English
Tahmima Anam’s forthcoming novel Good Books is heading to television before it even reaches bookstore shelves. The project, set in the competitive world of publishing, is currently in development with Pacesetter Productions and Kudos, according to reports from Variety.
A Publishing World Story Comes to Screen
Anam is adapting the novel alongside Emmy-nominated writer and producer Alison Brown. Brown’s previous credits include Emily in Paris, Younger, and Upload. The collaboration brings together two experienced storytellers with strong track records in both literary and screen work.
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The story follows Raya Chatterji, a young woman working at a New York bookshop. Her life changes after she meets Prue McNeill, London’s most respected literary agent. The encounter leads Raya to a new career, a return to her birth city, and a confrontation with secrets she left behind.
Publishers have described Good Books as a blend of The Devil Wears Prada and Yellowface. The novel explores how books get made, who gets to make them, imposter syndrome, and the complex bonds between mothers, daughters, and the figures who stand in for them.
The Novel’s Publishing Journey
Anam first announced Good Books at the Edinburgh Book Festival, where she also appeared on multiple panels. During the festival, UK publisher Canongate confirmed it had signed the book. Publication is currently scheduled for 2028. Canongate’s frequent US partner Scribner later acquired the North American rights.
The Production Companies Behind the Project
Pacesetter Productions, founded by Jessica Rhoades, has a strong recent track record. The company produced Peacock’s spy thriller series Ponies. It also partners with Charlie Brooker as a producer on both Black Mirror and the upcoming comedy Cunk on Cinema, featuring Philomena Cunk.
Kudos, part of the Banijay group, is one of the UK’s most established television producers. The company’s credits include House of Guinness, SAS: Rogue Heroes, and Grantchester. Together, the two production companies bring considerable experience to the Good Books adaptation.
About Tahmima Anam
Anam is the author of the Bengal trilogy, which includes her celebrated debut 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 earned a shortlist spot for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.
In addition to her fiction work, Anam holds recognition as a Granta Best of Young British Novelist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she trained as an anthropologist at Harvard University. Her literary background and deep understanding of storytelling make her a natural fit to lead the screen adaptation of Good Books.
