Thanks to films like Crazy Rich Asians [1], The Kissing Booth [2], and Holidate, Hollywood is finally investing in romance movies again, and more and more studios are turning to books for inspiration. That's good news for anyone who loves to see their favorite sexy books brought to life as movies [3]. In the past couple of years, Hollywood has snapped up the rights to everything from the steamy and inclusive regency novel Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain to the hilarious (and hot) The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams [4], and with streaming services like Netflix discovering that rom-coms are big business [5], fans of the genre can likely expect more acquisitions to come. For now, here are all of the sexy reads that are scheduled to become movies in the near future.
After We Fell by Anna Todd
- What it's about: Tessa and Hardin's dramatic love story continues in After We Fell, the third book and film in the After series.
- Who's starring: Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dylan Sprouse, Chance Perdomo, Stephen Moyer [7], and Mira Sorvino.
- Watch the trailer for After We Fall [8].
- Read After We Fell [9].
- Release date: 2021
Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts
- What it's about: Mystery novelist Grace McCabe is all set for a relaxing stay with her sister Kathleen until she discovers Kathleen's job as a phone sex operator has turned deadly for some of her co-workers. Now Grace is on the trail of a case straight out of one of her novels with sexy investigator Ed Jackson at her side.
- Who's starring: Alyssa Milano [10] is set to play Grace in the upcoming Netflix movie.
- Read Brazen Virtue [11].
- Release date: TBD
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
- What it's about: When professional baseball player Gavin Scott's marriage implodes, he turns to The Bromance Book Club, a group of men who read romance novels to better understand women, for help.
- Who's starring: There's no casting information yet, but Adams announced on Twitter [12] that the rights had been scooped up by Netflix in April 2020.
- Read The Bromance Book Club [13].
- Release date: TBD
The Cactus by Sarah Haywood
- What it's about: Confronted with the death of her mother and an unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand, the orderly Susan Green reluctantly turns to her brother's friend for help — and a little something more.
- Who's starring: Reese Witherspoon [14], who also selected the novel for her book club, will star as Susan in the Netflix adaptation.
- Read The Cactus [15].
- Release date: TBD
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
- What it's about: The sequel to Crazy Rich Asians picks up on the eve of Rachel Chu's wedding, as she gets a taste of what it will be liked to be married to the ridiculously wealthy Nick Young.
- Who's starring: Despite the sequel being delayed, Crazy Rich Asians stars Henry Golding and Constance Wu are both expected to return.
- Read China Rich Girlfriend [16].
- Release date: TBD
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
- What it's about: Co-workers Lucy and Joshua don't agree about anything except for the fact that they hate each other. However, when they're both put up for the same promotion their long-simmering animosity turns into something else entirely.
- Who's starring: Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell [17] have landed the lead roles of Lucy and Joshua.
- Read The Hating Game [18].
- Release date: TBD
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
- What it's about: In 1714, Addie LaRue makes a bargain to live forever, but to be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. Then, 300 years later, she meets a man in a bookstore who actually remembers her.
- Who's starring: There's no casting information just yet, but in October 2020, Studio eOne purchased the rights to Schwab's novel [19].
- Read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue [20].
- Release date: TBD
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
- What it's about: Brilliant math-minded Stella, who has Asperger's, hires an escort to teach her the ins and outs of sex and romance, but it doesn't take long for their professional relationship to turn personal.
- Who's starring: The Kiss Quotient has been in development at Lionsgate [21] since 2018, but there aren't any actors currently attached to the project.
- Read The Kiss Quotient [22].
- Release date: TBD
The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! by Beth Reekles
- What it's about: The Kissing Booth [23] trilogy concludes as Elle decides which college to go to: Harvard with her boyfriend Noah or Berkeley with her best friend Lee.
- Who's starring: Joey King [24], Jacob Elordi [25], and Joel Courtney are all back for the final movie.
- Watch the trailer for The Kissing Booth 3 [26].
- Read The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! [27].
- Release date: Netflix 2021
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
- What it's about: Told across two timelines, The Last Letter from Your Lover follows an amnesiac woman who is looking for the man who wrote her a passionate letter before her car crash, and a journalist piecing together the story in the future.
- Who's starring: Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, Joe Alwyn, and Callum Turner.
- Read The Last Letter from Your Lover [28].
- Release date: Netflix 2021
Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain
- What it's about: The extremely eligible Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is looking for a bride, but only one who can meet his ridiculously high standards. Enter Selina Dalton, a vicar's daughter who is roped into a scheme to give Mr. Malcolm a taste of his own perfectionist medicine.
- Who's starring: As reported by Variety [29], the star-studded cast includes Freida Pinto, Constance Wu, Sope Dirisu, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Sam Heughan.
- Read Mr. Malcolm's List [30].
- Release date: TBD
The Perfect Find by Tia Williams
- What it's about: A 40-year-old former big name fashion magazine editor, Jenna Jones, is broke and looking to start over by working for her worst enemy. What she doesn't expect is to fall hard for the 22-year-old videographer at her new workplace.
- Who's starring: Gabrielle Union [31] will star in and produce the film adaptation for Netflix.
- Read The Perfect Find [32].
- Release date: TBD
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- What it's about: The first son of the United States and the Prince of England realize their antagonistic feelings are holding them back from their history-making love story.
- Who's starring: There's no casting news yet, but Amazon snapped up the rights to the movie [33] in 2019.
- Read Red, White, and Royal Blue [34].
- Release date: TBA
Roomies by Christina Lauren
- What it's about: When Holland Bakker is rescued by her street musician crush Calvin Mcloughlin after a botched mugging attempt, she discovers he's in the US on an expired visa. In order to repay him for his kindness, Holland proposes they get fake-married so he can stay in the country and pursue his Broadway dreams.
- Who's starring: No actors are on board just yet, but Jenna Dewan is producing the project [35].
- Read Roomies [36].
- Release date: TBD