Listen Before You Watch: Page-to-Screen Adaptations for Fall/Winter 2022

If you’re looking to prepare for the richly anticipated Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, you’ll want to get listening to the appendices of the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as both The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. The series, which debuts on September 2, is set in Tolkien’s Second Age—that’s thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. Catch up on the deeper lore and history of Middle-earth with these essential audiobooks detailing everything from the creation of the Rings of Power to the downfall of Númenor.

Teenager Jules comes home one day to find another 15-year-old girl in her house—Mae is one of her psychiatrist mother’s patients, and she'll be staying with the family for a few days. But when Mae starts to wear Jules's clothes, sleep in Jules's bedroom, and adopt Jules’s life, it’s clear that something isn’t right. Turns out, Mae is the survivor of a strange cult that will stop at nothing to get her back. Starring Emily Deschanel of Bones fame, the Netflix adaptation of Devil in Ohio debuts on September 2, and is sure to appeal to fans of haunting thrillers with a twist of humor and teen angst.

Romance and drama fans, get ready to be swept away by After Ever Happy, based on the fourth book in Anna Todd's fanfiction sensation, After. Releasing on September 7 from Voltage Pictures, the movie stars Josephine Langford as Tessa and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (nephew to famous Fiennes brothers Ralph and Joseph) as Hardin. As fans know, Tessa and Hardin have already been through so much together—but will their love survive when dark family secrets come to light? The audiobooks are narrated by Elizabeth Louise and Shane East, who lend a beautiful humanity to the lead characters of the series that racked up more than one billion views on WattPad.

If you’ve been on the edge of your seat since the cliffhanger ending of season four of The Handmaid’s Tale, the wait is finally over. The fifth season of The Handmaid’s Tale is set to premiere on September 14 on Hulu, with new episodes being released each subsequent Wednesday. While some of the material of the fifth season is original in nature, the essence of the story, including the incredibly vivid world-building, remains rooted in the work of Margaret Atwood’s bestselling novel of the same name. The audiobook, expertly narrated by a full cast led by critically acclaimed actor Claire Danes, is a listener favorite not to be missed.

I devoured Richelle Mead's series of fantasy novels when it was published, breaking my own rule about never starting a series that hasn’t been completed. (Thanks for the emotional scars, GRRM.) It’s just that good. Lissa and Rose are a Vampire and her Dhampir, a half-breed who helps protect each vampire. After fleeing from St. Vladimir’s Academy, they have finally been caught and dumped back at the very place where they are in the most danger. The audiobooks are excellent for road trips or late summer beach listening. The show premieres on Peacock on September 15, starring Daniela Nieves as Lissa and Jennifer Kirby as Rose (who has been renamed Alberta for the TV version).

Sure to be a terrifying hit perfect for the spooky season, Dark Harvest, releasing on September 22, is the tale of the October Boy—a specter who rises every Halloween from the cornfields outside a small Midwestern town, butcher knife in hand, to face the eager teenage boys prepared to take him down. But our hero, portrayed in the film by Casey Likes, is about to learn who the October Boy truly is—and what brings him to town every year. The audiobook is narrated by Vikas Adams, who lends an especially haunting air. It’s like listening to a scary story around the campfire, minus the smoke in your eyes.

Angie Thomas, author of the bestselling novel-turned-motion picture The Hate U Give, returns to the big screen with another adaptation sure to be met with similar acclaim. Based on her 2019 novel of the same name, On the Come Up follows 16-year-old Bri as she chases her dream of becoming a legendary rapper despite having lost her father to gang violence. Thomas confronts systematic racism and classism head on while masterfully crafting an engaging, important story, and the audiobook is narrated by Hall of Fame narrator Bahni Turpin. Directed by Sanaa Lathan of Succession fame and starring newcomer Jamila C. Gray as Bri, this highly anticipated film adaptation will be available for streaming via Paramount+ on Friday, September 23.

Lena Dunham's newest film—which she considers as part of a trilogy that started with her breakout film, Tiny Furniture—is an adaptation of Karen Cushman’s 1994 Newbery Medal-winning children’s novel. Birdy is the story of a rebellious 14-year-old in medieval England (played in the film by Game of Thrones's Bella Ramsey) whose father (played by Andrew Scott) wants to marry her off to keep their family from slipping into poverty. Performed by actor Kate Maberly, the audiobook is a richly entertaining story with an utterly unforgettable heroine.

Published to widespread acclaim in 1999, Blonde was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2000. Since then, Joyce Carol Oates's fictional biography of Marilyn Monroe has embedded itself into dialogues and beliefs about the beloved screen icon, her elusive magic, her troubled life, and her tragic death. Blonde has been adapted for film twice since its publication, but the newest iteration comes out on Netflix on September 28, starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn. The audiobook is narrated expertly by Jayne Atkinson in, to quote Publishers Weekly, an intense, slightly husky voice that immediately grabs and holds the listener's attention.

No one does nostalgic horror like Grady Hendrix, and his 1980s-flavored supernatural thriller My Best Friend’s Exorcism is no exception. Narrated by Audie winner Emily Woo Zeller, this twisted coming-of-age gem follows longtime best pals Abby and Gretchen as their friendship is tested by an unexpected quandary: demonic possession. When Gretchen returns from a night of teen antics inexplicably irritable, Abby finds that alongside the popularity race and everyday stressors of high school, she just might need to take on the devil himself. Fans of this heartfelt horror comedy will be delighted to know it’s set to hit streaming just in time for spooky season. Starring Eighth Grade’s Elsie Fisher, the Prime Video adaptation arrives on September 30.

Get ready to run amuck, amuck, amuck with Disney’s long-awaited sequel to a Halloween favorite family comedy, first released back in 1993. Long adored by millennials, Hocus Pocus follows the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches as dastardly as they are prone to mishap, as they wreak havoc on the town of Salem, Massachusetts. While you prep for Hocus Pocus 2, revisit the magic in this official novelization of the original film that also ushers in the new era with an exclusive follow-up story. Form a calming circle and queue up this listen as you count down the days—the film is set to hit Disney+ on September 30.

As entertaining as it is charming, heartfelt as it is hilarious, John “Chick” Donohue’s stranger-than-fiction memoir recounts a bizarre mission he undertook in the late 1960s. Inspired by the musings of a fellow patron in a New York City bar, Donohue embarked on a journey to deliver beer and well-wishes to his war-weary friends on the frontlines of the Vietnam War. Setting out on a cargo ship, he braved a series of madcap hijinks and terrifying close calls all to bring his friends a bit of much-needed support. The AppleTV+ adaptation, which is set to release on September 30, features an appropriately endearing cast led by Zac Efron, Russell Crowe, and American icon Bill Murray.

If your only knowledge of Interview with the Vampire is from the atmospheric 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, you are in for a treat, my friend—there’s a lot more to Anne Rice's vampiric vision. The original series started with a quadrology of books, then somewhere around Memnoch the Devil, it began morphing into a tangled web of stories. But this is the big one, the one that started it all, and if you haven’t listened to it, get ready to fall under the spell of Simon Vance’s excellent narration. Though the show’s plot is still largely under wraps, it’s slated to debut on AMC on October 2, starring Sam Reid as Lestat and Jacob Anderson as Louis.

Confession—I was terrified to read Christopher Pike’s books as a kid, and to be honest, I still am. But this one’s just so good that I may have to face my fears. In The Midnight Club, five terminally ill children at Rotterdam Home—a hospice for young people who are not long for this world—start gathering at midnight to tell scary stories. Then their stories start coming true. If you like scary stories, The Midnight Club drops in audio on September 20. In the meantime, you can catch up on Pike’s Spooksville series and other audiobooks before the show drops on Netflix on October 7.

Releasing October 7, the film adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin's bestselling novel stars Kunal Nayyar as the irascible A. J. Fikry, a bookstore owner who has lost his wife and is struggling emotionally and financially. When his most prized possession, a rare book, is stolen from right under his nose, it seems the store itself will be next to go. Read by Hall of Fame narrator Scott Brick, this delightful audiobook is a heartwarming listen for any bibliophile.

Welcome back to the world of R.J. Palacio’s smash-hit, Wonder. In White Bird, we learn about Grandmère Sara's childhood during World War II—how she was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village, and how the boy she and her classmates ignored became her best friend and savior. The movie adaptation, releasing on October 14, stars Hollywood grand dames Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren, while the audiobook is narrated by a full cast of talents.

The School for Good and Evil series has been captivating fans since 2013, with good reason. Sophie, who loves glass slippers and sunshine, and Agatha, who prefers shapeless frocks and the company of her black cat, are convinced they’ve been swapped when they’re placed in the opposite sides of the School from what they expected. But what is Good, and what is Evil? I’ll be listening to this series while I anxiously await the Netflix movie, complete with Michelle Yeoh, Charlize Theron, Laurence Fishburne, and Kerry Washington as professors, releasing on October 21—just in time for Halloween.

This romance-turned-familial-love-story is bound to have you laughing, crying, and piling up your plate with pasta. The heartwarming (and at times, heart-wrenching) tale follows the life of actress Tembi Locke and the professional chef, Saro, she falls in love with while visiting Sicily. The pair quickly build a life together in LA despite Saro’s familial objections, but when tragedy strikes in the form of a cancer diagnosis, Tembi finally finds comfort and home within the very family that had once rejected her. Starring acclaimed actress Zoe Saldana, the fictionalized version of Locke’s poignant memoir will be available for viewing on Netflix starting October 21.

Enola Holmes, younger sister of the renowned Sherlock, made her film debut on Netflix in 2020. But with a series of novels about her escapades from Edgar Award-winning author Nancy Springer, she's back on case. As clever as her brother, Enola has a feminine intuition that may just put her over the edge in terms of intellect. The second movie, slated for November 4, 2022, again stars Stranger Things icon Millie Bobby Brown as the titular detective, with leading man Henry Cavill reprising his perfectly performed role as her big brother.

My Policeman is an imagining of the relationship novelist E.M. Forster had with a local policeman and his wife in mid-century England, where homosexuality was illegal. Marion meets Tom and falls in love—but then Patrick does the same. Marion and Tom get married while Tom and Patrick meet in secret. Stunning and devastating, this tale of identity, love, and heartbreak is as bittersweet as it is beautifully told. The casting announcement for the film adaptation made waves, as the policeman in question is played by global superstar Harry Styles. It’s set to release on November 4, 2022.

After seeing Marvel's Black Panther, fans have been eagerly awaiting the sequel. Yet in the wake of the shock and devastation of star Chadwick Boseman's death in 2020, after a long battle with cancer, there has been doubt as to what should happen in the next film. While that still remains largely a mystery, the trailer, which dropped in July, showed tremendous promise. The movie itself is expected in theaters on November 11, and while it isn’t directly based on a given book, Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda is a collection of short stories about our favorite African kingdom to tide you over until then.

One of the biggest Hollywood scandals of the past decade was the arrest of major movie producer Harvey Weinstein and his subsequent conviction as a criminal sex offender. But what you may not know is the story behind that story. In 2017, journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published an article exposing Weinstein’s offenses in The New York Times, and in what felt like an instant, everything changed. She Said is the story of what happened before and after the publication of their exposé. The audiobook is expertly narrated by Kantor and Twohey themselves along with Rebecca Lowman, and the film version, directed by Maria Schrader and co-produced by Brad Pitt, stars Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan, respectively. Expect She Said to hit theaters on November 18.

Shaping up to be the biggest book-to-screen hit about cannibals since The Silence of the Lambs, the hotly anticipated film of Camille DeAngelis’ chilling novel stars Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell in an adaptation by director Luca Guadagnino. A tender, coming-of-age love story except with, you know, a lot more guts and gore, the film promises to deliver on its predecessor's unusual mixture of heart and horror (Audible listener Killian calls it "simultaneously beautiful and nauseating"). One thing we can bet on, this once-obscure gem of a horror story is about to be the main dish for cinephiles when it releases November 23.

Matilda Wormwood is a sweet and exceptionally bright child with phenomenally dim witted, mean, and crooked parents. When she can finally go to school, she thinks things will be different, but the hateful Miss Trunchbull is cut from the same cruel cloth. Never fear—Matilda's a very special little girl. Like many of Roald Dahl’s books, Matilda has been turned into a movie more than once. The newest version is an adaptation of the hit stage musical, and it stars the impeccable Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and the stunning Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey. Perfect for the holiday season, it drops on Netflix on December 16, 2022.

Available now in audio for the first time, Melissa Hill’s bestselling holiday romance Something from Tiffany’s follows a widower named Ethan who is about to propose to his longtime girlfriend and take the next step in their relationship. But when he purchases an engagement ring from Tiffany’s, it gets mixed up with earrings purchased by Gary for his girlfriend, Rachel. When Ethan meets up to exchange the jewelry with Rachel, they feel a spark and begin to question their relationships. Do Ethan and Rachel live happily ever after together? Listen now to find out, and see the movie on Prime Video December 9.

In the Irish Highlands, 1862, an 11-year-old girl stops eating but remains in perfect health, believing herself to be subsisting on manna from heaven. Lib Wright, a veteran of Florence Nightingale's Crimean campaign, is hired to take care of Anna while tourists flock to her door. What follows is a story only Emma Donoghue could write about the transformative power of relationships and love pitted against evil. Donoghue's work shines in audio as she is a master of tension and narrative cadence, and The Wonder, narrated by Kate Lock, is no exception. Currently in post-production, the movie is expected to release in late 2022.

The screen adaptation of "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" from Stephen King’s collection If It Bleeds is currently in post production and expected by the end of 2022. As I haven’t indulged in Mr. King's work since I read Cujo at age 13 and shuttered through the night convinced that a rabid St. Bernard was beneath my bed, I’m quite acquainted with just how skilled the master of horror is—and his short stories are no exception. King has a knack for bringing the macabre to vivid, fully-realized life, and with award-winner Donald Sutherland on board for the film adaptation, this is sure to be a major hit.

Frannie Langton, a servant and former slave, stands accused of murdering her employer and his wife in London. And while the populace and media eagerly condemn her, she cannot remember the events of the evening or why she was covered in their blood—even if it’s the only information capable of saving her. This incredible debut by Sara Collins is read by the author and Roy McMillan in audio. The four-part drama series, starring Karla-Simone Spence as Frannie, wrapped filming in August 2021 and is expected to air on ITV in late 2022.

William Gibson's Jackpot Trilogy is his first work since 2010's Zero History, and it's a doozy. Flynne's brother asks her to take over what seems to be an easy job— beta-testing part of a new game. She is supposed to monitor the perimeter of a building and keep the bug-like things away. But in reality, it's way more than that. In fact, it could be murder. The show, based on the first book in the series, stars Chloë Grace Moretz and is slated to be released on Prime Video in 2022. But you can get ahead of the action by listening to the entire trilogy, expertly narrated by Lorelei King—one of my all-time favorite narrators.

First published in 1929, All Quiet on the Western Front is widely regarded as the definitive novel about the futility of war. It follows a group of young, and initially idealistic, German soldiers as they endure and grapple with the events of World War I. While All Quiet has several audiobook versions available, Frank Muller’s highly rated, emotionally nuanced performance is worth special praise. Matter-of-fact but never without heart, Muller elevates this classic to new heights. Erich Maria Remarque's novel was first adapted for the screen in 1930, winning the Oscar for Best Picture. The latest screen incarnation, starring Daniel Brühl and featuring both English and German language dialogue, is slated for release on Netflix later this year.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series has been wildly popular for multiple decades. And when brought to the small screen by Prime Video with a cast including John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce, the Jack Ryan show is just as entertaining as the books. The show is based on Clancy’s characters but doesn’t directly adapt his storylines. Nevertheless, since 2022’s season three doesn’t yet have an officially announced air date, you’ve got plenty of time to get caught up on the audiobooks while you wait. Oh, and the novels are narrated by talented performers, including actor Lou Diamond Phillips and Hall of Fame narrator Scott Brick.

The 1970s are back, baby. Daisy Jones and The Six are headed for stardom, fueled by a steady diet of good ol’ fashioned sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. The groovy show is heading to your television screens this fall via Prime Video, starring Riley Keough—the granddaughter of one Elvis Presley—as the dazzling, complicated Daisy. While you’re waiting for Keough to bless your screen, be sure to check out this exceptional audiobook. Narrated by a star-studded cast including Jennifer Beals and Benjamin Bratt and written by fan-favorite bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & The Six has all the buzz of a sold-out show.

If you love a good thriller with a twisty ending, definitely check out Luckiest Girl Alive. Ani FaNelli seems to have a perfect life, but it’s all a lie to cover up events from long ago. As her wedding day approaches, she is contacted by a documentarian looking into chilling events at the Bradley School, where she spent her teen years. Ani's idyllic life soon hangs in the balance. Produced by and starring Mila Kunis as Ani, with a cast including Connie Britton, Finn Wittrock, and Jennifer Beals, the movie adaptation is in post-production with Netflix and expected out later this year.

In the 1920s, oil was discovered under land belonging to the Osage tribe. They were the richest people per capita in the world. But then they started dying under deeply suspicious circumstances. It wasn’t until the death toll climbed to 24 that the newly-formed FBI stepped in and teamed up with Tom White and the bureau’s first American Indian agent to uncover an awful conspiracy. Written by David Grann, the author of The Lost City of Z, and narrated by Will Patton, Anne Marie Lee, and Danny Campbell, this tragic true crime saga is one for the ages. We’ll have to hold out just a bit longer for the film version, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Fraser, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone, as it was just pushed out to early 2023. We’ll be patient though—this Scorcese-directed gem is going to be well worth the wait.