If it seems like there are more new romance book adaptations released on streaming than before, you’re right! Bridgerton on Netflix reigned supreme, but has more competition since its 2020 premiere. A new study revealed how much it has increased and why.
Research Says Netflix and Amazon Prime Increased Romance Book Adaptations
Ampere Analysis released findings that 83% of first-run romance commissions in the first half of 2026 were scripted, according to Variety. Those commissions comprised 40% book adaptations.
This year started with the number of romance fans staying the same while action and adventure fell by 9% in the first quarter. The crime and thriller genre decreased by 5% within the same time frame.
Amazon Prime currently has shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Off Campus, and Red, White & Royal Blue. The streamer is going strong with Colleen Hoover adaptations.
The author blends the thriller and romance genres. Verity, starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, and Dakota Johnson, will be released on October 2, 2026. The book is about a ghostwriter trying to finish another writer’s story, who is comatose after an accident. She stays with the writer’s family, which includes her handsome husband, during the process.
Netflix has People We Meet on Vacation, Pride and Prejudice, and more. So it’s no surprise that Amazon Prime and Netflix are leading the charge in romance book adaptations this year, according to the research.
Related: ‘Bridgerton’ Stars Look Forward to Gregory’s Season, ‘You’ll Thrive’
More Authors Are Signing Deals This Year
Those numbers may continue to increase with the success of Heated Rivalry and Off Campus. Mercedes Ron signed a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios after the studio adapted Cupables and My Fault, according to Deadline.
Carley Fortune’sThis Summer Will Be Different will be turned into a 10-episode series on Netflix, according to Toronto Life. A woman named Lucy vacations on Prince Edward Island and meets a man named Felix. She finds out that he’s her best friend’s younger brother and they try to keep their distance from each other in the following summers.
The best-sellers list isn’t the only possible source of this trend with streaming platforms. “The growth of social media has given rise to communities with shared interests, such as BookTok, which is transforming how young audiences discover, engage with, and share cultural content,” Ampere Analysis claimed, according to Deadline.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen was popular on TikTok. Fans especially enjoyed the audiobook detailing a very private Josh Hammond stalking a trauma nurse named Aly Cappellucci. He finds out she’s a loyal follower of his masked man TikTok account and that’s when the stalking-turned-romantic relationship begins. Netflix announced it acquired the rights to the dark romance story this February, which is the first in a trilogy.
This is good news for romance readers. Companies are paying attention to their interest on social media. Hopefully, they will give us equally good, if not better, shows.
Related: ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Dance in Top Emotional Scenes Without Dialogue
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
