If you’ve been on social media or even keeping up with the adaptation world lately, you know they’ve been everywhere. Literally everywhere — I look left and there’s one, and on my right is another. Especially when it comes to romance and YA titles and their ability to find new life on screen. As more readers see their favorite novels turned into movies and TV, one question lingers: what romance books are getting adapted next?
As readers who follow both publishing and the adaptation world closely, we’ve seen firsthand which stories thrive beyond the page and which ones don’t. Some of the most successful recent adaptations have prove it isn’t just about popularity. It’s about storytelling. The kind that hooks fans while balancing strong characters without sacrificing emotional depth.
It’s a world audiences throw themselves into.
The stories that work best on screen often already feel cinematic while you read them. They leave room for the story to expand beyond the page. From the swoony rom-coms we love to the slow burns that completely consume us, there’s no shortage of romance books fans are already picturing on screen. These are the ones readers hope are next in line to come to life.
Just for the Summer — Abby Jimenez
Synopsis: A romance that follows Emma and Justin, two strangers who believe they’re cursed in love. To counteract the curse, they decide to date each other “just for the summer.” Of course, real feelings complicate everything.
Why We Want It Adapted: Abby Jimenez’s Just for the Summer has become a standout in contemporary romance over the past year. It has gained attention for it’s emotional storytelling and interconnected standalone novels. What makes this particular story especially compelling is how it combines this high-concept premise with deeply grounded emotional character experiences.
Rather than relying solely on the romance of it all, the novel explores themes of family, trauma, and personal growth. That’s exactly what makes this story more than your typical rom-com. Justin and Emma’s relationship develops with humor while still being grounded with weight. This allows audiences to invest not only in the romance between them but also in who they are as individuals.
With its balance of lighthearted moments and heavier emotional themes, Just for the Summer is the kind of story that would translate seamlessly to a series. Viewers would easily connect to both the romance and the broader world that Jimenez has built and continues to build.
At a time when audiences are gravitating towards character-driven and emotionally grounded adaptations, this story fits perfectly within what viewers are currently connecting to on screen.
The Chase — Elle Kennedy
Synopsis: A college hockey romance about a driven fashion designer and a brooding hockey player whose lives collide when they end up in a shared house at Briar University.
Why We Want It Adapted: As the first book in Elle Kennedy’s Briar U series, The Chase builds on her widely popular Off-Campus series. That series has remained a staple and BookTok favorite in the sports romance genre, continuing to circulate with readers as her books gain more attention online.
What sets this story apart is Kennedy’s strong female lead. Summer is a particular character who carries herself with ambition, creativity, and independence. This adds a layer of depth that goes beyond the typical college romance dynamic. We knew Summer from The Score, and now with The Chase, we truly dive into what makes Summer, Summer.
The opposites-attract tension is undeniable. The forced proximity setup creates a fast-paced, dialogue-driven story that translates well to screen.
With college-set adaptations continuing to thrive and perform well, The Chase offers both an already built-in audience and a story that would easily expand. This would allow the rest of the beloved Briar U series to be adapted, making it a strong candidate for a multi-season adaptation.
With college-set and sports driven romances continuing to gain traction, along with its counterpart Off Campus, which is currently being adapted, this story fits directly into a space fans are already invested in.
Better Than the Movies — Lynn Painter
Synopsis: A rom-com about a hopeless romantic, Liz, who teams up with her beyond-12annoying neighbor from childhood to win over her longtime crush — only to end up falling for the wrong guy.
Why We Want It Adapted: Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies has become a constant BookTok favorite. It’s especially popular among readers who gravitate toward nostalgic, trope-driven romances. Painter has built a readership and a reputation for delivering character-driven romances, which is one key reason her stories continue to resonate so strongly with readers as her titles expand.
Like, come on — the cover alone is such an eye grabber. Packed with rom-com references that have readers hooked, along with the iconic enemies-to-lovers dynamic, this story leans into familiar elements audiences already love and keep coming back for.
What makes this one stand out is how it combines the structure of classic romantic comedies while still feeling modern. Liz is a romantic comedy lover, but she’s also undeniably modern, which makes the story feel both nostalgic and current at the same time. For audiences who loved To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and connected with Lara Jean, this story offers a similar charm. It leans even further into beloved rom-com storytelling. That balance is what makes it especially appealing for adaptation — it feels real, but still cinematic. The chemistry between Wes and Liz and the fast-paced dialogue make it feel made for the screen.
With its built-in fandom and the continued love for Painter’s novels, the story stands strongly within its genre. Better Than the Movies is the kind of adaptation that could easily become a comfort-watch film for audiences who want to feel something — and a generational favorite for rom-com fans.
With the expansion of Painter’s stories, including follow-ups within the same world, there is also room for future adaptations to continue beyond a single film.
The Summer of Broken Rules — K.L. Walther
Synopsis: A summer romance set on Martha’s Vineyard, where a generational family game of assassin sparks an unexpected and delightful love story while Meredith navigates grief.
Why We Want It Adapted: K.L. Walther’s The Summer of Broken Rules has gained popularity as a summer favorite, with readers continuously returning — we can attest to this — for its blend of romance, family ties, and emotional healing. It may not be your typical summer novel, but it stands out for its beloved themes.
Set against a coastal summer backdrop, the novel offers a visually rich environment that translates easily to screen in a beautiful and appealing way. The combination of the assassin game, family relationships, and romance gives the story exactly the right amount of weight and emotional depth.
At its core, this novel is about grief and learning to move forward while loving the things that remind you of those you’ve lost. This adds depth beyond its summery aesthetic.
This balance of tone is exactly what we crave in adaptations. It makes the story ideal for a film audiences would revisit every summer, year after year.
For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, this story offers a similar mix of summer, nostalgia, and romance — making it a natural fit within the current adaptation landscape.
She Gets the Girl — Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick
Synopsis: A queer college romance where Alex agrees to help Molly win over her crush — only for their friendship and connection to blossom into something more, something unexpected.
Why We Want It Adapted: She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick has been widely embraced by readers for its sapphic representation and compelling storytelling, especially within online reading communities.
We’ll be honest — we haven’t seen too much of this story on BookTok, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t loved on other platforms. The opposites-attract trope and college setting create a familiar structure for readers.
What makes this novel stand out is its focus on self-identity, sexuality, and personal discovery. Their relationship develops alongside emotional and individual growth, allowing the story to resonate on a deeper level that goes beyond romance.
As queer stories continue to gain visibility in film and television, She Gets the Girl offers a perspective that is still underrepresented — particularly in female led queer romances. That alone makes it a strong and timely candidate for adaptation.
Collide — Bal Khabra
Synopsis: A college sports romance that follows two students, Summer and Aiden, navigating ambition, pressure, and the intense forced proximity and slow-burn connection between the two.
Why We Want It Adapted: Bal Khabra’s Collide has gained attention across BookTok as part of the growing wave of sports romances taking hold in reader space. This particular story blends emotional depth and academic pressure with high stakes throughout.
Collide leans into the slow-burn trope while building compelling characters through its storytelling, allowing their relationship between the two to develop naturally. Sure, they’re forced together for a project, but they are also two deeply rooted characters beyond that setup. The pacing, along with its themes of pressure and personal growth, gives the story substance and a sense of reality beyond its central romance.
With its expanding world and featured characters, Collide has strong potential to thrive as a sports romance series adaptation. It offers audiences both an ongoing narrative and characters they can continue to invest in. As sports romances continue to rise in popularity across both media and publishing, this story aligns well with what audiences are already engaging with, no matter the genre.
The Do-Over — Lynn Painter
Synopsis: A teen romance where Emilie relives her worst Valentine’s Day ever over and over again, forcing her to confront her relationships and mistakes each time. What will she discover during these do-overs, and most of all, will she break free?
Why We Want It Adapted: The Do-Over brings another classic high-concept premise to the teen romance space. The concept of Groundhog Day happens to be a favorite over here, but it’s hardly seen in novels. That being said, this novel combines a time-loop structure with themes of growth and self-reflection.
Teen adaptations have become less frequent in recent years, which we hate to see. Stories like this show why they still work. The blend of chaos and introspection creates a narrative for Painter’s beloved characters that is both entertaining and relatable for a younger audience — especially those who may not connect to nostalgic rom-com elements but can relate to Emilie as a people pleaser. Because honestly, who isn’t?
With its unique story structure and strong emotional arc for Emilie, The Do-Over is the kind of story positioned to stand out in the current adaptation landscape. It also appeals to fans who are yearning for the return of teen rom-coms. We certainly are.
Mile High — Liz Tomforde
Synopsis: A professional hockey romance between a guarded and arrogant NHL player (Evan) and a flight attendant (Stevie), whose relationship develops through constant close proximity.
Why We Want It Adapted: Liz Tomforde’s Mile High is one of the more recognized sports romances to come out of BookTok. It is the first book in the Windy City series, which has built a massive and attentive fandom. Readers have stayed highly engaged with the series, with the inclusion of multiple sports across each book drawing even more attention.
The story blends the classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic with deeper themes that don’t take away from the romance but instead add to it. Themes like mental health and self-worth make this a layered and captivating novel alongside the romance. Readers have especially connected to the characters’ growth and development. This is a key factor in why the series has done so well, with its popularity continuing to grow within sports romance.
As mentioned, sports romances continue to thrive and gain traction, especially within the adaptation world. Mile High offers a strong and growing fanbase, along with a narrative structure that could support a long-term series adaptation. Given the current demand in media for sports centered storytelling, this series feels timely. More and more sports romances are getting adapted and this definitely feels next in line.
Unsteady — Peyton Corinne
Synopsis: A college hockey romance centered on grief, mental health, and an unexpected connection between Rhys and Sadie. Beyond their connection, both are struggling in their own ways, finding themselves connecting in ways that surprise them both. What kind of bond forms between the two, and will it overcome their own trauma?
Why We Want It Adapted: Unsteady has developed a growing readership, particularly among readers drawn to sports romances. It has also connected with readers who seek emotionally heavy, character-driven novels. Fans want to relate to these characters, and this book offers exactly that.
What sets it apart from most hockey romances is its focus on vulnerability and healing. Two characters could not be more different, yet more fitting for one another. Rather than relying on tropes at the forefront of the story, this novel builds a relationship between Sadie and Rhys through shared struggles. It also allows them to grow individually. This creates a deeper emotional impact and moves away from more surface-level romance themes.
This kind of storytelling lends itself well to the adaptation world. There are many sports romances, but they are all different, and Unsteady captures that distinction well. It allows not only the central relationship to grow but also the surrounding characters to develop. Readers see across interconnected stories. Unsteady would work especially well as a series, where its emotional character arcs could fully unfold.
The Wrong Mr. Right — Stephanie Archer
Synopsis: A small-town romance about a bookstore owner, Hannah, and a surfer, Wyatt, who is not your typical small-town surfer. His “lessons” for our bookstore owner turn into something more. Will these lessons spark her surfing — or something deeper?
Why We Want It Adapted: Stephanie Archer’s The Wrong Mr. Right is part of the popular and addicting Queen’s Cove series. The series has gained attention for its cozy small-town setting and engaging character dynamics. As the second book in the Queen’s Cove series, it opens the door for even further exploration of these characters on screen.
The novel leans into familiar tropes such as opposites attract and personal transformation. What makes it stand out from your typical small-town romance is its humor, emotional depth, and personal growth. The relationship between the two develops in a way that feels both entertaining and deeply grounding. This makes it easy for audiences to connect with characters that are incredibly relatable.
With its aesthetically pleasing coastal setting and strong character-driven narrative, The Wrong Mr. Right has clear potential as an adaptation. And trust us on this one clear potential. It would be easily bingeable and leave audiences wanting more. Because there is more… and to the screen it comes, or at least we hope.
Adaptations are everywhere, taking over our screens everywhere we look — especially in 2026. That only makes us want even more of them. They’ve made readers dream bigger about what stories could come next, even the ones we least expected. Romance authors continue to prove their stories belong on screen just as much as they do on our shelves. And honestly, we’re here for it.
Whether it’s the slow burns or the rom-coms, these stories stay with us long after the very last page. Until the official announcements we’re hoping for finally start rolling in, we’ll be busy casting our dream characters while our adaptation wish lists keep growing with every new release.
And honestly? We’ll be right here waiting — and rereading — until they finally make their way from page to screen.
So no Black woman as a lead heroine? Hmmm. So many fantastic romance books from Tiya Rayne, Sosie Frost, Kenya Wright, Beverly Jenkins, Peyton Banks, Theodora Taylor, Tiffany Patterson, Symone West, and Siienne Vega yet no mention here… nor any other romance book by a Black author featuring a Black woman lead. Please do much better.