13 Book-to-Movie Adaptations I Need Right Now

All book dragons long to see movie adaptations of their favorite novels. It’s just a fact of life. And for the most part, they either succeed globally…or they flop. Badly. Like crash-and-burn-but-I-can’t-look-away kinda bad.

From my personal experience, most book-to-movie adaptations tend to fall short in a LOT of areas and take enormous creative liberties. However, that being said, the most important part in an adaptation of a book for me is this: the movie has to capture the feelings and spirit of the book. I generally don’t mind if they diverge a little from the plot of the book, as long as the end result produces the same vibe and emotional reaction, y’know? A good example of this is The Fault in Our Stars. It deviated in little ways and cut some of the good scenes, but the overall adaptation still gave me the same reaction as the book did.

So all of that had me thinking: What books do I want to see adapted into a movie?

I came up with 13 different answers.

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If I Run

Casey knows the truth. But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox is a wanted person. Dylan Roberts is a war veteran who’s been hired to track Casey down and turn her in. The problem? Casey says she didn’t do it…and Dylan might actually believe her. This is a lovely little YA mystery with some cool religious themes and enough suspense to keep you up late into the night.

Unwind

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

Connor is the problem child. Risa is a ward of the state. Lev is the tithe. When their paths cross, the trio is pulled into a race for survival…but how far are they willing to go to stay alive? I absolutely adore this book and firmly believe that it deserves an entire movie, NOT a tv show. *gets off my soapbox before I go on an hour long rant*

Martin Hospitality

Gemma Ebworthy is eighteen, pregnant, and alone.

This beautiful story follows our broken protagonist as she discovers faith, love, and family for the first time. I couldn’t put it down, it was such a thrilling and heart wrenching adventure that had me invested from page one. And it deserves allll the love, so tell me down in the comments who you would cast as the lead. 😉

Steelheart

How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father? If someone destroyed your city? If everything you ever loved was taken from you?

David is an explosive and captivating protagonist on a mission for revenge. He’s joined by the Reckoners, a band of covert humans who are out to study and assassinate Epics. Every character is so well thought out and painfully HUMAN and I just need this sci-fi movie RIGHT NOW.

The Girl Who Could See

All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality — but, what if she is the only one who can truly see?

Fern Johnson is the girl who’s crazy. At least, that’s what everyone says…or thinks. It’s best to go into this book with minimal knowledge because you’ll basically spend the entire time trying to figure out if Fern is actually mentally ill or if she has the special ability to see things that don’t exist to anyone else. *smirks*

Dry

Everyone’s going to remember where they were when the taps went dry.

Five kids. No water. Neighborhood disputes. A real disaster that accurately portrays both the horror and the kindness that erupts when everything you thought you knew is gone in an instant. I promise, you’ll love it. Just give Neal and Jarrod a chance to rock your world because once they do, there’s no going back.

Bruiser

There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends — why he can’t care about too many people.

The concept of this story should be enough to get you reading because if BRUISER DOESN’T FASCINATE YOU, NOTHING WILL, YO. This standalone novel follows the twins, Tennyson and Bronte, as they navigate an intricate and delicate friendship (or romance, if your name is Bronte) with the lone wolf and reject of their school, Brewster.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength.

This companion novella is so underrated and I swear, it never gets the recognition it deserves. If you’ve read The Twilight Saga, you might remember a brief character from Eclipse named Bree Tanner. Well, in this novella, Stephenie shows us that there’s more to this newborn vampire than what you initially thought…

Challenger Deep

Caden Bosch is torn.

Ahhh, Caden Bosch is my little mentally ill child and I love him to pieces. Basically, this novel makes no sense because Caden’s psyche is so dissociated and fractured that he spends the entire book drifting between reality and another world where he has an important job on an important ship: to capture the journey to Challenger Deep with his sketchbook.

This is Not The End

If you could choose one person to bring back to life, who would it be?

After an accident claims the lives of her best friend and boyfriend, Lake Devereaux is faced with a choice. A life-altering choice. As she struggles to make her decision, Lake befriends outcast and fellow screwed up human, Ringo. The two grow closer and the deadline for Lake’s choice looms on the horizon. What will she choose? Oh, and she’s also kind of promised her one-time resurrection to someone else.

This was my favorite book of 2018. It broke my heart and read like a movie and HAD A CHARACTER OBSESSED WITH THE BEATLES and it’s just…really beautiful. Please go read it.

We Were Liars

If anyone asks you how it ends, just lie.

I’m not allowed to say anything about this book (see above). Thus you must read it to learn anything. So go. *shoos you off to read it*

100 Days of Sunlight

When life knocks you down… Get up.

Tessa Dickinson is temporarily blind. Weston Ludovico has no legs. The two are forced to learn how to get along and thus engage in many, many arguments that occur because Weston wants to help Tessa learn how to see the world…without really seeing the world. This is a delicious little novel that will give you all the good and happy, yellow sunshine vibes. Also Tessa doesn’t know that Weston’s the boy with no legs. So there’s that.

Vampire Academy

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies…

Rose Hathaway is a student at St. Vladimir’s Academy, alongside her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. The two are connected by a strange bond, which makes Rose the obvious choice for Lissa’s future guardian. The only problem? Well it’s definitely NOT that Rose is impulsive, a little reckless, and head over heels for her mentor, Dimitri Belikov, that’s for sure. And those Strigoi who are getting closer to the school? Those definitely aren’t a problem either…

Let’s Talk!

What book-to-movie adaptations would you most like to see? Have you read any of these beautiful book babies? What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation?