Skip To Content
  • Viral badge
  • Yaaass badge

19 Books To Read Before The Movie Comes Out In 2016

2016 is going to be an exciting year for books and movies! In order of movie release date.

1. 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi, Mitchell Zuckoff

What it's about: This is the true account of six soldiers and what they braved during 13 hours when the U.S. State Department Special Mission Compound and a CIA station were attacked by terrorists in Benghazi. John Krasinski stars in what will probably be an intense cinematic experience, and just as riveting and eye-opening as the novel it's based on.

Amazon review: 4.8/5 stars

Release date: Jan. 15 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: John Krasinski, David Giuntoli, Pablo Schreiber

2. The 5th Wave, Rick Yancey

What it’s about: In this science fiction novel, 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan is one of the few people left alive on Earth. The planet was invaded by aliens, known as the Others, who attacked the world in waves (electrical outage, coastal destruction, disease, and massacre). Now facing the 5th wave, she must protect herself, trust no one, and try to save her little brother before it's too late. Chloë Grace Moretz stars in what is bound to be a thrilling adaptation!

Amazon review: 4.3/5 stars

Release date: Jan. 22 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Liev Schreiber, Alex Roe, Nick Robinson

3. The Finest Hours, Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman

What it's about: This tells the true story of the Pendleton rescue mission, where two ships broke in half at sea during one of the most brutal winters New England has ever seen. Chris Pine is at the helm in this dramatic thriller.

Amazon review: 4.8/5 stars

Release date: Jan. 29 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Eric Bana

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

What it's about: An extension of the classic Jane Austen novel, the story begins when a mysterious plague hits Meryton, where the dead are returning to life. Elizabeth Bennet is ready to wipe out the zombies, but becomes distracted by Mr. Darcy. The novel is filled with romance, heartbreak, comedic relief, and of course, zombies. Basically this movie looks batshit crazy.

Amazon review: 3.4/5 stars

Release date: Feb. 5 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Lily James, Lena Headey, Charles Dance, Matt Smith

5. The Choice, Nicholas Sparks

What it's about: Travis Parker is living his best life — hanging out with friends, playing water sports, traveling, and working a good job — but when Gabby Holland moves in next door, everything changes. Gabby herself is already in a relationship, but when she starts to have feelings for Travis, she must make a choice. This book is a typical Nicholas Sparks classic, and if you enjoy his previous work, there's a good chance this book turned movie is up your alley!

Amazon review: 4.4/5 stars

Release date: Feb. 5 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace, Benjamin Walker

6. How to Be Single, Liz Tuccillo

What it's about: From the co-author of He's Just Not That Into You, this story follows Julie, a single thirtysomething book publisher living in New York City. Julie is forced to plan a "single ladies" night after her friend is left by her husband, but Julie comes to realize that she is tired of the game and wants to find love. She quits her job and travels the world, finding romance and heartbreak, all while her friends back home are dealing with their own single struggles. The film adaptation has a pretty amazing female cast, and will likely make for a good comedy!

Amazon review: 3.6/5 stars

Release date: Feb. 12 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Rebel Wilson, Dakota Johnson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann

7. Allegiant, Veronica Roth

What it’s about: The third installment of the wildly successful Divergent trilogy, Allegiant continues the story of Tris Prior and what lies beyond the gates of the closed and controlled society she has always known. Following in the steps of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, this final book will be split into two films. The second half, dubbed Ascendant, will be released in 2017.

Amazon review: 3.4/5 stars

Release date: March 18 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts

8. The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling

What it’s about: An orphan boy named Mowgli is raised by a pack of wolves and befriends a bear named Baloo and a black panther named Bagheera. It’s a classic story and the talented cast of the film makes this a wildly anticipated live-action/CGI Disney release.

Amazon review: 4.8/5 stars

Release date: April 15 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Neel Sethi

9. Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll

What it's about: A sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself in a reversed world, which is accessed from the mirror above her mantel. She is immersed in a whimsical land of live chessmen and strange creatures, and eventually finds herself as the pawn in a game of chess with Humpty Dumpty and Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Johnny Depp reprises his role as Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska continues as the smart but odd Alice.

Amazon review: 4.2/5 stars

Release date: May 27 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska

10. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes

What it’s about: Will Traynor is a world traveler who loves extreme sports, but he becomes a moody and bossy man when he gets in an accident that makes him a quadriplegic. Louisa is an ordinary girl who loses her job in a tea shop, and so she gets a temporary position assisting Will. At first they nearly hate each other, but as time goes on, their friendship grows and they help each other in ways they didn't know possible. Games of Thrones star Emilia Clarke and Hunger Games actor Sam Claflin come together in this heartbreaking adaptation.

Amazon review: 4.6/5 stars

Release date: June 3 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Matthew Lewis

11. The BFG, Roald Dahl

What it's about: Taking place in London, The BFG tells the imaginative story of a young girl named Sophie and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The film is produced by Disney and directed by Steven Spielberg.

Amazon review: 4.7/5 stars

Release date: July 1 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, Ruby Barnhill, Rebecca Hall

12. Tarzan of the Apes, Edgar Rice Burroughs

What it's about: The classic tale of a man who is raised by apes after his parents die in the African jungle. True Blood alum Alexander Skarsgård stars as the ripped AF Tarzan in this highly anticipated book turned movie.

Amazon review: 4.3/5 stars

Release date: July 1 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie

13. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: And a Thousand Cocktails, Mike and Dave Stangle

What it's about: This is the story of how two bros used Craigslist to solicit dates for their cousin's wedding and how their outrageous, humor-filled ad went viral. The film stars a shirtless Zac Efron, Adam DeVine, Aubrey Plaza, and Pitch Perfect's Anna Kendrick.

Amazon review: 4.4/5 stars

Release date: July 8 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Adam DeVine

14. The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins

What it's about: Rachel, a recently divorced woman, takes the same train every day for her morning commute, and with it comes a routine of watching a perfect couple dine for breakfast on their deck. But one day, she witnesses something shocking, and reports it to the authorities, becoming entwined in the mystery that follows. Emily Blunt stars as the lead, and the film is already being compared to Gone Girl.

Amazon review: 4/5 stars

Release date: Oct. 7

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux

15. A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness

What it's about: A little after midnight, 13-year-old Connor finds a monster outside his bedroom. But it is not the monster he expected — he expected the monster from his nightmare, the one he has almost every night, which started once his mother began cancer treatments. The monster in his backyard is ancient, wild, and in search of something dangerous — the truth.

Amazon review: 4.7/5 stars

Release date: Oct. 14 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Lewis MacDougall

16. Inferno, Dan Brown

What it’s about: Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of symbolism, wakes up in an Italian hospital with no recollection of the past 36 hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings. When he is chased by an assassin, he and his doctor, Sienna Brooks, flee Florence and embark on a journey to unlock codes that are tied to a brilliant scientist obsessed with The Inferno. Tom Hanks returns to The DaVinci Code world in this epic thriller.

Amazon review: 4/5 stars

Release date: Oct. 14

Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Ben Foster

17. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Ben Fountain

What it's about: This dark satire tells follows the surviving members of the heroic Bravo Squad through one exhausting stop in their media-intensive "Victory Tour" at Texas Stadium. Set during the Iraq war, the novel explores the gaping national disconnect between the war abroad and the war at home. The film features a stellar cast and is set to hit theaters in November.

Amazon review: 4.1/5 stars

Release date: Nov. 11

Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin, Chris Tucker

18. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander/J.K. Rowling

What it’s about: One of Harry Potter's featured textbooks at Hogwarts, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is about the magical creatures in the Wizarding World. The movie, which is written by J.K. Rowling, is about the adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards 70 years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Amazon review: 4.4/5 stars

Release date: Nov. 18 (Click here to watch the trailer.)

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell

19. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs

What it’s about: Sixteen-year-old Jacob journeys to a remote island after a family tragedy and discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As he explores the hallways of the building, he realizes the children were more than just peculiar — they may have been dangerous, and possibly still alive. This film is set to hit theaters on Christmas 2016.

Amazon review: 4.3/5 stars

Release date: Dec. 25

Starring: Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench