Fall Reading List: 45 Books to Read Before They're Movies

By Shannon Vestal Robson

Updated on 9/24/2016 at 5:45 PM

Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

It's not like you need a good excuse to crack open a new book (OK, maybe several), but we're giving you one anyway. The season of Fall officially starts this week, so order that special seasonal latte, light a fire in your fireplace (or just turn up the heater), and start turning pages. To give you some options for what to read, we have a whole list of books that are next on Hollywood's docket to become movies.

01

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly — Universal Pictures

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

What it's about: It's the true story of the unsung heroes of NASA — the black female mathematicians who quietly enabled the biggest achievements in space in the 1960s.
Who's starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Kevin Costner are starring.
Watch the trailer for Hidden Figures.

02

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware — Universal Pictures

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

What it's about: Writer Nora attends the bachelorette party of a friend she hasn't seen in 10 years, and on the weekend away, things go from drinks and fun to heart-pounding mystery.
Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but Reese Witherspoon is producing.

03

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie — Universal Pictures

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

What it's about: The classic mystery follows fictional detective Hercule Poirot as he pursues a murder on a famous train.
Who's starring: Kenneth Branagh is directing and will play Poirot, alongside Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. Charlize Theron is rumored to star as well.

04

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon — Universal Pictures

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

What it's about: In this YA drama, two teens — one of whom suffers from a rare disease that makes her allergic to nearly everything — fall in love.
Who's starring: Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson are costarring.

05

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins — Universal Pictures

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.
Who's starring: Emily Blunt is starring (see the cast here), and The Help's Tate Taylor is directing.
Watch the trailer for The Girl on the Train.

06

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness — Universal Pictures

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 is playing Mum, with Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver costarring.
Watch the trailer for A Monster Calls.

07

Tony & Susan by Austin Wright — Universal Pictures

Tony & Susan by Austin Wright

What it's about: A writer sends his ex-wife the new book he's written, which has disturbing and sinister implications for their former marriage.
Who's starring: Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams star in the adaptation from director Tom Ford, titled Nocturnal Animals.
Watch the trailer for Nocturnal Animals.

08

Inferno by Dan Brown — Universal Pictures

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 The 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.
Watch the trailer for Inferno.

09

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

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: Eddie Redmayne will star in the film trilogy; see who else has been cast. David Yates has signed on to direct.
Watch the trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

10

Silence by Shusaku Endo — Universal Pictures

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 is being directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Driver and Liam Neeson are also playing priests.

11

The Circle by Dave Eggers — Universal Pictures

The Circle by Dave Eggers

What it's about: A young woman, 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.

12

The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers — Universal Pictures

The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers

What it's about: It's the true tale of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl from the slums who becomes one of the world's best chess players.
Who's starring: David Oyelowo is starring as the coach who mentors Phiona, and Lupita Nyong'o will play her mother.
Watch the trailer for Queen of Katwe.

13

The Lost City of Z by David Grann — Universal Pictures

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.

14

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer — Universal Pictures

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, Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson will costar. Oscar Isaac also joined the cast of the film, which will be directed by Ex Machina's Alex Garland.

15

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs — Universal Pictures

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, UK.
Who's starring: Eva Green and Asa Butterfield will star, with Tim Burton directing.
Watch the trailer for Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children.

16

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick — Universal Pictures

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.

17

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls — Universal Pictures

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 head up the movie cast as Jeannette, with Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson as her parents.

18

Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel — Universal Pictures

Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel

What it's about: This nonfiction book follows the lives of soldiers who have come back from overseas, and the PTSD, sympathy, and life they face back at home.
Who's starring: Amy Schumer and Miles Teller are starring.

19

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline — Universal Pictures

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

What it's about: Teenager Wade Watts gets sucked into a virtual universe in a dystopian future society in 2044.
Who's starring: Tye Sheridan will play Wade, Olivia Cooke will play his love interest, and Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller, and Simon Pegg will costar in the sci-fi flick, which is being directed by Steven Spielberg.

20

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple — Universal Pictures

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.

21

Fifty Shades Darker by E L James — Universal Pictures

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, along with many new and returning cast members. Here's everything else we know about the adaptation and the set pictures.
Watch the trailer for Fifty Shades Darker.

22

Fifty Shades Freed — Universal Pictures

Fifty Shades Freed

What it's about: The final book in the Fifty Shades saga, Christian and Ana navigate their most dangerous, treacherous relationship yet: marriage.
Who's starring: Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson fill the shoes of Christian and Ana again, while newcomers like Arielle Kebbel will join the franchise. Here is the Fifty Shades Freed cast so far and all the details we have.

23

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane — Universal Pictures

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.

24

The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison — Universal Pictures

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.

25

Home Is Burning by Dan Marshall — Universal Pictures

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.

26

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven — Universal Pictures

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.

27

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett — Universal Pictures

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

What it's about: Roxane, an American soprano, travels to South America to perform a private concert, which is then crashed by guerrilla forces.
Who's starring: Julianne Moore will star as Roxane, alongside Ken Watanabe and Demian Bichir. Paul Weitz will direct.

28

Witness For the Prosecution by Agatha Christie — Universal Pictures

Witness For the Prosecution by Agatha Christie

What it's about: The short story follows a courtroom drama of a murder case with lots of twists, turns, and marital intrigue.
Who's starring: Ben Affleck will direct and star in the movie.

29

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — Universal Pictures

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.

30

The Dark Tower by Stephen King — Universal Pictures

The Dark Tower by Stephen King

What it's about: Stephen King's magnum opus is a series that follows "gunslinger" Roland Deschain as he moves through a magical society, looking for the titular Dark Tower.
Who's starring: Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey have both joined the adaptation. See who else has been cast.

31

The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni — Universal Pictures

The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni

What it's about: The coming-of-tale follows two teen boys, one of whom who lives in a geodisic dome where he's been homeschooled by his eccentric grandmother.
Who's starring: Asa Butterfield and Alex Wolff will costar, along with Nick Offerman and Michaela Watkins.

32

Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household — Universal Pictures

Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household

What it's about: The classic British novel follows a man who attempts to assassinate a dictator, but is hunted by authorities himself after he fails.
Who's starring: Benedict Cumberbatch will produce and star.

33

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain — Universal Pictures

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: Garrett Hedlund and newcomer Joe Alwyn are attached to star. Ang Lee will direct.
Watch the trailer for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

34

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle — Universal Pictures

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: Ava DuVernay will direct the adaptation, and the three Mrs. have been cast: Reese Witherspoon will play Mrs. Whatsit, Mindy Kaling will play Mrs. Who, and Oprah Winfrey will play Mrs. Which.

35

Map of Bones by James Rollins — Universal Pictures

Map of Bones by James Rollins

What it's about: The second novel in Rollins's Sigma Force franchise is a fictional account of what happens to the stolen bones of the three magi present for Jesus's birth.
Who's starring: No one has been cast yet.

36

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle — Universal Pictures

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

What it's about: This holiday-set anthology connects three intertwining romantic tales.
Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but Pitch Perfect screenwriter Kay Cannon is working on the screenplay, and Luke Snellin will direct.

37

Unless by Carol Shields — Universal Pictures

Unless by Carol Shields

What it's about: A mother is distraught after her teen daughter leaves home and turns up homeless and living on the streets.
Who's starring: Catherine Keener is starring.

38

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin — Universal Pictures

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: Idris Elba is playing the male lead opposite Kate Winslet.

39

The Son by Jo Nesbo — Universal Pictures

The Son by Jo Nesbo

What it's about: A young man is in prison because he has confessed to the crimes of others, but he breaks out to avenge his murdered father.
Who's starring: Jake Gyllenhaal will star with his Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve at the helm.

40

Wonder by R.J. Palacio — Universal Pictures

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

What it's about: Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a boy who is born with a facial deformity, and his struggle to fit in at a new school.
Who's starring: Room's Jacob Tremblay is playing Auggie, and Julia Roberts will play his mother.

41

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan — Universal Pictures

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

What it's about: Susannah Cahalan's autobiography examines her diagnosis of the rare autoimmune disorder encephalitis, because of which she would black out, have violent episodes, and have delusions.
Who's starring: Chloë Grace Moretz is playing Susannah. Thomas Mann and Jenny Slate will costar.

42

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman — Universal Pictures

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 into empty cages.
Who's starring: Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl will star in the movie.

43

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah — Universal Pictures

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

What it's about: Two sisters in France end up in different positions during WWII; one fights with the resistance and one becomes a prisoner.
Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but screenwriter Ann Peacock will write the screenplay, and Michelle MacLaren will direct.

44

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry — Universal Pictures

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 play the younger and older versions of Roseanne, respectively.

45

The Game — Universal Pictures

The Game

What it's about: Former self-described AFC (average frustrated chump) Neil Strauss got fed up with being a mediocre dater and infiltrated an underground society of pick-up gurus. The book is part memoir, part how-to guide.
Who's starring: James Franco will both produce and star in the film as pick-up artist Mystery.