Yes, book club is all about reading the books. But sometimes life gets in the way. Or maybe your book club needs a fun change of pace. Or maybe you’d like to read the book and then watch the movie. Here are some recommendations of Best Book Club Books With Movies.
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Need a new idea for book club?
Maybe you and your book club are feeling a little busy or just tapped out. Why not pick a book that you can read OR watch (overachievers can do both and then compare and contrast).
Here are some recommendations of best book club books that you can also stream free online. Bonus: most of these books should be available at the library!
Best Book Club Books With Movie Adaptations
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (Book 2018; Netflix series 2024)
This is the perfect choice for book clubs that have women’s fiction fans AND mystery/thriller fans. The Perfect Couple is a little bit of both! Here’s my Read and Watch Guide to The Perfect Couple on Netflix!
Presumed Innocent (1987 book; 1990 feature film; 2024 Apple TV series)
Perfect for fans of a twisty legal thriller with so many suspects. You and your club will be debating this one into the night!
My Plot Summary, SPOILERS and Character List for the book Presumed Innocent
My Guide to the Apple TV series Presumed Innocent
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Book 2022, Apple TV Series 2023)
This book about a female chemist who can only find a job on a cooking show was a book club sensation. Now it’s about to be a series on Apple TV starring Brie Larson.
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (Book 2015, Netflix Series 2023)
Ani has moved to New York, changed her name, and found the perfect fiancé. But she can’t shake the memories of the horror of high school.
But an HBO documentary is being made about her experiences. Will it free her or help her burn it all down?
This is all very meta. Check out my post comparing the book Luckiest Girl Alive to the Netflix Movie!
Fleischman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Book 2019, Hulu Series 2022)
I read this just for fun. It was a weird but amusing book about a guy who can’t figure out why his wife left him.
The adaptation, done by Hulu, starred Claire Danes, Jesse Eisenberg, and Lizzy Caplan. Some people found it boring but others thought it was an insightful look at how men and women experience mid-life differently.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Book 2020, Amazon Prime Series 2023)
Okay, this isn’t the most literary of books, but I thought the Amazon adaption of it was really well-done.
Also, please check out my complete post on the Daisy Jones & The Six: Book Vs Movie.
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter (Book 2019, Netflix Series 2022)
If your book club loves a good thriller, check out this mother-daughter thriller that was also adapted for Netflix.
After reading the book, you can check out my post on all the differences between the book and the movie.
Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan (Book 2018, Netflix Series 2022)
This legal thriller is also a family drama and a #MeToo Story.
I have a full post on Anatomy of a Scandal book versus movie here – check it out!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Book 2018, Feature Film 2022)
This is another quintessential book club book.
I tend to avoid really hyped-up books so have not read the book or watched the movie but you and your club might love it! Here’s the Netflix version of Where the Crawdads Sing.
Burning by Haruki Murakami (Short Story 1994, Netflix 2018)
This movie, currently streaming on Netflix, has a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating. According to Decider, it is The Best Film of 2018 That You Probably Didn’t See.
The film was based on a novella called Barn Burning that can be found in a book of Murakami’s short stories called The Elephant Vanishes.
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (Book 1955, Movie 1999)
I love Patricia Highsmith!
Both the book and the movie are AWESOME if you like creepy psychological thrillers. I highly recommend the movie, starring Gwenyth Paltrow and Matt Damon. It was on Netflix but I think they pulled it off, so it’s also on Amazon.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (Book 2021, Apple TV Series 2023)
This popular Reese’s Book Club Pick book was adapted for Apple TV, so you can read and watch.
If you need some help comparing the book to the show, check out my The Last Thing He Told Me post in which I analyze ALL the differences between the two!
You by Caroline Kepnes (Book 2014, Lifetime/Netflix Series 2018)
If your book club wants to ring in the New Year with something a little disturbing.
The book is creepy and so is the show on Netflix.
Room by Emma Donoghue (Book 2011, Movie 2015)
The book was a tough read, but I enjoyed it, particularly the first half. I felt that the narrative lost steam after that.
The movie, formerly streaming on Netflix, but which can also be found on Amazon Prime Video, won Brie Larson an Oscar.
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell (Book 2005, Movie 2009)
About a woman who is stuck in a dead-end job and decides to cook every single recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Pitched as Briget Jones meets the French chef.
Both the book and the movie (starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep) are great!
Cake by Patrick Tobin (Movie 2014)
The movie, starring Jennifer Aniston and Anna Kendrick, was based on a short story.
It’s not on Netflix anymore, but you can watch it on Amazon for $3.99 and the short story is free on the author’s website.
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (Book One 2019, Netflix series 2019)
If your book club loves small town romance, read some of this soapy romance series and then watch the show, streaming on Netflix. It’s fun to debate things like: how long has Charlene been pregnant, anyway???
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows (Book 2009, Movie 2018)
This is pretty much the essential book club book. Read it, and then watch the movie on Netflix.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Book 2008, HBO Series 2014)
Maybe your book club has already read this Pulitzer Prize winner, but for a change of pace, gather everyone up at the house of someone who has HBO, pop some popcorn, and check out the series.
Book Movie Combos Your Book Club Can skip:
Eat Pray Love (book is now out of favor and the movie was terrible)
If Your Book Club Loves Young Adult Books
I have a complete list of all your favorite 2000s and 2010s YA books that have been adapted!
Tell me in comments: are you in a book club? Have you seen (or watched) any of these?
Room has been on my TBR for *years*. Maybe I should just break down and watch the movie (and face the fact that I’m never going to get to the book). Especially since it was so well-received.
This is me – I’m never going to read the book, so just watch the movie!
PS Room was a tough read, but I did think it was well done!
I’ve heard good things about Virgin River and I want to see Room.
Have you read or watched You? I’m really hesitant about it because I’m not a fan of romanticizing murderers lol
Karen @ For What It’s worth
Nope, I tried the book of You (got it from BookExpo a few years back) and it was too creepy. Then I tried a few episodes of the show and again, nope. My husband loves the show, though!