We’re in a world today where a lot of TV shows and movies are based on books. Some of them are remakes that we’ve seen time and time again, while others are books that we’ve patiently waited to see on the big screen. However, before you see the adaptations, it’s best to read the source material first.
It’s very rare, but there are some books I’ve read that would make better movies than books. Most of the time, the book is far better, purely because it has more time to set the stage and develop the characters. That’s sure to be the case with these five books you need to read before you watch them in theaters.
‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir
If you haven’t already gone to theaters to watch Project Hail Mary, take some time to read the book first. Andy Weir is more than a sci-fi master. He has a way of making the actual science in the books more entertaining and intriguing. You find yourself wanting to know more — and those who have read The Martian will definitely agree!
Once again, Project Hail Mary sees a male protagonist in an impossible situation, and yet, he figures it out. Weir writes in a way that anyone can feel like they’re the protagonist in this story, creating a sense of reality within this world of fiction. There is more detail to the wacky experiments that are needed, as Ryland Grace figures out a way back home, and quite frankly, it has more intensity through the narration.
Don’t get me wrong; the movie has done an excellent job. The book just develops more and explains a little more to understand the thought processes.
Penguin Random House
‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell
Did you know Animal Farm is getting an animated movie adaptation? It arrives in theaters in May, and it’s sure to be something to take the children to. After all, while it is on the darker side of fiction, there’s an important message about society, friendship, and leadership all mixed in.
The novel itself is a satire, with George Orwell looking at the rise of Stalinism. While “all animals are equal,” it’s soon clear that that’s not exactly the case. Movies often don’t have the time to delve into the realities of the political systems and the authoritarian regime, but the book does, and Orwell is a master at detail without becoming a bore.
This is despite the book being a quick read. It keeps the focus on the topics that really matter, and you’ll go into the world looking at all elements of life in a different way.
HarperCollins
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby Van Pelt
For those who need a story about unlikely bonds, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is something that will stand out. The movie will come to Netflix on May 8, 2026, but you’ll want to read the book first. The good news is that you have time.
This is a story of a widow who cleans the aquarium tank and forms a friendship with Marcellus, a giant octopus in the tank. It’s easy to believe that your life is coming to an end and there’s nothing else to learn as you get older, but Tova finds out that’s not the case at all. Van Pelt does an amazing job of bringing the thoughts and actions to the page, while also bringing a message of hope within the grief.
It’s hard to tell what type of justice the movie will bring to this story. However, Van Pelt has a poetic way with words that cannot be fully transformed. You’re pulled into the story, and it’s one to read at different stages of life.
Penguin Random House
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ by Emily Henry
When it comes to rom-com authors, there is one who stands out right now. It’s Emily Henry, and yes, her novel People We Meet on Vacation is now available on Netflix. Hopefully, you haven’t watched the movie just yet, because the book is one to read first! After all, it captures the romance in a way that movies only just scratch the surface of.
People We Meet on Vacation has a tenderness to the intimacy within the story. The words on the page flow, drawing you into this budding romance that you root for from the very beginning. The witty dialogue will also keep you engrossed.
One of the best things about the romance is that it has time to breathe. This follows the friends-to-lovers trope, and it’s a trope that is often rushed. It needs to feel satisfying but also believable, and Henry captures that with each page-turn. The movie does it well, but not quite as well as the book due to lack of time.
Scholastic Canada
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins
The movie is sure to be great. We know the success of The Hunger Games movies and the President Snow prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. However, Sunrise on the Reaping is one you need to read well before November, and you will want to read it again as you get closer. There is a world of information about Haymitch in this story, which explains so much of his personality in The Hunger Games and beyond.
Suzanne Collins has certainly plotted out her stories and her characters. Rather than trying to force Haymitch’s story into what we already know about him — and the world of the Games — Collins is able to fit tidbits in effortlessly. She’s able to expand on other characters we’d only come to know slightly, giving us those “oh, really!” moments.
Then there’s the method of describing the scenes. Collins has a knack of painting the pictures in the minds, and you need to create your own reality before you watch the movie.
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