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:

‘The Shards’ by Bret Easton Ellis

“The Shards” by Bret Easton Ellis actually started out as a serialized audiobook in 2023. It’s a semi-autobiographical story about Bret (played by Igby Rigney in the series) and takes place in 1980s Los Angeles. The horror story follows wealthy teens at a prep school who have everything they could want—fancy cars, access to drugs and the craziest parties. But when new student Robert (Homer Gere) joins the group of students, suspicions begin to mount. The series, which premieres on Hulu on Aug. 5, also stars Wes Bentley, Kaia Gerber and Evan Rachel Wood. 

‘Late Fame’ by Arthur Schnitzler

Like “The Odyssey,” this is a bit of an older book, written in 1894. “Late Fame” by Arthur Schnitzler tells the story of Eduard Saxberger (played by Willem Dafoe in the film), who achieves literary success and fame years after publishing a collection of poetry. Eduard is suddenly surrounded by admirers who are artists themselves. 

The film is directed by Kent Jones and also stars Greta Lee and Edmund Donovan. It hits theaters Aug. 8. 

For medium-pace readers:

‘Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly’ by Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain’s memoir, “Kitchen Confidential” is the inspiration for the upcoming biopic of the late chef called “Tony.” It’s an adaptation of a chapter in the book about the summer of 1975, when Bourdain decided he had a passion for food and cooking. 

Dominic Sessa stars as Bourdain alongside Emilia Jones, Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommer, Stavros Halkias, Leo Woodall and Antonio Banderas in the film, which is set to hit select theaters Aug. 7 and premiere nationwide Aug. 21.

‘The Whisper Man’ by Alex North

Alex North’s novel “The Whisper Man” follows a widowed crime writer (played in the series by Adam Scott) whose son is abducted. He asks his former police detective father (played by Robert De Niro), with whom he is no longer in touch, for help. They find a connection to the serial killer known as the Whisper Man. 

Also starring Michelle Monaghan, the horror/thriller series adaptation of the novel is set to be released Aug. 28 on Netflix. 

For readers who like to take their time:

‘All the Truth in My Lies’ by Elisabet Benavent

“All the Truth in My Lies” by Spanish author Elísabet Benavent is a romance novel about six friends on a bachelorette road trip in an RV. It starts a fun, carefree vacation, but soon secrets and hidden crushes are revealed and lead to chaos. 

The novel has been adapted as a limited series on Netflix starring Daniel Ibáñez, Itziar Manero, Ricardo Gómez. It hits the streaming service Aug. 28

‘Book of Magic’ by Alice Hoffman

It’s been nearly three decades since “Practical Magic” was adapted into a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. They’re back with a continuation of the story first found in Alice Hoffman’s novel “The Book of Magic.” When Sally’s daughters, Kylie (played by Joey King in the movie) and Antonia (Maisie Williams) learn of the family curse, they try to break it so they can find love without tragedy. 

“Practical Magic 2” also stars Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing and Lee Pace and hits theaters Sept. 11.

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 recommends listening to the audiobook version of “Kitchen Confidential,” which is delightfully read by the author himself.