Endless Summer Book-to-Screen

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • June 23, 2026

Summer is almost here! Whether lounging in a backyard hammock, spending long days at the beach, or vacationing, summertime calls for an abundance of good reading material. As part of our Endless Summer reading project, we've put together a few curated collections to help you fill out your summer TBR list. Check out previous Endless Summer posts:

• Dive Into a New Series for Summer
• Endless Summer Beach Reads
• Endless Summer Special Editions
• Endless Summer Children's Books
• Endless Summer Thrills and Chills

This summer, there are plenty of exciting new book-to-screen adaptations to enjoy. But before we watch, we're going to read (or reread) the source material, because, as we all know, the book is (almost) always better. Here are 20 of the books that inspired all the best new and upcoming adaptations.

Note: Age recommendations often vary between the book and its adaptation. We have consulted internet sources such as commonsensemedia.org to provide age recommendations and ratings for many of these materials, but we encourage readers to do their own research before watching.

• The Stranger by Albert Camus—Available to rent or buy on Prime Video or Apple TV
  This 1946 novel centers on Meursault, a detached, French-Algerian clerk who unwittingly gets drawn into a senseless murder on a sundrenched Algerian beach. The Nobel Prize winning author has said he was exploring what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd." Written and directed by François Ozon, the award-winning French film stars Benjamin Voisin.
• Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe—Series is streaming now on Apple TV
  A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman's attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world. It's a playful and honest examination of the art of storytelling and controlling your own narrative. The series, rated TV-MA, stars Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Greg Kinnear, and Nicole Kidman.
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding—Miniseries premieres on Netflix May 4
  Before Yellowjackets, there was this 1954 novel about a group of schoolboys marooned on a remote island who descend into savagery and violence after trying to govern themselves. This classic tale of survival and human nature is being reimagined as a four-part Netflix series rated TV-MA.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt—Premiering on Netflix May 8
  Marcellus is a keenly intelligent giant Pacific octopus who forms an unlikely bond with Tova, the night cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. This heartwarming story about friendship, reckoning, hope, and a curmudgeonly octopus is being adapted as a film starring Sally Field and Grace Van Patten.
• The Deal by Elle Kennedy—Season one of Off Campus is streaming now on Prime Video
  When straight-laced college student Hannah proposes a fake romance with campus hockey star Garret Graham, neither one of them expects real feelings to follow. Season one of the new adult, ice hockey rom-com adaptation is based on the first two books in the series: The Deal and The Mistake. The series is rated TV-MA.
• Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger—The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in theaters now
  In the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, it's been ten years since Andy quit the job at Runway and since then, she and Emily have joined forces to start a high-end bridal magazine. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprise their roles in the new film.
• Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald—Streaming now on Apple TV
  Sam Bowden has it all: a successful law career and a loving family. But fourteen years ago, Bowden's testimony put Max Cady behind bars. Now Cady is out, and he's coming after everything Bowden holds dear. The new miniseries, with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg on board as executive producers, stars Javier Bardem and Amy Adams. It is rated TV-MA.
• Every Summer After by Carly Fortune—Every Year After is streaming now on Prime Video
  For six summers growing up in Barry's Bay, Percy and Sam had been inseparable. Eventually their friendship turned into something more, before it fell spectacularly apart. Now Percy is back in town for Sam's mother's funeral. Their connection is still undeniable, but can they get past the mistakes of their past?
• Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko—In theaters now
  Inspired by one of her own songs, singer-songwriter Kiyoko wrote this coming-of-age novel following seventeen-year-old Coley over one transformative summer as she navigates the grief of her mother's death, the exhilaration of her first love, and the power of embracing her sexual identity. Kiyoko also co-wrote and directed the film, which is rated R.
• Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder—premieres on Netflix on July 9
  The beloved Little House series traces the experiences of the author as she and her family make a life in the American West. The series has, of course, already been adapted as a popular 1970s television show. The new Netflix adaptation features a fresh cast and a story closer to Wilder’s original books. The new production is rated TV-PG.
• The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand—premieres on Peacock on July 9
  Hollis Shaw's seemingly picture-perfect life is shattered when her husband is killed in a car accident. As she looks for ways to heal, she decides to host a "Five-Star Weekend", inviting four friends, each from different stages in her life, to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket Island. Starring Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, and Darcy C'Arden, the series is rated TV-MA.
• Lucky by Marissa Stapley—premieres on Apple TV on July 15
  Lucky Armstrong is a tough, talented grifter who has just pulled off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend, Cary. She's ready to start a brand-new life, with a new identity—when things go sideways. This is a novel about truth, personal redemption, and the complexity of being good. Anya Taylor-Joy and Annette Bening star in the limited series, rated TV-MA.
• The Odyssey by Homer—Comes to theaters July 17
  Homer's ancient epic poem follows the hero Odysseus on a perilous ten-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the newest film adaptation of the ancient Greek epic boasts a glittery cast including: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. The film is rated R for violence.
• Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice Osman—Heartstopper Forever premieres on Netflix on July 17
  Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. Charlie and Nick balance love with new independence as they face the challenge of a long-distance relationship. Get your preorder in for the final graphic novel (out July 7) in the bestselling Heartstopper series about life, love, and everything that happens in between. This also marks the end of the series adaptation, rated TV-MA.
• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain—Tony premieres in theaters August 7
  The late celebrity chef's bestselling memoir features revealing stories about his early years working in a Cape Cod restaurant. The upcoming film, co-written and directed by Matt Johnson, draws from Bourdain's coming-of-age and training under the tutelage of Ciro, a Brazilian-born restaurateur. The film stars Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, and Leo Woodall.
• The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton—The Magic Faraway Tree premieres in theaters August 21
  Joe, Beth and Frannie are three young siblings who move with their parents to the countryside, where they find the Enchanted Wood on the doorstep of their new home, and when they discover The Magic Faraway Tree it is the start of a wonderful series of magical adventures. The fantasy adventure film adaptation stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, and Rebecca Ferguson.
• The Dog Stars by Peter Heller—Premieres in theaters August 28
  Hig's wife is gone, his friends are dead, and he lives in the hangar of a small abandoned airport with his dog, Jasper, and a mercurial, gun-toting misanthrope named Bangley. This post-apocalyptic story is a gripping ode to friendship and the value of life. The film adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, and Guy Pearce.
• The Whisper Man by Alex North—Premieres on Netflix August 28
  This dark, suspenseful thriller weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of a decades-old case of a serial killer convicted of preying on a small town. Tom Kennedy is a grieving young widower whose life is turned upside down when his young son is abducted. The psychological thriller film, rated R, stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, and Michael Keaton.
• The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman—Practical Magic 2 is coming to theaters September 11
  For over three-hundred years a curse has kept the Owens family from love—but all of that is about to change in this breathtaking conclusion to the Practical Magic series. Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest reprise their roles from the 1998 film alongside new cast members Joey King, Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, and Xolo Maridueña.
• The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie—Tommy & Tuppence Premieres on Netflix September 15
  Alongside her better known sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Christie deemed Tommy & Tuppence her favorite creations and her enthusiasm for the couple is apparent on the page. The new six-part miniseries offers a modern take on the series, set in upscale London. The duo tackles murders and mysteries amidst playful chemistry and witty banter.

Most anticipated

Here are a few of the exciting upcoming adaptations we've got on our radar.

• East of Eden by John Steinbeck—Zoe Kazan created the newest adaptation of the classic novel. Starring Florence Pugh, Martha Plimpton, and Ciaran Hinds, the Netflix series is slated for a fall release date
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood—The movie adaptation, starring Lili Reinhart, of the bestselling rom-com will be released on Amazon Prime September 23.
• Verity by Colleen Hoover—This bestselling novel is coming to theaters October 2 as a psychological erotic thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett.
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro—Directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Natasha Lyonne, the adaptation is slated for release in October of 2026.
• Wildwood by Colin Meloy—The 2011 novel will come to theaters as an epic stop-motion animated fantasy film on October 23.
• Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan—The adaptation of this romantic supernatural thriller, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, comes to theaters October 23.
• Carrie by Stephen King—Mike Flanagan has adapted King's 1974 novel as a miniseries slated to premiere in October on Prime Video.
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen—Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles lead the cast for the newest film adaptation of Austen's first novel slated for an November 4 release.
• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss—A reimagined family-friendly take on the classic children's story will arrive in theaters November 6.
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens—Ebeneezer: a Christmas Carol will be a new adaptation of the beloved 1843 novel coming to theaters November 13 and starring Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, and Daisy Ridley.
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins—The Hunger Games franchise continues with this adaptation in theaters November 20. Stars include Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Ralph Fiennes, and Glenn Close.
• Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert—Dune: Part Three, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is scheduled to be released in theaters in December 2026.
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller—The HBO adaptation of this deeply emotional love story will star Anne Hathaway and Dakota Fanning.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen—The beloved classic returns in a faithful series adaptation by Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden.
• The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis—Greta Gerwig directs the epic adaptation of this prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Hopefully this has given you some ideas for titles to add to your shelves this summer. And shop our Endless Summer Reads page where you can get in on summer promos.

Keep an eye out for upcoming Endless Summer posts, including:

• Best new books for travel
• Summerween

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