BOOK TO BOOK TO

By Madeleine Grice Woods

“The book was better.” Hands up if you’ve heard this comment from an avid book reader whilst watching a book-to-screen adaptation. Yes, it’s true that some of the classic books that were made into films do not compare to the original source. Adaptations are tricky to master as they must reach the readers’ expectations creating a world we can only imagine in our minds. Translating this to the screen can cheapen the experience and the power of the words on the page. However, this does not deter production companies from giving it a shot, with the latest book-toscreen adaptation exciting fans across the world. You may have read the best-selling novel It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. You cried, laughed, smiled, and maybe felt left wanting more. Well, get ready because your prayers have been answered! After fans took to social media to share their love for the sensational novel, it was announced a few months later that a film adaptation is officially in the works.

A remarkable all-star cast is lined up, including Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively playing the lead, Lily Bloom, and Jane the Virgin’s Justin Baldoni, who is not only cast as Ryle Kincaid but is also directing the movie. Filled with complex romances, challenging relationships, secrets, and gut-wrenching plot twists, it’s set to be an unmissable film, though the filming hasn’t begun yet and there is no release date set, so we can only expect to see it on the big screens in 2024, at the earliest. To fill the time, we’ve rounded up five of the greatest movies and TV series adaptations that we believe are just as good as the original book, if not better.

Greta Gerwig’s rendition of this captivating novel offers a fresh and whimsical aspect to the reflections of the March sisters. Masterfully creating a world of romance and female empowerment, Gerwig ensures the movie steps into a chaos of overlapping personalities whilst teling a reconstructed version of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved book. Including all the iconic moments (a near-death experience, unrequited love, and a curling wand misfortune), this movie introduces a more modern tone to the story, whilst portraying the characters in a way that the audience can relate to and understand. If you don’t like this movie, I don’t think we can be friends.

The best way to describe this TV series is that it will leave you feeling sad and horny. Filled with stolen glances, pained silences, and some spicy scenes, Hulu’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People will mess with your emotions and tear at your heartstrings. However, it is about far more than just sex and heartbreak. From two different backgrounds, Marianne and Connell unexpectedly find an intimate connection with one another. Although, due to a lack of communication at critical moments, they find themselves weaving in and out of each other’s lives for four years. Despite their relationship changing over time, their connection remains unfeigned. This TV series feels real, it tells an honest story about life that many of us experience, reminding us of how vulnerable love is.