Five new Netflix book-to-screen adaptations to watch right now
If any Netflix original collection has elevated the subscriber viewing experience in 2026, it is undoubtedly the platform’s book-to-screen adaptations.
From illustrious period pieces and contemporary remakes adapted from literary classics to sweeping romantic comedies and heartfelt dramas inspired by modern bestselling novels, Netflix has addressed the diverse tapestry of iconic in-prints, producing outputs that have deservingly earned prestigious Emmy nods.
Although it is a bit difficult to squeeze in all the unparalleled streaming experiences into a single watchlist, we can definitely opt for those that are simply unmissable.
So, if you want to read, actually better yet watch, the best chapters of the year, here are five Netflix book-to-screen adaptations to stream right now.
Five new book-to-screen adaptations to binge on Netflix:
People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Netflix kick-started the year with a literary adaptation that literally ended up being one of the most-watched original movies in the first half of 2026, and it’s only fair that we start with the Emmy nominee: People We Meet on Vacation.
Adapted from Emily Henry’s 2021 bestselling romance novel, the Netflix film follows free-spirited Poppy and homebody, routine-loving Alex, two polar-opposite college best friends who have a decade-long tradition of taking an annual summer trip together.
Although how they became friends in the first place is a story for you to find (if you haven’t already), when unspoken romantic tension gets the best of their friendship, a disastrous trip to Croatia ultimately culminates in a seemingly irreparable fracture to their platonic bond.
People We Meet on Vacation is framed in a non-linear narrative to capture Poppy and Alex’s story as they navigate an unlikely friendship, periodic estrangement, and repressed feelings.
Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)
Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 novel of the same name, Remarkably Bright Creatures is an official Emmy nominee for Netflix, directed by Olivia Newman.
The Netflix movie follows Tova, a lonely widow working the night shift at a Pacific Northwest aquarium, who carries deep grief in her heart over the tragic death of her husband and the mysterious disappearance of her 18-year-old son Erik from three decades ago.
While her work is nothing less than a coping mechanism, Tova forms an extraordinary bond with a genius giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus at the aquarium, oblivious to the possibility that the aquatic creature can open doors in her life she closed long ago.
Remarkably Bright Creatures revolves around the duo’s priceless friendship, which soon welcomes new-in-town Cameron, who arrives to find answers that ultimately bring closure to Tova’s questions.
Finding Her Edge (2026 – Present)
Next on the list is the Canadian sports teen drama, Finding Her Edge, based on Jennifer Iacopelli’s novel of the same name. The heartwarming series follows retired figure skater Adriana Russo, who belongs to a prominent skating family.
Having seen her fair share of tough days after her mother’s death, Adriana returns to competitive ice dancing to save her family’s financially struggling ice rink, joining forces with the cocky elite skater Brayden Elliott, soon realising that a partnership with him is a fast track to the podium.
Subsequently, to secure crucial corporate sponsorships and keep the facility afloat, the dynamic duo starts fake-dating for the cameras and fans, until unexpected complications arise when she has to navigate unresolved, painful feelings for her ex-partner and first love, Freddie.
Little House on the Prairie (2026 – Present)
As one of the most anticipated literary adaptations of the year, Little House on the Prairie makes itself right at home in this watchlist.
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical books, the debut season of the Netflix original series follows the Ingalls family as they leave Wisconsin to build a new life on the Kansas frontier near Independence, prompted by a desire to start anew and lured by the promise of free land.
Contrary to their expectations, upon arrival, the Ingalls family discovers that Independence lacks basic infrastructure and social institutions, confronting the harsh realities of 19th-century prairie life and frontier challenges while navigating community building and complex tensions with the Indigenous Osage Nation.
Little House on the Prairie on Netflix, unlike previous adaptations, broadens its narrative scope to weigh in on westward expansion, exploring the friction over the land the settlers have claimed.
My Brilliant Career (2026)
The final page on this Netflix watchlist belongs to My Brilliant Career, inspired by Miles Franklin’s classic novel.
The six-part period drama tells the story of Sybylla Melvyn, a rebellious, free-spirited farm girl in 1900 Australia who refuses to bow to family pressures to marry for money. Driven by a desire to fulfil her dreams of becoming an independent writer, Sybylla fiercely rejects conventional propriety, opting instead to chase her own creative freedom.
But while navigating high society at her wealthy grandmother’s palatial estate at Caddagat, she finds herself torn between an intense emotional push-and-pull, juggling a blossoming romance and her deep-seated fear that traditional marriage will suffocate her identity and squash her dreams of becoming a writer. My Brilliant Career follows Sybylla’s journey as she carves her own path against societal odds.