for the faint of heart. “Incidents Around the House,” written by Josh Malerman in 2024, is about an 8-year-old girl, Bela, who is terrorized by a mysterious entity she calls Other Mommy.
Fittingly, the adaptation, which comes to big screens on October 9, has a new title: “Other Mommy.” It stars Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Dichen Lachman, and Arabella Olivia Clark as Bela.
‘Remain’
No, it’s not a particularly random game of MadLibs — director M. Night Shyamalan and romance author Nicholas Sparks teamed up to write the novel “Remain,” which was published earlier this year.
“Remain” is the story of architect Tate Donovan, who retreats to a bed-and-breakfast in Cape Cod after the death of his mother. Before long, he bonds with a mysterious resident of the small town named Wren. But, as this is a Shyamalan story, all is not what it seems.
The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor as Tate and Wren, will be released in theaters on October 23.
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’
For years, fans begged “Hunger Games” author Suzanne Collins to tell the story of Haymitch Abernathy’s games. In March 2025, she obliged, publishing “Sunrise on the Reaping,” a “Hunger Games” prequel that takes place 24 years before the first novel.
It tells the story of the 25th Hunger Games, which Haymitch, the future tribute mentor for District 12, won. As with all “Hunger Games” books, it’s devastating.
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” which boasts an all-star cast of Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak, and newcomer Joseph Zada as Haymitch, will be in theaters on November 20.
‘Dune Messiah’
After the two-part adaptation of “Dune,” the third film in the series is set to take on Frank Herbert’s second novel in the series, “Dune Messiah,” published in 1969.
Picking up after the events of “Dune: Part Two,” “Dune: Part Three” will follow Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he struggles to control the galaxy, prevent the death of millions, avenge his father, and juggle relationships with Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and his love Chani (Zendaya). It’s set to be released on December 18.
‘The Love Hypothesis’
We’ve reached the part of the list where the adaptations don’t have official release dates, but it’s a safe bet that they’ll come out at some point in 2026.
First up is Ali Hazelwood’s “The Love Hypothesis,” originally published in 2021, after originally being posted on the internet as “Star Wars” fan fiction.
It’s about a young PhD student, Olive, who, after a series of mishaps, is forced to fake-date a faculty member at her university: Dr. Adam Carlsen. You can guess what happens.
The film will star Lili Reinhart as Olive and Tom Bateman as Adam — and fans are already frothing at the mouth after Reinhart’s TikToks from set went viral.
‘The Last Mrs. Parrish’
This 2017 novel written by Liv Constantine tells the tale of Amber Patterson, a scammer with a plan to take over the life of rich, beautiful socialite Daphne Parrish.
The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Isabel May as Amber, Jennifer Lopez as Daphne, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Daphne’s husband, Jackson, is expected to hit Netflix at some point next year.
And if that’s not enough, there’s always the sequel, “The Next Mrs. Parrish.”
‘You Deserve Each Other’
Sarah Hogle wrote “You Deserve Each Other” in 2020. The novel is about Nicholas and Naomi, an engaged couple who are the furthest thing from soon-to-be-newlywed bliss. In fact, they’re in a game of chicken to see who can call off the wedding (and be stuck with the nonrefundable deposits) first.
The film adaptation will star Meghann Fahy and Penn Badgley as Naomi and Nick, with a supporting cast of Natalie Morales, Justin Long, Kyle MacLachlan, and Ana Gasteyer. It’s not yet known if it will head straight to Prime Video or get a theatrical run.
‘Cry to Heaven’
Nine years after his last directorial effort, Deadline reported that Tom Ford is going to adapt Anne Rice’s 1982 novel “Cry to Heaven,” with an aimed release date of fall 2026.
The novel follows a student and teacher in 18th-century Italy: Tonio Treschi and Guido Maffeo.
While we don’t know who is playing whom yet, the announced cast is already iconic: Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, George MacKay, Paul Bettany, Hunter Schafer, Thandiwe Newton, and, making her acting debut, Adele.
‘One Italian Summer’
Paramount acquired the rights to adapt Rebecca Serle’s 2022 novel “One Italian Summer” in 2023, per Variety, but for over two years there was no news.
That is until a throwaway line in a December 2025 Hollywood Reporter piece about David Ellison’s takeover of Paramount mentioned that the project would be moving forward starring Brie Larson.
The novel is about Katy, a 30-something woman mourning the death of her mother and best friend, Carol. As the two had planned a luxurious Italian vacation before Carol’s death, Katy decides to take the trip herself to try to reconnect with her mother’s spirit, but she gets a bit more than she asked for when she seemingly meets a younger version of her mom on the beach.
‘The Bodyguard’
Netflix announced that Katherine Center’s novel “The Bodyguard,” published in 2022, will be adapted for the streamer — and while no release date has been set, since the film takes place around the holidays, we can assume a November or December release date is in the cards.
The story follows Jack Stapleton, a famous actor with a stalker, who hires bodyguard Hannah Brooks, to protect him. But since he doesn’t want to worry his sick mother, the two instead pretend to date.
The catch with this adaptation? Since there’s already a quite famous film called “The Bodyguard,” Netflix, along with stars Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki, are asking fans to come up with a new name for the film.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post 23 books you should read before they’re turned into movies next year appeared first on Business Insider.
