BOOKS

With all of the fab YA lit-to-TV adaptations coming out this year, 2017 should be declared the year of page-to-screen. We already binged A Series of Unfortunate Events in January, but that was just the beginning of this cool trend. Up next, Netflix, MTV and Freeform have some seriously exciting adaptations that we think you're going to love. Here’re five books that'll have you glued to the page, and then to your TV this year.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Originally set to become a movie starring Selena Gomez in 2011, this YA classic about a boy who receives cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah after she commits suicide is finally getting the adaptation it deserves. Katherine Langford (opener image) stars as Hannah and Dylan Minnette (above) plays Clay, one of the 13 kids who receives Hannah’s tapes and learns how each of the recipients contributed to Hannah’s decision to take her own life. Although Selena isn’t starring in the project anymore, she’s serving as executive producer of this Netflix series premiering on Mar. 31. 

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

This new TV show is actually the sixth adaptation of this coming-of-age tale, but from the teaser trailer, we think it’s definitely going to be worth the watch. Based on the first novel of the series, this Netflix show (Netflix FTW this year!) follows 11-year-old Anne who is mistakenly sent to live in a new town. She’s got a big imagination and a new place to explore, so to keep up, you'll need to get in on her adventures before the series starts Netflix streaming on May 12.

Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

This new Freeform show stars Disney’s Bella Thorne as Paige Townsen, an unknown college student who gets cast in the movie adaptation of a huge book series (think Hunger Games level) and becomes ridiculously famous basically overnight. She’s got to balance a new life, a love triangle with two totally swoon-worthy costars and investigating the disappearance of a pop star. Aliens in the Attic's Carter Jenkins also stars as one of Paige’s costars, and I. Marlene King, creator of Freeform's Pretty Little Liars, is on as an executive producer. Catch Famous in Love April 18 on Freeform.

The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

This modern fantasy classic has received the big screen treatment before, but this is the trilogy’s first TV adaptation. The first book focuses on 12-year-old Lyra and her friend Will as they adventure through parallel universes where each person has a daemon, the physical manifestation of a person's soul. Witches, armoured polar bears and zeppelins are just a few of the crazy things they encounter, which is sure to make for some epic TV. The BBC, which is producing the show, has been tight-lipped about casting and release dates, but expect The Golden Compass in late 2017.

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Get ready to LOL! MTV is adapting this comedy centered on Molly Barlow, a girl who has to spend her whole summer in a small town where everyone knows she cheated on her childhood sweetheart with his brother. This half-hour single camera show doesn’t have a release date or a cast list yet, but that just means you have more time to read the book before the show drops sometime this year.

Have you read any of these books? Which ones do you think will make good TV shows? Tell us in the comments!

Photo credit: Beth Dubber/Netflix, Freeform, GoodReads

by Emily Cavanagh | 2/13/2017