We kicked off this episode of the Fully-Booked: Literary Podcast with a bit of a laugh and a sigh. It’s week three of our dark academia theme for September, and let’s just say, it’s been a bit of a dry season for adaptations. No new movies. No TV series rooted in gothic libraries or murder college dorms.
So, what do two podcast hosts do when there’s nothing to binge on? We talk. Specifically, we talk about the books that should be adapted, because we know you’ve thought about this too.
After realizing there was zilch on screen to discuss, we pivoted. Instead of reviewing what exists, we brainstormed the dark academia books that deserve their moment in the spotlight. And, wow, we discovered a lot more than we expected.
Punching “dark academia” into GoodReads brought up page after page of options. Cue the overwhelmed reader spiral: “I want to read this. And this. Wait, this one too…”
The struggle is real. Our TBR piles are massive, our bookshelves are overflowing, and yet we keep buying. We laughed about the separation between buying books and actually reading them; they’re two entirely different hobbies. And don’t even get us started on trying to decide what to read next. It’s chaos.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
The Emotional Attachment To Books Is Real
We might’ve strayed off topic a bit (classic us), but we had a moment of collective reader confession, the inability to let go of books, even the ones we didn’t love. There’s something oddly sentimental about a book you hated but still powered through. It becomes a sort of badge of honor.
A reminder that you survived something soul-sucking but didn’t DNF it.
Meaghan shared that she can’t bring herself to donate even the bad ones. Shirin, on the other hand, does periodic sweeps of his bookshelves to make room. We joked about keeping them in the “dusty corner” like some kind of ex we’re not quite ready to block.
One of the funniest parts? Comparing readers to non-readers, the kind of people who read a book once and then just… give it away. Like, what?
To us, books are more than just entertainment. They’re little emotional time capsules. You can look at a spine and remember exactly what you were going through when you read it. That nostalgia, that emotional tie, it’s hard to toss away.
RelatedWhat Is Dark Academia And Why We Can’t Get Enough Of It?
Dream Adaptations: Dark Academia Books That Could Work On Screen
Now let’s get to the meat of it: the dark academia books we think would translate really well as adaptations. We started with a few obvious picks:
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
This one came up fast, and often. We love Bardugo, and the Alex Stern series is already so cinematic. It’s set at Yale with secret societies and magic woven through a gritty academic backdrop. Themes of elitism, outsider status, and power dynamics are perfect for the screen. It’s got enough fantasy to intrigue, but not so much that it would require massive world-building. With three books in the series, it could easily become a limited TV series.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletterBunny by Mona Awad
This is a wild ride, and we think it would make an eerie, culty thriller. A scholarship student in an MFA program gets pulled into a group of strange, pink-obsessed girls who call each other “Bunny” and act like one twisted hive mind. There’s horror, there’s psychological tension, and with a sequel (We Love You, Bunny) on the way, it’s prime for adaptation.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
This one’s a mix of dark academia, secret societies, and magic, centered around six talented individuals chosen to protect the lost knowledge of the Library of Alexandria. The characters are well-developed, and the stakes are high. It would make for a killer ensemble cast and a visually stunning show. Plus, who isn’t fascinated by the mythos around the Library of Alexandria?
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Set in Cambridge, this thriller follows Mariana, a group therapist, investigating a murder that draws her into a disturbing world of idolized professors and obsessive students. It’s got the mysterious “maidens,” a charismatic (and possibly dangerous) Greek tragedy professor, and enough psychological twists to keep viewers hooked. This one could be a tight, single-season show or a solid film.
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The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
A horror-slanted take on dark academia, The Honeys is about identity, trauma, and the eerie environment of a prestigious boarding school. The main character returns after their twin dies under strange circumstances, and we dive into a narrative that involves hive minds, creepy classmates, and gender identity exploration. We love the emotional depth and psychological horror; it could really shine on screen.
The Classics, The Debatable Picks, And The Ones We’re Curious About
At this point, we started getting into the muddy waters of genre definitions. Is Frankenstein dark academia?
What about The Picture of Dorian Gray or Wuthering Heights? Some people lump them in, but we’re not entirely sold. We agree there’s overlap in themes, obsession, decay, and morality, but do they fit the dark academia vibe? Depends on how you look at it.
We also talked about:
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
A psychological thriller set in the 1970s, centered around two university students whose relationship grows intense, toxic, and dangerous. With strong chemistry between the leads and the right direction, this could make for a moody, haunting adaptation, especially for fans of slow-burn psychological dramas.
And we briefly touched on Saltburn, which isn’t an adaptation, but definitely touches on the themes of class, obsession, and elitism that dark academia loves to explore. Not all of us were fans, but it sparked conversation about how sometimes these stories look good on paper (or screen) but don’t say much that’s new.
RelatedReaders Want Closure: The Rise of Standalone Books After Series Fatigue
Let’s Face It: Studios Are Cowards (Sometimes)
We wrapped things up on a slightly frustrated note. Even though there are so many books that would make incredible dark academia adaptations, studios are often too risk-averse to make them happen. Unless there’s a guaranteed return, they won’t touch it. And honestly? That’s a bummer.
We’re getting sequel fatigue. Remake fatigue. It’s time for something new. And this genre, with its rich characters, moody settings, and layered themes, is ripe for the picking.
If someone in Hollywood is reading this: just take a chance. We’ll watch it. We’ll talk about it. We’ll probably podcast about it too.
In the meantime, we’ve got one more episode coming up to round out our dark academia theme for the month. After that, we’ll shift into spooky October mode, because, of course, we will.
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