Read the books all of your favorite Prime Video shows are based on for free
· New York PostIt’s no secret that Amazon started as a bookstore, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that many of the originals produced by Amazon Studios for Prime Video are based on books.
In fact, some of the buzziest, most talked about shows and movies that Prime Video has to offer are come straight from the page, teen drama “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and the critically acclaimed action series “Reacher” among them.
Whether you’re a reader who wants to see those stories come to life on screen, or a watcher who wants to explore the world of your favorite shows even further, Amazon makes it possible to do those things — and do them for free.
If you’re not already an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can get your first 30 days for free (or your first six months if you’re between the ages of 18 and 24) — Amazon Prime memberships come with included access to everything on the Prime Video platform, including all of the shows we mention below.
As for the books, Amazon owns the audiobook platform Audible, and over there, you can also take advantage of a one-month free trial that includes one book of your choice completely free to keep even if you cancel your subscription.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ based on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ by Jenny Han
Cast: Lola Tung, Jackie Chung, Rachel Blanchard, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Alfredo Narciso, Minnie Mills, Colin Ferguson, Tom Everett Scott, Rain Spencer, Elsie Fisher, Kyra Sedgwick
About the book/show: Belly Conklin is about to turn 16, and she’s headed to her favorite place in the world, Cousins Beach, to spend the summer with her family and the Fishers. Belly’s grown up a lot over the past year, and she has a feeling that this summer is going to be different than all the summers before.
Audiobook narrator: Lola Tung
Audiobook run time: 6 hours
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ based on ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ by Casey McQuiston
Cast: Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, Uma Thurman
About the book/movie: “Red, White & Royal Blue” centers around Alex, the president’s son, and Britain’s Prince Henry whose long-running feud threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. When the rivals are forced into a staged truce, their icy relationship begins to thaw and the friction between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.
Audiobook narrator: Ramon de Ocampo
Audiobook run time: 12 hours and 15 minutes
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LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘My Lady Jane’ based on ‘My Lady Jane’ by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand
Cast: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Anna Chancellor, Rob Brydon, Jordan Peters, Kate O’Flynn, Abbie Hern, Henry Ashton, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent
About the book/movie: “My Lady Jane” features a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history, because sometimes history needs a little help.
At 16, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be queen of England.
Like that could go wrong.
Audiobook narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Audiobook run time: 13 hours and 46 minutes
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘The Idea of You’ based on ‘The Idea of You’ by Robinne Lee
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine
About the book/movie: “The Idea of You” centers on Solène, a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.
Audiobook narrator: Robinne Lee
Audiobook run time: 11 hours and 55 minutes
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LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘My Fault’ based on ‘My Fault: Culpable, Book 1’ by Mercedes Ron
Cast: Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara
About the book/movie: Noah must leave her town, boyfriend and friends to move into her mom’s new husband’s mansion. There, she meets her new stepbrother Nick and their personalities clash from the very beginning. But the attraction they feel will lead them to live a forbidden relationship, where their rebellious and tormented tempers will turn their worlds upside down, making them fall madly in love.
Audiobook narrator: Hannah Carmona, Hugo Locke
Audiobook run time: 12 hours and 32 minutes
STREAM THE MOVIE
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ based on ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Cast: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Camila Morrone, Suki Waterhouse, Will Harrison, Josh Whitehouse, Sebastian Chacon, Nabiyah Be, Tom Wright, Timothy Olyphant
About the book/movie: In 1977, Daisy Jones & The Six were on top of the world. Fronted by two heat seeking missiles in Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne, the band had risen from obscurity to fame. And then, after a sold-out show at Chicago’s Soldier Field, they called it quits. Now, decades later, the band members finally agree to reveal the truth. This is the story of how an iconic band imploded at the height of its powers.
Audiobook narrator: Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber
Audiobook run time: 9 hours and 3 minutes
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘Reacher’ Season 1 based on ‘Killing Floor: Jack Reacher, Book 1’ by Lee Child
Cast: Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald, Chris Webster, Bruce McGill, Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, Shaun Sipos, Ferdinand Kingsley, Robert Patrick
About the book/movie: When retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly conspiracy full of dirty cops, shady businessmen and scheming politicians. With nothing but his wits, he must figure out what is happening in Margrave, Georgia.
Audiobook narrator: Dick Hill
Audiobook run time: 17 hours and 47 minutes
“Reacher” Season 2 is based on “Bad Luck and Trouble,” while the upcoming Season 3 will be based on “Persuader.”
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘The Wheel of Time’ based on ‘The Eye of the World’ by Robert Jordan
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney
About the book/movie: The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy with the power to tip the balance between Light and Dark forever. They must choose whether to trust this stranger – and each other – with the fate of the world before the Dark One breaks out of His prison, and the Last Battle begins.
Audiobook narrator: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Audiobook run time: 29 hours and 57 minutes
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘Expats’ based on ‘The Expatriates’ by Janice Y.K. Lee
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, Brian Tee, Tiana Gowen, Bodhi del Rosario, Ruby Ruiz, Amelyn Pardenilla, Jack Huston
About the book/show: Set against the complex tapestry of Hong Kong residents, “Expats” depicts a multifaceted group of women after a single encounter sets off a chain of life-altering events that leaves everyone navigating the intricate balance between blame and accountability.
Audiobook narrator: Ann Marie Lee
Audiobook run time: 13 hours and 17 minutes
STREAM THE SHOW
LISTEN ON AUDIBLE
‘Cross’ based on ‘Along Came a Spider’ by James Patterson
Cast: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings
About the book/show: “Cross” is a crime thriller that follows the investigations of brilliant forensic psychologist and DC Metro Detective Alex Cross. Together with his best friend and partner Detective John Sampson, Cross delves into the psyches of America’s most insidious killers while fighting to protect his family from the dangers of the criminal world.
Audiobook narrator: Idris Elba
Audiobook run time: 11 hours and 1 minute
“Cross” begins streaming on Prime Video on November 14.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
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