10 Books Made into Movies and TV Shows
These ten books became movies or TV shows that people watched for weeks in cinemas or kept streaming on platforms. Many of them kept people talking for months and brought readers back to the page. Read these books before you watch and you will notice how stories change from page to screen. Below each title you will find a short, simple take on the book and the adaptation, plus buying links where available.
1. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s story follows Lily, a woman whose past shapes the way she loves. The book looks closely at abuse and the hard choices that follow. The film version kept the main emotional scenes and brought strong performances to the screen. Watching the movie after reading helps you understand how the characters feel inside, while the book gives more of their private thoughts and background. The movie had a long run and sparked many public conversations about relationships and safety.
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2. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
This prequel explores the early life of Coriolanus Snow and shows how a young man becomes a ruler shaped by pain and power. Suzanne Collins digs into politics, ambition, and the cost of winning. The film kept the large world of Panem and its complicated politics, and it stayed in public talk for months after release because fans discussed every detail online. Reading the book gives you more of Snow’s inner conflict, while the movie gives the scenes a strong visual weight.
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3. Dune: Part Two by Frank Herbert
The Dune novels have been shaping science fiction for decades. Part two of the recent film series continued Paul Atreides’ journey through politics, prophecy, and war. The movie was praised for its scale, sound, and detail and enjoyed long runs in theatres. Watching the film gives a powerful visual sense of the desert world and its people, while the book gives the deeper ideas about power, faith, and the costs of leadership. It brought many new readers back to the original novel.
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4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Delia Owens’ novel follows Kya, a girl who grows up alone in the marsh and survives by learning about the world around her. The story mixes coming of age with a mystery that changes everything. The movie highlighted the wild beauty of the marsh and kept audiences coming back. The novel offers richer detail about Kya’s life and silence, while the film turns the setting into a vivid character. Both versions pushed people to discuss nature, loneliness, and justice.
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5. A Man Called Otto by Fredrik Backman
Backman’s original novel is a gentle story about a lonely man whose life slowly opens up through small acts of kindness. The English film adaptation brings Tom Hanks to the role with warmth and quiet humor. The movie stayed among the top streamed films for weeks after release. The book gives more of the main character’s inner life, and the film captures his warmth in a way that made many viewers smile and then think about the people around them.
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6. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah’s novel follows two sisters in wartime France and shows the choices they make to survive and protect others. The book is known for its emotional power and scenes of courage. The film adaptation has drawn early attention because of its cast and subject, and many readers returned to the novel to revisit the sisters’ stories. The book gives long, quiet scenes of inner strength, while the film promises to add vivid visuals and performances that bring those moments to life.
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7. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker’s novel about family, survival, and hope returned to the screen as a musical that attracted wide attention in 2023. The story follows lives marked by pain and then lifted by love and friendship. Both the book and the film are powerful in different ways. The book gives an intimate look inside the characters, and the film fills the story with music and color that made many new viewers seek out the novel afterward.
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8. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
David Grann’s true crime book uncovers a tragic and shocking chapter of American history. The film adaptation by Martin Scorsese turned it into a major event, bringing the story to wide audiences and keeping it in cinemas and on streaming for a long time. The movie gives a strong visual story of greed and betrayal, while the book goes deeper into the investigation and the people who lived it. Both versions leave a lasting impression about justice and memory.
View product9. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Bonnie Garmus’ novel became a hit for its mix of humor, science, and quiet strength. The TV series turned the story of Elizabeth Zott into a streaming favorite, mixing sharp moments of wit and serious questions about how women were treated in science. The show kept viewers talking on social platforms and inspired many people to read the book. The book gives more detail about Elizabeth’s inner life, while the series brings her courage and humor to the screen in vivid episodes.
View product10. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Julia Quinn’s romantic series inspired a bright, stylish TV show that became a global hit. Each season took a book and turned it into a lively drama of love, manners, and gossip. The show sparked fashion trends and book sales alike. The novels offer more context and inner feelings for each character, while the series adds music, color, and a fast pace that made many viewers explore the books afterward. It is a great example of a book series that found new life on screen.
Available soon at Perfect Book HouseBooks and films tell the same story in different ways. Books let you live inside a character’s mind and savor detail. Films and series give you faces, music, and visuals that can surprise or move you in new ways. Read the book first if you want extra depth, watch the movie to see the world come alive, and enjoy both — they make each other better.