May I Do Nothing but Read?
Book to Screen News - May 2025
Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and I am so thankful! Here in the Chicagoland area, we’re still experiencing some up and down weather as per usual (rainy and cold one day, then 80 degrees and sunny the next) but I can smell it in the air, and feel it with my allergy congestion, that Spring/Summer is upon us! So start planning your beach reads, sign-up for your library’s Summer reading challenge, and go for as many walks outside as you can while listening to a new audiobook to keep you company!
Now, let’s get down to this month’s Newsletter business:
May Watch List:
Forever, Judy Blume’s 1975 novel, which explores the idea of whether your first love is forever, is being adapted into a series for the small screen – the adaptation stars Lovie Simone as Keisha Clarke and Michael Cooper, Jr. as Justin Edwards and Regina King is an Executive Producer and Director of the first episode of the series – stream it on Netflix beginning May 8th, 2025
The Murderbot Diaries book series by Martha Wells is a science fiction story about an emotionally stunted security android who wishes to do nothing but waste his time watching futuristic soap operas, but instead is forced to complete a dangerous assignment – the series is being adapted for Apple TV+ and Alexander Skarsgård is both the star and executive producer – the series premieres with two episodes on May 16, 2025 and then one episode a week will drop every Friday afterward until July 11th
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life while not a direct adaptation does pay homage to one of the literary world’s both most famous and favorite authors *drum roll please* Jane Austen – the movie follows Agathe, a Jane Austen super fan who works in a bookstore and who’s perpetual singledom inspires her to start writing her own novel, which her best friend Félix sends over to a writer’s residency at Jane Austen’s former home behind Agathe’s back and surprise, surprise Agathe get chosen to take part in the residency where the real fun begins – the movie stars Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, and Charlie Anson – check it out in theatres beginning May 16, 2025 (limited release) with a wide release expected by May 30, 2025
The Better Sister by Alafair Burke centers on estranged sisters Chloe and Nicky who come together to deal with the murder of Chloe’s husband Adam – the book has been adapted into a series starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks – stream it on Amazon Prime starting May 29th, 2025
April Highlights:
By far the best decision I made in April was to go see the re-release of the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice! I actually went on Easter evening with my sister, and we had an absolute blast! It was so magical seeing all the beautiful cinematography on the big screen, hearing the gorgeous movie score in surround sound, playing some fun movie related trivia, and taking pictures by the adorable Pride & Prejudice themed background that our local theatre had set up. It really reminded me of why I love going to the movies to enjoy something truly entertaining and artistic with other people who are just as excited as me 😊.
News:
The book “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart, which is being adapted in a show on Amazon Prime, is releasing an audiobook version read by one of the show’s stars Emily Alyn Lind who plays Cadance Sinclair! Check it out via your favorite audiobook provider on May 20, 2025!
Online Ceramics has teamed up with Penguin Books to create a line of merchandise that from now thru July 15, 2025 will donate 100% of its net proceeds to The American Library Association! Check out all of the items at the link below.
Geek Girl, based on the YA novel series by Holly Smale, premiered in 2024 and was one of my absolute favorite shows of last year! After if premiered though, I sadly didn’t see it get much coverage online despite it appearing on Netflix’s Global Top Ten List for four weeks. I had therefore all but given up on the show getting a second season but lo and behold it was just announced that the second season will begin filming this Summer and will premiere on Netflix sometime in 2026! Let this be a lesson to never give up!
Just For Fun:
Grab yourself some butterbeer and get ready to celebrate International Harry Potter Day on May 2nd to commemorate the Battle of Hogwarts!
Before the final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty comes out in July, be sure to grab the Deluxe Box Set of the books which releases on May 6, 2025!
The Summer I Turned Pretty Deluxe Box Set
If you are a fan of Elena Ferrante’s “Neapolitan Novels” then do I have some exciting news for you! All four books in the series will be published as one beautiful special-edition volume coming to shelves October 7, 2025!