Romance has always been a big book genre, but film hasn’t always given the genre the respect it deserves. The popularity of the show Heated Rivalry and movie People We Meet on Vacation this year shows that romance is in the air. Audiences are begging for more romance adaptations, and luckily, 2026 is here to deliver.
Finally, more and more books are being made into movies and television shows. Favorite characters are being brought to life by talented actors, and we’re getting to see love bloom right on our screen. Netflix and Prime Video seem to be leading the charge, giving these books a chance to shine. 2026 is set to deliver heartbreaking romantic dramas from authors like Colleen Hoover and gut-busting rom-coms from literary favorites Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood. We’ve got together a list of nine romance books that you should be able to stream or see in theaters this year.
1. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Emily Henry has five books set to become movies. Her 2021 book People We Meet on Vacation has been the first to be released on the big screen. The movie follows polar opposite best friends Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth), who spend a decade meeting every summer for a week-long vacation. After a falling out and two years of silence, though, the two meet again at Alex’s brother’s wedding in Barcelona.
The film was released on Netflix on January 9, 2026. We can confirm that the movie will become a new rom-com classic.
2. Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
Jennifer Iacopelli’s young adult novel Finding Her Edge has been adapted to a Canadian teen sports drama. The book and show follow elite ice dancer Adriana as she struggles between feelings for her current ice partner, Brayden, and ex-partner, Freddie, all while preparing for the biggest competition of her life.
The show was released on Netflix on January 22, 2026. All eight episodes are currently streaming.
3. An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton series)
The Netflix hit Bridgerton is getting a season four, which follows the third book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series, An Offer from a Gentleman. The new season will follow Benedict (Luke Thompson) as he falls in love with Sophie (Yerin Ha).
Season four will release in two parts. The first set of episodes will release January 29, 2026 and the second set will release February 26, 2026.
4. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Reminders of Him is an upcoming romantic drama movie based on the book by Colleen Hoover. The author had previous success with the movie adaptation of her book It Ends With Us.
Reminders of Him follows Kenna, who after a tragic mistake landed her in prison for seven years, is back in her hometown hoping to reunite with her daughter. Along the way, she develops a secret romance with a local man. The movie is set to release March 13, 2026 and stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers.
5. The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Elle Kennedy’s college romance Off-Campus book series is being adapted into a television series of the same name. The first book in the series, The Deal, follows hockey-hater Hannah who agrees to tutor hockey-star Garrett if they can fake date to get the attention of her crush.
Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli are set to star in the first season, which follows the events of The Deal. The show is expected to premiere on Prime Video in spring 2026.
6. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood is one of the most popular romance authors out there right now, so it makes sense that she’s finally getting a big screen adaptation. The movie stars Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart as PhD student Olive who begins fake dating Stanford processor Adam (Tom Bateman).
The movie is set to release in theaters in 2026, but doesn’t have an official release date quite yet. Earlier this month, Reinhart posted on Instagram “See you in 2026,” though, so we’re chomping at the bit.
7. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogel
You Deserve Each Other is an upcoming romcom based on Sarah Hogel’s book by the same name. It stars Penn Badgley and Meghann Fahy as an engaged couple who have fallen out of love. In order to avoid calling off the wedding themselves (and having to pay for it , each tries to sabotage the other into cancelling. Hijinks ensue, and their competition has them falling back in love.
The movie doesn’t have an official release date yet, but production began in 2025, so we are expecting a 2026 release.
8. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Romance author Katherine Center’s book The Bodyguard inspired the upcoming rom com Guarding Stars. The title change is because of a famous Kevin Cosner movie by the same name.
The book follows executive protection agent who is set to guard famous actor Jack. The only problem is that Jack doesn’t want his family to know he has a stalker and a bodyguard, so the two fake date during the holidays. The holiday romance will star Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki as the lead couple. There is no official release date yet, but because it is a holiday movie, it will likely be late 2026.
9. Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman
Alice Oseman’s young adult graphic novel Heartstopper series gained an even wider audience when it became a hit Netflix TV series starring Kit Connor and Joe Locke. The graphic novels and show follow Nick and Charlie, two teen boys who navigate falling in love and coming out.
The final graphic novel in the series, Heartstopper Volume 6, is set to release in July 2026, and a full-length movie titled Heartstopper Forever is set to release on Netflix to conclude the series rather than a new season.
