With movie ticket prices climbing ever-higher and
MoviePass crashing faster and faster, Netflix and Hulu are becoming masters at their own movies and tv series available at home for a fraction of the cost. Hits such as
Stranger Things,
Making a Murderer, and
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt prove new Netflix originals are go-to entertainment sources that can hold their own with the box office.
Movie and television adaptations of books bring our favorite stories to life, and while some adaptations stand out more negatively than others (I’m looking at you,
Twilight), I love seeing my favorite books on screen.
Sharp Objects,
Big Little Lies, To All the Boys I've Loved Before and others prove that if done correctly, television adaptations of incredible stories are just the cherry on top of your go-to read. If you’re looking for new adaptations, read this list and join me in bombarding Netflix with emails to get these online.
If I Run series by Terri Blackstock
First off, look at these covers. Amazing. Second off, prepare yourself for a thrill ride. Master of suspense Terri Blackstock wrote a gripping series about Casey Cox, a woman who flees the scene of a crime, and Dylan Roberts, the war veteran in charge of locating her. With each book the layers of this story become deeper and more mysterious. Plus, its unexpected twists would make the perfect three-season television series. Maybe Amy Adams could grace us with her presence? Or our fav -
Leonardo DiCaprio as Dylan? Grab your popcorn and these books, and don’t be surprised to find yourself looking over your shoulder after reading.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
This book was one of my favorite reads of the summer. Though the split-time story could be difficult to pull off onscreen, and I think readers would love to see the story of Rill Foss and Avery Stafford play out visually. I’ve told everyone I know about this book, and if it is ever one of the new Netflix originals you better believe I’ll be watching.
The "Lavender Tides" series by Colleen Coble
Confession: I am a huge sucker for romantic suspense. With enough thrill to keep me turning pages and enough romance to warm my heart without making me gag, Colleen Coble’s "Lavender Tides" series would be an addicting television adaptation. Coble does a great job at keeping me on the edge of my seat but still allowing me to sleep at night. With the right casting, this series set in Washington State could be a great fall binge-watch.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
A brilliantly written memoir,
The Glass Castle tells the story of Jeannette and her siblings growing up under strange circumstances with their dysfunctional and unique parents. Yes, I know this was made into a movie, but it flopped at the box office and making it into one of the new Netflix originals could create a much better rendition. Both bittersweet and unusual, the story’s heavy notes deserve to be highlighted rather than glossed over.
Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof
Norwegian Aven Norgaard moves from her home to nineteenth-century Appalachia after the death of her husband and finds herself caught in the middle of the affection of two brothers. Where Haakon is bold and passionate, Thor possesses a sobering strength despite his quiet demeanor. This redemption story set in the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains would make the perfect dreamy, Sunday afternoon movie. I can feel the tears in my eyes as I type.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Fantasy? Check. Mythology? Check. Strong female lead rocking it in a man's world? Check, check, check.
Circe would make a great movie adaptation for fans of
Wonder Woman or the "Percy Jackson" series. It's about Circe, duh, who learns to wield her powers and find companionship in the world of mortals. It's got family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, and all the goods you could need. Madeline Miller’s second novel is begging to be adapted to a Netflix original.
7 Men and 7 Women by Eric Metaxas
Are you always immersed in the latest documentary? If so,
7 Men and
7 Women is right up your alley. These books would make the perfect docuseries for those interested in some of history’s greatest men and women. With figures such as George Washington, Jackie Robinson, Corrie ten Boom, and Joan of Arc, this series would be great for history buffs and newbies alike.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Listen. This Pulitzer Prize winner (and winner of basically all other awards) will be adapted for film someday. It's inevitable. But there's so much to this book, it's impossible to grasp it in two and a half hours. So, why not make it a Netflix original series and soak in every detail? If you're one of the four people who don't know this book, let me tell you. It's the story about the life of a blind French girl in World War II intertwined with an orphaned German boy, and wow. Need I say more? I'll be over here, waiting on my movie adaptation. *crosses fingers*
Do you have some ideas for new Netflix originals? Share in our comments or on our socials.
There Could Only Be One, and it was Savannah: the last surviving intern. Now Savannah the Temporary Employee (what an upgrade), she loves reading fiction, breakfast, and standing up for the Oxford comma.
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HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., (HCCP) operates Page Chaser, the publisher of The Lavender Tide series, the If I Run series, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, 7 Men, and 7 Women.
