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21 Charming Romantic Movies Based On Books
If you’re a sucker for romantic movies based on books, you are in a for a treat!
I love romance books, but there are times when I wish you see these books as movies.
Why? I don’t really know really. May be just the idea of your favorite characters coming to life. It’s a fascinating and rewarding experience as a reader.
And also as a way to enjoy the story even more.
So if you’re ready, there are romance books turned into movies recommendation are here for you.
From Leonardo DiCaprio starring “The Great Gatsby” to Timothée Chalamet starring “ Call Me by Your Name” you are going to love this list.
My Favorite Romance Movies Adapted From Books
Call Me by Your Name
Call me by Your Name is a coming of age story of an unforeseen romance between a teenage boy named Elio and a summer guest of his parents’ cliff-side mansion Italian Riviera.
The movie adaptation was released in 2017 starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet.
What I love about Call Me by Your Name movie – Honestly, it’s the filmmaking. The cinematography, the music, everything is just beyond perfect. The book is setthe Italian Riviera, but the movie was filmed in Lombardy. And the casting is top-notch. Timothée is just sweet, and young as Elio. Armie is just handsome and mature as Oliver. Also I absolutely love the soundtrack, Mystery of Love
Me Before You
Jojo Meyers’ heartbreakingly romantic novel tells the story of Louisa Clark, a young woman who takes up a job as a caretaker for Will Traynor, a wealthy young man who was recently paralyzed in an accident.
The unconventional and quirky Lou didn’t really have a good start with sulky and bossy Will. As Lou starts to spend more time together with him, they both learn about each other’s lives.
The movie adaptation of Me before you was released on June 3, 2016. It stars Emilia Clarke as Louisa Clark and Sam Claflin as Will Traynor.
What I love about Me Before You Movie: What’s really amazing about the movie? It’s the cast, especially Emilia Clarke. She just nails the role of Lou with her quirky smiles and expressions. .There is this one scene where Will gifts Lou bumblebee tights in fact she calls them- the best pair of tights. I absolutely love it that scene.
Sense and Sensibility
Jane Austen’s classic novel is set in 19th century English middle class, and follows the impoverished Dashwood family.
Sense and Sensibility is a 1995 period drama film directed by Ang Lee and stars Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson, who is also the screenplay writer of the film.
What I love about Sense and Sensibility : It’s definitely the brilliant performances. The cast outstanding cast including Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman bring these characters to life in a way that makes you truly enjoy the story. I remember when I watched it, my husband was so surprised to ‘professor Snape’ in a period movie. Of course, Sense and Sensibility was one of Rickman’s earliest performances. he’s always going to be ‘Snape’ for us.
Best Romantic Movies Based On Books
Rebecca
The 2020 Netflix film starring Lily James, Armie Hammer, and Kristin Scott Thomas is based on Daphne du Maurier’s timeless gothic novel, Rebecca.
This recent Netflix remake is worth watching if you’re looking for a wonderful romantic movies based on books.
When an unnamed young woman becomes friends with a wealthy widower, they both fall in love and get married. Once she moves to his mansion in England, the girl discovers that both her husband and his household are haunted by his first wife, Rebecca.
The novel was adapted into a movie in 1940 as well, which had won an Academy Award for the best picture.
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians is a glorious movie of ultra rich families in Singapore, based on Kevin Kwan’s book of the same name.
It follows Economics professor Rachel Chu who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend (Nick) to attend his best friend’s wedding.
While she envisions meeting her boyfriend’s family to be humble and welcoming, it turns out that they are nothing like she had imagined.
Crazy Rich Asians cast includes Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, and Awkwafina.
The Notebook
The 2004 romantic drama film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is definitely one of the best romance movies based on books.
This box office hit is in fact based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel with the same name. The book was released in 1996 and was Spark’s first novel. The story begins with Noah Calhoun, who has just returned from World WarII and currently busy with rebuilding a plantation.
Fault in Our Stars
Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who is forced to attend a support group.
There she falls in love with Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player with bone cancer. When they learn about each other’s hobbies, they agree to read each other’s favourite novels.
The movie adaptation of the novel stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort as Hazel and Augustus.
The Great Gatsby
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire starring in this 2013 movie was actually based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American literary classic novel of the same name.
The novel narrates the tale of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire and his obsession to reunite with his lover. The story begins with the arrival of Nick Carraway, an aspiring writer who comes to New York city in search of a better life.
The Great Gatsby is one of the shortest classic romance novels you will ever read, and if you are looking for more short classics, check this list -> 32 Easy Short Classics You Can Actually Read in One Sitting
Safe Haven
Safe Haven is a really good romance movie based Nicholas Spark’s novel. It’s about this young woman, Katie Feldman, who moves to a small town in North Carolina. Everyone there seems to like her, especially this widower and the owner of the local general store, Alex.
But here’s the twist: a mysterious man shows up in town, and it turns out that he’s a threat to Katie’s life. It’s revealed that she ran away from him in the first place, which adds a lot of suspense to the story.
The movie was released in 2013 and stars Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, and Cobie Smulders.
Little Women
Little Women is a well-known American novel written in 1868 by Louisa May Alcott.
It follows March sisters : Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March from childhood to womanhood and all of the trials and tribulations they face along the way.
The seventh movie adaptation of Little Women was released in 2019 with an ensemble cast that includes Saoirse Ronan,Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep.
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic film. It was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming.
The story is set in the American state of Georgia, in the backdrop of the American Civil War and focuses on Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled daughter of a Georgia plantation owner.
P.s. I Love You
P.S. I Love You is a novel by Cecelia Ahern’s 2004 novel that tells the story of Holly and Gerry, a young couple who live in Dublin.
When Gerry suddenly dies leaving Holly to cope with her grief, she realises how much he meant to her. Shortly after, Holly starts receiving letters each month.
The movie was released in 2017, but the story was set in America. Movie stars are Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler as Holly and Gerry.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte’s timeless gothic novel, Jane Eyre was published in 1847 and tells the story of an orphaned girl, Jane Eyre who tries to find her way in the world.
This classic romance movie was released in 2011. It stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender in main roles.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
This is the story of Lara Jean and her secret crushes.
She has never admitted any of her secret infatuations to anyone. However, instead she wrote a letter to each of her crushes about her feelings.
The movie, based on the novel of the same name, was released by Netflix in 2018. The sequels were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a charming teen romantic comedy movie based on the book.
Love, Simon
The 2018 American comedy drama is based on Becky Albertalli’s debut novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
The coming-of-age novel explores the life of sixteen-year-old Simon, a closeted gay. He lives a normal life and has never discussed his sexuality with anyone.
The 20th Century Fox production, Love, Simon was a commercial success and premiered on Hulu in 2020.
The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence centres around the lives of eminent upper class families in New York.
We meet Newland Archer, a lawyer by profession and engaged to the beautiful May Welland. While Archer is fond of his bride-to-be, he begins to doubt his true feelings when Countess Ellen Olenska arrives.
The film adaptation of The Age of Innocence was released in 1993, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder in the main roles.
Atonement
Atonement focuses on the consequences of a crime and its recursion decades later.
Everything starts in the summer of 1935 when Briony Tallis notices the flirtation between her sister, Cecilia and the house keeper’s son, Robbie. When an argument takes place between both of them near a fountain, Cecilia climbs into the basin to save a piece of crockery.
The movie based on the novel was released in 2007 and won the Academy award for the best original score. It stars James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Saoirse Ronan in the main roles.
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride is a classic story of love, revenge, and betrayal with an inconceivable backdrop of sword fights, giants, true love and miracles.
This is a must watch among fantasy romance movies based on books.
This classic fairy tale was adapted into the big screen in 1987 starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin in the main roles.
The Time Traveller’s Wife
American author Audrey Niffenegger’s debut novel The Time Traveller’s Wife is an unconventional love story that follows librarian Henry De and his troublesome disorder.
Henry suffers from a rare genetic disorder called- Chrono-Displacement Disorder which causes him to slip in and out of time. It started at the age of five and continued to happen.
The story depicts how time travel affects their passionate relationship.
The movie adaptation stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams as Henry and Claire.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Frances Mayes’ memoir Under the Tuscan Sun takes us to her life in Tuscany. When she bought an abandoned villa in the Tuscan town of Cortona, she had no idea about the consequences.
While the book is a memoir, the movie however is a romantic- comedy starring Diane Lane as Frances Mayes, a young woman who travels to Italy to find a new life.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Mary Ann Shaffer’s historical novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was adapted to film in 2018 starring Lily James as Juliet Ashton, a young writer who embarks on an adventurous journey to the German occupied island in search of a new subject for her book.
We learn about the story through a series of correspondence, exchanged between Juliet and the people of Guernsey.
The islanders request Juliet to provide them more books as literary society brings peace and joy amidst the horrible German occupation.
Soon Juliet decides to travel to the Island and to meet the people of the society. You’ll love this romantic movie based on book on netflix
Conclusion:
There you have the list of 21 The best romance movies based on books
Here are my top three romance movies based on books
- Call Me by Your Name
- Me Before You
- Sense and Sensibility
More romance books to read
Thank you, Adi!
Hello, Stephy! Nice blog .