5 Romances Just Begging for a Film Adaptation

An Extraordinary Union, by Alyssa Cole
War, spies, and a forbidden romance make An Extraordinary Union perfect for the cinematic treatment. With its blend of action and subterfuge, this romance has some great crossover potential for moviegoers who like a historical, wartime element. Elle Burns is a former slave and now a spy for the Union Army. She also has an impressive eidetic memory. Elle is partnered with Pinkerton’s Secret Service detective Malcolm McCall when they uncover a dangerous plot. Bring this one to the big screen and take my money already!

Highland Dragon Warrior, by Isabel Cooper
Given that “dragon” is in the title, any adaption of Highland Dragon Warrior will need a dose of CGI, but trust me, it would be so worth it! The heroine, Sophia, is a Jewish alchemist in need of a dragon scale and the hero, Cathal, is a weary dragon shifter whose best friend is suffering from a mysterious and magical illness. It’s easy to picture the gorgeous cinematography as Sophia conducts her alchemy. And of course, the book is set in a lovely castle in the Scottish highlands. Beautiful landscapes? Check. Magic? Check. A surprisingly sweet romance? Check. It’s a blockbuster in the making.

Buns, by Alice Clayton
Some of the best rom-coms have an enemies-to-lovers romance and Buns has that antagonistic relationship between the hero and heroine, but with the added luxury of ooey, gooey, hot cross buns. Who doesn’t love a man with skills in the kitchen? The Bryant Mountain House has been in Archie Bryan’t family for five generations, but even he’d have to admit the business is failing. When rebranding expert Clara Morgan shows up on his doorstep, he isn’t exactly thrilled with the direction she wants to take his family’s legacy. Expect lots of verbal sparring fraught with delicious sexual tension!

The Magpie Lord, by KJ Charles
A gay historical romance with a tattooed earl and an angry magician would be thrilling to see in theaters given that it strays from typical rom-com territory, but still maintains a great love story. There’s a Gothic-esque castle, dry British wit, and a smattering of grit and horror. It’s passionate and just a touch creepy and Guillermo Del Toro, given his work with movies like Crimson Peak and Pan’s Labyrinth, could really capture the dark, mystical drama in The Magpie Lord. Throwing in Tom Hiddleston again wouldn’t hurt either.

Pairing Off, by Elizabeth Harmon
The Cutting Edge is a romantic comedy staple. If you haven’t seen it, you’re going to want to indulge in this class differences, ice skating movie. Pairing Off isn’t exactly The Cutting Edge reimagined, but it has the same wonderful tension that comes with the spirit of competition. The hero is described as “Russia’s sexiest male skater” and he happens to be the heroine’s first love. When they two join forces to compete as a pair instead of single skaters, things get a lot more awkward. Besides, nothing makes two people fall in love faster than the forced proximity of grueling skating practices.
Which romances would you love to see adapted to the big screen?