Winter Reading List: Over 40 Books to Read Before They Become Movies

By Shannon Vestal Robson

Updated on 3/8/2016 at 10:00 PM

Winter is here freezing our bones, so what better time to crack a book in front of the fireplace? We have a whole list of books to read now — which all happen to be coming out as movies in the near future (make sure you see all the 2016 adaptations here). So take a look, snap one up, and take a little break from all that wintertime family bonding to escape into a whole new literary world.

01
Love May Fail by Matthew Quick

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick

  • What it's about: A woman dealing with the breakup of her marriage heads back to her hometown to clear the name of a former teacher.
  • Who's starring: Emma Stone will star in the movie, which is being adapted by Mike White.
02
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

  • What it's about: This young adult sci-fi tale is the first book in a trilogy about Kady and Ezra, two former love interests whose planet is invaded in the year 2575. Breakup stress and intergalactic warfare abound.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but Brad Pitt is producing the film.
03
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

  • What it's about: In this mystery, a woman thinks she may know something about a crime involving a couple she sees on her train commute every day. Here are more details about the adaptation.
  • Who's starring: Emily Blunt is starring (see the cast here), and The Help's Tate Taylor is directing.
04
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

  • What it's about: The 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan struggles to survive in a world devastated by an alien invasion.
  • Who's starring: Chloë Grace Moretz will star as Cassie, costarring with Liev Schreiber and It Follows breakout star Maika Monroe.
  • Watch the trailer for The 5th Wave.
05
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

  • What it's about: The memoir of Jeannette Walls chronicles her unconventional and sometimes bizarre upbringing and relationship with her parents.
  • Who's starring: Brie Larson will take on the role of Jeannette.
06
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: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, and Tom Welling will star.
  • Watch the trailer for The Choice.
07
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

  • What it's about: After her mom, Bernadette, disappears, 15-year-old Bee dives into emails, documents, and secret correspondence to find her.
  • Who's starring: Richard Linklater is set to direct the film, and Cate Blanchett has been cast as Bernadette. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber — the writers behind (500) Days of Summer — are set to write the screenplay.
08
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

09
Fifty Shades Darker by E L James

Fifty Shades Darker by E L James

  • What it's about: In this Fifty Shades of Grey sequel, Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele's relationship deepens as he lets her in a little more.
  • Who's starring: Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson will reprise their roles as Christian and Ana. Here's everything else we know about the adaptation.
10
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane

  • What it's about: Set in the Prohibition era of the '20s, the novel tells the story of a Boston thief who finds success as a rum runner.
  • Who's starring: Ben Affleck is writing, directing, and starring in the film, marking his second time adapting one of the author's books — his directorial debut came with the adaptation of Lehane's Gone Baby Gone. Chris Messina, Zoe Saldana, and Sienna Miller are costarring.
11
How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo

How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo

  • What it's about: Manhattanite Julie travels the world to study the dating habits of other women, and back in New York, her single friends navigate their love lives.
  • Who's starring: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Lily Collins, and Alison Brie will star.
  • Watch the trailer for How to Be Single.
12
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

  • What it's about: The classic novel tells the story of Philip and his mysterious cousin Rachel, who may or may not be guilty of murdering another of their family members.
  • Who's starring: Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin will star as Rachel and Philip.
13
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.
14
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

  • What it's about: In this thriller, a biologist sets out on an expedition to a mysterious area to find out what killed her husband there.
  • Who's starring: Natalie Portman and Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez will costar.
15
The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker

The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker

  • What it's about: In this memoir, Kim Barker records her time as a journalist in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the early 2000s.
  • Who's starring: Tina Fey is starring in and producing the adaptation, which is now titled Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, and Nicholas Braun will costar.
  • Watch the trailer for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
16
Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

  • What it's about: In the third installment of the Divergent series, Tris, Four, and her allies discover what's on the other side of the fence — and why. The book will be divided into two parts: 2016's Allegiant and 2017's Ascendent.
  • Who's starring: Shailene Woodley and Theo James will reprise their roles; here is the full cast.
  • Watch the trailer for Allegiant.
17
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

  • What it's about: The sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has spawned a film sequel to 2010's Alice in Wonderland. Six months later, Alice has another adventure through said looking glass and meets characters such as the Jabberwocky.
  • Who's starring: Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp are reprising their roles as Alice and the Mad Hatter, respectively.
  • Watch the trailer for Alice Through the Looking Glass.
18
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. Other costars include Matthew Lewis, who you can see in this onset roundup. Here is the whole cast.
19
The BFG by Roald Dahl

The BFG by Roald Dahl

  • What it's about: In the children's classic, a young girl named Sophie befriends the titular friendly giant.
  • Who's starring: Bill Hader is playing the giant, and Steven Spielberg will direct the live-action adaptation.
  • Watch the trailer for The BFG.
20
Goat by Brad Land

Goat by Brad Land

  • What it's about: The memoir of a young man, Brad Land, who joined a fraternity at college in an already fragile emotional state, only to be hazed and tormented.
  • Who's starring: Ben Schnetzer will play Brad, with Nick Jonas as his brother.
21
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates by Mike and Dave Stangle

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates by Mike and Dave Stangle

  • What it's about: Real-life brothers Mike and Dave Stangle put out a Craigslist ad for wedding dates, and the ad went viral. Their experience with the ad and the subsequent search around the country is chronicled in their book.
  • Who's starring: Adam DeVine and Zac Efron (who will be shirtless a lot) are playing Mike and Dave. Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza also star.
22
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.
  • Watch the trailer for A Monster Calls.
23
Inferno by Dan Brown

Inferno by Dan Brown

  • What it's about: The Da Vinci Code series continues with Robert Langdon's latest adventure as he tries to stop another international scheme by following clues in Dante's Divine Comedy.
  • Who's starring: Tom Hanks will reprise his role as Langdon, and Felicity Jones will costar as Sienna Brooks. Ben Foster will play the villain.
24
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

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

25
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 to Japan.
  • Who's starring: Andrew Garfield is playing Father Rodrigues in the film, which is being directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Driver and Liam Neeson are also playing priests.
26
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 World War I.
  • Who's starring: Michael Fassbender will star, alongside Alicia Vikander as his wife.
27
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

  • What it's about: In this YA novel, a teenager named Jacob explores the ruins of a strange house on an island near Wales.
  • Who's starring: Eva Green and Asa Butterfield will star, with Tim Burton directing.
28
The Circle by Dave Eggers

The Circle by Dave Eggers

  • What it's about: A young woman named Mae Holland takes a job at a Google-like tech company, where she quickly climbs the corporate ladder.
  • Who's starring: Emma Watson is starring as Mae, alongside Tom Hanks and John Boyega. James Ponsoldt is directing.
29
The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers

The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers

  • What it's about: It's the true tale of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan teen who came from poverty to become one of the world's best chess players.
  • Who's starring: David Oyelowo will star as the man who mentors Phiona, and Lupita Nyong'o will play her mother.
30
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

  • What it's about: This true story follows the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who helped to save hundreds of people from the Nazis in World War II by smuggling them in empty cages.
  • Who's starring: Jessica Chastain will star with Daniel Brühl in the movie.
31
Looking For Alaska by John Green

Looking For Alaska by John Green

  • What it's about: A cerebral teen falls for a girl, the titular Alaska, in this novel from The Fault in Our Stars author John Green.
  • Who's starring: There's no cast yet, but the screenplay will be adapted by the same team who did The Fault in Our Stars.
32
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

  • What it's about: Susannah Cahalan's autobiography examines her diagnosis of the rare autoimmune disorder encephalitis, which caused her to black out, have violent episodes, and have delusions.
  • Who's starring: Chloë Grace Moretz will play Susannah. Tyler Perry, Thomas Mann, and Jenny Slate will costar.
33
The Lost City of Z by David Grann

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

  • What it's about: In this true tale, Grann tells the story of how British explorer Percy Fawcett got lost searching for an ancient, fabled civilization in the Amazon in 1925.
  • Who's starring: Charlie Hunnam will play Fawcett, and Robert Pattinson and Sienna Miller will costar in the film, which will be directed by James Gray.
34
The November Criminals by Sam Munson

The November Criminals by Sam Munson

  • What it's about: A misbehaving high-school senior investigates the death of his classmate.
  • Who's starring: Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moretz will star. Catherine Keener also has a supporting role.
35
Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

  • What it's about: In this YA novel, a high-school senior gets caught up in a creepy online game of Truth or Dare.
  • Who's starring: Emma Roberts and Dave Franco are starring.
36
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

  • What it's about: This coming-of-age tale tells the story of a boy and his fascination with a tiny but special painting.
  • Who's starring: The adaptation has not been cast yet, but we have many ideas about who should star.
37
The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith

The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith

  • What it's about: This memoir follows Bidwell Smith's experiences with love, loss, and grief in the wake of her parents' deaths.
  • Who's starring: Jennifer Lawrence will star in the film adaptation as Claire.
38
Home Is Burning by Dan Marshall

Home Is Burning by Dan Marshall

  • What it's about: Marshall's memoir tells the story of his return home as a 20-something to help take care of his mother and father, diagnosed with cancer and ALS, respectively.
  • Who's starring: Miles Teller will star and produce, and Jonathan Levine is directing.
39
A Hologram For the King by Dave Eggers

A Hologram For the King by Dave Eggers

  • What it's about: A struggling businessman heads to Saudi Arabia in a fight to save his finances. He hopes to steer clear of foreclosure and pay his daughter's college tuition.
  • Who's starring: Tom Hanks will star in the film adaptation, which Tom Tykwer is directing.
40
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 is directing and also starring as Seymour, alongside Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning.
41
The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson

The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson

  • What it's about: The unbelievable true story of Daniel Burnham, the architect responsible for the construction of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, a serial killer who used the fair to lure victims to his own "World's Fair Hotel" — and to their deaths.
  • Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio will play the sick-minded Holmes, though there's no word yet on who will step in as Burnham. Martin Scorsese will direct.
42
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

  • What it's about: In this young adult romance, a girl named Violet falls for Finch, a boy who is intent on ending his life.
  • Who's starring: Elle Fanning is starring, and Miguel Arteta is directing.
43
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain

  • What it's about: A soldier and his squad survive a battle in Iraq and come back to the US for a promotional tour that includes a stop at a Thanksgiving Day football game.
  • Who's starring: Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, and newcomer Joe Alwyn are attached to star. Ang Lee will direct.
44
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

  • What it's about: A young, disturbed man plans a murder-suicide in this YA drama.
  • Who's starring: Channing Tatum and his producing partner Reid Carolin are codirecting, and Tatum may star in the film.
45
The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

  • What it's about: Two strangers on a charter plane crash in the wilderness and have to depend on each other to survive.
  • Who's starring: Charlie Hunnam and Rosamund Pike are starring opposite each other.
46
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 one of them moves to America.
  • Who's starring: Lupita Nyong'o will play the female lead opposite David Oyelowo, while Brad Pitt is producing.