The Most Anticipated Novel Adaptations of the Year

While there’s nothing quite like letting our imaginations soar as we flip through the pages of a book—or swipe through them on an e-reader—the prospect of seeing these beloved narratives unfold on screen is undeniably thrilling. While we risk hearing diverse voices in our heads and in film adaptations, or seeing storytelling deviations, the risks are certainly worth it. If novel adaptations are successful, we’ll see additions, sequels, or simply representations of beloved books that sparkle with new colors in our heads.

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Most Anticipated Novel Adaptations of 2024

1 The Electric State

“The Electric State,” a 2018 dystopian sci-fi graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag, envisions an alternate 1997. It follows runaway Michelle and her toy robot traveling through the war-torn landscape littered with battle robot remnants. Praised by NPR as one of 2018’s best books, it’s celebrated for its illustrations, writing, and structure.

A film adaptation, directed by the Russo brothers (noted for “Avengers: Endgame”), will premiere on Netflix in 2024, starring Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle and Chris Pratt as Keats, an older drifter she encounters. The release date is yet to be announced.

2 It Ends With Us

Based on Hoover’s bestselling book, the film follows Lily, a Boston flower-shop owner fresh out of college, grappling with her abusive father’s death. She meets Ryle, a charming doctor uninterested in commitment, but they eventually form a relationship. Initially passionate, Ryle’s arrogance soon turns violent, mirroring the trauma from Lily’s past. The story, tricky to label strictly as a “romance,” explores complex love and abuse dynamics, drawing both admiration and criticism for potentially glamorizing domestic abuse.

If you’re a fan of contemporary fiction, you might be familiar with Colleen Hoover’s novels. Especially since the book of the same name sold more copies in 2022 than the Bible. If you’re interested in acclaimed novelists and want to keep up with emerging trends, an online platform for reading novels will help you. All you need to do is Go Now to the app store and install the iOS novels app. Remember that you can still read free novels online. Now the library of novels online is so large that even in 10 lives we would not have time to read all the books. The ideal choice for those who consider themselves avid readers.

3 Lady in the Lake

“Lady in the Lake,” a 2019 murder mystery novel by Laura Lippman, has garnered praise, including accolades from Stephen King for its intricate plot and character depth. The story centers on Maddie Schwartz, a bored Jewish housewife who leaves her husband to pursue a career as an investigative reporter in 1960s Baltimore. She delves into the mystery of two seemingly unrelated murders.

Apple TV+ will premiere a limited series adaptation of the novel in 2024, with an expected release date of July 19, 2024. Alma Har’el, known for “Honey Boy,” writes and directs the series, with Natalie Portman starring as Maddie Schwartz.

4 Wicked

I’m thrilled about the upcoming live-action adaptation of the musical Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel. Whether it’s drawn from the book or the musical, it’s bound to be spectacular. The cast is stellar: Cynthia Erivo (brilliant in everything she does) as Elphaba, Ariana Grande (the perfect Glinda if the trailer is any indication), and Jonathan Bailey (aka Anthony Bridgerton) as Fiyero. This film promises to be a must-see.

I recommend reading the book before watching the film. By the way, if you want to read novels online, just visit the site and install the app. This way you can better analyze the directors’ successes and evaluate the creative process. Moreover, the app has a lot of free novels online.

5 The Watchers

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The Watchers” is a 2021 fantasy horror novel by A.M. Shine. The story follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist stranded in a mysterious Irish forest. Rescued by a woman, Mina is taken to a bunker where people hide from nocturnal creatures called the Watchers.

The movie adaptation, directed and written by debutant Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, stars Dakota Fanning as Mina. The eerie trailer features Olwen Fouéré explaining their entrapment. The film is set for release on June 14, 2024.

6 Cold Storage

David Koepp, renowned for his filmmaking work such as co-writing “Jurassic Park” and directing “Secret Window,” authored the 2019 novel “Cold Storage.” The story follows a group of unlikely heroes as they battle a biological threat in an action-packed, apocalyptic adventure. The upcoming film adaptation, directed by Jonny Campbell and written by Koepp, stars Liam Neeson and Joe Keery. Filming started in 2023, and while there’s no official release date yet, it’s expected to premiere in late 2024.

Conclusion

While you wait for the above-listed film adaptations, it’s time to study the storytelling innovations and plots of these books. Even if you read them a long time ago, it would be good to refresh your memory. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that these adaptations will be worthy of their great bookish ancestors.

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