I like to start each year with a reading goal. For example, last year I focused on historical mysteries published within the last five years to get me in the mood for adding applicable comps to my upcoming query (I found two great ones BTW).
Rules for 2025 Reading List:
- The movie must be an adult book adaptation.
- If I’ve watched the movie, I can’t have read the book.
- If I’ve read the book, I can’t have watched the movie.
- The movie premiered in the same decade the book was published.
- Read the book and watch its movie adaptation from 1920 – 2019.
- Post reviews of the book & movie on Substack, & my reviews page.
Reading List:
| Book | Publication Date | Movie | Premiere Date |
| The Wind | 1925 | The Wind | 1928 |
| Gone With the Wind | 1936 | Gone With the Wind | 1939 |
| Mildred Pierce | 1941 | Mildred Pierce | 1945 |
| Peyton Place | 1956 | Peyton Place | 1957 |
| Rosemary’s Baby | 1967 | Rosemary’s Baby | 1968 |
| Jaws | 1974 | Jaws | 1975 |
| Less Than Zero | 1985 | Less Than Zero | 1987 |
| Devil in a Blue Dress | 1990 | Devil in a Blue Dress | 1995 |
| Mystic River | 2001 | Mystic River | 2003 |
| Light Between Oceans | 2012 | Light Between Oceans | 2016 |
L.M. Elm, Historical Novelist 