Page to Screen: 8 of Our Favorite Romance Book Adaptations

Watching your favorite book characters come to life on screen is the ultimate fandom payoff. When they nail the chemistry between the leads, it’s pure magic. From viral streaming hits to big-screen blockbusters, these eight contemporary romances are some of our favorites. 

1. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

This adaptation stars Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov. The story follows two elite NHL stars who are the faces of their respective teams, and are constantly compared by the media. What the world doesn’t know is that their legendary rivalry masks a decade-long secret relationship that began with a single hookup during their rookie year. As they navigate the pressures of professional hockey, the fear of homophobia in the sport, and their own personal traumas, their hotel room affairs evolve into a beautiful yet complicated love. 

2. Normal People by Sally Rooney

This critically acclaimed adaptation stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne Sheridan and Paul Mescal as Connell Waldron. Set in Ireland, the story follows the complex on-again, off-again relationship between two teenagers from very different social circles. In their youth, Connell was the popular, well-liked athlete, while Marianne was a wealthy but isolated social outcast. A connection sparks between them one day, that they keep as a secret from their peers. As they move on to Trinity College in Dublin, their social dynamics reverse, and Marianne thrives while Connell struggles to find his footing. Spanning several years, this is a love story that readers and TV show watchers alike love to cry over.

3. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie is a high-strung, openly gay Year 10 student at Truham Grammar School who finds himself sitting next to Year 11 rugby star Nick Nelson. While Charlie’s friends are convinced Nick is straight, an unlikely friendship quickly blossoms into something much deeper. The series beautifully captures the nuances of young love, self-discovery, and the support of a loyal friend group. Starring Joe Locke as Charlie Spring and Kit Connor as Nick Nelson, this beloved coming-of-age adaptation quickly became a fan favorite.

4. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean (Lana Candor) is a shy high schooler who writes secret love letters to her crushes as a way to say goodbye to them, keeping the letters locked away in a hatbox. When the letters are mysteriously mailed out, Lara Jean is forced to confront her past feelings. To convince her sister’s ex-boyfriend that she isn’t actually in love with him, she enters into a fake-dating pact with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) the school’s most popular athlete. 

5. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blythe, this adaptation took over the internet. Poppy and Alex are best friends who couldn't be more different. She’s a wild-child travel writer and he’s a routine-loving teacher. For a decade, they took summer vacations together until a disastrous trip to Croatia led to two years of silence. Feeling stuck in a rut, Poppy convinces Alex to take one more trip to repair their friendship. As they navigate a series of travel mishaps, they’re forced to confront the truth: they’ve been in love for years, and being just friends was the only thing standing in the way of their happiness. 

6. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick (Henry Goulding) for his best friend’s wedding, she expects a simple trip to meet his family. Instead, she’s shocked to discover that Nick belongs to one of the wealthiest families in the country and is Singapore's most eligible bachelor. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Rachel must navigate a world of opulence, jealous socialites, and Nick’s formidable, disapproving mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), who is determined to keep Rachel out of the family circle. 

7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Lou Clark is a quirky positive woman who takes a job as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a wealthy man left paralyzed after a motorcycle accident. Will has lost his desire to live and is often cynical, but Lou’s refusal to treat him with pity eventually breaks down his defenses. As they fall in love, Lou spends her days trying to prove to him that a life with her is still worth living. It is a devastatingly beautiful story that highlights both Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin’s acting abilities. 

8. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell, Lucy and Josh spend their days in a constant state of psychological warfare at work. When they find themselves competing for the same high-level promotion, their professional rivalry reaches a breaking point. What starts as a ruthless game quickly turns into a complicated attraction.