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5 books that are coming to live action that you MUST read

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Casper Libero chapter.

We are living in an incredible time to be a bookstan! For us readers, the announcement that our favorite book is being adapted for the screens can have two types of reactions: “Wow, that’s amazing” or “I’m afraid it’s gonna ruin it”, but excitement is always guaranteed! Today I’m going to bring you 5 literary adaptations that are about to be released between 2023 and 2024 that you MUST read before watching! Check it out:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins

This one is for my Hunger Games fans out there! Taking place decades before the original trilogy, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” tells us about the past of the cruel President Snow, as he was young and mentoring Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute of District 12 in the tenth edition of the Hunger Games. The film, which features a great cast, including big star and EGOT, Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), premiered this November 15th in theaters. Take a look at this amazing trailer!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan

This one is what we all (myself included) have been waiting for: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which already had two failed films made in 2010 and 2014, will now have a second chance with a Disney+ series, with the author, Rick and his wife Becky Riordan as executive producers.

The writer is also behind the script to ensure that, this time, he and the fans will have a well-deserved faithful adaptation. He was also behind casting choices and says he couldn’t be happier with them. The series will debut with the first two episodes on December 20th this year. There will be 8 episodes total, released weekly and the first season will follow the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief.

It Ends with Us, by Colleen Hoover

A booktok favorite! In the adaptation, Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) is one of the executive producers and will also play the role of Lily, who moved from a small town in Maine to Boston and opened a flower shop. She starts a relationship with Ryle, a toxic and abusive husband, played by Justin Baldoni (Jane the Virgin), who will direct the film as well.

The book is considered by Colleen Hoover to be her most personal, as it deals with experiences her own mother went through. The movie will be released in theaters on February 9th, 2024, but there is no trailer or poster released yet. However, some behind-the-scenes photos have already been leaked.

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, by Laura Taylor Namey

Lila Reyes is an excellent chef and a hard worker, but she discovers that she still has a lot of care to take with her mental health. She meets Orion Maxwell, a tea shop clerk with his own problems, but who is determined to help Lila overcome her sadness and appoints himself as her personal tour guide as she is visiting England.

With Maya Reficco (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) and Kit Connor (Heartstopper), the adaptation does not yet have a release date or a trailer, but the author confirms that post-production is underway and she will let the fans know when she has any news.

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, by Holly Jackson

Pippa Fitz-Amobi, who will be played by Emma Myers (Wednesday), is a high school student who decides to turn her schoolwork into an investigation of a murder that happened in her town 5 years ago. The city and police accepted that the responsible for Andy Bell’s death was Sal Singh, her boyfriend at the time, who apparently killed himself after writing a confession. But Pip doesn’t believe it, and neither does Sal’s brother, Ravi. 

Together, the two of them start digging on their own to discover secrets hidden for a long time. The series will be released by BBC and has the author, Holly Jackson involved. Filming for the series is still ongoing, so we don’t have much more than behind-the-scenes photos, but it is planned to be released in 2024. The book has two sequels and a prequel, but it has not yet been confirmed when or if they will be adapted (we sure hope so!).

Which one of those are you most excited to watch? Which one did you add to your list? Make sure to read them before you watch them on screen to have a big fan reaction when you see the characters come to life! Have a good read!

The article above was edited by Amanda Moraes.

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Giovanna Trizolini

Casper Libero '25

Aluna de audiovisual, escritora e aspirante a roteirista.