Fall Reading List: 50 Books You Should Read Before They're Movies

By Shannon Vestal Robson

Updated on 11/26/2014 at 1:00 PM

There are always tons of books being adapted for the big screen, and new novels get optioned all the time, giving us more and more reading possibilities! If you're a voracious reader who can't get enough and likes being on the cutting edge of pop culture, use this updated list to give you some more book titles to read. Or if you've already read some, judge the casting for upcoming adaptations!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

  • What it's about: Rowling revisits the Harry Potter universe in this book about Newt Scamander, who "wrote" the textbook that Potter and his classmates would study.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but David Yates has signed on to direct.
The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian by Andy Weir

  • What it's about: Astronaut Mark Watney gets stranded on Mars and must survive alone while NASA tries to rescue him in this sci-fi novel.
  • Who's starring: Matt Damon will play Mark Watney, while Jessica Chastain and Kristen Wiig will costar. Ridley Scott is directing.
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon

Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon

  • What it's about: Pot-addled private detective Doc Sportello investigates a story told to him by an ex in the psychedelic '60s.
  • Who's starring: Paul Thomas Anderson is directing Joaquin Phoenix as Sportello, along with an all-star cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, and Maya Rudolph.
  • Watch the trailer for Inherent Vice.
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

  • What it's about: This classic novel follows the Compson family in early 1920s Mississippi, as told by different perspectives of the family members.
  • Who's starring: James Franco directs himself, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, Ahna O'Reilly, and Tim Blake Nelson.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

  • What it's about: Fourteen-year-old Meg Murry's father goes missing after working on a government project, setting off Meg's fantastical journey through space and time.
  • Who's starring: Frozen's Jennifer Lee will direct the as-yet uncast movie, which Disney will produce.
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

  • What it's about: A woman, Christine Lucas, suffers from anterograde amnesia, in which she wakes up every day with no memory of her life.
  • Who's starring: Nicole Kidman is playing Christine, with Colin Firth as her husband, Ben.
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

  • What it's about: In this love story, young Louisa forms a bond with Will, the paralyzed man she is employed to help.
  • Who's starring: Emilia Clarke is playing Louisa opposite Sam Claflin.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

  • What it's about: The relationship of two young Nigerians is tested by long distance and immigration issues when she moves to America.
  • Who's starring: Lupita Nyong'o will play the female lead, while Brad Pitt is producing.
Struck by Genius by Jason Padgett

Struck by Genius by Jason Padgett

  • What it's about: Padgett's memoir follows his unusual journey of becoming a math genius after suffering a traumatic brain injury.
  • Who's starring: Channing Tatum will produce and potentially star in this biopic.
The Merciless by Danielle Vega

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

  • What it's about: A group of teen girls kidnaps a classmate to "exorcise" her in this debut novel.
  • Who's starring: There's no casting yet, but Pretty Little Liars creator I. Marlene King will write the screenplay.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

  • What it's about: This darkly comedic tale tells the story of three mothers of kindergartners whose lives unravel — and possibly lead to murder.
  • Who's starring: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are both producing and starring as two of the mothers.
Brilliance by Marcus Sakey

Brilliance by Marcus Sakey

  • What it's about: A federal agent in charge of a group of gifted humans has to stop one of them from starting a war.
  • Who's starring: Though Jared Leto and Will Smith have both been attached to star, they have both dropped out; Noomi Rapace will star, however.
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

  • What it's about: A confirmed bachelor falls for the girl next door in this 2007 novel from the romance master.
  • Who's starring: The lovers have not been cast yet, but Sparks will produce.
American Pastoral by Philip Roth

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

  • What it's about: The life of Seymour "Swede" Levov is chronicled beginning in 1960s New Jersey and following him for decades.
  • Who's starring: Ewan McGregor will play Seymour.
The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale

The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale

  • What it's about: A young boy, Jack, has to grow up fast and rescue his kidnapped sister from bandits in turn-of-the-century Texas.
  • Who's starring: Peter Dinklage will star as the bounty hunter who assists Jack.
Climb to Conquer by Peter Shelton

Climb to Conquer by Peter Shelton

  • What it's about: This true story recounts the ordeal of WWII's 10th mountain division ski troops, who trained in the snowy mountains so they could take on snowy conditions in the war.
  • Who's starring: Robert Redford will produce the film, which has not been cast yet.
Van Cliburn by Howard Reich

Van Cliburn by Howard Reich

  • What it's about: This biography follows Van Cliburn, a famous American pianist who first reached fame at the age of 23 during the Cold War.
  • Who's starring: The Fault in Our Stars' Ansel Elgort will play Van Cliburn.
Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

  • What it's about: The true crime novel follows the infamous mobster Whitey Bulger, the head of the Irish mob in the '70s, and his relationship with childhood friend John Connolly, who grew up to work for the FBI.
  • Who's starring: Johnny Depp will play Whitey Bulger with Joel Edgerton as Connolly. Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, and Juno Temple are also in the supporting cast.
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland

  • What it's about: Two sisters live alone in a crumbling house and try to survive in the near future.
  • Who's starring: Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood will play the sisters, with Max Minghella costarring.
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

  • What it's about: A 100-year-old mental patient, Roseanne McNulty investigates her past and unearths some troubling memories.
  • Who's starring: Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave will play the younger and older versions of Roseanne, respectively. Eric Bana, Theo James, and Jeremy Irons will costar.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

  • What it's about: Spanning decades, the book kicks off in 1962 on the Italian coast, following the ups and downs of a love affair that ends in Hollywood years later.
  • Who's starring: Imogen Poots will play Dee Moray, and Todd Field will direct the film adaptation.
The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison

The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison

  • What it's about: The book changes perspective between a couple who has been together for 20 years while she takes care of him and he cheats on her.
  • Who's starring: Nicole Kidman will produce and star in the adaptation as the wife.
American Sniper by Chris Kyle

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

  • What it's about: Chris Kyle's autobiography follows his journey as the top record-holding sniper in US military history, detailing his combat tours from 1999 to 2009.
  • Who's starring: Clint Eastwood will direct the film adaptation, starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller as his wife.
  • Watch the trailer for American Sniper.
Silence by Shusaku Endo

Silence by Shusaku Endo

  • What it's about: Set in 17th-century Japan, the book follows the story of Jesuits who are trying to bring Christianity into Japan.
  • Who's starring: Andrew Garfield is playing Father Rodrigues in the film, which will be directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Driver also has a supporting role.
Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

  • What it's about: In E L James's sexy bestseller, college student Anastasia meets Christian Grey, a handsome billionaire who turns her world upside down when he approaches her about a sexual relationship.
  • Who's starring: Dakota Johnson will play Anastasia, and Jamie Dornan is Christian; see who else is in the Fifty Shades of Grey cast.
  • Watch the trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey.
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

  • What it's about: A young girl from Ireland starts a new life in New York in the 1950s. She falls in love with an American but feels torn between him and her family back home.
  • Who's starring: Saoirse Ronan is set to play the lead opposite The Place Beyond the Pines' Emory Cohen.
Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue

  • What it's about: A 5-year-old boy grows up in a small shed, which becomes the only world he knows because his mother hides the truth — they're being held captive.
  • Who's starring: Brie Larson is starring as Ma, the mother.
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

  • What it's about: In Roth's follow-up to Divergent, Tris and Four leave the crumbling Dauntless and seek help to get to the bottom of what's going on in their dystopian society.
  • Who's starring: Shailene Woodley is playing Tris, and Theo James is playing Tobias. See the whole Insurgent cast here.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

  • What it's about: A young boy deals with bullying and his mother's illness by inventing a fantasy world filled with monsters and other creatures.
  • Who's starring: Felicity Jones will play Mum, with Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver costarring.
The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas

The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas

  • What it's about: This true account is the story of "American terrorist" Mark Stroman, who killed a foreign man in a Dallas store.
  • Who's starring: Tom Hardy is attached to star, with Kathryn Bigelow directing.
Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

  • What it's about: Oates imagines the inner monologue of Marilyn Monroe as she started out as Norma Jean Baker.
  • Who's starring: Jessica Chastain will play Marilyn.
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

  • What it's about: A young slave nicknamed "Onion" joins forces with an abolitionist who travels around the country for the cause.
  • Who's starring: Liev Schreiber is playing the abolitionist, with Jaden Smith as Onion.
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

  • What it's about: A young female department store clerk becomes obsessed with another woman in the store in this 1950s drama.
  • Who's starring: In the renamed Carol, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara play the leads, with Carrie Brownstein in a supporting role.
The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman

The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman

  • What it's about: The biography of the iconic magician explores his life and career.
  • Who's starring: Johnny Depp will play Houdini.
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

  • What it's about: Two young soldiers are taken under the wing of an experienced sergeant in Iraq.
  • Who's starring: Benedict Cumberbatch is playing the sergeant, with Tye Sheridan and Will Poulter as the soldiers.
The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke

The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke

  • What it's about: After a 19th-century fur trapper gets mauled by a bear and then left for dead by thieves, he embarks on a journey for revenge.
  • Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy will costar in the adaptation, which is being directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
The Driftless Area by Tom Drury

The Driftless Area by Tom Drury

  • What it's about: Pierre, a young bartender, experiences ups and downs in rural Iowa before falling for a mysterious woman named Stella.
  • Who's starring: Zooey Deschanel is playing Stella, and Anton Yelchin will play Pierre.
The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri

The Secret in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri

  • What it's about: An MI-5 agent trying to solve a murder works for the FBI and uncovers a terrifying new truth.
  • Who's starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the MI-5 agent opposite Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

  • What it's about: A lighthouse keeper and his wife discover a baby and a dead body near their home off the coast of Australia after WWI.
  • Who's starring: Michael Fassbender is in talks to star.
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

  • What it's about: The story of real-life artist Einar Wegener, who was one of the first people to have transgender surgery.
  • Who's starring: Eddie Redmayne will star opposite Alicia Vikander, while Tom Hooper will direct.
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

  • What it's about: Two siblings from a family of performance artists have to learn to live in the real world.
  • Who's starring: Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman are playing the siblings, with Bateman directing.
You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

  • What it's about: Two 20-something friends go on an international trip to find themselves after one of their best friends dies.
  • Who's starring: Daniel Radcliffe is attached to star.
Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

  • What it's about: This is the true story of World War II hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini, an Olympic-runner-turned-Army-pilot who becomes a prisoner of war.
  • Who's starring: Angelina Jolie is directing the adaptation, starring Jack O'Connell as Louie.
  • Watch the trailer for Unbroken.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

  • What it's about: The prequel to the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins's journey — and adventures along the way — through Middle-earth.
  • Who's starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Orlando Bloom will reprise their Hobbit roles in the third film, titled The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
  • Watch the trailer for The Hobbit.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

  • What it's about: Cheryl Strayed details her physical and emotional journey along the Pacific Coast Trail in the wake of losing her mother.
  • Who's starring: Reese Witherspoon is playing the lead role, and Laura Dern is playing Cheryl's mother.
  • Watch the trailer for Wild.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

  • What it's about: In the third Hunger Games book, Katniss fights against the corrupt Capitol from within District 13.
  • Who's starring: Jennifer Lawrence and other franchise cast members will reprise their roles in the first half of the adaptation. See the whole cast here.
  • Watch the trailer for Mockingjay.
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

  • What it's about: High school sweethearts Dawson and Amanda reunite years later, when they both return to their hometown.
  • Who's starring: Michelle Monaghan is Sparks's latest leading lady, opposite James Marsden.
  • Watch the trailer for The Best of Me.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

  • What it's about: This tightly woven novel is told from two perspectives: that of a husband whose wife suddenly goes missing and that of the missing wife herself.
  • Who's starring: Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike are playing Nick and Amy — see who else is in the cast.
  • Watch the trailer for Gone Girl.
50 books to read before they're movies

50 books to read before they're movies