Wicked,Cross, The Perfect Coupleand More: Read These Books Before Watching TV and Movie Adaptations This Year

Mar. 15, 2025

The covers of ‘Nightbitch,’ ‘Wicked’ and ‘Three Women’.Photo:Penguin Random House; HarperCollins Publishers; Simon & Schuster

Penguin Random House; HarperCollins Publishers; Simon & Schuster

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.If you’re curious about the bookish origins of some of these upcoming releases, look no further. See below for a list of books to check out before you watch their adaption – including memoirs, young adult dystopian novels and more.

01of 14’The Perfect Couple’The cover of ‘The Perfect Couple’ and Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman in the Netflix adaptation.Little, Brown and Company; Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/NetflixElin Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel is the basis for the new limited series starringNicole KidmanandLiev Schreiberabout a wealthy couple living on Nantucket. As they plan for a luxurious beachside wedding, a body washes up on the sand and its investigation leads to everyone becoming a suspect.The Perfect Couplepremieres on Netflix on Sept. 5.Buy Now

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‘The Perfect Couple’

The cover of ‘The Perfect Couple’ and Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman in the Netflix adaptation.Little, Brown and Company; Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix

Little, Brown and Company; Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix

Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel is the basis for the new limited series starringNicole KidmanandLiev Schreiberabout a wealthy couple living on Nantucket. As they plan for a luxurious beachside wedding, a body washes up on the sand and its investigation leads to everyone becoming a suspect.The Perfect Couplepremieres on Netflix on Sept. 5.

Buy Now

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‘The Chicken Sisters’

The cover of ‘The Chicken Sisters’.Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House

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‘Three Women’

The cover of ‘Three Women’ and Shailene Woodley in the Starz adaptation.Simon & Schuster; STARZ

Simon & Schuster; STARZ

04of 14’Uglies’The cover of ‘Uglies’ and Joey King in the Netflix adapation.Simon & Schuster; Brian Douglas/NetflixScott Westerfeld’s young adult novel about a dystopian society whose members undergo forced cosmetic surgery once they turn 16 was the inspiration for the upcoming Netflix film starringJoey King, dropping on Sept. 13. If you like the first book and the movie, consider checking out the whole series.Buy Now

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‘Uglies’

The cover of ‘Uglies’ and Joey King in the Netflix adapation.Simon & Schuster; Brian Douglas/Netflix

Simon & Schuster; Brian Douglas/Netflix

Scott Westerfeld’s young adult novel about a dystopian society whose members undergo forced cosmetic surgery once they turn 16 was the inspiration for the upcoming Netflix film starringJoey King, dropping on Sept. 13. If you like the first book and the movie, consider checking out the whole series.

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‘The Lives of Lee Miller’

‘The Lives of Lee Miller’ and Kate Winslet as Lee Miller.Thames & Hudson; Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett collection

Thames & Hudson; Roadside Attractions/Courtesy Everett collection

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‘The Outrun’

The cover of ‘The Outrun’ and Saoirse Ronan in the film adaptation.Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.; Sony Pictures Classics

Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.; Sony Pictures Classics

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‘Stinger’

Open Road Media; Mark Hill/PEACOCK

Robert McCammon’s 1988 horror novelStingeris the basis for the upcoming Peacock seriesTeacup, starring Yvonne Starhovski and Scott Speedman. It follows a group of neighbors trapped on a rural farm who are faced with a dangerous threat. Premiering on Oct. 10, the show will release new episodes until Oct. 31.

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‘Disclaimer’

09of 14’Cross’The cover of ‘Along Came a Spider’ and Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in the Prime Video adaptation.Grand Central Publishing; Quantrell Colbert/PrimeFans ofJames Patterson’s thrilling Alex Cross series are surely delighted that the beloved books are finally coming to Prime Video on Nov. 14. StarringAldis Hodgeas the titular character, the show follows Cross, a forensic psychologist and detective skilled at catching murderers.Buy Now

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‘Cross’

The cover of ‘Along Came a Spider’ and Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in the Prime Video adaptation.Grand Central Publishing; Quantrell Colbert/Prime

Grand Central Publishing; Quantrell Colbert/Prime

Fans ofJames Patterson’s thrilling Alex Cross series are surely delighted that the beloved books are finally coming to Prime Video on Nov. 14. StarringAldis Hodgeas the titular character, the show follows Cross, a forensic psychologist and detective skilled at catching murderers.

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‘Conclave’

The cover of ‘Conclave’ and Ralph Fiennes in the film adaptation.Penguin Random House; Courtesy of Focus Features

Penguin Random House; Courtesy of Focus Features

11of 14’Here’The cover of ‘Here’ and Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in the film adaptation.Pantheon Books; SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.Richard Maguire’s 2014 graphic novel inspired this heartwarming film, which follows a group of people who inhabit the same plot of land for generations. StarringTom Hanks, Kelly Reilly and Robin Wright, the movie will arrive in theaters on Nov. 1.Buy Now

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‘Here’

The cover of ‘Here’ and Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in the film adaptation.Pantheon Books; SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Pantheon Books; SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Richard Maguire’s 2014 graphic novel inspired this heartwarming film, which follows a group of people who inhabit the same plot of land for generations. StarringTom Hanks, Kelly Reilly and Robin Wright, the movie will arrive in theaters on Nov. 1.

12of 14’Interior Chinatown’The cover of ‘Interior Chinatown’ and Jimmy O. Yang in the Hulu adaptation.Pantheon Books; Disney/Mike TaingCharles Yu’s 2020 novel is the basis for this Hulu series starring Jimmy O. Yang. The show centers Willis Wu, an actor who’s stuck in a cycle of playing stereotypical roles, until he witnesses a brutal crime and begins to unravel a web of secrets.Interior Chinatownpremieres on Hulu on Nov. 19.Buy Now

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‘Interior Chinatown’

The cover of ‘Interior Chinatown’ and Jimmy O. Yang in the Hulu adaptation.Pantheon Books; Disney/Mike Taing

Pantheon Books; Disney/Mike Taing

Charles Yu’s 2020 novel is the basis for this Hulu series starring Jimmy O. Yang. The show centers Willis Wu, an actor who’s stuck in a cycle of playing stereotypical roles, until he witnesses a brutal crime and begins to unravel a web of secrets.Interior Chinatownpremieres on Hulu on Nov. 19.

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‘Wicked’

The cover of ‘Wicked’ and Cynthia Erivo in the film adaptation.HarperCollins Publishers; Universal Pictures

HarperCollins Publishers; Universal Pictures

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‘Nightbitch’

The cover of ‘Nightbitch’ and Amy Adams in the film adaptation.Penguin Random House; Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Penguin Random House; Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

source: people.com