TV

Netflix, Take Note: 5 Romance Book Adaptations That Need to Happen ASAP

Netflix, Take Note: 5 Romance Book Adaptations That Need to Happen ASAP
Image credit: BBC

These swoon-worthy stories should play out on-screen for all to see.

More and more fans are discovering the abundance of romance novels that exist, full of captivating, sensual stories that deserve to escape the pages and be brought to life, as Bridgerton was.

The Wallflowers by Lisa Kleypas

The Wallflowers quartet is set in early Victorian England and follows four very different women who band together, forming an unlikely friendship and making a pact to find each other husbands.

Each book is dedicated to a wallflower and their unique love story, covering enemies-to-lovers tropes, themes of self-discovery, cross-class romance, female friendships and more. The charming, witty book series has been praised for its vivid descriptions and stunning settings that feed one’s imagination, and we would love to see these strong, unique female characters in the flesh.

Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer

Like so many of today’s popular modern rom-coms, Friday’s Child tells the story of friends-to-lovers in a witty, unlikely pairing, but in the Regency era.

Rejected by his first choice of wife and desperate to receive his inheritance, Viscount Sheringham leaves his mother’s home and impulsively vows to marry the next woman he sets his sights on, who turns out to be his lifelong friend, Hero Wantage.

What follows is a series of comedic mishaps, as Hero explores the glamorous new social class, and Sheringham tries to save them both from embarrassment. Their friendship is pushed to the limit, while their marriage of convenience turns into a passionate love affair that would make for a brilliant series.

The Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas

Another enthralling read by Kleypas follows the melodramatic Hathaway family, whose lives are turned upside down after an unexpected inheritance quickly elevates them into aristocracy in London society. Set in the Victorian era, each of the 5 books in the series is dedicated to one of the Hathaway siblings navigating life and love.

The book series is full of heart and humor, as well as dark secrets, with female heroines at its center, and would undoubtedly attract a large audience on-screen.

The Smythe Smith quartet by Julia Quinn

The best-selling author behind Bridgerton has another romance series we’re dying not to read, but to see.

The Smythe-Smith quartet follows four cousins who are notorious for their awful annual musical. Whilst their musical talents may be questionable, their love stories are certainly worth our attention, with each book delivering a witty and wonderful tale centered around one of the cousins.

The Ravenels by Lisa Kleypas

The Ravenels follow the wealthy, aristocratic family of the same name. Set in Victorian England, Kleypas has been praised for vivid descriptions and historical accuracy in the books, with each following different romances, starting with the wickedly charming Devon Ravendal, who inherits his family’s crumbling estate.

The other stories include accidental engagements, clashes of class, spies, and more, all whilst entertaining with The Wallflower series, making an exciting adaptation worthy of an all-night binge.