Book-To-Screen Adaptations EngagE Broader Audiences

By: Vanessa Buechler

The best way to settle down for the night and relax can look like one of two things: reading a book while wrapped up in blankets with a hot drink, or watching a movie with friends and family. Personally, I love both, but I can usually be found curled up with a good book, no matter the time of day. 

I’ve heard many people say they “don’t have the attention span” to read a book, so I’ve found a good alternative: book to screen adaptations. Some of my favorite movies got their content from a book, like Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Little Women. But very recently, two very popular books got their turn in the cinema spotlight: “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden and “People We Meet On Vacation” by Emily Henry. While very different in their nature, both movies are brilliant adaptations of their original novels, and here’s why you should watch them. ​

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For those who find themselves drawn towards a psychological thriller that will leave you on your toes until the very end, I’d recommend “The Housemaid.” The movie, which premiered on Dec. 19, 2025, follows Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) as she tries to rebuild her life after spending 10 years in prison. She is hired on as a housekeeper for Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar) to do the cleaning, cooking, and occasionally caring for their child. Throughout the movie,  Millie begins to realize that Nina might have mental problems, which causes Millie to reconsider her job position until Andrew comforts her instead of his wife. Weird things continue to occur throughout the film (you know I can’t spoil them!), and you can feel the suspense through the screen. The casting for the movie was fantastic, and the overall adaption of the book was well scripted, although there were some big changes made to the plot line towards the end. This movie follows the storyline provided in the original novel, and it provides the exact same content and emotional impact as you get while reading the book, therefore making it an amazing alternative to actually reading the novel. ​​

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On the opposite side of the coin, lovers of a sweet romance will enjoy “People We Meet on Vacation.” Released to Netflix on Jan. 9, 2026, “People We Meet on Vacation” features a friends-to-lovers plotline that follows Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth) as they navigate through their feelings for each other over the course of nine years. They go on summer trips every year until something goes very wrong during their last vacation. Now, two years later, Alex’s brother is getting married, and Poppy realizes that this is her last chance to get her best friend back. While the film made changes to the general timeline of the story, the plot stays the same. Seeing the actors portraying the emotions of the characters made the movie easier to connect to than the novel itself, and the actors were absolutely perfect for their roles. The movie gets you giggling and kicking your feet while getting in your feelings for Poppy and Alex’s relationship. Compared to the book, I honestly enjoyed the movie a bit more since it highlighted so many of the character traits. It felt easier to relate to the characters because they were played out in front of me rather than played out inside my head. This movie, like many romance novels turned into films, is a fantastic way to engage in the content from books without having to read the rom com itself.

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Overall, book-to-screen adaptations are a brilliant way to engage a broader audience without needing to have the attention span required to read an entire novel. And even though I love to read books, I also love relaxing and watching movies. I’m highly anticipating many different book-to-screen releases coming in 2026, and if you like getting comfy with a drink and snack, you should start planning to watch these upcoming new releases. Grab some popcorn, a slurpee, and enjoy!

• Project Hail Mary (Mar. 20, 2026)
  
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1, 2026)
  
• The Odyssey (Jun. 17, 2026)
  
• Sense and Sensibility (Sep. 11, 2026)
  
• Verity (Oct. 2, 2026)
  
• Sunrise on the Reaping (Nov. 20, 2026)