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One of my favourite things (and also one of the most nerve-wracking) is when a book I love gets adapted for the screen. Sometimes it’s magic. Sometimes it’s heartbreak. And sometimes it’s so bad it sends you right back to the book just to wash it out of your brain. So for this week's Weekly Wednesday Blogging Challenge here’s a look at the adaptations I’ll defend forever, the ones I’m hopeful about, and the disasters I wish never happened.
Got It Right
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
An iconic film and one of the rare cases where the adaptation might even outshine the book. Crichton’s story is sharp and science-heavy, but Spielberg's movie brought the dinosaurs — and the danger — to life in a way that’s still thrilling today
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
I grew up completely enchanted by Narnia thanks to the books and the 90s BBC shows, and the early 2000s film adaptations (especially The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) did a beautiful job bringing that world to life. Were they perfect? No. But they absolutely captured the magic.
The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King (from Different Seasons)
One of the best book-to-film adaptations of all time. Moving, powerful, and perfectly acted — it brings out the emotional depth of the original novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.
Bad Adaptations That Let the Book Down
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The books are a joy — fun, heartfelt, and myth-packed. The movie? Let’s just say they missed the mark entirely. Thankfully, the new Disney+ series seems to be a much better fit. Fingers crossed it continues to do Percy justice!
The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
Anne Rice’s gothic vampire saga deserves an adaptation that truly understands its lush, philosophical, queer core. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten that yet. The Interview film was watchable but missed key emotional beats. Queen of the Damned was a chaotic mess. And as for the new AMC series — I haven’t watched it, because the casting choices just don’t work for me.
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
I love Elena. I love Clay. I love the entire Women of the Otherworld world. Which is why I hated the TV adaptation — it felt cheap, overly sexualised, and lost all the emotional nuance that made the books so compelling
Adaptations I’m Hopeful About
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This has all the ingredients for a sensational adaptation — old Hollywood glamour, scandal, queerness, and heartbreak. I just hope they really get Evelyn right: fierce, complicated, and unforgettable.
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
I love a friends-to-lovers story with tension and heart, and this one’s made for screen — if they keep the wit sharp and the pacing tight, it could be the next great rom-com adaptation.
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This was one of my favourite books (and I just got a signed copy) — the music, the relationships, the behind-the-scenes chaos — and I’ve been holding off watching the series because I want to savour it. I’m hopeful it captures the heart of the book and brings Daisy to life just the way I imagined.
Other Adaptation Stories
Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
I came to this story backwards — I loved the show and now want to dive into the books and see what the original series feels like in comparison.
World War Z by Max Brooks
Controversial take: I didn’t really enjoy the book, but the movie really worked for me! Not a faithful adaptation, but a solid film on its own.
The Body / Stand by Me by Stephen King
This coming-of-age story was quietly beautiful on the page — and the movie captured the same melancholy and depth, maybe even better than the book. Sometimes, the screen brings something extra.
What book adaptation do you think nailed it (or totally missed the mark)?
Got It Right
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
An iconic film and one of the rare cases where the adaptation might even outshine the book. Crichton’s story is sharp and science-heavy, but Spielberg's movie brought the dinosaurs — and the danger — to life in a way that’s still thrilling today
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
I grew up completely enchanted by Narnia thanks to the books and the 90s BBC shows, and the early 2000s film adaptations (especially The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) did a beautiful job bringing that world to life. Were they perfect? No. But they absolutely captured the magic.
The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King (from Different Seasons)
One of the best book-to-film adaptations of all time. Moving, powerful, and perfectly acted — it brings out the emotional depth of the original novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.
Bad Adaptations That Let the Book Down
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The books are a joy — fun, heartfelt, and myth-packed. The movie? Let’s just say they missed the mark entirely. Thankfully, the new Disney+ series seems to be a much better fit. Fingers crossed it continues to do Percy justice!
The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
Anne Rice’s gothic vampire saga deserves an adaptation that truly understands its lush, philosophical, queer core. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten that yet. The Interview film was watchable but missed key emotional beats. Queen of the Damned was a chaotic mess. And as for the new AMC series — I haven’t watched it, because the casting choices just don’t work for me.
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
I love Elena. I love Clay. I love the entire Women of the Otherworld world. Which is why I hated the TV adaptation — it felt cheap, overly sexualised, and lost all the emotional nuance that made the books so compelling
Adaptations I’m Hopeful About
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This has all the ingredients for a sensational adaptation — old Hollywood glamour, scandal, queerness, and heartbreak. I just hope they really get Evelyn right: fierce, complicated, and unforgettable.
You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
I love a friends-to-lovers story with tension and heart, and this one’s made for screen — if they keep the wit sharp and the pacing tight, it could be the next great rom-com adaptation.
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This was one of my favourite books (and I just got a signed copy) — the music, the relationships, the behind-the-scenes chaos — and I’ve been holding off watching the series because I want to savour it. I’m hopeful it captures the heart of the book and brings Daisy to life just the way I imagined.
Other Adaptation Stories
Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
I came to this story backwards — I loved the show and now want to dive into the books and see what the original series feels like in comparison.
World War Z by Max Brooks
Controversial take: I didn’t really enjoy the book, but the movie really worked for me! Not a faithful adaptation, but a solid film on its own.
The Body / Stand by Me by Stephen King
This coming-of-age story was quietly beautiful on the page — and the movie captured the same melancholy and depth, maybe even better than the book. Sometimes, the screen brings something extra.
What book adaptation do you think nailed it (or totally missed the mark)?
