They say the book is always better than the movie, but IS it, really? Here are lists of popular YA books adapted to movies (or series) and my opinion about whether you should READ or WATCH. You might be surprised!
YA Books to Movies: Read or Watch?
I’ve divided the list into two parts: YA books adapted into movies vs. YA books adapted as a TV or streaming series. And I want to know what YOU think, so whether you agree or disagree, please talk to me in the comments.
If you have a recommendation that’s not on my list, tell me!
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YA Books Adapted to Movies: Read or Watch?
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: For me, this was a close call but …READ IT. This book, about a boy obsessed with death who bonds with a grieving girl, was a tough read. But I think the book really showed the connection between the main characters that the movie lacked for me.
Read All the Bright Places here. Watch All the Bright Places on Netflix.
Beastly by Alex Flinn: WATCH IT. This was also tough one, and I love a good YA fairytale retelling in print but that cast (Vanessa Hudgens, Mary Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris and Alex Pettyfer) won me over.
Read Beastly here. Watch Beastly on Amazon.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: WATCH IT. This Groundhog Day story about friendship and bullying really came to life on the screen for me: the close yet slightly toxic friend group, the car dancing, the beautiful Vancouver setting.
Read Before I Fall Here. Watch Before I Fall on Netflix.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon. WATCH IT. Okay, so I may be the only person who has read the book OR watched the movie. I love early 2000s Lindsay Lohan! This was really cute and one of LiLo’s lesser known movies. When Lola moves from NYC to dreary New Jersey, all her plans for stardom seem ruined. This was a really fun movie!
Read Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Watch it on Disney Plus.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. READ AND WATCH. Starr and her story should be both both read and watched! Look how in-sync the book cover and the movie promo are!
Read The Hate U Give. Watch The Hate U Give on Hulu.
The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles. WATCH. I couldn’t even find a cover for the book that didn’t reference the movie. I did try the book, but the movie, while a bit like a mash-up of every retro teen movie ever, had its charms.
Read The Kissing Booth. Watch The Kissing Booth on Netflix.
Love, Simon (or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) by Becky Albertelli. READ AND WATCH. I really enjoyed both the book and the movie. I can’t pick!
Read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Watch Love, Simon on Amazon.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobosky. WATCH IT. I know this is a YA classic, but I am not a big fan of epistolary fiction and this book was told in letters. I definitely preferred the movie!
Read The Perks of Being a Wallflower! Watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower on Netflix.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. WATCH IT. Okay, this book, about a pair of magical pants that fit everyone and cause guys to fall in love with you, requires some major suspension of disbelief. But the movie is super-fun, has gorgeous scenes of Greece, and stars Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrers and Amber Tamblyn when they were still relatively un-famous.
Read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Watch Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on Amazon Prime.
The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. READ IT. You can totally skip the movie. Just trust me on this.
Read The Vampire Academy. Watch The Vampire Academy on Amazon Prime.
YA Books Adapted to TV or Streaming Series: Read or Watch?
Interesting that I think many YA books fare better as series than movies. Why is that?
The 100 by Cass Morgan. WATCH IT. Definitely.
Read The 100. Watch The 100 on Amazon Prime.
13 Reasons Why by Jay: WATCH IT. The book and the Netflix series each have some tough (and many say problematic) content regarding suicide. I still think the show is a better pick. I did stop watching after season one, when the show stopped following the book.
Read 13 Reasons Why. Watch 13 Reasons Why on Netflix.
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell. WATCH IT. The book is fine, but the show really made 1980s New York come alive!
Read The Carrie Diaries. Watch the Carrie Diaries on Amazon Prime.
Get Even by Gretchen McNeil. WATCH IT. I read the book but didn’t remember much about it. The series definitely has some elements that aren’t well-explained. Still, I love that this was adapted as taking place at a British day school.
Read Get Even. Watch Get Even on Netflix.
Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziesegar: WATCH IT. The books were kind of eh, honestly. The show had a slump-y period or two, but was really quite good!
Read Gossip Girl. Watch Gossip Girl on Netflix.
Lying Game by Sara Shepard: WATCH IT. The book was pretty good but I loved this show about twins who switch places … until one of them gets murdered. I was SO sad that it got cancelled.
Read the Lying Game. Watch the Lying Game on Amazon.
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard. WATCH IT. The show definitely jumped the shark, but it was good for a couple seasons.
Read Pretty Little Liars. Watch Pretty Little Liars on Amazon.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. READ AND WATCH. I’m still salty about that love triangle, but I thought both the book and the show were equally good.
Read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Watch To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix.
Okay please talk to me in comments about YA Books to Movies: Read or Watch. Do you agree? Disagree? Do you have opinions on other YA adaptations to movies or series? I need the lowdown on Shadowhunters, as I’ve read most of the books but have not watched the show.
I so agree with Simon. ♥ As many times as I’ve read/listened to the book, I’ve watched the movie just as many times. They both have their own unique charm.
Agree so much! Some of these were a close call, but I could choose. But Simon is great on the page and on the screen!
Omg I forgot that Beastly was a show!
I agree that Simon movie and book are both amazing. Have you seen Love, Victor?
I’m slowly making my way through the Get Even BBC show.
I found the Beastly movie weirdly compelling! I have not seen Love, Victor yet. I think I’m scared I won’t like it as much. Get even was a little … confusing to me, and I’d read the book. But the whole British vibe was fun!
You really enjoyed a lot of adaptations. I have not seen ATBP because the book broke me, but I have seen a few of these. VA for me was like watching the Beautiful Creatures movie. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t think it represented the book well. Same with The DUFF. The Carrie Dairies show was better than the book. More fleshed out, maybe? The Traveling Pants movies were way better than the books. Perks is a toss up for me. It’s one the few books I read after seeing the film, and there were things in the film that were not clear to me, as they were in the book.
I didn’t expect to enjoy so many adaptations more! To be fair, several of these (Gossip Girl, PLL, Lying Game) were done by packaging companies that (I assume) intended to sell them as shows, so I think that might skew the results.
As for Perks, I ALWAYS have an issue with epistolary fiction. It’s just a thing with me and that probably explains it.
And there is a discussion of the DUFF going on in my Instagram comments on this post. There are book defenders and movie defenders. I haven’t seen it!
I haven’t read Before I Fall, but I really liked the movie. Great list!
Ooh I did see Before I Fall (haven’t read the book) but I really liked the show! And To All the Boys was good too. 🙂
Get Even I definitely need to watch as I really liked the book.
Vampire academy haha. Yes not good but I oddly liked it… a little? It definitely made me want to try the books which I’ve heard are way better! And The 100 I’m a big fan of!
Please try the Vampire Academy books!! Not sure what that movie was lol. Get Even is similar to the books but just set in the UK.
What a comprehensive list! I didn’t even know about the first two.
I actually try to stay away from doing both – it taints my opinion either way so I do one or the other.
I did love Simon though – the book and movie – but it had been years since I read it.
And I’ve read/watched The Duff. I liked both but didn’t think the movie hit the same tender notes as the book.
I liked To All the Boys but I know the book would irritate me so I passed.
Yeah – pass on VA lol
<a href=”www.fwiwreviews.net”> Karen @ For What It’s Worth</a>
I read the first book of TatB and then watched the first season of the show and after that, the love triangle really kicks in (and being me, I peeked at spoilers) so that may be as far as I go.
Great post, I didn’t realise how many adaptations had been done lately. I mostly agree with your suggestions for read or watch but i would say that Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants I would totally read it not watch it, but it does remind me of being a teen.
Such a throwback!! I did like the book but I also really liked the movie more than I expected.