8 Books That Need to Be Turned Into the Next Hit Rom-Com
Romantic comedies are back in a big way. You only need to look at the box-office smash that was Crazy Rich Asians or the instantaneous word-of-mouth success of Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before to know that audiences are hungry for feel-good love stories right now. Both of those films — along with other recent buzz-worthy rom-coms like Juliet, Naked — are based on books of the same name, which made us wonder what other untapped treasures are awaiting a big-screen adaptation. Here, we pick eight books that need to be turned into the next rom-com hit — stat. (Photo via Netflix)
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory: It sounds like comfort food for the rom-com-loving soul: When Drew and Alexa get stuck in an elevator together, neither knows just how much the chance meeting will change their lives. Alexa agrees to an impulsive invitation to be Drew's date to his ex-girlfriend's wedding, but it goes better than expected and the one-night date quickly blossoms into a long-distance relationship. (Photo via Penguin Random House)
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: Not unlike Crazy Rich Asians or To All the Boys I've Loved Before, The Kiss Quotient could bring more representation to the big screen. Based on author Helen Hoang's own experiences, it tells the story of Stella, a brilliant statistician who is also on the autism spectrum, and who hires a male escort to help her learn more about love and dating. Inevitably, some unexpected feelings develop between them. The Kiss Quotient made such a splash that it was actually optioned for film and TV shortly after its publication in June, so a movie may already be in the works. Keep your fingers crossed! (Photo via Penguin Random House)
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: Awkward teenage romance? Check! A realistic portrayal of dating in the digital age? Also check! Sam and Penny Lee meet under stressful circumstances and almost immediately take their relationship to texts, where it's much easier to be themselves. Relatable much? (Photo via Simon and Schuster)
Save the Date by Morgan Matson: Charlie's older sister is getting married, and the weekend will bring her and her siblings — and longtime crush Jesse — back to the family home for one last weekend. Things turn out to be more chaotic than hoped, but there are layers of longing and sweetness to this rom-com-tinged family story. Author Morgan Matson has said that Save the Date is an homage to her favorite movies of the '80s, so it sounds like it's already primed for a big-screen adaptation. (Photo via Simon and Schuster)
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West: What starts as a classic story about a girl with an unrequited crush on her best friend quickly becomes a journey of self-discovery, as 17-year-old Abby decides to take control of her fate by giving herself one month to do ten things, from falling in love to facing a fear. It has all the makings of an amazing — and empowering — teen rom-com. (Photo via HarperCollins Publishers)
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon: Dimple is an Indian-American teenager who longs to break free of some of her parents' traditional beliefs and practices. When she meets and falls for Rishi at a tech summer camp, she has no idea the whole thing is a set-up. Hopeless romantic Rishi, on the other hand, is fully in on the arrangement. Not unlike the groundbreakingCrazy Rich Asians, When Dimple Met Rishi could open opportunities for more representation in Hollywood — and be charming as heck in the process. (Photo via Simon and Schuster)
This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell: Not unlike To All the Boys I've Loved Before, This Could Change Everything hinges on the contents of a letter that was supposed to be private. Essie's life is turned upside down by the reveal — but she couldn't imagine it any other way. (Photo via Hachette Australia)
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo: When Clara's shenanigans land her a job working on her dad's food truck alongside uptight classmate Rose, it initially feels like a death sentence for her summer vacation. But she soon finds herself seeing Rose — and Hamlet, the boy who has a crush on her — in a new, life-changing light. (Photo via Macmillan Publishers)
