2026 Book-to-Screen Adaptations: Listen Before You Watch
It’s a great cultural moment for people who love all types of storytelling media. We could call it a golden age, producing some of out best book adaptations. And every year there seems to be more than the last, especially in mini-series format.
Limited-run series have been around for decades, but they dominate the book adaptation market these days. It’s easy to understand why. Books aren’t confined to the standard 90-minute runtime. Complicated narratives, enriched by their characters’ inner thoughts and motivations, have room to be breathe. Showrunners have fewer cuts to consider. Readers who were already fans of the book (and let’s be honest, we are notoriously critical) have fewer cuts to be mad about. And the books themselves ideally see the “Netflix effect”, aka an exponential increase in sales post-adaptation. A win-win-win across the board.
Of course, book adaptations come with the age-old debate over whether it’s better to read the book or see the movie first. We would argue that listening is the best of worlds, and the best way to compare its two versions. This works in whichever order, but listening to the book before watching the film adaptation is the peak experience—as if the characters are speaking directly to you.
Here are some of our favorite books that have been turned into fantastic adaptations in 2026, some already released and more still to come.
Already released
People We Meet on Vacation
“I can almost guarantee when I press play on an Emily Henry title that I’m going to love it and do a lot of introspection. Listening to People We Meet on Vacation was not an exception. I love the dual timelines that both unravel the past and build the pieces back together in the present—I will eat it up every time. I found Poppy to be deeply flawed but I enjoyed seeing her journey of unpacking the things that sowed the seeds of her insecurities and I loved Alex’s cool, calm steadfastness. This might be one of my favorite Emily Henry titles.”
— Jonlyn • A Novel Romance
His & Hers
“Following a murder in her hometown, TV broadcaster Anna Andrews is drawn back to cover the case in order to show her bosses at the network that she’s got what it takes to be at the news desk. Things get complicated quickly as her ex, Detective Jack Harper, is the lead investigator. As the bodies start piling up, Feeney switches narrators between Anna, Jack, and the mystery killer. Plot twists, secrets and clues are laid out carefully by the author. I was fully enthralled with the voices narrating this title, and the audio version was very compelling.”
— Jessica • BookBar
Wuthering Heights
“Wow. A great performance of a classic text! Wuthering Heights is in the zeitgeist once again, and this audiobook does not disappoint.”
— Mike • A Great Good Place for Books
Vladimir
“Vladimir is a get-under-your-skin story about obsession, power, the ivory tower of academia, and ‘PC culture’ movements told from the point of view of a female professor whose husband has been accused of sexual misconduct by many of his former students. As her husband faces hearing committees, she becomes fixated on Vladimir-the young, new (and very married) bombshell professor in the English department. Even as the emotions roiling throughout Vladimir are chaotic, the book’s delicate construction means not a single word is out of place. Rebecca Lowman’s voice is uncannily perfect for the main character down to every last lilt, and listening to this audiobook feels private, as if you’re being given your very own perverse, one-on-one lecture on sex and morality and the intricacies of well-executed emotional manipulation.”
— Wulfe • Raven Book Store
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
“Three novellas from the world of ice and fire, following the journey of Dunk, an unlikely hero, and his squire, a hidden Targaryen prince, almost one hundred years before the main series begins. Sometimes melancholy, sometimes unexpectedly funny, these are some of my favorite stories from the whole of Martin’s world. Harry Lloyd’s narration is pitch perfect here! If you love A Song of Ice & Fire, this is a must listen; if you haven’t dived into this world yet, this might make a less intimidating starting point than the full novels.”
— Amber • Copperfield’s Books
The Last Thing He Told Me
“I adore Laura Dave and absolutely loved The Last Thing He Told Me. Wonderful characters, amazing writing, and a twisty plot kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Truly unputdownable and a thoroughly enjoyable read!”
— Kaitlin Smith • Copperfield’s Books Healdsburg
The Count of Monte Cristo
“Arguably the greatest novel ever written. You’ll cheer, you’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll feel just about every emotion possible as you follow this epic odyssey of a wrongfully imprisoned man’s journey for revenge and redemption. If you have enjoyed a revenge story before, it’s likely inspired by this one.”
— Isaac • Page 1 Books
Coming soon
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
“A freshman in college decides to have the baby. Her father, an ex pro-wrestler, moves in. She starts an Only Fans account. This is a SUPERB, fun, dynamic, revelatory novel. I devoured it and was so won over by Margo and her money troubles. Highly recommended for fans of Catherine Newman and Miranda July.”
— Em • A Great Good Place for Books
The House of the Spirits
The debut novel of Isabel Allende became such a cultural touchstone that it has not only been adapted into the 1993 film starring Meryl Streep and Antonio Banderas, transformed into multiple theatrical versions, and included in countless school curricula, but it’s also being adapted again—this time into a television series that will be released later this year. The groundbreaking book follows the Trueba family—including a matriarch who can commune with spirits—through four generations of social and political upheavals in an unnamed Latin American country that’s widely read as Chile.
Three Bags Full (adapted as The Sheep Detectives)
“George the shepherd is found dead in the field with a spade in his chest. The whole village are suspects and the local inspector may be in cahoots with the local crime syndicate, but never fear—George’s flock, led by the incomparable Miss Maple (yes), the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world) are on the case! Must read for fans of quirky, cozy mysteries and and anyone who has wondered what those sheep are really thinking!”
— Samantha • A Great Good Place for Books
Remarkably Bright Creatures
“In turns funny, heart-warming, and poignant, Remarkably Bright Creatures is the most unlikely tale of how broken hearts can be mended, in this case with the help of a brilliant giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, observing humanity from his tank in a Puget Sound aquarium.It is only Marcellus who is bright enough to see a connection between two lost souls who have entered his sphere – Tova, the 70-year-old cleaning woman, and Cam, a 30-year-old drifter who works part-time at the aquarium. Marin Ireland is a remarkable narrator, allowing us to lose ourselves in proper Tova, a Scots grocer and slacker Cam. But my favorite passages are the first-person chapters where we hear Marcellus, narrated by actor Michael Urie, in a haughty voice dripping with superiority, and in the end, love.”
— Claire • Honest Dog Books
The Odyssey
“Homer’s Odyssey was always meant to be heard, not read. This is the best translation with the best reader. Accept no substitutes.”
— Noah • Readings
The Magician’s Nephew
The beloved fantasy classic is narrated by Kenneth Branagh. There honestly isn’t much more we need to say, but we will anyway: Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook even if you’ve read it in print.
Klara and the Sun
“When I read Ishiguro’s work, I feel as if a veil has been lifted, and suddenly the world—or range—of humanness, and all it’s uncomfortable possibilities, are clear. I’m so grateful for his extraordinary talents and ability to manifest new understandings inside the mind of the reader. Whether it’s the source of human emotion, the impact of memory, the grappling of regret, or simply the purpose of human life, I finish his books with greater insight into the scope of living. Klara is no different—an inhuman character who in an almost childlike voice, reveals the boundaries between human and inhuman, the future and obsolescence, and the bonds and boundaries of love.”
— Cassie • Roundabout Books
Pride and Prejudice
“No matter how many times I return to this book, something new always stands out: a delightful quip or a reference l didn’t catch before. This is the ultimate comfort listen and it never fails to cheer me up.”
— Kaley • Quail Ridge Books
Why you should listen before you watch
Audiobooks reveal character interiority that visual adaptations can’t completely capture
A huge part of cinema magic is the way screenwriters, actors, and directors can bring out a character’s thought process and motivations through action: gesture, facial expression, the way the body moves through their environment. Audiobooks give readers more direct, detailed access to a character’s interiority. Both are powerful methods of storytelling, but experiencing the more comprehensive inner world of a character before the more subtle portrayal allows you to better appreciate the translation of page to screen.
Experiencing the source material first also deepens appreciation (or criticism) of adaptation choices
Watching the movie or TV adaptation after listening to the audiobook means starting with the full story and seeing where and how it gets whittled down—or, in some cases, changed completely!
Narrators bring unique interpretations—not just of the story, but of the author’s direct words
Just like actors bring their expertise to the characters, so do narrators—but they’re working with the original text, with more direct access to the author and their original creation.
Support your local bookstore by listening on Libro.fm
While you’re preparing for the big and small screens, you can also help a vital local business thrive. Every purchase you make on Libro.fm goes toward the indie bookshop of your choice. Whether you’re paying for a membership, a credit bundle, or a single audiobook, you can feel happy knowing that a local shop dedicated to putting the best books in readers’ hands gets to share in the profit.
