What's New and Coming Soon in Book-to-Screen

Including 'The Book of Magic', 'East of Eden', 'Victorian Psycho', and more

We're headed into fall soon and the season is full 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 18 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 Shards by Bret Easton Ellis  

Streaming now on Hulu 

From the best-selling author of Less Than Zero and American Psycho, comes this semiautobiographical psychological thriller following a group of privileged high school friends in a vibrantly fictionalized 1980s Los Angeles as a serial killer strikes across the city. The slick stylish series adaptation, created by Ryan Murphy is rated for mature audiences. 

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton 

The Magic Faraway Tree is in theaters now 

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 Last Sunrise by Anna Todd  

Premieres on Prime Video August 26 

This romance follows Ry, a sheltered young woman living with a chronic illness, as she travels to Mallorca with her mother who has business in the area. When Ry falls for Julian, a free-spirited, charismatic local, she begins to come out of her shell and imagine a different life. The film adaptation, rated R, features Eva Longoria as Ry's overprotective mom.   

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. 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.  

Drawn Together by Mercedes Ron  

Premieres on Prime Video August 26 

Not to be confused with Comedy Central's long-defunct animated series this movie is based on the Enfrentados duology following Marfil Cortés, the daughter of a Spanish tycoon. After Marfil escapes a mysterious NYC kidnapping, her father hires the enigmatic Sebastian Moore to be her bodyguard. The Spanish-language film explores adult themes and will likely be rated for mature audiences. 

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 BritBox 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, set in upscale, contemporary London. The duo tackles murders and mysteries amidst playful chemistry and witty banter. 

The  Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood 

Premieres on Prime Video September 23 

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos. Third-year Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting love and when she sets out to prove her theory, she finds it isn’t as simple as she thought. The movie adaptation, rated R, stars Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.  

East of Eden by John Steinbeck 

Premieres on Netflix October 1 

Set in California's Salinas Valley, this sprawling novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons in a modern retelling of the Book of Genesis. The 1955 film adaptation was famously directed by Elia Kazan. And now his granddaughter, actress and writer Zoe Kazan, is following in his footsteps with this limited series, starring Florence Pugh.     

Carrie by Stephen King 

Premieres on Prime Video October 1 

Carrie White may be picked on by her classmates, but she has a gift. And she’s learning how to use it. King's legendary debut tells the story of a teenage outcast and the revenge she enacts on her enemies. Mike Flanagan has adapted the 1974 novel as a miniseries starring Summer Howell. While there is no official rating yet, this series is likely to be inappropriate for children.  

Verity by Colleen Hoover 

Coming to theaters October 2 

Lowen Ashleigh thinks she has landed the job of a lifetime when the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford hires the struggling writer to complete his injured wife’s novels. But the job turns out to be more than she bargained for. The adaptation, rated R, is described as a psychological erotic thriller, starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett. 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen 

Coming to theaters October 16 

This classic has been adapted before, of course, but we never get tired of fresh new takes on Austen’s beloved novels. The new film, rated PG, is described a charming, witty, and deeply relatable story of love and sisterhood directed by Georgia Oakley and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, George MacKay, and Fiona Shaw. 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro 

Coming to theaters October 23 

This novel from the Nobel Prize-winning author of Never Let Me Go imagines a future in which parents enter a shop, looking for an Artificial Friend for their lonely child. From her place in the store, Klara remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Natasha Lyonne, the film adaptation is rated PG-13.  

Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis 

Coming to theaters October 23 

For fans of The Chronicles of Narnia comes the first middle-grade novel in the Wildwood Chronicles. Prue and her friend Curtis uncover a secret world within the landscape of modern-day Portland. The stop-motion film, rated PG-13, features voicework from a host of stars including Awkafina, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Carey Mulligan, and others. 

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss 

Coming to theaters November 6 

"I know some new tricks," said the Cat in the Hat. "A lot of good tricks. I will show them to you. Your mother will not mind at all if I do." The reimagined family-friendly take on the classic children's story stars Bill Hader as the titular cat. Other members of the stellar voice cast include Xochiti Gomez, Tiago Martinez, America Ferrera, Quinta Brunson, and Giancarlo Esposito.  

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito  

Coming to theaters November 13 

In 1858, an eccentric young governess, Winifred Notty, arrives at the remote gothic manor Ensor House. As Winifred assimilates, staff begin to inexplicably disappear, and her employers wonder if something is amiss about this new governess. The film adaptation of this horror thriller is rated R, leaning gleefully into the graphic violence and bloody gore depicted in the book. 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens— 

Ebeneezer: a Christmas Carol will come to theaters November 13 

Ebeneezer Scrooge is a man whose cold heart has long since abandoned the warmth of human connection. Until one fateful Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghosts. It's safe to say that this beloved holiday classic, published in 1843, has been the subject of countless adaptations over the years. The new film, not yet rated, stars Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, and Daisy Ridley.  

Most anticipated

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

• 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. 

• Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan—The adaptation of this romantic supernatural thriller, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, comes to theaters Feb. 5. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram to connect with a community of readers like you and get daily book recommendations, literary tidbits, and more. 

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon