The Best Of: Books That Should Have Adaptations #2

I’ve been watching a lot of films lately and it got me thinking again about some of my recent(ish) reads and which ones would make great adaptations. Now I know what you’re thinking, I’ve literally just published a post about whether too many adaptations are being made, but I argued for both sides and at the end of the day I love an adaptation.

For that reason here are three more YA books I think should have adaptations.

The Boyband Murder Mystery by Eva Eldred

I can 100% see this being a Netflix/Prime Original, it’s the exact type of story they like to adapt. If they were to adapt The Boyband Murder Mystery I have a feeling it would be in a similar style to Enola Holmes.

Synopsis: Harri and her best friends worship Half Light – an internationally famous boyband. When frontman Frankie is arrested on suspicion of murdering his oldest friend Evan, Harri feels like her world’s about to fall apart. But quickly she realises that she – and all the other Half Light superfans out there – know and understand much more about these boys than any detective ever could.

Now she’s rallying a fangirl army to prove Frankie’s innocence – and to show the world that you should never underestimate a teenage girl with a passion…

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

This is another that would be a Netflix/Prime Original. This wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but the ‘friend rival’ trope would translate well to a teen dramedy film. After the recent success of Do Revenge, I could see this film doing very well. Similar vibes but instead of taking revenge against an enemy it’s two friends fighting for the same guy, with a great twist may I add.

Synopsis: Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theatre rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles is one of my all-time favourite series and to see it made into a TV show would be incredible.

Set between Earth and a colony in space, this show would have great visuals. I would love to see Lunar come to life and to experience all of its weird and whimsical customs. The world-building in The Lunar Chronicles is one of the best I’ve personally read and I’m sure a TV show would do it justice.

Also as this is a loose re-telling of classic fairytales it would have great interest to a lot of people. Who doesn’t want to see a cyborg Cinderella go on an adventure with a fiery Red Riding Hood, who is actually named Scarlet?

I genuinely think that this would have great potential to be a really amazing show.

Goodreads synopsis: “Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.