Books To Films (And Books That Should Be)

It’s always an amazing feeling when you hear ideas of a book you loved and favored being made into a movie on a random Tuesday night. Books are fun to read, and you can see yourself in many different cities, and even various worlds, but imagine seeing the visuals of your books not just in your imagination, but come to life on your screens! There may be some books you’ve read that you didn’t know were becoming movies or TV shows, but that’s why I’m here.

Books —> Films

If you love romance, then you’ll love Maxton Hall. If you’ve read the books, you should know that season 1 is on Prime Video, and season 2 will be out on November 7!

Maxton Hall is a TV show about two students enrolled in the elite school, Maxton Hall. Ruby Bell is a hard worker, working to get her life together for not only herself but also her family. James Beaufort is an arrogant millionaire heir, an enemy of Ruby Bell, after Ruby witnesses an incident involving James’s sister. In fear of Ruby speaking up about the secret she found, James tries to pay her off, which only offends Ruby and increases her hatred.  It’s an enemies-to-lovers TV show full of drama, twists and turns, and an excellent love story.

If you’re more of a thriller/horror lover, you might have heard of Freida McFadden; if you haven’t heard of Freida McFadden, then you should start with her book: The Housemaid. The Housemaid is known as one of her best books, and is now to be streamed in theaters on Christmas, December 25! There is no information about where it will be streamed after its theater release.

The Housemaid is about a young housemaid, Millie, who works for a wealthy family, the Winchesters. She goes through multiple challenges in the house, getting sucked into the manipulation and dangerous situations involved within the home.

It’s a fun thriller, and personally, I’m excited to see it come to life on screens!

If you love a good musical, Wicked: For Good would be best for you. Based on the Wicked novels by Gregory Maguire, they’re fun and immersive books. Wicked the musical has already been released, but people have been waiting for Act Two, which is made and coming out on November 21!

The film synopsis says, “Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she’ll need to reunite with Glinda to transform herself, and all of Oz, for good”.

If you’re looking for a good classic book, another go-around of Frankenstein is on the go. Starring Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein is set to come out on November 7 on Netflix.

The classic book tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a man who created a monstrous creature and then abandoned it. We learn about Frankenstein’s suffering, revenge, and more along the way.

Books —> Should Be Films

Many books should have a film adaptation, whether it’s a romance or a classic. These are some books that I, as well as many others, think should have a film adaptation.

If you like Maxton Hall, then you will definitely love Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter.

Better Than The Movies, although it states to be better than the movies, would be a hit at the cinema.

Better Than The Movies is about a high schooler, Liz Buxbaum, who is a hopeless romantic who lives her life through romantic movies and musical playlists. When she develops a crush on a guy, she makes a plan with her annoying childhood friend/nemesis neighbor to fake date her, and they end up falling for each other throughout the book.

It’s the perfect book for movies, even if it says it’s better than them. 

For thriller fans, another Freida McFadden book that deserves the spotlight is The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden.

The Boyfriend surrounds both Alice’s present timeline and Tom’s past timeline. Sydney and Tom meet, and Sydney is immediately head over heels for Tom. They go on a series of dates, but as time goes on, weird things keep happening with Sydney. Reading the book unravels a series of events that lead up to the plot twist that you won’t ever suspect.

For musicals, although already having a movie adaptation, Coraline would be an amazing book to be turned into a musical.

If you haven’t read or seen Coraline, it’s about a young girl (Coraline) who discovers a secret door in her house. When she goes through, she’s met with the perfect life she’s always wanted, but there’s something different: some people in the other world have button eyes, and everyone has secrets to uncover. 

Coraline would be such a fascinating book to see turned into a musical, and the songwriting possibilities are endless, as long as they include the other dad’s song!

Last but not least, a classic piece of literature that would make a great movie is To Kill a Mockingbird. Although it’s already a movie, a modernized version would be good to see. The topics may be sensitive, but it’s perfect for bringing awareness to racism, prejudice, and more.

To Kill a Mockingbird is about Scout, a young girl living in a Southern town in the Great Depression. Her father, Atticus, is a lawyer defending an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, framed for a horrific act. It follows Scout as she grows up and navigates the ideals of her town and the world!

Books and movies are so fun to spend your free time reading and watching, so how cool would it be to read a book you love and then watch it come to life? Many people are excited about the upcoming movies, and I hope more adaptations come!