There’s nothing quite like reading the book before everyone starts talking about the movie or TV adaptation. You get the full emotional depth, the internal monologues, the pacing exactly as the author intended, and then you get to be that person who says, “The book was better,” or at least, “The book explained that so much more.”
With 2026 shaping up to be a big year for book-to-screen adaptations, now is the perfect time to update your reading list. From romance and thrillers to sci-fi and literary classics, these are the books worth picking up before their on-screen counterparts take over theaters and streaming platforms.
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
(Movie already released)
Even though the film adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation is already out, it still deserves a top spot on this list, especially if you’ve already watched the movie and want to compare it to the source material.
Emily Henry’s beloved novel follows Poppy and Alex, two opposites who meet in college and strike up an unlikely friendship that evolves over a decade of shared summer trips. The book excels at capturing the quiet intimacy of long-term friendship, the slow burn of unspoken feelings, and the bittersweet tension of timing that never quite works out.
While the movie brings their story to life visually, the novel offers far more emotional nuance, particularly through Poppy’s inner thoughts and the gradual unraveling of what went wrong between them. If you’re interested in exploring how romance translates from page to screen, this is a perfect example, and a great starting point for any book-to-movie comparison blog post.
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
(Netflix series premiered January 8)
Alice Feeney’s His & Hers is a psychological thriller built on one chilling idea: every story has multiple versions, and someone is always lying.
Set in a small British town, the story alternates between two narrators, a local detective investigating a brutal murder and a high-profile news anchor covering the case. Their professional paths collide in unsettling ways, made even more complicated by their shared romantic past. As the investigation deepens, secrets surface, perspectives blur, and the truth becomes increasingly difficult to pin down.
The Netflix adaptation, which premiered on January 8, leans heavily into this dual-narrative tension, but the book remains the best way to fully experience Feeney’s masterful misdirection. Reading it first allows you to question every motive, every memory, and every assumption, long before the screen version reveals its hand.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
(In theaters March 20)
If you love high-stakes science fiction with heart, Project Hail Mary should be at the very top of your reading list.
Andy Weir’s novel opens with a man waking up alone aboard a spacecraft, completely unaware of who he is or why he’s there. Slowly, through fragments of memory and scientific problem-solving, he realizes that he may be humanity’s last hope against an extinction-level threat.
What makes the book so compelling is its blend of hard science, humor, and emotional payoff. Weir excels at making complex concepts accessible while keeping the story fast-paced and deeply human. With Ryan Gosling starring in the film adaptation, premiering March 20, expectations are high, and reading the book beforehand will give you a richer appreciation for the scale, ingenuity, and emotional stakes of the story.
The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
(Netflix series premiered January 15)
Agatha Christie adaptations are practically a genre of their own, and The Seven Dials Mystery is the latest to receive a modern screen revival.
The story begins at a country house gathering where a harmless prank spirals into something far more sinister. When a guest fails to wake up, a chain of secrets, symbols, and suspicious characters emerges, drawing amateur sleuths and professional investigators alike into the mystery.
While the novel was not initially as well received as some of Christie’s other works, its intricate plotting and eccentric characters make it ripe for reinterpretation. The Netflix miniseries, which premiered January 15, offers the story a chance at redemption, but reading the book first gives you insight into Christie’s original vision and how adaptations can reshape overlooked classics.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
(In theaters March 13)
Colleen Hoover continues her reign over book-to-film adaptations with Reminders of Him, a deeply emotional story about grief, redemption, and second chances.
The novel follows Kenna Rowan, a young woman trying to rebuild her life after serving time for a tragic mistake that changed everything. Returning to the town she left behind, she hopes to reconnect with her young daughter, but is met with resistance, judgment, and closed doors at every turn. The only person willing to give her a chance is someone who shouldn’t.
Hoover’s strength lies in emotional immediacy, and the book delivers heartbreak and hope in equal measure. With the film hitting theaters on March 13, reading the novel first allows you to fully experience the emotional weight of Kenna’s journey before it’s condensed for the screen.
Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
(Netflix series premiered January 22)
Just in time for Winter Olympics season, Finding Her Edge brings figure skating drama to Netflix, but the book offers far more depth than the screen adaptation alone.
Jennifer Iacopelli’s novel reimagines Persuasion in the competitive world of elite ice dancing. Adriana Russo comes from a legendary skating family and carries the pressure of expectations, public image, and unfinished business with a former partner who shattered her heart years earlier.
As Adriana navigates fake relationships, family demands, and the possibility of rekindled love, the story blends romance with ambition and self-discovery. Reading the book first gives you a deeper understanding of Adriana’s emotional stakes and the quiet intensity behind the glittering performances.
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
(Netflix series premiered January 29)
Season four of Netflix’s wildly popular Regency romance series shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, and his love story is one of the most fairy-tale-inspired in the series.
An Offer From a Gentleman is Julia Quinn’s Cinderella retelling, featuring a masked ball, a mysterious woman, and a romance complicated by class and circumstance. Sophie, a servant with a hidden past, captures Benedict’s heart, but reality soon intrudes on their fantasy.
While the show is known for creative liberties, reading the book offers a clearer sense of the emotional arc, character motivations, and romantic tension that made the story a fan favorite long before its screen debut.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
(In theaters February 14)
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights returns to the big screen with a bold new adaptation, premiering on February 14, and it’s a reminder that this is not a conventional love story.
Set against the bleak beauty of the English moors, the novel explores obsession, revenge, and the destructive nature of unchecked passion. Heathcliff and Catherine’s bond is intense, volatile, and deeply unsettling, challenging the idea of romance itself.
Reading the book before seeing the film is essential, as its emotional complexity and moral ambiguity often get softened in adaptations. Brontë’s prose and atmosphere provide context that no visual alone can fully replicate.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a devoted reader, a movie lover, or both, these book-to-screen adaptations offer the perfect excuse to read ahead. There’s something uniquely satisfying about recognizing scenes, catching changes, and forming your own opinions before the internet weighs in.
So grab your reading list, mark those release dates, and enjoy being ahead of the curve, because in 2026, the book really does come first. 📚🎬
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