JuicyTalk
BookTok has already had a pretty good year at the movies. People We Meet on Vacation brought Emily Henry’s bestselling romance to Netflix in January, while Reminders of Him gave Colleen Hoover fans another adaption in March. Both are part of a growing trend that has made it increasingly difficult to separate the books dominating TikTok from the movies generating buzz.
2026 is not finished yet. Some of the biggest BookTok favorites still waiting for their big-screen moment are arriving throughout the fall and into the holiday season. The lineup ranges from swooning romances to darker thrillers and ambitious literary adaptions, with a few recognizable titles that have had readers talking since their movie announcements. For anyone who loves seeing a favorite book brought to life, there is still plenty to look forward to before the year is over.
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The Love Hypothesis (September 23)
One of BookTok’s favorite academic romances is finally getting its screen adaptation. The Love Hypothesis follows Olive Smith, a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her professor, Adam Carlsen, after realizing her best friend has fallen for Olive’s crush. A quick attempt to convince her friend that she has moved on turns into a fake relationship, complete with boundaries that become difficult to maintain. Lili Reinhart stars as Olive opposite Tom Bateman as Adam.
Ali Hazelwood’s 2021 debut became a breakout romance, particularly among readers drawn to its combination of women in STEM, academic rivals, and a romance built around the classic fake-dating setup. That specific formula of tropes helped to make The Love Hypothesis a favorite over on BookTok, where Hazelwood’s books have continued to find new audiences. The movie also arrives after a long wait with the adaption announced back in 2022.
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Sense and Sensibility (September 25 in the UK / October 16 U.S.)
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen’s 1811 novel, follows sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood after their father’s death leaves their family in a precarious financial position. Elinor approaches love with caution and practicality, while Marianna wears her heart openly and believes deeply in romantic idealism. Their contrasting views both lead sisters through heartbreak, family pressure, and the complicated rules of Regency-era society.
This film is being directed by Georgia Oakley, whose Blue Jeans showed a specific talent for quiet, character-driven drama. Daisy Edgar-Jons plays Elinor opposite Esme Creed-Miles as Marianna, with George Mackay, Frank Dillane, Caitríona Balfe, Fiona Shaw, and Herbert Nordrum rounding out the cast. This ensemble is promising for a story in which so much of the tension comes from what the characters say, what they leave unsaid, and the expectations placed upon them.
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Verity (October 2)
Colleen Hoover’s Verity is bringing something very different to the author’s growing collection of movie adaptations. While It Ends With Us, Regretting You, and Reminders of Him were about romance, navigating abusive situations, and family drama, this one leans into psychological thriller. Dakota Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who accepts a job from Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway). After an accident leaves Verity unable to finish her book series, Lowen is brought into the Crawford home to complete the work.
The arrangement becomes more disturbing when Lowen discovers a private manuscript containing shocking accounts from Verity’s life. The discovery changes the way she sees both Verity and Jeremy, while her growing feelings for Jeremy only make a complicated situation more dangerous. The story’s biggest strength is its uncertainty. Readers are left questioning what is true, who can be trusted, and whether Verity’s words reveal the truth or something far more sinister.
The movie appears ready to play with that uncertainty rather than just recreate the novel. The first trailer shows Verity in a much more active role than readers might expect, including moments where she appears to address Lowen directly. That could fundamentally change how the film handles one of the book’s most debated elements without giving away its twist.
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Klara and the Sun (October 23)
October is bringing plenty of big-screen adaptions, but Klara and the Sun stands out for how unusual the story behind it is. Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, the film will follow an artificial companion who becomes deeply attached to the family that brings her home. Jenna Ortega takes on the lead role, with Taika Waititi directing, giving the adaptation an interesting talent behind it. Waititi is best known for his more playful work, but Ishiguro’s story calls for something with a lot of tensions coming from the way Klara sees the world and the people around her.
Set in the future shaped by genetic enhancement and sharp class divisions, the story is focused on Klara after she is purchased to keep a sick teenage girl named Josie company. A straightforward arrangement becomes complicated as Klara grows attached to Josie and starts trying to understand the family’s grief, fears, and relationships. The film will focus less on the mechanics of artificial intelligence, and more on the strange ways people cope. With Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne joining Ortega, Klara and Sun is set up with an impressive ensemble to support the novel’s plot.
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20)
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping allows viewers the chance to explore one of the most recognizable characters’ stories. The upcoming prequel takes audiences back to the 50th Hunger Games, long before Katniss Everdeen became the face of the rebellion, and puts a young Haymitch Abernathy in the arena. This is a particularly brutal year in the history of the Games. As a Quarter Quell, it comes with special rules and conditions, chosen by the Capital. For Abernathy’s Quell, every district must send twice as many tributes as usual, turning an already deadly event into something far more difficult to survive.
Based on Suzanne Collin’s 2025 novel, the film shows Haymitch before the bitterness and trauma that shaped the mentor played by Woody Harrelson in The Hunger Games. Joseph Zada takes over the role, with Whitney Peak as his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird, and Mckenna Grace as fellow District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner. The relationships Haymitch has throughout his prequel add additional layers to the already complex and bitter person we once saw him as.
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In a Holidaze (Expected Late 2026)
Holiday romance stories can be predictable, but the best ones know exactly how to make the familiar traditions feel fresh. In a Holidaze takes the snowy cabins, complicated family dynamics, and Christmas romance audiences would expect from the genre and gives them a sci-fi adjacent spin. A woman gets the chance to live the same holiday over and over again. Based on Christina Lauren’s best-selling novel, the upcoming Netflix movie has the makings of a cozy seasonal watch with a little more substance than the usual holiday meet-cute.
Maelyn Jones (Maddie Ziegler) wishes that her family vacation could start over due to how badly the original went. Her wish is answered in a very unexpected way when she finds herself repeating the holiday over and over. This allows her the opportunity to make different choices and reconsider what she actually wants from her life. Ziegler leads the cast alongside Rob Lowe, Graham Phillips, and Elias Kacavas, while Tiffany Paulsen directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Christina Lauren, the penname of authors Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2026
- Director
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Claire Scanlon
- Writers
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Sarah Rothschild
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Lili Reinhart
Olive Smith
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Tom Bateman
Dr. Adam Carlsen
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