It is a tale as old as time to see an acclaimed book turned into a movie or television show. Year after year, studios attempt to capture the magic of a well-told story in print and bring it to the movie screen or streaming audiences worldwide. While the cliche says that the movie is never as good as the book, these three 2025 releases attempt to prove the saying wrong.
We’ll Always Have Summer – Jenny Han
Based on the three-book series by Jenny Han entitled “The Summer I
(John Merrick)
Turned Pretty Trilogy,” the Amazon Prime TV series is back for its third and final summer. The Summer I Turned Pretty is the cross-generational and coming-of-age story focused on Isabel “Belly” Conklin, a sort of ugly duckling turned beautiful swan, and two brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad, who fight against each other to win Belly’s love. Executive producer and creator, Jenny Han, tells a story about girlhood throughout her trilogy. “To me, it means stepping into your own power,” Han said, “I think it’s a moment of coming of age, of growing up.” This third season is based on the last book in the trilogy, “We’ll Always Have Summer” and will finally answer the question of television’s biggest love triangle – will Belly choose Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? Tune in to Amazon Prime beginning July 16 to find out!
I Know What You Did Last Summer – Lois Duncan
This summer’s release of I Know What You Did Last Summer is not a direct adaptation of the book by Lois Duncan but instead a sequel to the 1997 movie of the same name which was based on the 1973 book. It is also the fourth release in the franchise which includes I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006). In this edition, five friends are haunted by a killer after they accidentally killed someone in a car accident and then covered it up to avoid blame. Trying to escape the killer, they uncover that a similar event unfolded in the same fictional town of Southport, North Carolina 28 years ago. In order to survive, they will need to join forces with the survivors of that tragedy and dig up the many unpleasant memories that remain. The film will also see former stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze, Jr. come back in their roles alongside a new generation of characters. I Know What You Did Last Summer is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 18, 2025.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
The next great crime thriller is returning to Netflix for its sophomore season. Based on the book series of the same name written by Holly Jackson, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows teen detective Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi as she
(Netflix)
tries to untangle the dark secrets behind the 5-year old murder of popular schoolgirl Andie Bell. In the fictional town of Little Kilton, citizens were devastated when the murder occurred and Andie’s boyfriend, Sal Singh was named the prime suspect. He later took his own life which made everyone assume he was indeed guilty, but Pip never believed it. Using a school project as cover to further investigate the crime, Pip and Sal’s brother Ravi join forces to find the true killer. But along the way, they discover deep secrets, encounter shocking plot twists, and are left with many lingering questions. The first season, like the book series, received much praise and audiences worldwide are excited for the summer 2025 release of season two.
Whether all of these live up to the hype or acclaim of their print versions is mostly for critics to decide. The many films and shows being released this summer is a good sign for an industry still recovering from Covid and adjusting to the new world of streaming. One thing is for sure – audiences worldwide are in for a good year of thrills, laughs, tears and excitement!
