“When you’re making a movie of a book, people are always waiting with their knives.”
2024 has been a stellar one for book lovers and movie fanatics alike, with some of the most hotly-anticipated book-to-screen adaptations finally finding their way onto the big screen. Whether you’re a tense thriller addict or a fan of epic fantasy sagas, there’s something for every audience as the most beloved and bestselling novels take on a new life through film and television. So, if you’re keen to see how your favourite stories transform into visual masterpieces, or just curious about the next big thing in the filmmaking world, join us today at What We Reading as we run you through some of the most talked-about book-to-screen adaptations for 2024. Our picks have pulled together the best adaptations of the year, and offer a mix of faithful recreations to bold reimaginings that promise to delight both purists and newcomers!
It Ends With Us (It Ends With Us #1) – Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed romance read It Ends with Us, is kicking off our list of the best book-to-screen adaptations from 2024. Originally published back in 2016, when It Ends With Us hit the big screens across the globe in August, it broke headlines for its big box office records, as well as its juicy gossip from behind the scenes.
It Ends With Us is the story of Lily Bloom, a young woman who finds herself drawn into a relationship with the charming neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid. As their romance deepens, Lily grapples with the memories of her previous love, Atlas Corrigan, who reappears in her life. Based on her own parents’ relationship and exploring themes of emotional abuse and the struggle to find self-worth, Hoover described It Ends with Us as the hardest book she has ever written.
Check Out The Best Books Like It Ends With Us
The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot #1) – Peter Brown
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone in a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there, or what her purpose is. All she knows is that she has to survive. After narrowly surviving some of the island’s trickiest challenges, she realises that she must adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s less-than-helpful locals.
Premiering in October 2024 as one of the most heartwarming book to screen adaptations from Universal Studios, The Wild Robot was originally published in 2016 by award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown. With the on-screen adaptation starring the likes of Lupita Nyong’o Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor and Stephanie Hsu, it is a touching tale about what happens when technology and nature collide.
The Nickel Boys – Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead’s 2019 historical fiction novel The Nickel Boys is set during the Jim Crow era and offers a harrowing visualisation of the real-life horrors of a reform school in Florida. The story follows two boys, Elwood Curtis and Turner, who are both sent to the Nickel Academy, a reform school for Black boys. Inspired by the teachings of Martin Luther King, Elwood is an idealist who believes in justice, whilst Turner is far more of a cynic, learning from the harsh environments around them.
The announcement that The Nickel Boys would be made into a movie was one of the big book-to-screen adaptation announcements from 2024. Set for a release in early 2025, the film is directed by RaMell Ross, Oscar-nominee for the documentary Hal County This Morning, This Evening, and stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson.
The Idea Of You – Robinne Lee
In Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You, Solène Marchand is a thirty-nine-year-old divorced mother who unexpectedly embarks on a relationship with Hayes Campbell, a twenty-year-old member of a famous boy band. What starts out as a simple fling soon develops into an emotionally intense and increasingly complicated affair as the pair are forced to navigate their age difference and the intense scrutiny from fans and the media.
Offering a nuanced look at love, passion, the pressure of fame and the challenges that come with breaking conventional social norms, The Idea of You received one of the hottest book-to-movie adaptations in 2024 back in May with its release starring Anne Hathaway.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Idea Of You
The Three-Body Problem (The Three-Body Problem #1) – Liu Cixin
Beginning during the heyday of China’s infamous Cultural Revolution, The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin follows the discovery of an alien civilisation. Scientists on Earth make contact with the Trisolarans, a species that faces extinction due to the chaotic orbits of their three suns. As the Trisolarans prepare to invade, human factions on the planet grapple with how they will respond – either welcoming the technologically superior aliens or preparing for war.
One of the most acclaimed works of science fiction in modern times, the book-to-series adaptation of The Three-Body Problem has proven to be one of the biggest success stories from 2024. Releasing in March, The Three-Body Problem premiered on Netflix and was created by Alexander Woo, David Benioff, and D. B. Weiss, their first television series following the conclusion of Game of Thrones.
The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer #1) – Viet Thanh Nguyen
A winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, The Sympathizer is the historical fiction debut novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The story follows the fate of a North Vietnamese spy operating in the heart of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and during his exile in a Vietnamese community in the United States.
One of the best examples of how to effortlessly dance over multiple genres in a single read, Ngyuen’s gripping spy novel is a moving love story, that explores a life between two worlds, the legacy of the Vietnam War and how it is portrayed, and the dangers of extreme politics. One of the best book-to-screen adaptations from 2024 following its release in May, The Sympathizer is a black comedy drama miniseries starring Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr. and Toan Le.
Check Out The Best Books That Should Be Movies
The Watchers (The Watchers #1) – A.M. Shine
The Watchers is a suspenseful and atmospheric horror novel by A.M. Shine set in the remote Irish wilderness. There, a woman named Mina becomes stranded after her car breaks down. In her search for help, she comes across an old house where she joins three other survivors who are trapped by monsters known as the Watchers who only emerge at night. Bound by strict rules, the group must avoid being seen by the Watchers.
With the first book in the series being published in 2021, The Watchers incorporates elements of sci-fi, fantasy, folklore and weird science as well as its labyrinthine horror. Another one of the most chilling book-to-screen adaptations from 2024, The Watchers was made into a feature film in the summer, starring Dakota Fanning and being directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Watchers
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz (The Tattooist Of Auschwitz #1) – Heather Morris
Based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish man imprisoned in Auschwitz during the Second World War, The Tattooist of Auschwitz was nominated for Readers’ Favourite Historical Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards following its publishing in 2018. Forced to work as the camp’s tattooist, Lale marks his fellow prisoners with identification numbers. Whilst enduring the horrors of the Holocaust, he encounters and falls in love with a female prisoner, Ginta.
Morris’ searing World War II story captures the brutality of the Holocaust but also captures the enduring power of survival, love and hope. The 2024 book-to-screen adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz was a collaboration between US, UK and Australian production companies, debuting across all territories simultaneously in May.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Tattooist Of Auschwitz
One Day – David Nicholls
With the romance genre being one of the most saturated in the literary world, it can be hard to stand out with a structure that feels genuinely unique. That’s no issue for David Nicholls and his hit novel, One Day.
First published in 2009, the story checks in on the lives of two friends – Emma and Dexter – on the same day every year for twenty years. A word-of-mouth success, the emotional depth of Em and Dex’s relationship coupled with Nicholls’ unique format led to One Day receiving a book-to-movie screen adaptation in 2011. It was adapted into a series for Netflix in 2024.
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A Gentleman In Moscow – Amor Towles
Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow is a historical fiction novel by Amor Towles set in post-revolutionary Russia. The story centres around Count Alexander Rostov, an aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in the luxurious Metropol Hotel in the nation’s capital. Stripped of his wealth and status, the Count adapts to his new surroundings through the staff and guests that come through its doors. As the world outside traverses world-defining upheavals, Rostov’s wit and charm offer a rich tale about the passage of time and finding purpose in unexpected circumstances.
With over two million reads, A Gentleman in Moscow finally received its long-overdue adaptation in 2024 with Ewan McGregor starring as Count Alexander for the series available across multiple platforms.
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Apples Never Fall – Liane Moriarty
Another one of the best Peacock book to screen adaptations from 2024, Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall is a family drama that revolves around the Delaney family renowned for their successful tennis academy. Joy and Stan are the two parents, adjusting to their quieter life when Joy suddenly disappears. Their four adult children – all with their own secrets – grow increasingly suspicious of their father as tensions grow.
A twisty and suspenseful domestic mystery, this 2021 novel was quickly snapped up for development for a series, with the eventual miniseries starring Annette Bening and Sam Neill.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
