Some stories are made for the screen – think the dystopian spectacle of The Handmaid’s Tale, the jump scares of The Shining, or Mr. Darcy’s declarations of love in Pride and Prejudice (and Bridget Jones’ Diary, for that matter).
We can already tell that 2025 is going to be a great year for TV and film adaptations. Conclave recently won four BAFTAs, and the latest Bridget Jones film has been a firm favourite with critics and cinema-goers alike. But they’re not the only bestselling books being transformed into binge-worthy series and blockbuster movies.
Below, we’ve rounded up the books to read before (or after) seeing them on screen this year – because everyone knows the book is always better…
Book-to-screen adaptations in 2025
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (2018)
The book: A heartbreaking yet life-affirming memoir following Raynor Winn and her husband Moth who, following the loss of their home and a devastating medical diagnosis, go on a 630-mile hike along the South-West Coast Path. Against a backdrop of weathered cliffs and sea-soaked trails, and with almost no money or shelter, the pair experience the healing power of nature and learn the true meaning of home.
The film: Household names Gillian Anderson (The X Files; Sex Education) and Jason Isaacs (The Patriot; Harry Potter) star in this adaptation, which is due to hit cinemas on 25th April, 2025. The trailer is out now, and we can already tell that this film is going to be a tear-jerker.
Read more: An extract from The Salt Path.
Miss Austen by Gill Hornby (2020)
The book: It’s a literary mystery that has long puzzled academics: why did Cassandra burn most of the letters from her sister, Jane Austen, decades after her death? Gill Hornby’s emotionally rich novel imagines why, as it explores the sisters’ lives, loves and complex relationship, and the secrets they’d hoped to keep hidden.
The show: Hornby’s historical novel has been adapted into a four-part drama, which aired on BBC One at the start of this year (meaning you can stream the whole thing now on BBC iPlayer). It stars Keeley Hawes as Cassandra, with a host of other familiar faces including Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Jessica Hynes (The Royle Family) and Alfred Enoch (How to Get Away with Murder).
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020)
The book: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are four friends in a quiet retirement village who meet every Thursday to investigate cold cases. But when a murder takes place on their doorstep, the gang must solve their first live case. This warm, witty mystery is the first in the chart-topping series that has won a legion of loyal fans.
The film: We have high hopes for this film adaptation, which is coming to cinemas and Netflix later this year. Not only is it directed by Chris Columbus, of Harry Potter and Home Alone fame, but it is also produced by Steven Spielberg and has a star-studded cast. Helen Mirren plays former spy Elizabeth; Sir Ben Kingsley plays ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim; Celia Imrie plays joyful former nurse Joyce; and Pierce Brosnan plays cantankerous activist Ron. For more information, our team over at Dead Good have compiled everything you need to know about the upcoming film.
Conclave by Robert Harris (2016)
The book: Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 cardinals are tasked with selecting the next Pope from among themselves. These are holy men, but they are equally ambitious and ruthless. As the group splinters into rival factions, the men use strategy and political games to undermine their opponents. But only one will become the most powerful figure in the Catholic Church.
The film: Robert Harris’ 2016 novel is now an award-winning film featuring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini. The film won a series of BAFTAs, including for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay and Outstanding British Film. It has also been nominated for several Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The book: Everyone’s favourite singleton returned in 2013, in Helen Fielding’s third book in the Bridget Jones series. Following the death of Mark Darcy, 50-something Bridget is a single mother trying to navigate social media, dating apps, and a casual affair with a younger man. Like previous books in the series, it’s a timely story told with a refreshing sense of humour.
The film: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy broke the UK box-office record for rom-coms on its opening weekend in February, and we can see why. The film is a simultaneously a tender look at grief, a hilarious exploration of modern parenting, and an uplifting romance story about starting over. Renée Zellweger returns as Bridget Jones, with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Sally Phillips reprising their roles as Bridget’s no-nonsense friends. Plus, One Day’s Leo Woodall and Love Actually’s Chiwetel Ejiofor join the cast as Bridget’s competing love interests.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
The book: This Gothic tale about innovation, cruelty, and the dangers of unrestrained ambition is a classic for a reason. It follows Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who finds a way to create life. But his creature, stitched from old body parts, has no place in the world, and is shunned by his creator until he is ultimately driven to taking revenge.
The film: Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro is a lifelong fan of Frankenstein, and credited Mary Shelley as “a figure as important in my life as if she were family” in his 2018 BAFTA acceptance speech for Best Director for The Shape of Water. His Frankenstein adaptation stars Ex Machina’s Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein, Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi as the Creature, and Emma’s Mia Goth as the Bride. It will be available on Netflix in November 2025.
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021)
The book: For the past decade, best friends Alex and Poppy have taken an annual trip together – until two years ago, when something happened that almost destroyed their friendship. Now, with their relationship hanging by a thread, Poppy asks Alex on one last holiday. But will it repair their dynamic or change it for good? Emily Henry is the queen of modern romance, and You and Me on Vacation is a fan favourite for good reason.
The film: Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Emily Bader (My Lady Jane) play routine-obsessed Alex and free-spirited Poppy respectively. It’s a perfect pairing, according to author Emily Henry. “I watched their chemistry read four times in 12 hours and I loved it more every single time,” she told Netflix. The film shares the US title for Henry’s book – People We Meet on Vacation – and will be released on Netflix later this year.
Virdee by A. A. Dhand (2018)
The book: Initially published as City of Sinners in 2018, A. A. Dhand’s third detective novel sees DCI Virdee facing a puzzling case. A dead body has been found on the quiet streets on Bradford, with the corpse positioned to send a message. As DCI Virdee tries to decipher it, he himself becomes a target for the killer – because, unbeknownst to him, this case is personal.
The show: Author A. A. Dhand wrote the screenplay for this six-part BBC drama, slightly altering the story of his third novel. Virdee sees the eponymous detective (played by Game of Thrones’ Staz Nair) hunting down a serial killer who is targeting the Asian community. He turns to his brother-in-law Riaz (played by Vikash Bhai), a notorious drugs kingpin, for his help, but this alliance could be their undoing. The show first aired in mid-February and has been popular with critics and viewers alike.
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945)
The book: In George Orwell’s novella, a group of overworked animals revolt against their human farmer. But the honourable intention of this revolution (for all animals to be equal) is distorted by the power-hungry pig Napoleon, whose dictatorship causes their lives to be even worse than before. This allegorical tale, written by Orwell as a critique of Stalinism, has become a modern classic.
The film: A new adaptation of Animal Farm has been in the works for over a decade, but we can expect the animated comedy-drama to be released in July this year. The cast has yet to be announced, but the film will be produced and directed by Andy Serkis (the celebrated Lord of the Rings actor who also directed the film Venom: Let There be Carnage) with a script written by Nicholas Stoller.
The Walsh Family series by Marian Keyes (1995-2024)
The books: Anna, Rachel, Maggie, Claire and Helen are five Irish sisters navigating the highs and lows of their late 20s and 30s in the face of grief, addiction and family feuds. Author Marian Keyes has written seven novels in the series so far – Watermelon was her first in 1995, and My Favourite Mistake was the latest in 2024 – each following the plight of a Walsh sister, and each making you feel part of this dysfunctional but loving family.
The show: A six-part drama series will be released on Irish broadcaster RTÉ and the BBC in autumn 2025. It draws inspiration from a range of Walsh novels, and Marian Keyes is an executive producer on the show. The script was written by Stefanie Preissner (Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope) and Kefi Chadwick (Rivals), and Keyes told Deadline it “really kept the spirit of the books”.