In October 2025, we asked Book Notification users what their favourite book-to-screen adaptations were.
We received hundreds of responses. Thank you to everyone for all of their feedback. Everyone who submitted had the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
We randomly picked ten winners, and each winner’s entry is listed below. You can see the winners in the October Recap newsletter.
We will follow up on this post in the future, providing more of your answers on the best book-to-screen adaptations.
The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman started this epic comic book series in 2003. It was about a group of survivors living in a world overrun by zombies.
What really stood out in the comics was that it wasn’t just about the zombie horror; it was more about the survivors, how they adapted, changed, and what they would do to stay alive.
The TV adaptation premiered in 2010 and captured that magic. Starring Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, it went far beyond the comics and has spawned multiple spin-offs.
Alexia was the contest winner for this one, writing “I loved seeing the difference between the show and graphic novels and enjoyed how much content they’ve spun off of it, keeping the story alive well after the end of the last issue.”
Dances with Wolves
In 1988, Michael Blake released the book Dances With Wolves, a quiet, thoughtful novel about a Union soldier who befriends a Lakota Sioux tribe during the American Civil War.
Hollywood was quick to adapt this one in 1990. The movie starred Kevin Costner and won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The Handmaid’s Tale
The chilling look at a future in which women lose all their rights by Margaret Atwood was an incredible success, nominated for best novel at the Nebula Awards and the Booker Prize, and winning the Governor General’s Award.
It was promptly adapted in 1990, but it’s the TV series launched in 2017 that really brought Atwood’s world to life. Featuring Elisabeth Moss amidst a compelling cast, this is an award-winning TV show that fans can’t get enough of.
Gone with the Wind
Written by Margaret Mitchell and published in 1936, this is one of the most famous novels of all time. The 1939 film adaptation starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, and is considered one of Hollywood’s greatest classics.
The entry winner for the contest, Carol Irvin, wrote this:
“I was 12 years old when I read Gone with the Wind. That same year, 1960, I saw it in one of the huge movie palaces which still existed. That combination of book and movie simply cannot be topped. It certainly did not hurt that I saw the film in a palace which was similar to Tara! After seeing Clark Gable in GWTW, all other men were close to ruined. And Vivien Leigh. Can anyone, even now, picture anyone else as Scarlet?”
The Martian
Andy Weir started writing by publishing stories on his website. He had various novellas and a web comic. His short story “The Egg” was what gained him a lot of attention. The Martian initially ran as a serial on his website. Followers requested he compile it into a Kindle book, and it promptly made its way to the Kindle bestseller list. Such a cool story.
The 2015 film adaptation starred Matt Damon and was directed by Ridley Scott. This is considered one of the best adaptations, as Damon captures Watney’s charm and resilience perfectly, and the incredible visuals bring Mars to life.
This was Carolyn’s favourite, writing that the movie “follows the story well and reflects the tone and the sense of humour of the book.”
Harry Potter Series
As you can imagine, this one was nominated by our readers many times. The winner of the contest was Chris, who wrote “I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that the books in the Harry Potter series were masterfully transferred to the screen. No film is perfect, but I feel that the wonder and awe of an entirely new world was created onscreen. The casting was superb, especially with Richard Harris as Dumbledore and Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall.”
Jack Reacher Series
Everyone who nominated this one was clear to point out that they were nominating the TV series, NOT the movies. Hmmm….I wonder why.
This long-running series, started by Lee Child in 1997, is one of the most successful thriller franchises and has had a massive influence on the book world.
After two movies starring Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, Amazon Prime picked it up as a mini-series, with one book being adapted per season. Alan Ritchson is perfect in the Reacher role, and this series is fast becoming one of Amazon Prime’s biggest successes.
I would personally put this in my top 10 simply because of the third season. Persuader is my all-time favourite Reacher book, and I’m so glad they were able to capture the monstrosity that is Paulie.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Series
The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book in the trilogy written by Jenny Han in 2009. It’s a beloved coming-of-age story following Belly Conklin. Belly is always treated as a kid by her family until this one Summer when everything changes.
Jenny Han adapted the book herself for Amazon Prime. There were three seasons (with a movie planned), roughly adapting a book a season. However, the timeline was updated, and the universe was expanded with more characters, scenes, and a much stronger lean into modern pop culture.
Like Water for Chocolate
For this one, we will hand it over to Peter, the contest winner who nominated this entry. Here’s what he wrote:
“My favorite is the movie version of “Like Water for Chocolate.” Laura Esquivel is the author of this 1989 novel of magical realism. The film version arrived in 1992. The story revolves around young Tita de la Garza, the youngest daughter of a family living on a ranch. Tita is forbidden to marry because she is expected to care for her mother until she dies, according to a strict family tradition. Each chapter begins with a recipe into which Tita pours her repressed emotions while cooking, and the food she prepares often has magical or unexpected effects on those who eat it.”
“A few years passed between my reading of the book and my experience with the movie, so my memory enjoyed being refreshed. The reason this is my favorite is that there are some scenes (recipe-chapters) where the original text was better than the movie. Other scenes put into vision some of the fantastical events that I had understood but couldn’t quite imagine. I was entirely engaged with the movie as it proceeded and as I recalled the book that I had really enjoyed first time around. On balance I don’t think either version was the better. The book and the movie both complemented each other in the story Laura Esquivel laid out.”
The Shining
You didn’t think we’d make it through this entire list without at least one Stephen King adaptation, did you? The Shining is one of the most famous horror novels ever written. The movie starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall is also considered one of the best in its genre.
Thanks to everyone for their responses. We will list more of your favourite book to screen adaptations over the coming months.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Graeme is the founder of Book Notification. Born in Scotland and now living in Canada, his lifelong love of reading began with Enid Blyton. He enjoys spy thrillers, psychological thrillers, light sci-fi, and anything to do with time travel. His favorite book is Replay by Ken Grimwood.