Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
BECOME A BOOK EXPERT 📚
  • Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
    See What We’re Reading >

  • 10 Cozy Mystery Audiobooks To Die For
    10 Cozy Mystery Audiobooks To Die For
    Learn More >

  • Books Bans Are on the Rise in America
    Books Bans Are on the Rise in America
    Learn More >
  • <
    Books>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Graphic Novels & Manga
  • The Must-Read Books of 2024
  • Popular Books in Spanish
  • Coming Soon
  • Fiction
  • Classics
  • Romance
  • Literary Fiction
  • Mystery & Thriller
  • Science Fiction
  • Spanish Language Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Biographies & Memoirs
  • Wellness
  • Cookbooks
  • History
  • Spanish Language Nonfiction
  • Series
  • Gray Man
  • Rebel Blue Ranch
  • All Souls
  • A Song of Ice and Fire
  • Penguin Classics
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Kids>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Award Winners
  • The Parenting Book Guide
  • Kids' Corner
  • Books for Middle Graders
  • Trending Series
  • Who Was?
  • Magic Tree House
  • The Last Kids on Earth
  • Mad Libs
  • Planet Omar
  • Beloved Characters
  • The World of Eric Carle
  • Bluey
  • Llama Llama
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Junie B. Jones
  • Peter Rabbit
  • Categories
  • Board Books
  • Picture Books
  • Guided Reading Levels
  • Middle Grade
  • Graphic Novels
  • <
    View All>
  • <

    Popular

  • Trending
  • Trending This Week
  • Romantasy Books To Start Reading Now
  • Page-Turning Series To Start Now
  • Books to Cope With Anxiety
  • Short Reads
  • Anti-Racist Resources
  • Staff Picks
  • Romance
  • Mystery & Thriller
  • Fiction
  • Memoir & Fiction
  • Features & Interviews
  • Emma Brodie Interview
  • James Ellroy Interview
  • Nicola Yoon Interview
  • Qian Julie Wang Interview
  • Deepak Chopra Essay
  • How Can I Get Published?
  • For Book Clubs
  • Reese's Book Club
  • Oprah’s Book Club
  • Guide: Tell Me Everything
  • Guide: James
  • <
  • <
    Authors & Events>
  • Our Authors
  • Michelle Obama
  • Han Kang
  • Emily Henry
  • Dan Brown
  • Colson Whitehead
  • In Their Own Words
  • Qian Julie Wang
  • Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Phoebe Robinson
  • Emma Brodie
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Laura Hankin
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Recommendations>
  • Book Lists
  • The Best Celebrity Book Club Picks of The Year
  • Western Romance Novels
  • Insightful Therapy Books To Read This Year
  • Historical Fiction With Female Protagonists
  • Best Thrillers of All Time
  • Manga and Graphic Novels
  • Articles
  • Start Reading Happy Place
  • How to Make Reading a Habit with James Clear
  • How Can I Get Published?
  • Why Reading Is Good for Your Health
  • 10 Facts About Taylor Swift
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Audio>
  • Popular
  • New Releases
  • Award Winners
  • Coming Soon
  • Featured
  • Memoirs Read by the Author
  • Our Most Soothing Narrators
  • Press Play for Inspiration
  • Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause
  • Listen With the Whole Family
  • <
    View All>
cart
Penguin Random House

Books

Popular


New & Noteworthy

Bestsellers

Graphic Novels & Manga

The Must-Read Books of 2024

Popular Books in Spanish

Coming Soon

Fiction


Classics

Romance

Literary Fiction

Mystery & Thriller

Science Fiction

Spanish Language Fiction

Nonfiction


Biographies & Memoirs

Wellness

Cookbooks

History

Spanish Language Nonfiction

View All >

Series


Gray Man

Rebel Blue Ranch

All Souls

A Song of Ice and Fire

Penguin Classics

View All >

New Releases
New Releases
Learn More >

Kids

Popular


New & Noteworthy

Bestsellers

Award Winners

The Parenting Book Guide

Kids' Corner

Books for Middle Graders

Trending Series


Who Was?

Magic Tree House

The Last Kids on Earth

Mad Libs

Planet Omar

View All >

Beloved Characters


The World of Eric Carle

Bluey

Llama Llama

Dr. Seuss

Junie B. Jones

Peter Rabbit

Categories


Board Books

Picture Books

Guided Reading Levels

Middle Grade

Graphic Novels

View All >

Books for Kids That Celebrate Asian Cultures
Books for Kids That Celebrate Asian Cultures
Learn More >

Popular

Trending


Trending This Week

Romantasy Books To Start Reading Now

Page-Turning Series To Start Now

Books to Cope With Anxiety

Short Reads

Anti-Racist Resources

Staff Picks


Romance

Mystery & Thriller

Fiction

Memoir & Fiction

Features & Interviews


Emma Brodie Interview

James Ellroy Interview

Nicola Yoon Interview

Qian Julie Wang Interview

Deepak Chopra Essay

How Can I Get Published?

For Book Clubs


Reese's Book Club

Oprah’s Book Club

Guide: Tell Me Everything

Guide: James

Books Bans Are on the Rise in America
Books Bans Are on the Rise in America
Learn More >

Authors & Events

Our Authors


Michelle Obama

Han Kang

Emily Henry

Dan Brown

Colson Whitehead

View All >

In Their Own Words


Qian Julie Wang

Patrick Radden Keefe

Phoebe Robinson

Emma Brodie

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Laura Hankin

How To Read More in 2025
How To Read More in 2025
Learn More >
Join Our Authors for Upcoming Events
Join Our Authors for Upcoming Events
Learn More >

Recommendations

Book Lists


The Best Celebrity Book Club Picks of The Year

Western Romance Novels

Insightful Therapy Books To Read This Year

Historical Fiction With Female Protagonists

Best Thrillers of All Time

Manga and Graphic Novels

Articles


Start Reading Happy Place

How to Make Reading a Habit with James Clear

How Can I Get Published?

Why Reading Is Good for Your Health

10 Facts About Taylor Swift

Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
See What We’re Reading >
Jasmine Guillory Books To Read Right Now
Jasmine Guillory Books To Read Right Now
Read More >

Audio

Popular


New Releases

Award Winners

Coming Soon

View All >

Featured


Memoirs Read by the Author

Our Most Soothing Narrators

Press Play for Inspiration

Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause

Listen With the Whole Family

View All >

New Stories to Listen to
New Stories to Listen to
Learn More >
10 Cozy Mystery Audiobooks To Die For
10 Cozy Mystery Audiobooks To Die For
Learn More >
search
Penguin Random House Penguin Random House
cart
search
close search
close search
mobile banner image
The ReadDown

10 Novels Inspired by Shakespeare

by Maria Couto

Although William Shakespeare’s plays were written centuries ago, they still have a prominent relevance in today’s culture — and English classes. Even after hundreds of years worth of changes, their narratives can still be applied to stories today — though with fresh takes and through a modern lens. While the cast of characters and certain storylines may be different, the central themes still shine through as these new characters deal with romance, grief, oppression, and even the supernatural. If you’re looking to experience these plays in a reimagined way, then these 10 adaptations based on the bard’s work have got you covered.

  1. 1
    Hamnet Book Cover Picture
    Add Hamnet to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Hamnet

    by Maggie O'Farrell

    Though he’s never named, a successful playwright from Stratford-upon-Avon (how many could there have been?) mourns the loss of his eleven-year-old son Hamnet — a victim of the bubonic plague. Unlike Shakespeare’s Hamlet — a tale of a man tortured by the loss of his father — Hamnet reverses these roles with a father torn to pieces by the death of his beloved son. With dual timelines that track life before and after Hamnet succumbs to his illness, we not only see how his death shatters the family but also how his father channels his grief through his pen, honoring Hamnet with a play of his very own.
    Hamnet Book Cover Picture
    Add Hamnet to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $18.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  2. 2
    Vinegar Girl Book Cover Picture
    Add Vinegar Girl to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Vinegar Girl

    by Anne Tyler

    In present-day Baltimore, Kate Battista is the daughter of an ingenious scientist and a neglectful father, Dr. Louis Battista. At twenty-nine years old, Kate must keep her house running and her sister taken care of, while her father runs experiments and makes scientific breakthroughs. But when his irreplaceable lab assistant, Pyotr, reveals that his work visa is on the verge of expiration, Dr. Battista hatches a plan to keep him in the country as his lab assistant — and as Kate’s new husband. At first reluctant to help her father, Kate’s icy demeanor is one that warms to Pyotr when he proves he can handle her sting.
    Vinegar Girl Book Cover Picture
    Add Vinegar Girl to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  3. 3
    Hag-Seed Book Cover Picture
    Add Hag-Seed to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Hag-Seed

    by Margaret Atwood

    After the beloved director of the Makeshiweg theater festival, Felix Phillips, is unexpectedly dismissed from his position, he takes it upon himself to seek revenge. Years before, Felix lost his wife Nadia in childbirth, and then his daughter Miranda three years later to meningitis. The pain of the past works its way into his art when he pours himself into a production of The Tempest — that is until he’s blindsided by his scheming assistant, Tony. Now teaching Shakespeare at a prison, Felix revives his production of The Tempest and casts himself in the role of Prospero. With an unsuspecting Tony in the audience, Felix takes one last shot at revenge and redemption.
    Hag-Seed Book Cover Picture
    Add Hag-Seed to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  4. 4
    We That Are Young Book Cover Picture
    Add We That Are Young to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    We That Are Young

    by Preti Taneja

    Set in modern-day New Delhi, the Devraj sisters — Sita, Radha, and Gargi — are pitted against each other by their father to inherit his business and his billions, leaving the sisters with more power in their hands than they can hold.  But, soon after taking over, the sisters drive their family dynasty into the ground, overtaken by the desire for control, and the willingness to do anything to keep it.
    We That Are Young Book Cover Picture
    Add We That Are Young to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $18.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  5. 5
    The Night Circus Book Cover Picture
    Add The Night Circus to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Night Circus

    by Erin Morgenstern

    Le Cirque des Rêves is a spectacle of mystery — it arrives unannounced, seemingly from thin air, and only holds shows at night. Drawing on themes from multiple Shakespearean tragedies and comedies, this is the story of two lifelong competing magicians, trained from birth to destroy the other. When they come of age, both magicians are sent to Le Cirque des Rêves to continue their training and prepare for the upcoming battle. Neither knows who their destined opponent is, or that they are also studying at the circus. When the pair fall in love, unaware of the true consequences, they soon realize that they are players on a very deadly stage.
    The Night Circus Book Cover Picture
    Add The Night Circus to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $19.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  6. 6
    If You Come Softly Book Cover Picture
    Add If You Come Softly to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    If You Come Softly

    by Jacqueline Woodson

    Coming out of a dream, and straight into a flashback, Ellie thinks back to her whirlwind, and secretive, romance with Jeremiah, one of the few Black students at their private school. Despite the obstacles that they know lie ahead, Ellie and Jeremiah begin a relationship. Ellie confides in her sister about their circumstances, who warns that their parents may not react well to Ellie dating a Black boy. But as their relationship progresses, and Ellie works up the courage to tell her parents, it’s viciously taken away — in a Romeo and Juliet adaptation, these violent delights always have violent ends.
    If You Come Softly Book Cover Picture
    Add If You Come Softly to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Hardcover
    $17.99

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  7. 7
    Lady Macbeth Book Cover Picture
    Add Lady Macbeth to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Lady Macbeth

    by Susan Fraser King

    Pregnant and widowed, Lady Rue — the last female descendent of her Scottish royal lineage — is forced to marry her husband’s murderer — MacBeth. Soon after their wedding, the new Lady MacBeth gives birth to a son, a possible heir to the throne. Though cold at first to her new husband, she soon realizes his honorable intentions towards uniting their divided kingdom, and she accepts their marriage as a partnership. But when King Malcolm dies and his throne goes to his tyrannical son Duncan, Lord and Lady MacBeth find themselves in trouble when Duncan’s first order as king is to execute any of his competitors for the throne.
    Lady Macbeth Book Cover Picture
    Add Lady Macbeth to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $16.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  8. 8
    The King of Infinite Space Book Cover Picture
    Add The King of Infinite Space to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The King of Infinite Space

    by Lyndsay Faye

    When his father’s death is unconvincingly ruled a suicide, and his mother mysteriously marries his uncle, Ben Dane is anguished by all of his unanswered questions. Ben turns to his ex-fiancé Lia, and his best friend Horatio for solace and their help to discover the truth behind his beloved father’s death. Although Ben doesn’t see his father’s ghost, he discovers frantic videos that he left behind, fearful that someone was watching him. With chapters that alternate between Ben, Lia, and Horatio’s perspectives, secrets unfold that will give Ben the answers, or reveal something rotten in his state of denial.
    The King of Infinite Space Book Cover Picture
    Add The King of Infinite Space to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  9. 9
    Two Wrongs Make a Right Book Cover Picture
    Add Two Wrongs Make a Right to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Two Wrongs Make a Right

    by Chloe Liese

    Much Ado About Nothing’s Benedict and Beatrice are the blueprint for the enemies-to-lovers trope, and their modern-day counterparts, Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot, follow suit in this contemporary romance. Though the two are convinced that they could not be a worse match, their friends will do anything to get them together. The one solution to put their friends’ crazy ideas to rest? Pretend to fall passionately in love, and then messily and publicly break up. But when fake dating turns to real feelings, Jamie and Bea realize that while opposites attract, they might just be two sides of the same coin.
    Two Wrongs Make a Right Book Cover Picture
    Add Two Wrongs Make a Right to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $19.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  10. 10
    The Dreamers Book Cover Picture
    Add The Dreamers to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Dreamers

    by Karen Thompson Walker

    When college student Kara Sanders returns to her dorm after a night out, she falls asleep — but can’t wake up. Her roommate Mei calls the paramedics when she finds Kara’s perpetually sleeping body. Others become infected with the sleeping virus too, puzzling doctors at the hospital where they rest. But are they really just sleeping, or are they dreaming too? When doctors realize that there is more brain activity happening in these sleeping patients than ever before, panic spreads through town just as quickly as the virus. Not only do they fear falling victim to falling asleep, but entering into dreams that may lead to a brutal awakening.
    The Dreamers Book Cover Picture
    Add The Dreamers to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $18.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

  • Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Pin it
  • SMS
  • Email

More to Explore

See all
BECOME A BOOK EXPERT 📚

Connect

Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House

global.penguinrandomhouse.com

© 2025 Penguin Random House

  • About Us
  • Our Story
  • Our People
  • Our Contributors
  • Locations
  • Management
  • Social Impact
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers
  • Imprints
  • Quick Links
  • Partnerships
  • Media Queries
  • Influencers
  • Company Reads
  • PenguinRandomHouse.biz
  • Email Preferences
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CA Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  • Affiliate Program Disclosure
  • Avoid Publishing Scams
  • Help
  • Publishing Process
  • FAQ
  • Shopping & Shipping FAQ
  • For Educators
  • Subrights
  • Permissions

Connect

Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House

global.penguinrandomhouse.com

© 2025 Penguin Random House

Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

Raise kids who love to read

Brightly

Raise kids who love to read

Today's Top Books

Today's Top Books

Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

An online magazine for today’s home cook

TASTE

An online magazine for today’s home cook

×
My Account
Sign In Create An Account
Hi,
Member Since

Account Overview Recommendations Orders Account Details Email Preferences Bookshelf

Success!

Your account has been created. Upload book purchases, access your personalized book recommendations, and more from here.