There's nothing quite like the feeling of lying out in the Summer sun with a good book, and if your holiday read becomes a movie, even better [1]! I personally love to pick up a novel that has movie potential. There's something about seeing your favourite characters played out on the big screen that makes reading even more exciting. That's why we've rounded up all the books becoming films that you should add to your Summer reading list.
Keep scrolling to see our picks for books to read this Summer and find out when you'll see them hit the big screen.
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
- What it's about: Nick decides it's time for his girlfriend, Rachel, to travel home with him from New York to a wedding in Singapore. There she discovers he's vastly wealthy and that they come from two different worlds.
- Who's starring: The movie adaptation has a a star-studded cast [2] including Constance Wu and Ken Jeong with Jon Chu directing.
- Watch the Crazy Rich Asians trailer [3].
- Release date: Aug. 17
Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström
- What it's about: An ex-convict works undercover for the FBI and purposely gets sent to prison again to investigate the mob.
- Who's starring: Rosamund Pike, Ana de Armas, Clive Owen [4], and Joel Kinnaman are starring.
- Release date: Aug. 17
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
- What it's about: Dr. Faraday returns to the hospital where his mother worked, Hundred Halls, where the dying way of life isn't the only thing haunting its halls.
- Who's starring: Ruth Wilson, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, and Charlotte Rampling all star.
- Release date: Aug. 31
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
- What it's about: A young girl named Ruby escapes a detainment camp for teens with special abilities and joins others her age to revolt against the adults who suppress them.
- Who's starring: Amandla Stenberg stars as Ruby, and Mandy Moore [5] joins as a doctor named Cate. Gwendoline Christie will also star.
- Release date: Aug. 3
Boy Erased by Garrard Conley
- What it's about: The gay son of Baptist pastor is forced to go to conversion therapy.
- Who's starring: Nicole Kidman [6], Russell Crowe [7], and Joel Edgerton are lead the film's cast.
- Release date: Sept. 28
First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen
- What it's about: A look into the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong.
- Who's starring: Ryan Gosling [8] takes the lead role and reunites with La La Land director Damien Chazelle. Claire Foy will play Janet Shearon, Neil's wife.
- Release date: Oct. 12
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
- What it's about: After her mom, Bernadette, disappears, 15-year-old Bee dives into emails, documents, and secret correspondence to find her.
- Who's starring: Cate Blanchett will star [9] as Bernadette, with Richard Linklater directing. Judy Greer, Kristen Wiig, Billy Crudup will costar.
- Release date: Oct. 19
The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
- What it's about: The girl with the dragon tattoo, Lisebth Salander, is back. This time, she's investigating the Spider Society.
- Who's starring: Claire Foy takes the reins [10] as Lisbeth Salander.
- Release date: Nov. 9
My Heart is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots by John Guy
- What it's about: This story examines the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scotts and Elizabeth I, starting with Mary's early life.
- Who's starring: Saoirse Ronan stars as Mary Stuart opposite Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I. Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn also costar.
- Release date: Dec. 7
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
- What it's about: Say goodbye to the cities you once knew. In this novel, motorized metropolises now eat one another to create energy.
- Who's starring: Peter Jackson adapted this story, while Hugo Weaving, Jihae, and Robert Sheehan star.
- Watch the trailer for Mortal Engines [11].
- Release date: Dec. 14
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
- What it's about: Roxane, an American soprano, is taken hostage by guerrilla forces in at a private concert in South America.
- Who's starring: Julianne Moore will star as Roxane in this adaptation, with Ken Watanabe and Demián Bichir. Paul Weitz will direct.
- Release date: 2018
The Black Hand by Stephan Talty
- What it's about: Set in the Summer of 1903, this story explores the origins of the American mafia and the detective who investigates them.
- Who's starring: Leonardo DiCaprio [12] produces and stars in the adaptation.
- Release date: 2018
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
- What it's about: In 1964, London author Juliet Ashton seeks writing inspiration and begins trading letters with a group on the island of Guernsey. She visits the island and forms a bond with the residents, learning about their experiences while under Nazi occupation.
- Who's starring: Michiel Huisman, Lily James [13], and Matthew William Goode will costar in the adaptation.
- Release date: 2018
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
- What it's about: Mary Katherine "Merricat" Blackwood lives with her sister Constance and Uncle Julian in complete isolation for six years, and they're guarding a dark secret.
- Who's starring: Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Daddario play Merricat and Constance Blackwood, while Sebastian Stan stars as their cousin, Charles Blackwood.
- Release date: 2018
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- What it's about: Starr Carter witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil by a police officer, and is confronted with the responsibility and repercussions of speaking up.
- Who's starring: Amandla Stenberg takes on the lead role of Starr, joined by K.J. Apa, Issa Rae, Common, Regina Hall, and Anthony Mackie.
- Release date: 2018
I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
- What it's about: Explores the relationship between Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran and mobster Jimmy Hoffa.
- Who's starring: Robert De Niro [14] plays "the Irishman" Frank Sheeran with Al Pacino [15] as Jimmy Hoffa. Bobby Cannavale, Jesse Plemons, Anna Paquin [16], and Ray Ramano also star.
- Release date 2019
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
- What it's about: Syliva Plath's iconic novel follows Esther Greenwood as she battles a mental breakdown.
- Who's starring: Kirsten Dunst [17] makes her directorial debut with this adaptation. Dakota Fanning [18] will star as Esther, with Dunst's husband Jessie Plemmons costarring.
- Release date: TBA
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
- What it's about: Theodore and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at their school and their lives become intertwined, as they share a fascination with what it means to be alive.
- Who's starring: Elle Fanning will star as Violet.
- Release date: TBA