8 Greatest Modern Rom-Coms Based on Books

Image via Sanja Bucko /© Warner Bros. Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection Published Jul 26, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT Jiminna Shillingford is an avid reader and a passionate storyteller. She is obsessed with all things TV, from anime and romantic fantasy to action-packed series. With that deep affection, Jiminna longs to share her excitement with all her readers through the Collider platform as a TV author. Through her writing she has created stories and blog posts of amazing book recommendations, showcasing her love of writing. Jiminna's goal is to inspire others to discover and embrace their love of stories in all of its forms. Sign in to your Collider account Rom-coms have always been the best viewing experiences when they make love feel messy, hilarious, hopeful, and personal, which is why so many of the top romantic comedies come from fantastic books. A great adaptation is one that goes far beyond simply copying its source material; it artfully captures the emotional pull, charm, and character voice that made readers fall in love in the first place. Films like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which brings to life a beloved YA romance with fake-dating charm, gushing sweetness, and the awkward thrill of first love, and the cult classic Confessions of a Shopaholic, which delivers a bright story featuring romance, ambition, denial, and self-discovery, are just two fantastic movies that prove how compelling source material can become an entertaining and long-lasting romantic comedy. Compiled on this list are such rom-com gems that showcase just how well-beloved book stories can be reimagined for the big screen. 8 'Love, Simon' (2018) Image via 20th Century Studios This 2018 film is a strong modern rom-com that feels special because it uses all the familiar tropes of a traditional movie in the genre, yet it still feels meaningful and long overdue. Based on Becky Albertalli's novel, Love, Simon follows the high school student, Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), as he keeps his sexuality private while secretly emailing another closeted classmate that he is beginning to fall for. With its romantic and incredibly sweet hook, Love, Simon masterfully blends identity, first love, friendship, fear, and the desire to be known. It's an emotionally deep teen love story with a queer protagonist, showcasing important representation while delivering a universally heartwarming coming-of-age good time. Love, Simon is a true defining book-to-screen romance that is a fantastically brilliant bout of sincerity and rom-com goodness, making it the ideal pick for this list of great films. 7 'The Kissing Booth' (2018) Image via Netflix The Kissing Booth may be an incredibly cringy movie based on a Wattpad novel, but it's the guilty pleasure watch that has been hailed as one of the most entertaining rom-coms ever created. The teen drama film centers on the fun-loving high school junior Elle Evans (Joey King), who finds herself falling in love with her best friend Lee Flynn's (Joel Courtney) older, playboy brother Noah (Jacob Elordi). Despite its low review on Rotten Tomatoes, The Kissing Booth has earned itself a massive and devoted fan base that truly adores it. For anyone who loves teeny rom-coms, the movie is the perfect 90-minute watch that makes for a surprisingly fun viewing experience. The film is a true bingeworthy book-to-screen adaptation that wields steamy chemistry and angsty drama. The Kissing Booth is no doubt overdramatic, an often genuinely cheesy watch, but it stands as a brilliant teen hit that proves book-adapted Netflix rom-coms can stand among some of the best of the genre. 6 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (2009) Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures This film, based on Sophie Kinsella's book series, delivers fashion-heavy humor, bright rom-com energy, and a heroine whose personal life is as chaotic as her credit card bills. Confessions of a Shopaholic focuses on the shopping-obsessed journalist Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher), who gets a job interview at her dream fashion magazine, but sadly, a drunken mistake leads her to become a financial columnist at a business magazine instead. Confessions of a Shopaholic may not be as highly rated as some of the greatest rom-coms on this list, but its bubbliness is quite cherished by many, especially those drawn in by the film's comedic spark. It's a pretty fast-paced movie, making slapstick moments, Parisian clothes montages, and gags feel quite snappy. Confessions of a Shopaholic is the perfect escapist treat that is highly rewatchable for its silly moments and victorious ending, cementing it as an easy feel-good rom-com based on a book. 5 'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001) Image via Miramax Films Bridget Jones's Diary is a book-based rom-com film that has definitely shaped the genre for the better. Adapted from Helen Fielding's novel, the movie centers around the thirty-something, single PR consultant, Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), as she navigates her ever-increasingly messy life, while juggling family pressure, work, embarrassing mistakes, and romantic confusion between two very different men. Bridget Jones's Diary is genuinely a fantastic film with comedy that works incredibly well because its protagonist is never presented as a perfect heroine. The film, at the time of its release, truly rejuvenated the rom-com genre, as it treated audiences to a rather fun-filled viewing experience. Today, Bridget Jones's Diary is frequently hailed as the ultimate comfort film, a watch that is no doubt a great example of a fantastic romantic comedy based on a book. Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 🦁Gryffindor 🐍Slytherin 🦡Hufflepuff 🦅Ravenclaw PLACE THE HAT → 01 What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows. ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more. NEXT QUESTION → 02 A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are. AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming. ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning. NEXT QUESTION → 04 What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person. ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential. NEXT QUESTION → 05 The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice. ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient? NEXT QUESTION → 06 What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are. AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed. NEXT QUESTION → 07 You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart. AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved. NEXT QUESTION → 08 The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens. ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever. REVEAL MY HOUSE → The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been ChosenAfter careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for. 🦁 GryffindorYou have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then. Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for. You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away. You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible. Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you. 🐍 SlytherinYou are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there. Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others. You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game. You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely. The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too. 🦡 HufflepuffYou are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it. Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity. You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right. Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested. Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them. 🦅 RavenclawYour mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it. Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people. Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet. You see the world with unusual clarity and depth. Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 4 'Love, Rosie' (2014) Image via Lionsgate This woefully underrated film definitely deserves its flowers for being one of the best guilty pleasure watches to ever exist. Based on Cecelia Ahern's Where Rainbows End, Love, Rosie follows childhood best friends Rosie Dunne (Lily Collins) and Alex Stewart (Sam Claflin), whose growing feelings for each other are constantly being interrupted by relationships, distance, minor and major mistakes, as well as life itself. Despite the frustration it might cause viewers, Love, Rosie has an addictively adorable plot that has earned it a pretty devoted cult following. The romantic comedy is often praised for its raw view of life and love, appreciated for its depiction of just how messy life can get. Love, Rosie is well-loved for its underrated authenticity, an overlooked gem that stands among some of the most entertaining book-based films. 3 'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018) Image via Warner Bros. Crazy Rich Asians is a beloved movie that stands out as one of the best modern rom-coms of the decade. The film, based on Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel, centers on economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who accompanies her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to Singapore for a friend's wedding. There, she learns that Nick is part of one of the wealthiest families living on the island. Crazy Rich Asians was a true hit upon its release. The movie dazzled, earning a solid rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, as critics and fans alike sing its praises for its charming romance, lavish visuals, and memorable ensemble cast. From stunning performances to the movie’s brisk pacing, Crazy Rich Asians feels somehow both classic and fresh, an enticingly rewatchable adapted film that's so entertaining it became one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies in years. 2 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' (2018) This fantastic movie is a memorable teen masterpiece that definitely earned its status as a true Netflix phenomenon. Based on Jenny Han's novel, To All the Boys I've Loved Before focuses on teen Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), whose little sister sends out her private love letters to her former crushes, forcing her to confront old and new feelings. Audiences completely adore To All the Boys I've Loved Before for its charm and iconic performances. It's an incredible, swoon-worthy, heartwarming coming-of-age story with undeniable chemistry, which made it an instant fan favorite. To All the Boys I've Loved Before is genuinely iconic, an emotional yet hilariously funny film that has instant rewatch value, marking it a hugely beloved Netflix book-based YA romance. 1 'Think Like a Man' (2012) Image via Sony Pictures Releasing Adapted from Steve Harvey's bestselling advice book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, the film Think Like a Man is a slightly more unique book-based romcom than the other traditional watches on this list. The movie follows several couples whose relationships are affected when the women, tired of struggling on their journey of love, begin using Harvey's dating advice to better understand the men in their lives. Think Like a Man is honestly one of the most defining rom-coms to make it out of the 2010s. The movie is lauded for its charismatic cast, sharp humor, and relatable look at modern relationships. Think Like a Man is incredibly clever as it transforms dating advice into an entertaining battle of the sexes that keeps audiences entertained from beginning to end. This makes it a true number one book-inspired romcom that’s just as heartfelt, funny, and unforgettable as any original screenplay. Think Like a Man Release Date April 20, 2012 Runtime 122 minutes Director Tim Story Writers David A. Newman, Keith Merryman Producers Will Packer Main Genre Comedy Budget $12 million Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Sony Executive Producer(s) Glenn S. Gainor, Rob Hardy, Rushion McDonald, Steve Harvey