Books To Read Before They Hit The Screens

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Dear reader, have you not yet delved into Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels? For lovers of period romance and a good ol’ bit of sexual tension, Romancing Mr Bridgerton delivers a witty story packed with brilliant characters and a page-turning plot. Time to revisit the ton, methinks.

Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for the third instalment of its smash-hit series, Bridgerton, but the platform recently shared some behind-the-scenes filming moments here.

Bridgerton Season Three: Everything We Know So Far

Favourite Quote: ‘Colin decided then and there that the female mind was a strange and incomprehensible organ – one which no man should even attempt to understand. There wasn’t a woman alive who could go from point A to B without stopping at C, D, X, and 12 along the way.’

Piatkus, £6.29, amazon.co.uk

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Despite their differences, sisters Viann and Isabelle have always been close. While the outgoing Isabelle leads a life in the bustling city of Paris, Viann is content with family life in the French countryside. The start of the Second World War, however, quickly shatters their previous lifestyles. Viann’s husband is sent to fight in the war, leaving Viann isolated at home. Isabelle is soon sent by their father to help her, and the sisters’ relationship and strength is tested as the war rages on.

A film version of The Nightingale, starring sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, is set to hit theatres on 23 December 2022.

Favourite Quote: ‘Wounds heal. Love lasts. We remain.’

Pan, £6.99, amazon.co.uk

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder follows a phenomena in 1862 Ireland, where a young girl who stops eating but remains alive and well. An English nurse, Lib Wright, is sent to the girl’s village to observe her health – and encounters the masses of tourists and pilgrims who stop by to see the live-action miracle. But the question remains: is this really a Heaven-sent wonder or something more ominous?

A Neltfix film adaptation of The Wonder is currently in post-production, so a 2022 release seems likely. It will star the likes of Florence Pugh, Ciarán Hinds, Niamh Algar and Toby Jones.

Favourite Quote: ‘A strident female voice causes men’s ears to close.’

Picador, £8.39, amazon.co.uk

One Day by David Nicholls

Set over 20 years, One Day follows the relationship of Emma and Dexter as they meet each year on 15 July. Meeting for the first time on the night of their graduation, the following years map out a story of highs, lows, romances and heartbreaks. You might need the tissues to hand when you read this one.

Netflix recently announced that it would be adapting Nicholls’s novel into a tv series, so keep an eye out for any upcoming updates. In terms of casting, we so far know that Ambika Mod (This is Going to Hurt) is set to play Emma and Leo Woodall has been cast as Dexter, while Poldark’s Emma Tomlinson will be stepping into the role of Sylvie.

Favourite Quote: ‘He wanted to live life to the extreme, but without any mess or complications.’

Hodder Paperbacks, £9.10, amazon.co.uk

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Once the most controversial stories to hit UK bookshelves, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the final novel from D.H. Lawrence. This is a tense tale centring on Lady Chatterley’s adulterous liaison with gamekeeper Oliver Mellors, as she discovers that life should be experienced through both mind and body. Infused with commentary on social class, sexuality, and psychology, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is a classic through and through.

Netflix has announced it is working on a new adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, starring Emma Corrin, Jack O’Connell, and Matthew Duckett. It’s currently in post-production, so we’re hoping to hear about a potential release date soon.

Favourite Quote: ‘We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.’

Alma Classics, £5.59, almabooks.com

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

After leaving Dublin in search of happiness, Ava finds herself in Hong Kong teaching English. It’s not the life she envisioned for herself, nor is it the best financial option. But things start to look up when she meets Julien. His wealth provides the comfort and stability Ava always wanted for herself, and she soon jumps into a relationship with him. Things don’t always go to plan though, and soon Edith enters the picture. She’s striking and ambitious – and Ava wants her more than she’s ever wanted anyone else. But Ava must choose: settle into a comfortable life with Julien or take a leap of faith with Edith?

Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor was recently cast as the lead in the upcoming television adaptation by Amazon.

Favourite Quote: ‘Sometimes I love you and sometimes I think it would be best if a plane flew into your office and you were on the plane or in the building.’

HarperCollins, £10.74, amazon.co.uk

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

A companion to the popular American Gods novel, Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys delves back into the world of modern mythology with a new set of characters and stories to unravel. The plot follows Charlie Nancy, a young man who is confronted with multiple secrets after the untimely death of his father – the most startling being that he wasn’t who he said he was. Now, with a half-brother he never knew of on his doorstep, Charlie’s world is about to get a whole lot more interesting (and dangerous).

Amazon recently announced they would be adapting Gaiman’s novel into a six-part series, with filming starting later this year in Scotland. Notable cast members include Malachi Kirby, Delroy Lindo and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn.

Favourite Quote: ‘Let’s start a new tomorrow, today.’

Headline Review, £6.29, amazon.co.uk

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Gabrielle Zevin’s 2014 novel had been called ‘a love letter to the world of books’, and for good reason too. The story follows grumpy bookseller, A.J. Fikry, as he comes to terms with a rapidly changing world. The arrival of an unexpected package turns everything A.J. once knew on its head – is this the opportunity he needed to make his life over?

The upcoming film adaptation is currently being filmed, with Kunal Nayyar, Christina Henricks, and Lucy Hale all confirmed on the cast list.

Favourite Quote: ‘We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone.’

Penguin Books Ltd, £2.59, amazon.co.uk

Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

Not to be confused with a biography, Joyce Carol Oates’ bestselling fiction novel chronicles the life of Hollywood megastar Marilyn Monroe. Many notable names are changed within the story but are still guessable by initials or nicknames. At over 700 pages, Blonde isn’t a light read, but it’s certainly worth it.

With Blonde now in post-production, Oates’ novel is expected to hit Netflix’s screens sometime next year. No Time To Die’s Ana de Armas plays the iconic blonde actress.

Blonde: Everything You Need To Know About the New Marilyn Monroe Film

Favourite Quote: ‘An actress wants to be seen. An actress wants to be loved. By multitudes of people, not just one lone man.’

Fourth Estate, £9.34, amazon.co.uk

Daisy Jones & The Six by Jenkins Reid

Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll – that about sums up Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel. Set during the age of liberation in 1970s Los Angeles, Daisy Jones & The Six follows a young girl’s rise to rockstar fame and worldwide icon status.

Look out for the upcoming TV miniseries on Amazon Prime Video. Filming is said to have wrapped up in May 2022, so we’re looking at a late 2022 or early-mid 2023 release.

Favourite Quote: ‘Men often think they deserve a sticker for treating women like people.’

Ballantine Books, £12.23, amazon.co.uk

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

We’ve heard a lot of good things about this one. The story takes place in a quiet fishing village in the late sixties, where Kya – the alleged “Marsh Girl” – lives on the outskirts of the community as a naturalist. When a man she was once involved with is killed, Kya becomes the number one suspect.

The film adaptation will feature Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) as Kya, and is set for a June 2022 release.

Favourite Quote: ‘I wasn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.’

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, £14.13, amazon.co.uk

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Every Brit should know Agatha Christie, the detective writer who dominated bookshelves – and later television screens – throughout the twentieth century. Death on the Nile sees Christie’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot, embark on another whodunit aboard a glamorous river steamer in Egypt. Not one to miss if you’re a fan of suspenseful drama.

The film features Kenneth Branagh as the Belgian detective, alongside a stellar cast including Gal Gadot, Dawn French, and Letitia Wright. You can catch Death on the Nile in theatres now

Favourite Quote: ‘Motives for murder are sometimes very trivial, Madame.’

HarperCollins Publishers, £8.99, amazon.co.uk

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

An intriguing tale set in nineteenth century England, The Essex Serpent tells the story of widowed Cora Seaborne as she trades in the busy streets of Victorian London for a small village in Essex. But not everything is as it should be, as local superstitions whisper that a mythical creature has returned to the area – for good.

Confirmed for 2022, the TV series adaptation of The Essex Serpent will feature the likes of Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston,  Frank Dillane, Hayley Squires, Clémence Poésy and Jamael Westman. Catch it later this year on Apple TV+.

Favourite Quote: ‘You are a woman, and must begin to live like one. By which I mean: have courage.’

Serpent’s Tail, £7.37, amazon.co.uk

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Dolly Alderton’s romantic comedy has become a fast favourite for many readers across the UK. In her novel, the Sunday Times columnist shares her personal experiences navigating the world of adulthood: love, jobs, heartbreak, Rod Stewart-themed parties, and the realisation that good friends are all you need to make life memorable.

The BBC will be adapting Dolly Alderton’s novel into a seven-part television series. Casting was recently announced, with Emma Appleton and Bel Powley taking on the roles of Maggie and Birdy.

Meet the Cast of Dolly Alderton’s ‘Everything I Know About Love’

Favourite Quote: ‘Nearly everything I know about love, I’ve learnt from my long-term friendships with women.’

Fig Tree, £6.36, amazon.co.uk

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Another love story we can’t wait to read. Anne Elliot is the eldest of Jane Austen’s heroines, and her story follows the classic ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ plot-line that characterises so many of the novelist’s stories. Anne regrets breaking off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth eight years ago, but is his sudden re-entry into her life an opportunity to make amends?

Austen’s novel is expected to hit Netflix’s screens sometime early next year, with Dakota Johnson starring as Anne.

Favourite quote: ‘You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope… I have loved none but you.’

Penguin Books Ltd, £5.65, blackwells.co.uk