The rise in romance novel adaptations
Book-to-movie adaptations are not a new concept. There have been plenty that are noteworthy and some that are worth forgetting about.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, we saw the rise and fall of romantic comedy movies. Now, in the 2020s, we are seeing the rise of romance novel adaptations. Romance novels have been around for ages but do not usually garner stellar screen adaptations.
When someone mentions a romance novel being adapted to the big screen, most people may think of 2015’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” or 2019’s “After.” In 2023, people can now think of much better adaptations like Netflix’s “Bridgerton” or 2021’s “The Hating Game.”
Romance books have surged in popularity thanks to “BookTok.” While some people still scoff at those who enjoy the genre, it has become much more respected than it used to be. Major streaming companies like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime have been jumping at the opportunity to bring these novels to the screen because of the genre’s rising popularity on the social media platform.
If major companies are producing and releasing romance movies, then the books must be worth reading, right? Loyal readers will say yes, while those prone to making fun of the romance genre will be skeptical.
Popular author Colleen Hoover, whose books lean more toward the women’s fiction genre, is even getting adaptations. Her controversial novel, “It Ends with Us” is set to be made into a movie starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with Baldoni directing. No release date has been set, but fans of Hoover’s book are anxiously waiting for more news to be released.
Amazon Prime is releasing an adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s 2019 book “Red, White & Royal Blue.” It’s set to release later this year. The movie is bound to be as successful as the book because of the cast’s chemistry and the plot that centers around the son of the president of the United States fake dating the prince of England. What’s not to love?
Of course, it would not be Hollywood if there wasn’t any controversy – namely, with this year’s adaptation of Jamie McGuire’s novel, “Beautiful Disaster.” The film is set to star Dylan Sprouse and Virginia Gardner and will be released on April 12.
McGuire is the main reason the film is considered to be controversial. She holds extreme far-right viewpoints and has made some racist comments. Some readers are urging people to boycott the film.
Jay Crownover announced that her “Marked Men” series is set to become a film and possibly a series of movies if the first adaptation is successful. The film, “Marked Men” – based on the first book “Rule” – is set to release in early 2024, with Chase Stokes starring as the titular character.
It’s 2023, so there’s no reason romance should not be taken seriously. Romance books are fun! While they are not always literary masterpieces, that should not diminish their impact on readers. If more books get adaptations, the television and film industry will have an even bigger audience to cater to.
Even though there seem to be some bumps along the way, romance is becoming much more respected in the industry. Let’s hope more romance books will get the green light for future adaptations. Books like “Addicted to You” and “Twisted Love” would translate well onto the silver screen or the big screen.
