Sales of books that have been adapted into movies or television shows are experiencing a surge in popularity among Canadian readers. Kobo, a prominent online retailer for e-books and audiobooks, has observed significant sales growth in titles that have recently made their way to the screen. One such example is the adaptation of the hockey romance novel “Heated Rivalry” by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid, which has been transformed into a successful Crave television series. Additionally, the upcoming movie rendition of Emily Bronte’s classic gothic novel “Wuthering Heights,” featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has also sparked a notable increase in book sales.
Deandra Lalonde, Kobo’s Content Sales Lead of North America, highlighted the impact of social media fandoms on these adaptations, emphasizing the role of platforms like TikTok and Instagram in driving engagement and interest in the original books. The recent success of “Heated Rivalry” on screen led to a remarkable surge in e-book sales, with a notable 265% increase in the first two days after the show premiered in Canada. Print sales have also seen a staggering rise, with Indigo reporting a remarkable 5,805% increase in sales for Reid’s book series post-television adaptation.
The anticipation surrounding the release of the movie adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” has similarly boosted book sales, with a nearly 600% increase since the beginning of the year. Despite some controversy over casting decisions and on-set dynamics, the buzz surrounding the film has piqued interest among readers and movie enthusiasts alike.
In Vancouver, bookseller Mary-Ann Yazedjian noted the growing trend of audiences seeking out books after viewing their screen adaptations, with titles like “Heated Rivalry” drawing in new readers to bookstores. The phenomenon of viewers transitioning to readers was exemplified by Lionel Zahrai, who explored the additional depth and character insights offered by the book version of “Heated Rivalry” after watching the show.
Book-to-screen adaptations serve as a bridge for introducing stories to a wider audience, capturing both existing fans of the source material and newcomers. The future looks promising for upcoming adaptations like Suzanne Collins’ “Sunrise on the Reaping” and Andy Weir’s “Project Hail Mary,” which are expected to generate substantial interest upon their release.
As the trend of book-to-screen adaptations continues to thrive, the question remains: to read the book first or wait for the adaptation? Only time will reveal the impact of these adaptations on the literary landscape and audience preferences.