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Nothing really compares to reading a book before it hits the big screen. You get to imagine the characters your own way, experience every twist at your own pace, and then watch the story come to life, knowing exactly what's ahead (while savoring all the differences).
This summer, the list of page-to-screen adaptations is stacked with everything from romances to thrillers and dystopian dramas. So, whether you prefer to lounge by the pool or curl up on the couch with a good book, now's the time to read these novels before everyone's talking about their movie versions.
Scroll to see all the books you should read before they become movies in 2025!
Amazon
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
Ella Durran has her life mapped out: one year at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship before returning to the U.S. to help launch a presidential campaign. But her plans are quickly disrupted when she meets Jamie Davenport, a local who crashes into her world, literally and figuratively.
Caught between a career she's always dreamed of and a love she never saw coming, Ella must decide what (and who) is truly worth fighting for. My Oxford Year is set to hit Netflix on August 1, starring Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest.
Amazon
The Running Man by Stephen King
In an authoritarian future where society is fueled by violence and fear, Ben Richards is a man with nothing left to lose. His daughter is ill, and he's out of options. Well, that's until he volunteers for a government-run reality game show called The Running Man.
The rules are simple: survive for 30 days while being relentlessly hunted by trained killers on live television. The reward? A fortune. But as the body count rises and the nation watches with bated breath, Ben starts to see the cracks in the system and plots a rebellion that goes beyond just staying alive.
This thriller, originally published under Stephen King's pseudonym Richard Bachman, will hit the big screen on November 7. The cast includes Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, and Michael Cera.
Amazon
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Morgan and Clara Grant are mother and daughter, but that doesn't mean they understand each other. Morgan values structure, while Clara wants freedom, and their already-strained relationship is pushed to the brink after a tragic accident shatters their family.
As they each seek comfort in unexpected places, Morgan and Clara have to navigate grief, betrayal, and the painful process of growing apart before they can find their way back to each other.
The movie adaptation of Regretting You, starring Allison Williams and McKenna Grace, premieres on October 24.
Amazon
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is no stranger to the screen, but director Guillermo del Toro is offering a fresh take on this haunting tale.
Victor Frankenstein is a brilliant but reckless scientist who creates life from death, only to be horrified by his own monstrous creation. What ensues is an analysis of isolation, rejection, and what it really means to be human.
Starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth, Frankenstein will debut on Netflix later this year.
Amazon
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
When Millie takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the wealthy Winchester family, she sees it as her last shot at starting over. But behind the mansion's pristine walls, things take a disturbing turn. Nina Winchester is manipulative, her husband, Andrew, is emotionally distant, and their home is filled with secrets that could destroy everything.
Tense and twisty, The Housemaid is a psychological thriller that's taken #BookTok by storm. The film adaptation, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, is supposed to hit theaters this December.
Amazon
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
In a future where human connection feels rare, Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to combat teenage loneliness, watches the world go by from a store window as she waits to be chosen.
When she's finally taken home by a girl named Josie, Klara's observations and loyalty lead her on a journey of hope, sacrifice, and what it means to love.
The movie iteration of Klara and the Sun will be arriving in late 2025, starring Jenna Ortega as Klara, with Amy Adams and Natasha Lyonne in supporting roles.
Amazon
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Every summer for 10 years, Poppy and Alex (who are total opposites but best friends) have taken one vacation together. But after a falling out two years ago, they haven't spoken since.
Poppy realizes her happiest memories all include Alex, though, which is why she persuades him to take one more trip in a last-ditch effort to fix what they broke. Spoiler alert: old feelings resurface, and the two have to decide whether they're better off as friends or something more.
Fans of Emily Henry will probably be pleased to learn that People We Meet on Vacation is supposed to make a Netflix debut sometime this year, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth in this friends-to-lovers story.
Amazon
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Wicked: For Good, the second part of Gregory Maguire's reimagining of Oz, continues the story of Elphaba (the so-called Wicked Witch) and Glinda.
Featuring powerful performances from Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, and Jeff Goldblum, this highly anticipated sequel builds on the worldwide love of Wicked. The film is supposed to land in theaters on November 21.
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