The YA Book-to-Movie Adaptations We're Most Anticipating This Year

The YA Book-to-Movie Adaptations We’re Most Anticipating This Year

Three young people pose at a party. The woman in front smiles with her eyes closed, leaning on a man in a light suit who is smiling. Another man behind her makes a playful face—like they're celebrating the next big 2026 YA adaptations on BookTok.

2026 has already done some *serious* justice to our fave page-turners. From the friends-to-lovers masterpiece of People We Meet On Vacation to the suspenseful second season of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, we’ve been lucky to see our faves on the page come to life on the big screen.

With half the year remaining, there are still some big premieres to come for the book-lovers. Follow along to see what beloved book scenes are coming to the screens near you!

Heartstopper Forever – July 17

It appears that our fave friends-to-lovers duo is gearing up to face the same challenge as we are when it comes to Heartstopper’s final season: how to say goodbye (cue the tears). We’ve watched this v. sweet pair have each other’s backs all throughout high school–from adorbs beach dates to always standing by each other’s side (even when times are tough).

Sooo Nick and Charlie might be attached at the hip. And if you know this vibe with your S.O., you know that it doesn’t tend to mesh with the idea of long-distance relationships (eep!). After seeing these two stick together between toxic situationships, high school bullies *and* their own coming-out journeys, we have hope that Nick and Charlie can manage the extra miles.

My Life With The Walter Boys Season 3 – Aug. 6

Three’s a crowd, especially when it comes to this love triangle. We’re going to need to bring tally charts to our next binge-watch—because, like Jackie, the decision between Team Cole and Team Alex has our hearts doing cartwheels. Between Cole in his race car and Alex’s rodeo-riding, Jackie can’t put the brakes on the chaos of her small town life. And with the accidental spill of her feelings about Cole (to both him *and* Alex…oops), the time to close this love triangle is ticking.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping – Nov. 20

The Lucy Gray edits to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can’t Catch Me Now” might still have you sobbing. And if so, same. But, The Hunger Games franchise waits for no one (and even though we’re still recovering, we can not wait for our next obsession to hit theaters).

This Panem flashback follows Haymitch’s games, 24 years before Katniss’ story. If you know anything about Haymitch’s Quarter Quell, you know that double the amount of tributes are called to fill the arena. Through the trailer, fans were v. quick to spot that Effie and Haymitch give their tributes the same advice: “Make them remember you.” Knowing this, we are excited for more parallels that make our love for the original trilogy all the stronger!

Get Excited: These Adaptation Announcements Have Our Hearts

Better Than The Movies

Calling all hopeless romantics! This one’s for you. If you haven’t read Better Than The Movies, be prepared for all your favorite romantic tropes to come to life. The book’s author, Lynn Painter, masterfully blends the classic enemies-to-lovers trope alongside fake-dating and a slow-burn plot (with the boy who just so happens to live right next door). Awww!

Lynn posted an open call for the two main characters, Liz and Wes, on June 24. The film’s in its early stages–which means more time to binge our fave rom-coms in preparation (in proper Liz fashion, ofc).

Shatter Me

Despite her lethal powers, Juliette Ferrars will be touching our hearts and *every* corner of our feeds with the adaptation of the iconic Shatter Me book. On June 16, the series’s author, Tahereh Mafi, announced on Instagram that Warner Bros. has optioned Shatter Me for theatrical release.

Stepping in as the film’s executive producer, she assures fans that she is “going to be fighting for the fandom always.” So, of course, Tahereh let us know that she’s got us covered when it comes to *the* Aaron Warner Anderson. Die-hard fans of the dystopian romance have already expressed their excitement—and potential fan casts—in knowing Tahereh has our back!