If you’ve spent any time on BookTok, in a bookstore, or scrolling through your favorite streaming service lately, you’ve probably noticed something: romance books are everywhere. No one is more excited about it than I, as a girl who’s always stayed up late to finish a swoony romance novel or re-watches my favorite rom-coms for the hundredth time. Now, some of the biggest contemporary romance books are being adapted into movies and TV shows.
As someone who almost always says “the book was better,” I have mixed feelings about adaptations. But it’s also incredibly fun to see beloved characters brought to life, to watch everyone collectively fall in love with the same fictional people, and to see our favorite love stories get the mainstream attention they deserve. Here are some of my favorite contemporary romance books that have made the leap to screen.
Off-Campus by Elle Kennedy
Beginning with The Deal, Elle Kennedy’s much-loved college hockey romance series follows a group of Briar University athletes as they navigate love, friendship, and life beyond the rink. Is anyone watching anything else right now? My entire FYP on Instagram is nothing but Off-Campus edits and interview clips. Not that I’m complaining. Between the witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and emotional depth, it’s easy to understand why everyone’s obsessed. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the books or completely new to Briar U, this adaptation is absolutely worth the hype. If you’ve been meaning to start the show (or pick up the books), consider this your sign because the Off-Campus obsession isn’t slowing down anytime soon. While we fans are busy rewatching Season 1, Season 2 is already in production and will be based on book 3, The Score. I’m so excited for Dean and Allie’s season!
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
After coming straight off Off-Campus, I have to admit that Every Summer After felt like a completely different experience. Where Off-Campus had me ignoring my responsibilities and binge-watching the season in two days, this show is much slower-paced and takes time to get into. Told across two timelines, the story follows Percy and Sam as they reconnect years after a falling-out, slowly revealing what tore them apart and whether they can find their way back to each other. The adaptation has received mixed reviews, and I’m right there with the majority—I’ve always hated the central conflict (I won’t spoil it for first timers), but let’s say I hated the change even more in the show. Even though I didn’t give it five stars, I’d still recommend giving it a chance. If you love second-chance romances in a beautiful lakeside summer setting, it might be exactly your kind of book.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
This adaptation feels especially nostalgic because I originally read The Summer I Turned Pretty series back in middle school and absolutely loved them. It follows Belly, a girl who spends every summer at Cousins Beach with her family and the Fisher family, including two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. What starts as a cherished summer tradition turns into a complicated coming-of-age story about first love, heartbreak, and one of the most iconic love triangles. Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? The show has the perfect blend of nostalgia, emotional drama, and beach-town escapism. Even if you weren’t originally a fan of this YA romance, it’s easy to see why this show has become a cultural phenomenon, and it’s been fun to see the show introduce these characters to an entirely new audience. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be counting down the days until the movie finally hits our screens.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Unlike some of the other books on this list, Heated Rivalry initially wasn’t on my radar at all. In fact, I only discovered it because my FYP suddenly filled with people buzzing about the show. I found it intriguing enough to check out, and before I knew it, I was just as hooked as everyone else. The story follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two rival professional hockey players whose relationship evolves over years of fierce competition, undeniable chemistry, and secret meetings. After falling for Shane and Ilya on screen, I immediately picked up the book and was pleasantly surprised to find they stayed pretty faithful to the book. Between Off-Campus, Heated Rivalry, and numerous other hockey romances, the genre is dominating BookTok and people’s TBRs. Apparently, we’ve all collectively decided that hockey players make excellent fictional boyfriends.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Before Heated Rivalry, Red, White & Royal Blue was the M/M romance adaptation everyone was talking about, and with a sequel on the way, now feels like the perfect time to fall in love with Henry and Alex. It’s another enemies-to-lovers story that begins with a public rivalry, then slowly turns into friendship, and eventually into something much more. Except, instead of professional hockey players, we have Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry of Britain. The movie perfectly captures the charm, humor, and heart that made the book such a favorite, and it’s one of the rare occasions where I actually preferred the movie to the book. While the film does streamline some of the political storylines, I didn’t mind keeping the focus on Alex and Henry’s romance. I understand why it’s become such a comfort rewatch movie for so many romance fans, including myself.
Culpa Mia by Mercedes Ron
Based on Mercedes Ron’s bestselling Spanish novel Culpa Mía, the first book in the Culpables trilogy, the story follows Noah, who is forced to leave her old life behind and move into her wealthy stepfather’s mansion, where she meets his rebellious son, Nick. What begins as a relationship full of tension and constant clashes quickly develops into a forbidden romance filled with secrets, danger, and plenty of emotional drama. Originally released as a Spanish-language film, it achieved international success, even inspiring an English-language remake, My Fault: London. While I enjoyed the remake, I definitely preferred the original adaptation. Nicole Wallace and Gabriel Guevara have incredible chemistry that makes Noah and Nick’s complicated relationship feel believable despite its over-the-top premise. If you’re looking for a fun, escapist watch, My Fault is absolutely worth watching.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Even though Daisy Jones & The Six isn’t a traditional romance, the heart of the story is the complicated relationship between Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne, the band’s two lead singers. Told as an oral history, the novel follows the rise and fall of a fictional 1970’s rock band. The adaptation brought the story to life beautifully, with Riley Keough and Sam Claflin’s chemistry, and they capture all of the tension that made Daisy and Billy compelling in the book. One of my favorite parts of the adaptation was hearing the band’s music, which made them feel like a real band. The soundtrack is great, and the adaptation remains faithful to the book while giving the supporting characters more room to shine. If you’re looking for a romance that’s a little bittersweet, with great music and ’70s nostalgia, Daisy Jones & The Six is well worth both the read and the watch.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I loved The Flatshare when I read it in 2021, so I was pleasantly surprised to recently discover that it had been adapted into a TV series. Compared to some of the other book-to-screen romances on this list, it’s definitely less mainstream. It follows Tiffy and Leon, who agree to an unusual living arrangement because of their financial constraints. They share a one-bedroom flat (and therefore a bed), but because of their opposite work schedules, they have never met in person. Instead, they communicate through notes left around the flat, and it’s such a fun, unique way to watch their relationship develop. While I enjoyed seeing the story brought to life on screen, I still prefer the book. Nonetheless, the adaptation is worth watching after you’ve read the book. Binging the series has also made me want to reread the book; I’d forgotten just how much I loved this one.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Another enemies-to-lovers, The Hating Game follows Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, two executive assistants locked in a hilarious workplace rivalry as they compete for the same promotion. Their constant bickering slowly gives way to undeniable chemistry, proving that the line between love and hate is much thinner than either of them expected. While I liked the book, it’s one of the rare instances where I preferred the movie over the book. In the book, their constant teasing, competitiveness, and office games felt immature at times and more like a rivalry fueled by attraction than genuine hatred from the beginning. That said, Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell had great on-screen chemistry, and I loved seeing Lucy and Josh’s banter and romantic tension brought to life. The movie felt a little softer around the edges and more like the fun rom-com I wanted from the novel.
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
The Idea of You follows Solène, a 40-year-old art gallerist who takes her teenage daughter, Isabelle, to meet the world-famous boy band, August Moon. The last thing Solène expects is to begin a romance with Hayes Campbell, the young 20-something lead singer of the band. What starts as an unlikely connection develops into an intense relationship complicated by their age difference, Hayes’s celebrity, and the scrutiny that comes with dating someone so famous. This is the only book on this list that I haven’t actually read, but I loved the movie with Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. I know from reading spoilers that the book and movie have some pretty significant differences, especially with the ending. I’m perfectly happy with the movie version, but if I ever do read the book, at least now I know exactly what I’m getting myself into!
So that’s my list of favorite recent romance books that have been adapted into movies and TV shows. Books that were once dismissed as “guilty pleasures” are now becoming major productions, and as a long-time romance reader, I have to admit it feels a little bit like vindication. The romance era isn’t ending anytime soon. Which of your favorite romance books have been adapted into movies or TV shows that I should add to my list? xo
