5 Romance Books You Need To Read Before Their TV Adaptations Premiere

Some of the most beloved romance TV shows right now have been adapted from romance books, from Bridgerton, to Heated Rivalry, to Off Campus. Great romance books, especially when they’re part of an ongoing series, are the perfect foundation for television shows. They have complex and nuanced characters, unique settings that readers can get lost in, and well-developed main romances that fans can easily root for. As such, when these books become TV shows, their worlds feel more live-in, and their characters feel especially real.

Romance fans have already proven that they’ll show up for adaptations of their favorite books, and there are a number of upcoming TV adaptations for fans to look forward to. From books being adapted for the first time into TV shows, to existing series getting the next book adapted, to previously adapted series getting a new TV adaptation, these are romance books to read before their upcoming adaptations.

‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1813)

Image via T. Egerton/Whitehall

Jane Austen‘s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice, has already been adapted a number of times, both in direct adaptations for television and film, as well as in modern movies inspired by the novel. It was previously adapted as a limited series in 1995 starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and now, it will be adapted once again as a series coming to Netflix this fall. The iconic novel tells the story of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, a young woman living in England in the late 18th century. Lizzie never wants to marry unless it’s for love, even as she’s being pressured for financial reasons.

Then, of course, Lizzie meets Fitzwilliam Darcy, a wealthy man who makes a terrible first impression on her. The two initially can’t stand each other, but they keep crossing paths, and they start to change their minds about each other along the way. Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and it will be exciting to see how the latest adaptation brings a new spin to the centuries-old story. The upcoming 2026 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice stars Emma Corrin as Lizzie and Jack Lowden as Darcy. It has yet to set an official release date, but Netflix released an official teaser for the series back in February.

‘Mile High’ (2023)

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Mile High by Liz Tomforde is the first book in Tomforde’s massively popular Windy City series, and hockey romance fans should read the book before its upcoming television adaptation. Mile High follows the romance between notorious and widely-hated NHL player Evan Zanders and Stevie Shay, the new flight attendant for his team’s private plane. Stevie is wary of Zanders, based on both his reputation and his attitude, and he is no fonder of her.

Still, Zanders and Stevie start to get to know each other through frequent shared flights, and they slowly start to change their minds about each other. As announced by Deadline back in May, Amazon MGM Studios is developing the Windy City series, with Tomforde set to executive produce the show. Prime Video has previously had a great deal of success with romance series, including The Summer I Turned Pretty, Off Campus, and Every Year After. As such, Windy City is set to be the streamer’s next big hit, and romance fans should catch up on the books before the series’ eventual release.

‘Cleat Cute’ (2023)

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Deadline also announced this past spring that Amazon MGM studios is developing Meryl Wilsner‘s sapphic soccer romance, Cleat Cute, into a TV series called Playing the Field. Cleat Cute tells the love story of two teammates who play for the U.S. Women’s National team: veteran Grace Henderson, and the up-and-coming Phoebe Matthews. Grace has been the team’s star player for a decade, but when she’s injured, Phoebe takes over her spot in her place.

Ahead of the World Cup, Grace and Phoebe start to develop feelings for each other, knowing that only one of them will ultimately be able to play in their position. Playing the Field will still focus primarily on Grace and Phoebe’s romance, but some changes have already been made ahead of the upcoming series. It is going to be an ensemble comedy centered on four teammates – including Grace and Phoebe, of course – who all play for New Orleans’ women’s soccer team, the fictional Crescent City.

‘Shatter Me’ (2011)

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Shatter Me is the first book in Tahereh Mafi‘s dystopian young adult series of the same name, and Variety announced back in June that Warner Bros. will be adapting the series as a television show. Shatter Me follows Juliette Ferrars, a teenage girl who’s been imprisoned in isolation for almost a year. Juliette never meant to hurt anyone, but her skin is lethal to anyone she touches. The outside world is ruled by a harsh regime called The Reestablishment, the ones responsible for punishing Juliette.

Everything changes for Juliette when she gets a cellmate: a former childhood classmate, Adam, who was always kind to her. Soon, Juliette and Adam are brought out of their cell. The Reestablishment, as led by the cruel and ambitious Aaron Warner, is interested in using her as a weapon. Despite all that is being offered to her, though, Juliette is against everything that The Reestablishment stands for. Shatter Me is a fast-paced and gripping dystopian series with a phenomenal central love triangle that spans multiple books. Romance fans will enjoy the high stakes of the setting, and how it plays a role in Juliette’s very complicated romantic feelings for her two respective love interests. For those who enjoy a great love triangle, Shatter Me is the perfect next read. Both love interests are well-written and complex, and there are valid reasons to root for each of these romances.

‘The Long Game’ (2022)

Image via Carina Press

Heated Rivalry exploded after its premiere last fall, and fans are champing at the bit for the hit hockey romance show’s next season. The series follows the years-long secret romance between rival NHL players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). The first season of the show followed the events of Heated Rivalry, the first book about Shane and Ilya, and the second novel in Rachel Reid‘s Game Changers series. Season 2 is set to follow the events of The Long Game, the second book about Shane and Ilya, and the sixth book overall in the Game Changers series. Whereas Heated Rivalry is about the journey towards Shane and Ilya ultimately getting together and professing their love for each other, The Long Game is about what comes next.

The Long Game picks up a few years after the end of Heated Rivalry. Shane and Ilya are in a serious and deeply committed relationship, but they still have to keep it a secret from most of the rest of the world, even after Scott Hunter changed things for LGBTQ+ athletes in the NHL forever. After all, Shane and Ilya are still regularly and publicly competing against each other, even though Ilya now plays for the Ottawa Centaurs – and the two have a public friendship as co-founders of the Irina Foundation. The Long Game explores Shane and Ilya’s struggle to balance the growing seriousness of their relationship with their love for their careers. It also gives attention to both their mental health, as well as the toll that the secrecy takes on them and their relationships. Production is slated to start on Heated Rivalry soon, so for fans of the show who haven’t yet read The Long Game, now is the perfect time to catch up on the book.

Heated Rivalry

Release Date

November 28, 2025

Network

Crave

Cast

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  Connor Storrie

  Ilya Rozanov

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  Hudson Williams

  Shane Hollander