Need some ideas for your next read? Each month, Booked & Screened looks at film and television releases in the weeks ahead. Take a look below and be prepared for what’s next coming to the screen.

For fast readers:

‘Cape Fear’ by John D. MacDonald

This one’s a little tricky because the book exists under two titles—“Cape Fear” and “The Executioners.” You’re probably more familiar with the former thanks to the 1991 film adaptation. Now, Apple TV is taking another stab at the story in a series following Max Cady (Javier Bardem) who seeks to get revenge on the public defenders who helped put him away. Also starring Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson and CCH Pounder, the series premieres June 5. 

‘Every Summer After’ by Carley Fortune

This book is being adapted by Prime Video into the young adult romance series “Every Year After.” The series stars Sadie Soverall as Percy as she returns to the place where she spent her summers growing up, Barry’s Bay. She’s there to attend the funeral of the woman who was like a second mother to her. While there she reunites with the boy she fell in love with over all those summers, Sam, played by Matt Cornett. The series hits Prime Video on June 10. 

For medium-pace readers:

‘Girls Like Girls’ by Hayley Kiyoko

“Girls Like Girls” is a movie based on a book based on a song, all by Hayley Kiyoko. The woman can do it all. The story is about Coley (Maya Da Costa), the new girl in town who’s welcomed into a group of teenagers by Sonya (Myra Molloy). The two form a friendship that soon turns to something more. It’s Pride Month, so what better time than to dive into this YA romance book? The film is set to hit theaters June 19. 

‘Strip’ by Thomas Perry

Russell Crowe stars as an aging nightclub owner trying to retire in filmmaker Derrick Borte’s “The Get Out.” It’s an adaptation of Thomas Perry’s book “Strip.” Crowe’s character is “forced back into a violent game of cat and mouse when masked gunmen (Nina Dobrev, Aaron Paul), cartel threats and a mysterious buyer (Luke Evans) turn his escape plan into a deadly trap,” a summary of the film says. The film, which also stars Teresa Palmer, premieres June 26.

For readers who like to take their time:

‘The Odyssey’ by Homer

If you weren’t one of the lucky ones forced to read this classic epic poem in high school or college, here’s your excuse to take a stab at it. “The Odyssey” tells the story of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon in this adaptation from Christopher Nolan. The Greek hero and his troops spend a decade trying to get back home after the Trojan war. Meanwhile, his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), tries to fend off the advances of suitors who seek to lay claim to Odysseus’ kingdom of Ithaca. It really is worth the read as many of the mythical creatures and adventures in this sprawling tale show up time and time again in other books, movies and pop culture. It’s worth it, I promise. The film hits theaters July 17. 

‘Heartstopper #6’ by Alice Oseman

OK, so you might actually want to read more than just the sixth offering of the Hearstopper graphic novel series if you want to prepare for the forthcoming film “Hearstopper Forever.” But what better time than to start putting in the work than during Pride Month? This is the fourth offering from the “Heartstopper” franchise, which began with three television seasons. 

Start reading now so you’re ready when these stories hit screens in the coming weeks.

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. She’s currently reading “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang and watching “Letterkenny.”