Summer Reading List: 40 Books to Read Before They're Movies

By Shannon Vestal Robson

Updated on 8/27/2017 at 2:20 PM

There's a constant stream of books being adapted into film in Hollywood, and if you're a big reader, you love this practice. Sure, the movie is almost never better than (or even as god as) the book, but there's a common desire to want to see your latest read up on the big screen. Since it's vacation and, hence, book-in-a-beach-bag time, we have a list of the current books being made into movies right now. Find a hammock somewhere and crack open one of these before it's immortalized on film!

01
The Mothers by Brit Bennett

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

  • What it's about: A secret haunts the residents of a black community in a Southern California town.
  • Who's starring: Kerry Washington will produce with no word on whether or not she will also star.
02
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

  • What it's about: New York-based Nick brings his girlfriend, Rachel, home for a wedding in Singapore, where she discovers he's vastly wealthy — and that she may not fit into that world.
  • Who's starring: The movie adaptation has a huge, well-known cast including Constance Wu and Ken Jeong. Jon Chu is directing.
03
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

  • What it's about: In the May 2017 novel from the writer of The Girl on the Train, the bodies of a woman and that of a teenage girl are found at the bottom of the same river in a small town.
  • Who's starring: The novel was optioned in February by Dreamworks, but no one has been cast yet.
04
The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

  • What it's about: In the 1960s, single Kitty owns a bookshop but dreams of a life where she's married with children — and she starts to blur the lines between reality and fantasy.
  • Who's starring: Julia Roberts will play Kitty.
05
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli

  • What it's about: In this coming-of-age novel, high school junior Simon hasn't come out yet, but he's forced to do so when a classmate finds out.
  • Who's starring: 13 Reasons Why's Katherine Langford will play the female lead, Leah, and Everything, Everything's Nick Robinson will play Simon. Greg Berlanti will direct.
06
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

  • What it's about: A glamorous 20-something New Yorker hides a dark secret in her past.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, but Reese Witherspoon is producing the movie.
07
The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook

  • What it's about: In a war-torn post-WWII Germany, a British colonel moves into Hamburg to rebuild the city with his wife. They move into the home of a German man and his daughter, which has deep consequences for all of them.
  • Who's starring: Jason Clarke is playing the colonel, Keira Knightley is starring as his wife, and Alexander Skarsgard is playing their German host.
08
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

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 and screenwriter Natalie Krinsky is adapting the screenplay.
09
Wonder by R.J. Palacio

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.
  • Watch the trailer for Wonder.
10
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: 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. See the whole cast here.
11
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

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.
12
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. Kristen Wiig, Billy Crudup, and Judy Greer are also set to star. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber — the writers behind (500) Days of Summer — are writing the screenplay.
13
It by Stephen King

It by Stephen King

  • What it's about: An ancient evil takes the form of Pennywise the clown and terrifies a group of children, then later comes back for them as adults.
  • Who's starring: Bill Skarsgard is playing Pennywise the clown, and Andrés Muschietti, who directed the horror movie Mama, is at the helm. Here is the whole cast.
  • Watch the trailer for It.
14
Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed

  • What it's about: In 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.
  • Watch the trailer for Fifty Shades Freed.
15
The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

  • What it's about: The book changes perspectives 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.
16
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.
17
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

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 Demián Bichir. Paul Weitz will direct.
18
Witness For the Prosecution by Agatha Christie

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.
19
Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household

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.
20
The Son by Jo Nesbo

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.
21
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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: Sam Claflin is starring, and Michelle MacLaren will direct.
22
The Game

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.
23
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, respectively.
  • Watch the trailer for My Cousin Rachel.
24
The Dark Tower by Stephen King

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.
  • Watch the trailer for The Dark Tower.
25
The Black Hand by Stephan Talty

The Black Hand by Stephan Talty

  • What it's about: Set in the the Summer of 1903, a detective investigates a crime outbreak that has ties the beginnings of the mafia in America.
  • Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio will star in and produce the adaptation.
26
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: Idris Elba is playing the male lead opposite Kate Winslet; here they are, kissing on the set.
  • Watch the trailer for The Mountain Between Us.
27
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

  • What it's about: In the first novel of the Chaos Walking series, Todd Hewitt and Viola Eade, two teens living on an Earth-like planet, are affected by a plague called The Noise but discover a way to control it.
  • Who's starring: Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland will star.
28
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

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 Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. Here's the whole cast.
  • Watch the trailer for Murder on the Orient Express.
29
Dune by Frank Herbert

Dune by Frank Herbert

  • What it's about: The cult-classic novel weaves an interstellar epic in a not-too-distant future.
  • Who's starring: Oscar-nominated director Denis Villeneuve will direct the adaptation, which hasn't been cast yet.
30
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, 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.
31
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 head up the movie cast as Jeannette, with Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson as her parents.
  • Watch the trailer for The Glass Castle.
32
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 Sam Mendes will produce and potentially direct the film adaptation.
33
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: John Crowley will direct, and though the adaptation has not been cast yet, we have many ideas about who should star.
34
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

  • What it's about: After WWII has come to an end, while London writer Juliet Ashton is looking for inspiration for her next book, she becomes acquainted with a wild crew on Guernsey Island after receiving a letter. She becomes drawn into the world of the man who wrote to her and his friends under Nazi occupation.
  • Who's starring: Michiel Huisman, Lily James, and Glen Powell will costar in the adaptation.
35
The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds

  • What it's about: In the futuristic YA novel, the government tries to intern and suppress young people with special abilities, including 16-year-old Ruby.
  • Who's starring: Amandla Stenberg will play Ruby and Mandy Moore will play a doctor.
36
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

  • What it's about: An awkward genetics professor falls for a woman who does not fit into his ascribed criteria, the titular Rosie.
  • Who's starring: Ryan Reynolds is attached to potentially star.
37
The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Death Cure by James Dashner

  • What it's about: In the final book in the Maze Runner series, Thomas finally attempts to take down the organization WICKED.
  • Who's starring: Dylan O'Brien is reprising his role as Thomas with much of the same cast returning.
38
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

  • What it's about: A suburban couple attend a disastrous barbecue in this mystery.
  • Who's starring: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon (who both star in another Moriarty adaptation, Big Little Lies) will produce the adaptation, though there is no news yet on whether either actress will star.
39
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

  • What it's about: This classic kids' book follows the young man who has an adventure on a very large piece of fruit.
  • Who's starring: No one has been cast yet, and though Sam Mendes was originally slated to direct the live-action adaptation, he has since dropped out.
40
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.