TV and movie producers have begun selecting popular BookTok books for onscreen adaptations. They can adapt the stories with the confidence that folks will watch. This has led to success stories like We Were Liars and The Girlfriend. Additionally, some of the most anticipated adaptations, such as the spicy romantasy, Fourth Wing, came from the platform.
However, some of the best books to get recommended on BookTok still don’t have adaptations in the works. These six books, in particular, would make for perfect TV.
6
The Push by Ashley Audrain
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Psychological Drama
The Push by Ashley Audrain became a hit on BookTok and Bookstagram, earning well-deserved praise. It follows Blythe Connor, a new mother haunted by her own matrilineal trauma, as she tries to give her daughter Violet a better childhood than she had. When Violet starts acting odd, her husband dismisses her concerns. So, Blythe begins to question her sanity and childhood.
This novel would be a fantastic miniseries due to its timeless themes and its slow-burning terror. Although it’s marketed as a thriller, The Push is better categorized as a psychological thriller-lite or a psychological drama. The Push’s Bad Seed-like story examines trauma and dysfunctional families through a multi-generational perspective.
The question comes up, “Is Blythe experiencing severe postnatal depression, or are her concerns being dismissed because people see her as a hysterical woman?” Unlike past TV shows and movies, The Push could also be more impactful now that society is more willing to confront mental health issues with greater nuance.
5
Like Fire We Burn by Ayla Dade
Genre: Sports Romance
Building on the popularity of sports romances, Like Fire We Burn should become a TV show. The story centers on Aria Moore, who left Aspen for two years after her hockey-player ex-boyfriend, Wyatt Lopez, broke her heart. Returning to run her family’s B&B, she faces complications when Wyatt becomes a guest. Although she tries to move on, she quickly slips into old habits.
Because of its Colorado setting, the book includes absolutely stunning visuals of snowy mountains that would translate well to the small screen. If they wanted to film on-site, the state has a booming acting community. Additionally, the wintery setting is a go-to for romance TV shows and movies, so audiences would be more willing to buy into the Aspen setting.
The romance between Aria and Wyatt is complex enough to span many episodes, rather than being better suited to a movie. The sports romance genre is booming right now, which would give Like Fire We Burn a built-in audience.
4
If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
Genre: YA Drama
If BookTok teaches folks anything, it’s that YA books are just as valuable and impactful as anything written for adults. Far too often, the genre gets written off by critics as lesser. However, the community has lifted up numerous YA stories with nuance and emotional complexity. One such book is the romance book If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin.
The story follows Autumn and Finn, former best friends who now try to ignore and avoid each other. Both have found their place in the social sphere of high school. However, that doesn’t stop Autumn from thinking about what might have been if things were different. Then, everything changes in August.
If He Had Been With Me is one of the most heartbreaking popular books on BookTok. The story takes hold of audiences with its intriguing premise and never lets go, even amid devastating moments. Reviews have mentioned that If He Had Been With Me made readers cry, but they don’t regret reading the book. Given its impactful narrative, this book deserves an onscreen adaptation, allowing a wider audience to experience its profound story.
3
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
Genre: Romantic Coming-Of-Age
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers is a debut book that deserves all the hype it has received. The story starts with a basic romance set-up. Grace, an overachieving woman with a PhD, goes to Vegas to celebrate and marries a stranger while drunk. However, the book goes much more into burnout, social expectations, and mental health.
After this sudden and unexpected event, Grace realizes she isn’t happy in her life, so she moves to New York City to be with her wife, Yuki. This throws her into an entirely new environment where she knows nobody. She makes friends and falls hard for Yuki. However, she can only avoid her problems for so long.
Honey Girl is the kind of book that needs to be a TV show because the story is so good and would also translate well to the screen. New York City continues to be a popular setting for stories. The book has a lot of diversity in sexuality, race, and personality traits, which would be very welcome. Plus, the coming-of-age story would resonate with folks in their 20s who are floundering to find their place in an increasingly complicated world.
2
Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Genre: Romantic Comedy
After the success of Heated Rivalry, it seems the public audience is more willing to accept spicy queer stories. As such, the perfect BookTok story to adapt next is Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, and the two books within the same universe, Count Your Lucky Stars and Hang the Moon.
Written in the Stars starts with Darcy Lowell, a pragmatic actuary, on a disastrous blind date with Elle Jones, a free-spirited astrologer. She claims it went well to her brother, to stop him from setting her up again. Things get complicated when her brother begins working with Elle. Darcy persuades Elle to fake-date, and, unexpectedly, they start to develop feelings.
The three Written in the Stars books feature sweet and spicy romances that all intertwine. The supporting couples in one book are the main couples in another book. This makes it a prime option for a TV show. There are so many relationships to explore, whether it be Darcy and Elle’s romance or Elle and Brendon’s brother-sister connection.
1
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Aside from Fourth Wing, which already has an adaptation in the works, few BookTok books could rival Game of Thrones. It’s not even a quality issue. Game of Thrones is massive in scope, worldbuilding, and political intrigue. However, one book, The Jasmine Throne, stands out as the most likely to become the next Game of Thrones if it were adapted.
The Jasmine Throne is set in the Parijatdvipan Empire, which is cruel and oppressive. The economy is insatiable. The peasants are growing restless, dreaming of rebelling. A plague is spreading across the kingdom. The empire’s imperialism is making everything worse. This is just a snapshot of the incredibly complex world of The Jasmine Throne.
The ruthless princess, Malini, was exiled from their kingdom by her brother and imprisoned in Hirana, an ancient temple. Meanwhile, a priestess named Priya has spent her life serving the regents, but she’s drawn to Hirana by a mysterious force. Together, the two set out to destroy the empire. The characters are complex, with gray morality.
On top of all that, The Jasmine Throne is the first book in The Burning Kingdoms series, kicking off an epic fantasy story set in an intricate world inspired by the Indian epics. The book series has everything needed to become just as big and successful as Game of Thrones.