What To Read

Hollywood has long been fond of book adaptations, and in the age of streaming, movies based on novels have become even more of a staple. During 148 days of the WGA writers strike, adaptations were put on ice along with original series and films so we can expect to see some delays in the release of book-to-screen projects. Luckily, we've still got a spate of epic adaptations to enjoy through the fall and holiday season.

This year, the crop of movies based on books included a classic Agatha Christie novel, a viral queer romance thankfully available for streaming (looking at you, Red, White, and Royal Blue) and a dark tale by Ottessa Moshfegh starring Anne Hathaway. We’ve collected a watch/read list including these, plus a handful of other popular books made into movies this year. These books stay true to their origins while captivating audiences with stunning visuals, music and, of course, star talent.  

1. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Recently adapted into a film by award-winning director Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio in “the best performance of his life” according to IndieWire critic David Ehrlich, Killers of the Flower Moon is a National Book Award Finalist and bestseller. It takes place in the 1920s, after oil riches led to prosperity for the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. The nation faced a series of mysterious murders, prompting the fledgling FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, to investigate and uncover a deep-seated conspiracy. DON'T SLEEP ON picking this one up before the film comes out on October 20.

2. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

An iconic coming-of-age tale, this was also one of the most highly anticipated book-to-film adaptations of the year. Both the novel and film follow Margaret Simon as she navigates preteen life after moving to New Jersey, forming a unique bond with God while facing peer and family pressures, and making personal discoveries. If you're a parent, this one's required reading for the kids once they hit 9 or 10.

3. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Earning Alice Walker a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - and making her the first Black woman to receive this award — The Color Purple is a powerful chronicle about the enduring bond, struggle, and resilience of African American women in early 20th century rural Georgia. The captivating story was turned into a movie the first time in 1985 by Steven Spielberg and featured Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. Now it’s getting another revamp as a musical set to be released at the end of the year. 

4. American Prometheus by Kai Bird

Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer has earned more than $850 million in box office sales globally, and continues to captivate audiences with its depiction of the father of the atomic bomb. The movie is inspired by the biography American Prometheus, which the Los Angeles Times Book Review described as a "masterful account of Oppenheimer's rise and fall, set in the context of the turbulent decades of America's own transformation. It is a tour de force." This has been one of the bestselling books on Tertulia in the past few months!

5. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

A psychological thriller with an apocalyptic twist, Leave the World Behind follows a couple’s vacation in a remote Long Island home when it’s disrupted by the home's owners, who arrive in a panic about a citywide blackout. Now, a film by the same name is coming to Netflix in December and counts Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali among its star-studded cast. 

6. The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

An example of movies based on books that take some creative liberties, Knock at the Cabin is the thriller directed by Hollywood powerhouse M. Night Shyamalan that is loosely based on the novel by Paul Tremblay. While there are some commonalities between the two, Tremblay called the movie’s ending “ is way darker than my book” in an L.A Times interview. Will you agree? Find out by reading this immersive apocalyptic novel, and catching the film version.

7. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

A Hercule Poirot novel from the most widely published author of all time (Christie is only outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare), Hallowe’en fittingly takes place at a Halloween party, after teenager Joyce claims to have witnessed a murder. She’s found dead, prompting Hercule Poirot to determine if he's seeking one murderer or two. Turning Christie’s books into movies isn’t new for Kenneth Branagh, who directed and starred in both Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. But now he’s resuming his role as Poirot in the Hallowe’en-inspired A Haunting in Venice. Now in theaters!

8. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games series are among the best book-to-movie adaptations thanks to their iconic characters, powerful storylines, and epic world-building. Their highly visual and creative nature makes them perfectly suited to the big screen. The next in the series by Suzanne Collins to go from book to movie is this story, which acts as a preface to the rest of the collection. It follows Coriolanus Snow during the 10th Hunger Games as he mentors the least favored tribute from District 12, leading him to a complex web of strategy, survival, and unexpected emotions. In the film adaptation, due out in November, Rachel Zegler leads the cast in this tale that explores the origin story behind the infamous President Snow.

9. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Roald Dahl’s classics, especially when you realize it’s a horror story,” says Ann-Marie Cahill of Book Riot, summing up why this novel worked so well as a film. And that’s probably why it’s been turned into a movie not once, not twice, but three times. The latest version – called simply Wonka – is actually technically a prequel and stars  Timothée Chalamet in the lead role. It's out December 15, so plenty of time to read the book first.

10. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A guilty pleasure read? Maybe. But there’s no denying that this New York Times bestselling novel is captivating. Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six, had to say: "Red, White & Royal Blue is outrageously fun. It is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. I loved every second." And now, you can catch it streaming on Amazon Prime. Even the rehearsal photos from the film’s set went viral, proving this adaptation is one to watch.

11. Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

The author of New York Times bestseller My Year of Rest and Relaxation brings us another dark tale that follows Eileen Dunlop as she’s trapped between caring for her alcoholic father and her job at a boys' prison. Her mundane life is disrupted by the enchanting Rebecca Saint John, leading her into a dark crime beyond her expectations. Following in the footsteps of other great books turned into movies, the film adaptation of Eileen – which stars Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie – premiered at Sundance this year and is slated to premiere in theaters December. 

As for the eternal question of whether to read the book first or see the movie, you know what our answer is going to be! Reading the book is more of a commitment, but it will give you more insight into characters and  deeper engagement with the plot – especially when it’s a classic. But if these books are lower on your TBR and you think you might never get to them at all, then you can’t go wrong with these captivating adaptations.