5 Books to Read in Fall 2026 Before They Hit the Big Screen

Published Aug 25, 2026, 6:06 AM EDT Michelle is an award-winning journalist hailing from the deep woods of Upstate New York. She holds a B.A. in Writing from Syracuse University and a M.A. in Creative Nonfiction from Wilkes University. She's an avid traveler who loves nothing more than reading (or telling) a good story. There’s no other way to say it: Books make excellent movies. The character development, plot twists, and realistic dialogue that make a novel great provide the perfect foundation for a TV script, and the first half of 2026 was excellent for these kinds of literature-to-film adaptations. We got the unexpectedly heartwarming sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary featuring Ryan Reynolds. We got Emily Henry’s The People We Meet on Vacation, plus a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s turbulent romance Wuthering Heights. Beyond all the buzzy books that hit the big screen in the first half of 2026, however, there are even more great adaptations to come. Here’s a look at five books becoming movies in the second half of the year — and why you should definitely read them before they come alive in a whole new way. 5 'The Dog Stars' by Peter Heller (August 28) Image via 20th Century Studios, courtesy Everett Collection Colorado author Peter Heller has made a name for himself writing outdoorsy thrillers that make nature itself the ultimate antagonist. Both dystopian and beautifully written, The Dog Stars will be the first of Heller's books to become a movie, but its continued status as a bestseller since its release in 2012 has set expectations high. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin, this sci-fi movie set in the Rocky Mountains follows the survivors of a great plague as they struggle to find food, stay alive, and keep their sanity. Main character Hig (Jacob Elordi) once heard signs of life through his old radio, but when his single human companion dies, he sets out on a mission to connect with that possible other survivor. That journey brings him into contact with someone who not only keeps him company, but also reminds him of his humanity in the most dire of circumstances. 4 ‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood (September 23) Image via Prime Video Romance author Ali Hazelwood is a former neuroscientist and college professor, so it’s no surprise that readers love the smart, strong, and realistic characters anchoring her contemporary romance novels. In The Love Hypothesis, Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith (Lili Reinhart) decides to pursue a fake relationship situation with her professor in an effort to convince her friend that all is well with her own love life. The situation quickly turns in the most unexpected ways, surprising the main character most of all. Hazelwood’s hit book The Love Hypothesis is definitely worth reading before seeing the film, especially if you love to see refreshing, feminist versions of overdone tropes and enjoy seeing how realistically rendered novel protagonists transform as live action characters. 3 ‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover (October 2) Image via Amazon MGM Studios Three of Colleen Hoover’s best books — It Ends With Us, Regretting You, and Reminders of Him — have already become hit movies featuring stars like Blake Lively, Lauren Graham, and Dave Franco. But fans of Hoover’s dark romances will get a little something different with her latest book-to-movie adaptation, Verity, which readers say is by far the most unsettling of all Hoover’s tales. Following a writer who discovers a wealth of secrets in a best-selling author’s terrifying manuscript, Verity is equal parts psychological, disturbing, and unexpected. The film is certain to follow in the book’s footsteps, featuring high-profile performances by Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. 2 ‘Whalefall’ by Daniel Kraus (October 16) Image via MTV Entertainment Books Have you ever imagined being swallowed by a giant whale? That’s exactly the premise of Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, a terrifying survival thriller that readers love for its scientific accuracy and page-turning tension. This October, a movie adaptation of this oceanic novel makes its nightmarish premise all the more visual — think giant squid fights, swimming in stomach acid, self-made explosions, and a scuba oxygen tank quickly running out of air. No matter how action-packed this movie might be, delving into the emotions, grief, and raw survival detailed in the book version will help you appreciate the film so much more. Reader beware: You’ll never look at a whale the same. 1 ‘Sense and Sensibility’ by Jane Austen (December 18) Image via Focus Features Fans of Jane Austen have been lucky enough to see many movies inspired by her novels over the years, from direct historical adaptations like Persuasion to loose, modernized interpretations such as Clueless. But a brand new adaptation of Austen’s Sense and Sensibility will be hitting theaters just in time for the holiday season. First published in 1811, this tale of sisters navigating grief, love, and coming of age in the late 1700s in England has long been beloved for its critique of social class and exploration of sibling dynamics. Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility has been adapted multiple times over the years for both television and film, but the upcoming 2026 release starring Daisy Edgar-Jones could very well be the best one yet. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic love story or a dystopian thriller, let one of these books light up your imagination before they become movies.