Tahmima Anam’s upcoming novel Good Books is heading for television, with the author joining Emmy-nominated writer and producer Alison Brown to adapt the story. Brown’s credits include Emily in Paris, Younger and Upload.
According to Variety, production companies Pacesetter Productions and Kudos are developing the adaptation of Anam’s novel, which explores the inner workings of the publishing industry. The report, citing sources, says Anam will work on the screen adaptation with Brown.
The novel was first announced at the Edinburgh Book Festival, where Anam took part in several panel discussions. During the festival, UK publisher Canongate acquired the book for publication in 2028. Scribner, Canongate’s frequent US publishing partner, secured the North American rights.
When announcing the deal, the publisher described Good Books as “The Devil Wears Prada” meets “Yellowface”. The novel explores how books are made, who gets to shape the publishing world and the struggle with imposter syndrome. It also examines mothers, daughters and the people who take on parental roles in their lives.
The story follows Raya Chatterji, who works at a bookshop in New York. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Prue McNeill, described as London’s most respected literary agent. The encounter opens the door to a new career and a return to the city where Raya was born. It also brings her face to face with secrets from her past.
Pacesetter Productions, founded by Jessica Rhoades, recently produced Peacock’s spy thriller series Ponies. The company has also partnered with Charlie Brooker on the hit series Black Mirror and the upcoming comedy Cunk on Cinema.
Kudos, part of Banijay, is behind several notable British television productions, including House of Guinness, SAS: Rogue Heroes and Grantchester.
Anam is best known for her Bengal trilogy, which includes the acclaimed novels A Golden Age and The Good Muslim. She has received the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book and the O. Henry Award. Her novel Uprising was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.
She has also been named a Granta Best of Young British Novelist and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Anam trained as an anthropologist at Harvard University.
