17 Booktok Books That Made It To The Screens You Need To Check Out

There is murder, romance, and a girl-next-door portrayed to perfection by Emma Myers (you may know her from Wednesday). Holly Jackson’s thrillers are often finished in one sitting, but this book adapted as a series does not miss either! Sure, it is a bit slow paced but the near accurate casting makes up for it. If you are a fan of thrillers set in high school, and love a classic who dunnit, then you'll love this. However, if like me, you fell in love with Pip and Ravi’s chemistry between the pages, you might find the onscreen chemistry not so charming as it almost hits the mark, but also doesn’t. 

If you have read the entire trilogy, you would obviously see the end coming. However, the series is only based on the first book and doesn’t reveal anything from the rest of the trilogy books, which is nice if you wish to read ahead. We would recommend it for a girls’ night or when you are aimlessly scrolling through Netflix with a bowl of maggi. 

Format: Series, 6 episodes

Release Year: 2024

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

Where you can watch: Netflix

For the folks who read, the prejudice always lies with the book. However, The Heartstopper series changed that for me. To be honest, the series does an amazing job of capturing the tiny elements of the book; be it the autumn leaves on the hardcover being featured in memorable romantic moments of the series, or the masterful casting that makes you believe this is exactly how every reader pictured their Nick and Charlie as. 

If you are just as impressed with the series, you would be happy to know that the author Alice is in talks with Heartstopper’s production company, See-Saw Films for a last season! We recommend you watch the series but also read the book and be your own jury before the final season hits our screens. 

Format: Series

Release Year: 2022- Present

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Where you can watch: Netflix

Are you team Conrad? Or team Jeremiah? We are a confused team book over series. Sure, the casting was spot on (heart eyes for all of them) but the series stretching across two long seasons with a third one in the works, just didn’t make the cut for us.  

The story follows Isabella Conklin and of course, has two charming lads and a cumbersome love triangle. The gorgeous beach shots, the song scores used from albums of Taylor Swift and the overall production makes this angsty teen romance a one-time watch. But we love the book for making us live summer right through the pages! Be your own jury as you binge-watch this emotional rollercoaster before its final season hits our OTT screens in 2025. 

Format: Series, 2 seasons

Release Year: 2022- Present

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Where you can watch: Amazon Prime Video

If you had told me one day, that this 432 page-turner would become a rom-com starring Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galtizine, I would have laughed because this is too ideal of a casting. But of course, it happened and this movie does not disappoint either. There is something about this wholesome production which makes us rewatch this movie for comfort. 

The book, in all its 432 page glory, may be demotivating to read in one sitting, but the movie does a wonderful job of catching up with the important details. The movie is fast paced but does not spill over the plot points in a hurry to finish. 

Format: Movie

Release Year: 2023

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Where you can watch: Amazon Prime Video

Even in our Wildest Dreams we did not expect inclusive casting, a terrific music score and royal aesthetics that would set the stage for trends all year long. The series is a sure shot winner over the book (but we still love the book, Julia Quinn we love you!). 

The series follows the Regency era in England, featuring eight close-knit siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family and their attempts to find love. Be it the fiery chemistry of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma or the passionate bond of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset; the series has a lot to offer beyond just entertainment, and we have been rewatching the three seasons while awaiting the fourth. While Instagram reels may spoil most of the series for you, the entire production is an experience you cannot miss watching! 

Format: Series, 3 seasons

Release Year: 2020- Present

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Where you can watch: Netflix 

Who can forget the ultimate high school couple Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky? Their romance, spanning three movies, has become a staple comfort movie watched over snacks. The casting of Lana Candor and Noah Centineo as the leads couldn’t have been any better! (This kids, is how you bring a book to life.) We love that Jenny Han was the writer of the movie, and if you watch closely, she also cameos in small scenes throughout the movies! 

The  movie does omit a few cute scenes from the book though, but all in all the movie is a treat to watch so we still stan our cute Lara and Peter! Plus, the background score and the casting of the secondary characters are paper-perfect. 

Format: Movie, 3 parts

Release Year: 2018-2021

IMDb Rating: 7/10

Where you can watch: Netflix 

We are stuck in a love triangle on this one with the original movie with Anne Hathway on one end, the book on a second, and the recent remake we can’t quite watch completely without cringing, on the third. The book does a brilliant job of delving deep into the intricate tapestry of Emma and Dexter's lives, capturing the nuances of their evolving relationship with a delicate touch. 

The recent film adaptation, while visually appealing and quite long with 14 episodes, struggles to convey the depth and complexity of the characters. Also, we love the cast but we believe this was a lost opportunity at reimagining an emotionally deep novel. If you haven’t read the book yet, we suggest you start with the Anne Hathway starrer before you give this series a try. 

Format: Series, 14 episodes

Release Year: 2024

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Where you can watch: Netflix 

Doerr's prose of a war-torn Europe is a breathtaking plot. Though a slow burn, it is a book to savour, not devour. The mini series, however, aces in its casting but falls short in its plot. We love that the directors decided to cast Aria Mia Loberti (herself blind) as Marie-Laure LeBlanc who is a visually impaired character, potentially drawing so much from her struggles in real life. But the series prioritises nuanced narration more than playing on the depth of the characters, as featured in the book. 

If you haven’t watched the series, we would suggest you grab a copy of this Pulitzer winning novel and decide for yourself.

Spoiler alert: the series and the book have different endings and there are several plot lines that diverge between both. 

Format: Mini series, 4 episodes

Release Year: 2023

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Where you can watch: Netflix 

We love the movie, there we said it. Not gonna lie, the book had several strong plot points but the movie really lives up to the book's standards. Adarsh Gourav delivers a powerful performance as Balram Halwai, the ambitious protagonist and Priyanka Chopra does not shy behind as Pinky. Though the ending was altered to fit the cinematic medium, we still love it and the constant stream of dark humour it tried to capture. 

However, we suggest you read this Booker winning novel for a more immersive experience, and be your own jury but we love that the movie does an amazing job of portraying a concise version of this beautiful work. 

Format: Movie

Release Year: 2020

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Where you can watch: Netflix 

If you've read Delia Owens's Where the Crawdads Sing, you know the book is a lyrical masterpiece. Its slow-burn narrative, rich character development, and stunning descriptions of the North Carolina marsh are simply unmatched. 

The book sets a standard the movie tries hard to level with. If you haven’t read the book, you will love the movie but readers like us feel a tinge of disappointment with how much more could have been explored of Kya and her marsh. Kya’s story is told, but not felt. It is a weird experience of a movie that makes you feel but only till the end credits. What really worked for the movie were the breathtaking shots of North Carolina and the doe-eyed innocence of Kya portrayed by Daisy Edgar Jones. 

It is a beautiful production worth more than one watch but the book leaves a stronger aftertaste than the movie. 

Format: Movie 

Release Year: 2022

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Where you can watch: Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube (on rent)

The original Hollywood adaptation with Emily Blunt is what we are fans of. The Indian adaptation with Parineeti Chopra tries hard to add ‘Indianness’ to a thrilling narrative. While a thriller movie needs to have a hook in it, the Indian version fails badly to take the audience along with it (we personally needed several breaks to painfully finish this movie). 

However, the Hollywood adaptation released in 2016, does a brilliant job and almost matches with this page turner, so much so we believe it will stick with you when you open your next bottle of Malbec. The movie starts slow but gains speed and has a satisfying finish (okay, we won’t say more). If you are fans of thriller reads, we recommend the book, otherwise the movie is an almost-equal experience of the plot with fleshed out characters and excellent casting. 

Format: Movie 

Release Year: 2016

IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Where you can watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

We are a bit divided on this one and believe both the book and series are potentially best in their own domains. The series is fast paced and captures the book almost to the T, but it has a lot of deviations from the novel’s original plot. We love that the series expands the storyline of the secondary characters and delves deeper into the struggle of women in STEM (which is the central theme of the novel as well). 

The best part? The series goes one step ahead and tackles the lack of racial representation with a diverse cast. Brownie points for its concise plotlines. We love how the novel’s characters jump off the page quite literally with a near perfect set, costume and makeup. 

Format: Mini series, 8 episodes

Release Year: 2023

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Where you can watch: Apple TV+

Though it didn’t do well on IMDb (we wonder why), the movie does a faithful job of pulling out its characters from between the pages. As someone who had a bit of a trouble picturing a dystopian world with classism based on beauty, the movie does not disappoint! The casting is spot on with Joey King depicting Tally and Laverne Cox as Dr. Cable (that was a sweet surprise). 

People believe the narrative is rushed but we admire that it did not do an absurd job of overstuffing all the plots from the book. However, if you are someone who hasn’t read the book, you might feel like the plot lacks lustre and we get that. It is better to read the book first to have a better understanding of the timeline and round out your experience. 

A special shoutout to the special effects which were excellent. We are crossing our fingers for a sequel to this movie covering the Pretties but there is no official confirmation as of now. Maybe, watch this so you can join us on the waiting spree? 

Format: Movie

Release Year: 2024

IMDb Rating: 4.7/10

Where you can watch: Netflix

"And, baby, when you think of me/I hope it ruins rock 'n' roll.” No, it didn’t ruin, but just slightly altered the movie adaptation. If you have read the book, it might hurt you to know that the movie adaptation omits this song from the book. But hold on, we know the book was a cradle to the grave recount of the Fleetwood Mac-like 70s band. The movie goes one step further by making it a documentary of the group with archival footage. 

We loved watching the band interact with each other and also, getting to listen to them sing outside the book is an experience like no other.

Spoiler alert: with the exception of the song "Please," the ones that show up in the book club kit are different from the ones that are heard in the series. But we still love the series that made us fangirl all over again for this band, cover to cover and now, scene to scene. 

Format: Mini series, 10 episodes

Release Year: 2023

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Where you can watch: Prime Video

If you are going into this because you loved the book, then don’t. If you haven’t read the book but are looking for a rom-com to feel all fuzzy and cutesy, then do it. On the outside, it is just another rom com movie adapted from another rom com book, baked with goodness and climactic plotlines where opposites attract, the main leads fall in love and if you haven’t already predicted, they have a happy ending after scenes and pages of ‘hating’ each other, duh. 

Though the book and movie feel plots apart and the entire film feels rushed, the casting has done a good job of getting the piece together. We liked it as a standalone, as another near Christmas movie that doesn’t rub our face in a mistletoe. But if you are looking for a deep exploration of the haters-to-lovers trope, grab the book rather than the movie! 

Format: Movie

Release Year: 2021

IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

Where you can watch: Prime Video

“I'm not a book person but I do sometimes think this series made me one for you,” is what you will say to the paperback after you finish this series. With picture perfect casting (Daisy Edgar Jones takes the spotlight again!), beautiful cinematography and the chemistry between the leads Mescal and Edgar-Jones delivers that out of the page experience you may not be expecting. 

We love the series, we love the book, we love that they both work hard to mirror each other and give our imagination a picture to binge watch and cry over. 

Format: Mini series, 12 episodes

Release Year: 2020

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Where you can watch: Prime Video

This series is, how do we put it kindly, a tender example of having a great first season but a ruined second season. Fantasy lovers, you will definitely enjoy the special effects and the different ethereal worlds depicted in the series. Being adapted from a fantasy book, the series tackles the risk of not matching the readers’ imagination by combatting with excellent animation of its own. 

But the plot runs pretty predictive, even if you haven’t read the book. And you might be surprised to know, the show merges the narratives of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows, in a bid to create a more dynamic and complex storyline, but if you might find it fall flat if you are expecting a deeper understanding of the characters and the Grishaverse. 

Format: Series, 2 seasons, 8 episodes each 

Release Year: 2021-2023

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Where you can watch: Netflix

Anticipating your next big read to end up in your watchlist? We have learnt that famous Booktok novels like A Court Of Thorn And Roses by Sarah J Maas; Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkin Reid; The Housemaid by Freida McFadden; Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry are rumoured to being adapted into a movie or series! Until then, how about you revisit your Wattpad days with a dose of our Booktok picks here?