Fiction to Film: 2000s YA Books Made into Movies

So let's talk fiction to film... 

This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated in September 2023!

This post will discuss: 

YA books from the 2000s and 2010s (with a few from the late 1990s) that were made into movies!

First, let's highlight the

BRAND NEW 2000s and 2010s YA books made into movies in 2023!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (Netflix 2023)

To sound very 2010s ... OMG what is even happening? I started watching this brand new 2023 Netflix show and was like WAIT ONE MINUTE. 

I have read this book and even reviewed it back in 2012. It's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Which, yes, was a mouthful. So they have shortened it for Netflix, but that might fool some of us. For a little while.

If memory serves, this movie follows the book pretty closely, but I plan on doing a full review so stay tuned.

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah on Netflix (2023)

Imagine my surprise when I was browsing Netflix and saw that a very early 2000s YA had (somehow) been made into a movie. With Adam Sandler and his family.What???

You will only remember this book if you were reading YA in the early 2000s. 

You Are So Not Invited to My Bar Mitzvah by Fiona Rosenbloom,was published way back in 2005.  

It was an Alloy Entertainment packaged book published by Disney-Hyperion, which makes some sense as to why it was finally developed. Maybe they've been pushing for someone to develop it and after almost 20 years, here it is.

I know I have promised to do a post about book packaging and Alloy and I will!

The weird thing, when you think about it, is that Bat Mitzvahs are for 13 year olds. And in YA these days, 13 years old are NOT main characters in YA books, but stuck back in middle grade fiction. 

This fact has nothing to do with the show, but does highlight how different pre-Twilight YA was!  

Have you seen the Netflix show? I watched it and if you enjoyed the vibe of The Babysitters Club series, you should definitely check this one out!

Best 2000s and 2010s YA Books That Were Made into Movies

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Book 1999, Movie 2012)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Book 2001, Movie 2005)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (2001)

You can laugh, but this book was EVERYTHING back in 2001.

The movie is actually not bad, with an all-star cast of actors that were newcomers back then: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Blake Lively. That casting director was pretty good at spotting talent!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (book 1999; movie 2004)

Stars: Kristin Stewart as Melinda Sordino

Speak was made into a low-budget 2004 independent movie starring Kristin Stewart. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was then broadcast on Lifetime and Showtime. 

The film was well-received with an 80% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Fun fact: author Laurie Halse Anderson made a cameo as a lunch lady!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn Book 2006, Movie 2008

I love this book and no movie could be quite as good, but again, a great cast: Michael Cera and Kat Dennings are Nick and Norah.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (First published in 2007, movie starring Lily Collins as Clary released August 2013,  Netflix series 2016-2019)

I read the books but have not seen any of the movies. Which is the best? Tell me in comments!

Vampire Academy  by Richelle Mead (book 2007; movie 2014; series 2022)

Stars: Zoe Deutsch as Rose Hathaway

The first book in the Vampire Academy series was made into a 2014 “fantasy comic horror” film. The movie did not get great reviews and, with a $15 million gross and a $30 million budget, was not considered a commercial success. Stick to the books!!!

In 2022, Peacock did a streaming series inspired by the book series as a whole, which was cancelled after one season. So, VA has not had a great run being adapted. Sad!

2023 Jen says: If you haven't read this series, you need to. If you want a read-a-long, join my St Vladimir's Academy Summer School. The first post is here!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (book published 2009, Amazon Prime series 2022)

Oh, the angst in this one. Plus it has one of the absolute WORST love triangles in early 2000s YA history.

I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the movie? Was it good?

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (book 2009; movie 2014)

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz as Mia.

Honestly, I found this book a little dark and never watched the movie.

If you did, tell me what you thought in comments!

The DUFF by  (book 2010; movie 2015)

Stars: Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne

Received positive reviews and made $43 on an $8 million budget.

2023 Jen says: I have not seen the movie and am wondering how the book would stand up after twelve years. Is it time for a re-read of this hate-to-love YA classic of the 2010s?

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (book 2014; streaming show 2018)

Stars: Lana Condor, Janel Parrish, Noah Cinteneo

Book one of the series was optioned in 2014 by Overbrook Entertainment. Produced by Awesomeness Films and Overbrook.  Filming was in 2017 in the Pacific Northwest. Netflix acquired the rights in 2018.

The film was extremely successful and has two sequels and a spin-off: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020), To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021) and XOXO Kitty (2023)

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli (book 2015, movie 2018)

Filmed in 2017 in Atlanta.

Author Becky Albertalli made a cameo as a student.

Love, Victor was also made into a streaming series that premiered on Hulu in 2020.

My review of the Simon book is here!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (book 2010; movie 2017)

Starring Zoe Deutsch as Sam

Filmed in British Columbia in 2015.

Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Streaming on Netflix

2023 Jen says: this was my VERY first ARC ever. Wow.

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan (book 2012, movie 2016)

Starring: Emma Roberts

I was shocked when this book got made into a movie. Let's just say that the movie had to be better!

Dumplin by Julie Murphy (book 2015, movie on Netflix 2018

See my review of the book here!

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle (book 2008, movie 2019)

Wasn't a fan of either the book or the movie. Sorry!

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (book 2012, series 2021)

This series seems to be based on the entire Grishaverse, which is a bunch of books. I haven't watched it, but maybe I should??

Shadowhunters series by Cassandra Clare (books 2007; series 2016)

All I remember from the 2010s is that these books were always surrounded by fan drama. Was there some controversy about the show? Did it get cancelled? Please tell me that Clary's hair does not always look like this!

The 100 by Kass Morgan (book 2013; series 2014-2020)

Was this a packaged book? Because it seemed to go right to video, as we used to say. That is a WHOLE other "blast from the past" topic I need to cover on here....

The show was way more popular than the book.  I'm sure most people don't even know there was a book, which is why I wonder if it was a packaged thing.

Edited to add: YES, this is an Alloy Entertainment book, so that makes sense. I'll do a post on 2010s book packaging!

Paper Towns by John Green (book 2008; movie 2015)

Starring: Matt Wolfe and Cara Delevigne.

I saw this (in the theater!) and I actually liked it a lot!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (book 2012, movie 2014)

Starring: Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, the YA actors of the 2010s!!

Wow, this book is dark. Would this get published today?

Divergent by Veronica Roth  (book 2011; movie 2014)

Haha the stories that 2010s book bloggers could tell you about this series and the marketing. The DRAMA. I liked the first book and after that I think things went way downhill. Another good 2010s topic: the mandatory trilogy.

Maybe I should have rebranded as 2010s YA Tea and Me....

2010s books I was excited were optioned but never made it to the big screen. Or the small screen:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - I feel like a pilot got made but this never went anywhere.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Legend by Marie Lu

Heist Society by Ally Carter

This post is a work in progress, so please leave comments!