We have some universally accepted truths in this world. the water is wet. puppies are cute the book is almost always better than the movie.
You are reading: Young adult books becoming movies
Of course, just because the book is better doesn’t mean you should skip the movie entirely. It can be so much fun watching the characters we imagine in our heads appear on the big screen, and how the writers and everyone involved interpret the stories we’ve come to know and love.
and there are many adaptations to come! For the latest news, be sure to check out Epic Adaptations on YouTube for all casting and release updates.
We don’t know about you, but we’re already planning a watch party for some of these.
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and adaptations of the book to the screen
currently under development
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1. blackout
Blackout is not only in the works to become a six-part anthology on Netflix, but it’s being produced by the Obamas! 
a summer heat wave blankets new york city in darkness. But as the city is thrown into turmoil, a different kind of electricity is turned on…
a first meeting.
long time friends.
ex bitter.
and maybe the start of something new.
When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities arise.
beloved authors: dhonielle clayton, tiffany d. jackson, nic stone, angie thomas, ashley woodfolk and nicola yoon – celebrating the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sultry starry night on the town.
- buy blackout now!
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2. they both die at the end
what’s even more exciting that they both die at the end of the adaptation? the fact that adam silvera is writing it himself! prepare for all the tears.
adam silvera reminds us that there is no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change in the course of one unforgettable day.
on september 5th, shortly after midnight, death-cast calls mateo torrez and rufus emeterio to give them some bad news: they are going to die today.
Mathew and Rufus are complete strangers, but for different reasons, both are looking to make a new friend on the day of their end. The good news: there’s an app for that. it’s called the last friend and, through him, rufus and mateo are about to meet for one last great adventure: to live a whole life in a single day.
- buy now they both die at the end!
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3. the selection
It’s official, the selection arrives on the screen!! and here’s everything we know about it now.
Prepare to be swept up into a world of breathless fairy tale romance, dazzling characters, sparkly costumes, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who love Divergent, Rave, or Rage & sunrise.
For thirty-five girls, the selection is the opportunity of a lifetime. the opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace and compete for the heart of the magnificent prince maxon. but for the American singer, being selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love for Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown he doesn’t want.
Then America meets Prince Maxon and realizes that the life he’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future he never imagined.
- shop the selection now!
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4. red queen
arise red as the dawn, scarlet guard, because it’s finally happening! It’s been a long time coming and we’ve got you covered with all the updates for this upcoming TV show.
The Red Queen, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue and betrayal perfect for fans of George R.R. martin’s game of thrones series.
Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood: those with common red blood serve the silver blood elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. the mare is a red mare who gets by as a thief in a poor country town, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the silver court. Before the king, the princes and all the nobles, she discovers that she has an ability of her own.
To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As the mare ventures deeper into the silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard, a growing red rebellion, even as her heart pulls her in an impossible direction.
one false move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
- buy red queen now!
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5. the upper world
You know a book is good when you buy the movie before it hits the shelves! The Upper World is in the works at Netflix with Daniel Kaluuya attached to star and produce.
If you had the opportunity to change your future, would you take it?
Perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman and Jason Reynolds, this powerful and mind-bending debut follows two teenagers, separated by a generation, whose fates collide through time and beyond.
today
During possibly the worst week of Esso’s life, an accident takes him to an incredible world, a place beyond space or time, where he can glimpse the past and the future. but if what he sees there is true, he may not have much longer to live, unless he can use his new gift to change the course of history.
tomorrow
rhia’s past is full of questions, none of which she expects a new physics tutor to answer. but dr esso is not here to help rhia. he is here because he needs her help to unravel a tragedy that occurred fifteen years ago. one that holds the key not only to rhia’s past, but also to a future worth fighting for.
- buy top world now!
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6. and if it’s us
becky and adam are going to be the producers of the movie what if it were us? And this is going to be the romantic comedy of our dreams!
Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, critically acclaimed and best-selling authors, combine their talents in this smart, funny and heartfelt collaboration about two very different boys who can’t decide if the universe unites them or tears them apart.
arthur is only in new york for the summer, but if broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver spectacular romance when you least expect it.
ben believes the universe should mind its own business. If the universe covered him, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s stuff.
but when arthur and ben meet at the post office, what exactly does the universe hold for them? . . ?
maybe nothing. after all, they break up.
maybe everything. after all, they meet again.
but what if they can’t get a first date even after three repeats?
what if arthur tries too hard to make it work and ben doesn’t try hard enough?
what if life really isn’t like a broadway play?
but what if it is?
What if it’s us?
- buy and yes it’s us now!
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7. long way down
jason reynolds long way down is absolutely stunning, and john legend is attached to produce the movie for universal!
See Also: List Of Sandra Brown Books In Order – Mystery Sequels
An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds’s electrifying novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.
a cannon. one strap one piece. a biscuit a burner a heater. a helicopter a cat a hammer a tool to govern
o, you can call it a weapon. that’s what fifteen-year-old will has stuffed into the back of her jeans waistband. look, his brother shawn of his just got killed. and the will knows the rules. Do not cry. no sneaks. revenge. that’s where will is headed now, with that gun tucked in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. he gets on the elevator, seventh floor, excited. he knows who he’s after. or yes?
When the elevator stops at the sixth floor, buck appears. Buck, Will discovers, is the one who gave Shawn the gun before Will took it. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is loaded. And that’s when Will sees a bullet is missing. and the only one who could have fired shawn’s gun was shawn. Hey. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever used his gun. bigger huh the dollar is dead. but the dollar is in the elevator?
Just as will is trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. a teenage girl climbs in, shakes cigarette smoke off a dead buck. will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. she knew. when they were eight. and stray bullets had come through the playground, and will had tried to cover her, but they hit her anyway, so what she wants to know, at the fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if will, will with the gun tucked in the back waistband of your jeans, miss.
And so it goes, all the way down, as the elevator stops at each floor, and at each stop someone related to his brother gets on to give Will a piece of a bigger story than he thinks he has. knows. a story that may never have an end… if will gets off the elevator.
- shop much lower now!
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8. loveboat, taipei
Your favorite coming-of-age book is on its way to becoming a movie from Ace Entertainment, who also produced All the Boys I’ve Loved Before! We can’t wait to see all the loveboat, taipei drama on the screen.
“Our cousins made this show,” Sophie whispers. “best kept secret. zero oversight.”
And so, ever wong’s summer takes an unexpected turn. gone chien tan, the strict educational program in taiwan you were once waiting for. instead, find loveboat: a free-for-all all summer long where hookups abound, adults turn a blind eye, snake blood sake flows in abundance, and the nightlife doesn’t stop.
but not all students are what they seem:
ever is working to become a doctor, but has a secret passion for dance.
rick woo is the child prodigy who lives at yale and whose perfection hides a secret.
Boy-crazy, fashion-obsessed sophie ha turns out to have more than meets the eye.
and under the shell of the sexy xavier yeh is buried a shameful truth that he will never admit.
When these students’ lives collide, it’s guaranteed to be a summer they’ll never forget.
- buy loveboat, taipei now!
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9. with the fire raised
we all know how beautiful elizabeth acevedo’s writing is and the best news about this adaptation? she’s writing the script too!
From the new york times bestselling author of the national book award winning title the poet x comes a dazzling prose novel about a girl with talent, pride and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright. .
Since she became pregnant in her first year, emoni santiago’s life has been centered on making tough decisions: doing what must be done for her daughter and her grandmother.
The only place you can leave all that behind is in the kitchen, where you add something magical to everything you cook, making your food a delight.
Although she dreams of working as a chef after graduation, emoni knows that pursuing the impossible isn’t worth her time. however, despite the rules he believes he has to abide by, once emoni starts cooking, his only option is to let his talent run wild.
- buy with fire high now!
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10. deep evil
From the beginning, the deep evil had several suitors, but finally netflix won the rights. Although we haven’t heard any more news, we know this is going to be creepy.
welcome to the cursed town of the sparrow…
where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchcraft. Stones were tied around their ankles and they were submerged in the deep waters that surrounded the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three faint-hearted girls so they can seek their revenge, luring the children into the harbor and sinking them.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the city. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread rapidly through the salt-soaked streets. the townspeople turn against each other. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. and death comes soon to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
but only penny sees what others can’t. and she will be forced to choose: save bo or save herself.
- buy the wicked right now!
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11. let me hear a rhyme
Part murder mystery, part thriller, part love story, Tiffany D. jackson’s phenomenal let me hear a rhyme is currently in development at peacock!
In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he’s still alive.
brooklyn, 1998. biggie smalls was right: things changed. But that doesn’t mean Quadir and Jarrell are comfortable letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered, not when his rhymes could turn any corner of the bed into a party.
with the help of steph’s younger sister, jasmine, they came up with a plan to promote steph’s music under a new rap name: the architect. soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When their demo catches the eye of a brash record label rep, the trio must prove Steph’s talents from beyond the grave.
As the pressure to keep their secret mounts, Quadir, Jarrell and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. just that everyone has something to hide. And since everything hinges on Steph’s fame, they must decide what they stand for or lose everything they’ve worked so hard to hold on to, including themselves.
- buy let me hear a rhyme now!
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12. realm of souls
Kingdom of Souls is full of magic and twists—perfect for the screen. Michael B. Jordan is on board to produce this one, and we’re ready to get witchy. 
A girl with no gifts must bargain for the power to fight her own mother’s dark schemes—even if the price is her life.
Cracking with dark magic, unspeakable betrayal, and bold twists you won’t see coming, this explosive fantasy debut is a can’t-miss, high-stakes epic perfect for fans of Legendborn, Strange the Dreamer, and E! children of blood and bone.
Heir to two lines of powerful wizards, Arrah yearns for her own magic. she however, fails at bone magic, she doesn’t turn to her ancestors and doesn’t live up to her family’s legacy. Under the disapproving gaze of her mother, the most powerful priestess and seer in the kingdom, she fears that she will never be good enough.
But when the children of the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah is desperate enough to resort to a dangerous and forbidden ritual. if she doesn’t have magic of her own, she will have to buy it by trading years of her own life.
arrah’s borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and, right after, a rising tide of darkness that threatens to consume her and everyone she loves. She must race to unravel a twisted and deadly plan…before the fight costs more than she can pay.
- buy the realm of souls now!
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13. on the rise
We’re still basking in the shine of the appearance, so in between re-reads we look forward to the film, which has Angie Thomas attached as producer!
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest female rappers of all time. or at least win the first battle of it. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died just before he made it big, Bri has some huge shoes to fill.
but it’s hard to get up when you’re labeled a bully at school and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. so bri pours out her anger and frustration in her first song, which goes viral. . . for all the wrong reasons.
bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more of a threat than mc. But with an eviction notice facing her family, Bri doesn’t just want to survive, she has to. even if it means becoming what the public has said she is.
insightful, unflinching and full of heart, the next is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. is the story of fighting for your dreams, even when the odds are against you; and how, especially for young black people, freedom of expression is not always free.
- buy now!
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14. it will be me
We don’t know about you, but Skye Shin is absolutely our bias, and we’re so excited to see how her story unfolds! HBO Max won a competitive auction for the film rights and now we’re just counting down the days until the debut hits screens!
The world of k-pop has never known a star like this. Newcomer author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously funny and thoughtful romantic comedy that celebrates body positivity and confidence, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Julie Murphy.
skye shin has heard it all. fat girls shouldn’t dance. wear bright colors. they should not draw attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-pop, and to do so, she’s about to break every rule that society, the media, and even her own mother have set for girls like her.
will challenge thousands of other artists in an internationally televised competition for the next K-pop star, and will do it better than anyone.
When Skye lands her audition, she is immediately thrown into a whirlwind of countless practices, stunning performances, and the drama that comes with reality television. What she doesn’t count on is the highly fat-phobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry, her sudden fame and media scrutiny, or the soon-to-be-flying sparks with her fellow competitor, henry cho.
But Skye has her sights set on becoming the world’s first plus-size K-pop star, and that means winning the competition, without losing herself.
- buy it will be me now!
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15. clown in a cornfield
some of us may have to see this one through our fingers, and this book is already an homage to the slasher genre, which means the movie will be great.
In Adam Cesare’s terrifying young adult debut, Quinn Maybrook finds herself caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress—that just may cost her life.
quinn maybrook and his father have moved to kettle springs, a tiny and boring place, looking for a fresh start. but what they don’t know is that ever since the baypen corn syrup factory closed, the springs in the kettle snapped in half.
On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make kettle springs great again, and on the other are the kids, who want to have fun, make prank videos, and get out of kettle springs as fast as they can.
kettle springs is caught up in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. it’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the city. until frendo, baypen’s mascot, a creepy clown in a pork pie hat, turns homicidal and decides that the only way to make kettle springs grow again is by slaughtering the rotten crop of children who now live there.
- buy clown in a cornfield now!
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16. children of blood and bone
We can’t wait to see this epic fantasy on the big screen! It is currently in development and is scheduled to be written by this American writer, Kay Oyegun.
They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us.
now we get up.
zélie adebola remembers when the land of orïsha buzzed with magic. burners lit flames, tides drew waves, and zélie’s reaper mother summoned souls.
but everything changed the night the magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, the maji were slaughtered, leaving zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now, zélie has a chance to recover the magic and attack the monarchy. With the help of a rebellious princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic forever.
Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leopards prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. however, the greatest danger may be zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
- buy blood and bone children now!
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17. shut up, shut up
Silence, silence is coming! monet clayton wrote the script and production is scheduled to begin in late 2021.
A SACRED OATH A FALLEN ANGEL A FORBIDDEN LOVE
romance was not part of nora gray’s plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend Vee pushes them. not until the patch arrives. With her easy smile and her eyes that seem to see into her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora isn’t sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. she can’t decide if she should fall into her arms or run and hide. And when she tries to search for some answers, she finds herself close to a truth that is far more unsettling than any patch she makes her feel.
Because she’s right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortals and the fallen, and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost nora her life.
- buy silence, silence now!
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18. are you there god? it’s me, margaret
it’s been over 50 years since judy blume released the iconic book, are you there god? It’s me, Margaret, and it’s officially coming to the big screen! lionsgate has finished production, which means hopefully we’ll see it soon.
Margaret shares her secrets and her spirituality in this iconic Judy Blume novel, beloved by millions, that now has a fresh new look.
margaret simon, almost twelve years old, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain and pink things. She just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and she’s anxious to fit in with her new friends: Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to discuss private topics like boys, bras, and having their first periods, Margaret is happy to join.
but none of them can believe that margaret has no religion and doesn’t go to the jewish community center. What they don’t know is that Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything: family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush.
margaret is funny and real, and her thoughts and feelings are so relatable – you’ll feel like she’s speaking directly to you, sharing her secrets with a friend.
- buy are you there god? Now it’s me, Margaret!
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19. the positive side of unrequited
now you know how much we love love, simon, which means we’re really excited to see more simonverse movies! becky is attached as executive producer and in the meantime you can find us rereading.
from the award-winning author of simon vs. the homo sapiens agenda comes an authentic and funny novel about brotherhood, love and identity.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. no matter how many times his twin sister cassie tells her to become a woman, molly can’t stand the thought of rejection. so she is careful. fat girls always have to be careful.
Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly isn’t dying of loneliness, except for the part she’s in. Fortunately, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and get her twin back.
There’s only one problem: Molly’s co-worker, Reid. He’s a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to Ren Faire, and there’s no way Molly will fall for him.
right?
- buy the unrequited advantage now!
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20. a very large expanse of sea
We hope you have your tissues ready, because we know watching shirin’s walls crumble into the ocean on the big screen will make you cry. But this story isn’t just about romance, and we’re so glad that Tahereh Mafi’s novel about Islamophobia and coming of age in a world that turns against you as soon as you see it is one that more people will be able to see. /p>
from the new york times and usa bestseller author. devastating impact of prejudice.
It’s 2002, one year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.
shirin is never surprised at how horrible people can be. she is tired of the dirty looks, demeaning comments, even physical violence, that she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. so she built protective walls and refuses to let anyone get close enough to hurt her. instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons breakdancing with her brother.
but then he meets ocean james. he is the first person in a long time who really seems to want to meet shirin. She terrifies her, they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds, and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she can ever let it down.
- buy a large expanse of sea now!
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21. opposite of always
Paramount Players has officially sealed the deal and, contrary to business as usual, the film has been chosen to be produced by members of the Temple Hill creative team! We can’t wait to laugh and cry as we watch this story unfold on the big screen, over and over and over again.
newcomer author justin a. Reynolds delivers a hilarious and moving novel about the choices we make, the people we choose, and the moments that make a life worth reliving. perfect for fans of nicola yoon and john green.
When jack and kate find themselves at a party, bonding until dawn over their mutual love of froot loops and their favorite movies, jack knows he’s falling… hard. He will soon meet his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate will win them over as easily as she did Jack.
but then kate dies. and her story should end there.
however, kate’s death sends jack back to the beginning, the moment they met, and kate is right back there. she healthy, happy and lovely as always. jack isn’t sure if he’s going crazy.
Still, if he gets a chance to prevent kate’s death, he’ll take it. even if it means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when a choice turns deadly for someone close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do to save the people he loves.
- buy the usual opposite now!
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22. inertia
fox 2000 bought the rights to this story years ago, and veronica roth is collaborating with them on the screenplay! It’ll tackle mental health and have a sci-fi twist to it, and this one will have us reaching for our tissues.
veronica roth, bestselling author of divergent and carve the mark, offers an impressive collection of short novels set in the future, illustrated with stunning black and white artwork.
no world is like the other. Within this masterful collection, each setting is weirder and more wonderful than the last, brimming with new technologies and beings. And yet, despite all the progress in these futuristic lands, people still face deeply human problems.
In these six stories, Veronica Roth steps into the unknown and unearths something startlingly familiar and profoundly beautiful.
With stories of friendship and revenge, plus two new stories from the Carve the Mark universe, this collection has something for new and old fans alike. every story begins with the hope of a better ending, but always ends with a better understanding of the beginning.
- buy the ending and other beginnings now!
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23. the gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue
love, friendship, betrayal, oh! The producer behind Riverdale, Flash and Supergirl is set to adapt this story for HBO Max.
Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t mind that his mischievous passions are far from fitting for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his pursuits of pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family estate upon his return, but Monty is also in love with his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
So Monty promises to make this year-long getaway one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns his trip abroad into a harrowing chase, everything he knows is called into question, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Witty, dazzling, and intriguing throughout, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.
- Buy the gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue now!
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Which of these book-to-screen adaptations are you most excited about? did we miss any? tell us in the comments!