The Sandman, Where The Crawdads Sing, Bullet Train, and 12 more great reads heading to the screen this summer

Companion reading to: Top Gun: Maverick, in theaters nowBest for readers who want: An action-packed piece of non-fictionTechnically speaking, the inspiration for Tony Scott’s came from —something that’s landed Paramount in hot water since claiming the studio’s new sequel improperly capitalizes on the late writer’s work. That said, for Top Gun fans looking for an even more in-depth account of the real fighter pilots who inspired the dynamite darling, look no further than Dan Pederson’s 2019 nonfiction account. A retired U.S. Navy Captain, Pederson was a propulsive force behind the creation of the actual TOPGUN program and uses his book to share key insights—and adventures—from the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

Companion reading to: Jurassic World: Dominion, in theaters June 10Best for readers who want: A nostalgic page-turner with teethAuthor Michael Crichton struck good-idea gold in 1990 with Jurassic Park—the science fiction novel-turned-global movie franchise returning with its sixth installment this summer. Before seeing how Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) are coping with a dino-populated planet in theaters this June, get back to the bone-snapping basics by reading—or re-reading!—the original book. Director Steven Spielberg hit many of its beats in his 1993 feature, but Crichton’s extensive, grounded explanations for the evolutionary science behind his otherworldly universe imbue each iconic scene with new resonance. Seriously, the body horror descriptions are pure nightmare fuel.

Companion reading to: Graham Roland’s Dark Winds TV series; premiering two of six episodes June 12 on AMC and AMC+Best for readers who want: A dark and twisty police proceduralWriter-producer Graham Roland (Prison Break, Lost, Jack Ryan) adapts the work of late mystery novelist Tony Hillerman in Dark Winds, a serialized take on the Leaphorn & Chee books for AMC. There are 18 books’ worth of the titular Navajo Tribal Police officers’ adventures to choose from and you don’t technically have to go in order. So we’ll recommend getting to know Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Sergeant Jim Chee, played on the show by Zach McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon, with the similarly titled The Dark Wind—the fifth title in the series. It’s a classic example of Hillerman’s enduring knack for crafting intricate characters in a stark and specific suspense setting.

Companion reading to: Jenny Han and Gabrielle Stanton’s The Summer I Turned Pretty TV show; streaming all six episodes June 17 on Prime VideoBest for readers who want: A fun and flirty YA beach read Yes, it was Netflix’s To All The Boys trilogy that made Jenny Han a household name. But it was The Summer I Turned Pretty that kicked off the author’s dreamy YA winning-streak with its sparkling story of seasonal romance. After years of summer bliss with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, 16-year-old Isabelle “Belly” Conklin must face an adolescent love triangle for the coming-of-ages. Han’s heartfelt trilogy also includes It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer. The TV adaptation’s cast boasts Lola Tung as Belly; Christopher Briney as Conrad; and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah.

Companion reading to: Lightyear, in theaters June 17Best for readers who want: An informative, fresh look at animationWant to feel old? Ask anyone under the age of 20 who founded Pixar. In To Pixar and Beyond: My Unlikely Journey With Steve Jobs To Make Entertainment History, studio exec Lawrence Levy shares his experience helping shape one of the foremost voices in feature-length animation. Pixar’s forthcoming Lightyear—a meta-origin story for Toy Story’s famed Space Ranger—isn’t directly related to Levy’s book. But considering the critical role Buzz and Woody’s story played in Pixar’s initial success, it’s sure to provide gratifying background for older film fans headed to the 2022 kids’ flick.

Companion reading to: The Black Phone, in theaters June 24Best for readers who want: A scary anthology to read by flashlightEthan Hawke makes his horror antagonist debut this summer in The Black Phone, directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister, Doctor Strange). Menacing villain The Grabber—so nicknamed for his history of kidnapping and murdering children—first terrified readers when he was introduced by author Joe Hill in a 2004 issue of magazine The 3rd Alternative. His rein of terror continued in 20th Century Ghosts, a collection of Hill’s short stories that also includes “You Will Hear The Locust Sing” and “My Father’s Mask.” This is a great one to pack for the next camping trip—assuming you want to be scared shitless. (FYI, this collection is also being sold under the title The Black Phone because of the movie, but either version includes the same stories.)

Companion reading to: Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis, in theaters June 24Best for readers who want: A fact-based portrait of Elvis PresleyWhen Austin Butler puts on the leather pants for Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis later this June, it’s anyones guess what story the Carrie Diaries actor and The Great Gatsby writer-director will be telling. Ground that glitzy rock-n-roll romp in the studied research of Peter Guralnick and you’ll probably gain a fairly decent understanding of the American music icon. In this two-part biography, Guralnick traces from Presley’s childhood in Memphis through his meteoric rise to fame before ending with a vivid account of his tragic death. Although it’s an especially good recommendation to make with the new movie coming out, Guralnick’s Elvis epic belongs on any “best of” biography list.

Companion reading to: Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, in theaters July 15Best for readers who want: A delightful read for a cozy afternoonThis July, Lesley Manville will star as the titular Mrs. Harris in director Anthony Fabian’s adaptation of Paul Gallico’s beloved 1958 novel. The first in a series of books about the charming heroine, Mrs. ‘Arris Goes To Paris (sometimes sold with the implied “H”) tells the story of a widowed maid who becomes transfixed with the couture evening gowns of her employer—and eventually embarks on a pilgrimage from her home in London to the House of Dior in Paris to get one of her own.

Companion reading to: Where The Crawdads Sing, in theaters July 15Best for readers who want: An eerily beautiful dark mysteryDelia Owens dazzled fiction lovers in 2018 with Where The Crawdads Sing, a gripping mystery about a misunderstood outcast that’s since become one of the best selling books of all time. Directed by Olivia Newman (First Match), the film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya aka the “Marsh Girl.” A fiercely independent and reclusive survivor because of childhood tragedy, Kya’s way of life baffles the people of her North Carolina town. But when a man she knows turns up dead, bewilderment mutates into anger and a fight for Kya’s freedom begins. On the off-chance you haven’t obsessed over this page-turner yet, consider it required.

Companion reading to: Bullet Train, in theaters July 15Best for readers who want: An impossible-to-put-down thrill rideStrap in for the ride of a lifetime aboard Kōtarō Isaka’s Bullet Train (aka Maria Beetle). This high-intensity thriller about a group of double-crossing assassins sharing a contentious ride from Tokyo to Kyoto is being adapted by director David Leitch (John Wick) into a feature-length film due out this August—with a star-studded cast including Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, and more. , we’re certain Leitch is taking some liberties with the source material. So if you want to experience the twists and turns as first intended, binge-read the original ahead of time.

Companion reading to: The Sandman TV show; streaming all 11 episodes Aug. 5 on NetflixBest for readers who want: A lengthy fantasy comic book seriesNeil Gaiman’s The Sandman comics, originally published from 1989 to 1996, are finally getting the live-action treatment this August thanks to Netflix. This sweeping horror-fantasy saga follows Morpheus, one of the seven omnipotent beings known as The Endless, who must avenge his kingdom after being held captive for more than a century. We’ll admit, it’s a hefty lift as far as recommendations go. Altogether, the comics comprise a whopping 12 volumes. But, considering the show is just around the corner and diehard Gaiman fans swear by these, The Sandman could make for a worthy summer project.

Companion reading to: House Of The Dragon season one, a prequel to Game of Thrones; premiering one of ten episodes Aug. 2 on HBO and HBO MaxBest for readers who want: A head-start on their GOT fan theories We are resisting the urge to joke about the still-unfinished Song of Ice and Fire. We are resisting the urge to joke about the still-unfinished Song of Ice and Fire. Phew. OK, now that that’s finished—unlike A Song of Ice and Fire (shit!)—prepare for the inevitable Game Of Thrones prequel with George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Chronicling the downfall of the House Targaryen, this 2018 fantasy novel is the first of two parts the author has promised to readers. Its contents—a complex and, some have argued, overindulgent history of the dragonlords who preceded Daenerys—deepens Thrones lore considerably and is worth checking out if you’re looking to impress in TV circles this August.

Companion reading to: The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power; premiering one of eight episodes Sept. 2 on Prime VideoBest for readers who want: A primer before the Next Big Thing in TVLook, if you’re not already up to your ear-tips in Lord Of The Rings lore this close to the release of Prime Video’s The Rings Of Power, we’re not going to pretend you can get caught all the way up before its debut this fall. There’s simply too much to read. That said, if there’s one book you could consider grabbing, we’d argue The Silmarillion is it. Released posthumously and edited by son Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion doesn’t focus specifically on the events of the Second Age (when we know The Rings Of Power is set), but it offers the most insight we have into the mysterious show.

Companion reading to: ’Salem’s Lot, in theaters Sept. 9Best for readers who want: A vampire-heavy Stephen King classic‘Salem’s Lot may be one of the more out there, having already been made into two separate miniseries and featured on both Castle Rock and Chapelwaite. But there’s fresh promise in seeing writer-director Gary Dauberman take on the material for the big screen. Dauberman is best known for his chilling work in producer James Wan’s The Conjuring Universe, which has the exact gothic edge a vampire-centric story like ‘Salem’s Lot needs. Paired with the talents of lead actor Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears, a writer-turned-vampire hunter, this movie could be a winner. Still, take the time to enjoy the text on its own if you can. It’s some of King’s best work.