All The Books To Read Before They Hit The Big (Or Small) Screen

From Exciting Times to Queenie here's what to read now...

books to read

by Shana Lynch |
Updated on

Arguably some of the biggest hits on our screens — both big and small — in recent times have been story lines that were adapted from best-selling books. Don’t believe us? Just think about what we've all been watching over the past couple of years: Normal People, Little Fires Everywhere, The Undoing, Bridgerton — they were all books first.

And now, with amazing autumn TV and films finally making their way to streaming services and cinema screens, there really isn't a better time to pick up the pace with the books you never finished this summer. Because before you know it, a lot – a lot – of the best books will be hitting the big and small screen.

In fact, it's been confirmed that two of our favourite reads, Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times and Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie are both being made into TV series. And the list doesn't stop there. So, keep reading to find out what to speed read before all of this autumn's adaptations are released...

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Books To Read Before They Hit Screens

Books to read 1 of 21

Blonde, Joyce Carol Oates

Ana de Armas stars as Marilyn Monroe in this fictionalised look at her superstar life. Out on Netflix now.

Books to read 2 of 21

Luckiest Girl Alive, Jessica Knoll

Mila Kunis stars as Ani FaNelli, a woman who 'has it all'. But beneath a designer wardrobe and glamorous job, Ani has a dark past that is about to come out... Out on Netflix now.

Books to read 3 of 21

There's Someone Inside Your House, Stephanie Perkins

A teenager moves to live with her grandmother in Hawaii and is forced to confront events from her past after her fellow students are murdered. Out on Netflix now.

4 of 21

The Wonder, Emma Donoghue

Set to star Florence Pugh, The Wonder follows an 11-year-old girl Irish girl called Anna who one day stops eating and miraculously stays alive. An English nurse called Lib Wright is sent to observe Anna and decide whether her survival is a miracle or a blasphemous lie with help from nun from the neighbouring town. From 16 November, Netflix.

Books to read 5 of 21

Fleishman Is In Trouble, Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Toby Fleishman gets into dating apps at 40 years old after his first divorce. Miraculously he finds the romantic success he never could in his youth but at the start of his single life his ex vanishes and leaves him with the kids. Coming soon, Disney+

Books to read6 of 21

She Said, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) and Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) shook the showbiz world that uncovered Havey Weinstein’s serial abuse of women in Hollywood. It's a pacy thriller, that explores ethical journalism and the scandal that shook the showbiz world. In cinemas 25 November 2022.

books to read 7 of 21

The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah

Starring IRL sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning, The Nightingale tells the tory of two sisters in France whose lives are torn apart at the onset of War War II. In cinemas 30 December

Books to read 8 of 21

Women Talking, Miriam Toews

Women in a remote Mennonite community have been waking up bruised every morning and many are pregnant. Religious leaders have said God is punishing them for their sins but when one of the group sees the attacker in their room the horrible reality of their abuse is revealed. In cinemas 10 February 2023

Books to read 9 of 21

Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Judy Blume

Fitting in, friendship, bras: Margaret is going through all the things a teenage girl normally does. But she doesn't know whether she wants to be Christian like her mum or Jewish like her dad. So, when she struggles to fit in at school she turns to one person for the answers: God. In cinemas 28 April 2023.

Books to read 10 of 21

Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Following a fictional rock band in the 1970s as they rise to fame in the LA, the TV-adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six will be presented in a documentary style starring Riley Keough, Sam Claflin and Suki Waterhouse. Coming soon to Prime Video

Books to read 11 of 21

Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams

Channel 4 has made all our dreams come true by announcing that Candice Carty-Williams' Queenie, a novel about the life and loves of 25-year-old British-Jamaican Queen Jenkins, is to be made into a TV series. We can't wait. Coming soon

Books to read 12 of 21

The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave

The Last Thing He Told Me opens with Hannah receiving a note from her husband Owen that reads two simple works, 'Protect her.' Hannah knows exactly who it's referring to: her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey, who tragically lost her mother as a child. But as Hannah's calls to Owen go unanswered and his boss is arrested for fraud, Hannah realises her husband might not be who he says he is… Coming soon, Apple TV+

Books to read 13 of 21

The Stars at Noon, Denis Johnson

Set in 1984, this story follows an unnamed American woman during the Nicaraguan Revolution as she works as a journalist — or so we're told. She then meets an unnamed English oil businessman (Robert Pattinson); the two fall in love and are forced to flee the country. A UK release date is still TBC

books to read 14 of 21

Cult Following: My Escape and Return to the Children of God, Bexy Cameron

Dakota Johnson is set to star in the insane, inspiring true story of Bexy Cameron who grew up in the religious cult the Children of God. Upcoming

Books to read 15 of 21

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid

79-year-old Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo finally decides to give one tell-all interview, but only if it's with unknown journalist Monique Grant. Coming soon, Netflix

Books to read 16 of 21

Exciting Times, Naoise Dolan

Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney, Exciting Times follows 22-year-old Ava as she leaves home in Ireland for the first time to move to Hong-Kong. Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor has been cast in the lead role. Coming soon, Prime Video

Books to read 17 of 21

Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hulu is set to bring Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid's book of the summer, to small screens soon. Follow along with the four Riva siblings in the summer of 1983 as they throw one last epic party in Malibu. Upcoming

Books to read 18 of 21

Lady In The Lake, Laura Lippman

Set to star Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong'o and set in the 60s, Lady In The Lake follows an obsessive investigative journalist who butts heads with a woman attempting to champion the black community. Coming soon, Apple TV+

Books to read 19 of 21

The Pisces, Melissa Broder

Set to star Claire Foy, The Pisces follows a depressed PhD student called Lucy as she dog-sits for her sister in LA after a recent break up and subsequent writer's block. Over the summer she falls in love with a merman called Theo and things just get steamier from there...Upcoming

Books to read 20 of 21

Foe, Iain Reid

Set to star Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, Foe follows Hen and Junior, a young married couple living a quiet life on a farm until one night when the arrival of a stranger called Terrance changes everything. Upcoming

Books to read 21 of 21

All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

All The Light We Cannot See follows the lives of two teenagers: a blind French girl named Marie-Laure and a German orphan named Wener Pfennig who is forced to join the Nazi Regime during World War II. Their paths cross during the merciless conflict. But can they find it in themselves to be kind? Coming soon, Netflix.

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