Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

I wanted to write a post of my favorite Disney movies, but in book form and for adults. I thought about all my favorite Disney movies and found books that are retellings of Disney classics. So essentially Disney for adults.

Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

Fairytale retellings are TOTALLY a thing right now. Almost every day a new book catches my eye with a twist on a beloved tale. Disney is known for turning popular folklore and stories into animated movies. These adult retellings of Disney classics are the movies that we loved, but in a book!

Kirsten and I started discussing which adult novels reminded us of our favorite Disney classics, this post essentially made itself. Adult Disney books? Yes, Please

Adult Retellings of Disney Classics: Original Classics

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Sleeping Beauty is a tale that is truly universal. There have been countless retellings over the years, but Jane Yolen’s is by far the darkest and most unique. Rebecca loved to hear her grandmother tell the story of Briar Rose but got upset when she realized her grandmother’s story was different than the version her friends knew. On her deathbed, her grandmother confesses that she is Briar Rose.

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It does not trivialize the atrocities of that time but rather, it makes the subject more approachable to a younger audience.  Beautifully written and well done. This is one of the books for a 13-year-old that adults will love and a must-read from WWII books for kids!

Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Fairy Tale Retellings / Books about the Holocaust / Classic Book Retellings / Fun Books for Teens

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Aside from the obvious circus theme we have going on here, there is a magical quality to both stories. Dumbo features the fantastical elephant flying, talking animals, and the like. Night Circus, ups the ante with performers who can literally do magic. Both stories feature love throughout, be it the mother/child bond or a more amorous affection between lovers.

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Every word captivated me from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. The story was magical- both literally and figuratively and the descriptions are so vivid. This is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read this book a few times and each time, I get something different from the story.

Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of all Time / The Best Carnival and Circus Books / Books Like the Hunger Games / Books Like the Night Circus / Cozy Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first full-length Disney movie ever made. It is a true classic and a fairy tale in every sense of the word. If you are looking for adult Disney books, Mirror Mirror is Gregory Maquire’s retelling of the Disney classic with his modern spin.

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Gregory Maguire is a master of twisted fairy tales. He is the genius behind Wicked. While this Disney retelling is not as well known, it is a must if you loved watching snow white as a child.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

This was the first pairing that came to mind when we decided to do a post on Disney books for adults. Theodosia has been left an orphan after her mother, the queen, was brutally murdered before her eyes. She is given the new title of Ash princess and forced to wear a crown of ashes that will fall apart and cover her with soot to embarrass her. It also serves as a reminder to those that were once loyal. I’m not sure you could get much closer to Cinderella if you tried.

Ash Princess

I read this young adult fantasy novel in just two days and then passed it on to my son who loved it too.  This is a great YA fantasy book about royals and the first in a trilogy series.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics / The Ultimate List of Books about Royalty

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Alice in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll over a century ago, but did you know Alice was based on a real girl? 10-year-old Alice Liddell Hargreaves was the inspiration behind Carroll’s famed novels and she is the subject of Benjamin’s book. The story is set when Alice is eighty-one and looking back on her life and the adventures she has had on her real journey – Life.

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This is a fantastic historical fiction perfect for those wanting to peek behind the veil of Carroll’s work. I loved the peek into the real Alice.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

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This book was one of my favorite reads when it came! Weylyn Grey is orphaned and raised by wolves. He has an amazing ability to communicate with animals. Like Mogali, Weylen must learn to navigate the world and find his place. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances reminds me of a modern take on the Jungle book and is a perfect choice in Disney books for adults- especially if you are a fan of magical realism.

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This is a book unlike any book that I have read. It has a touch of magical realism that makes it all the more special. The characters and the plot are so well-written, I loved every minute of this book.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics /Adult Novels Reminiscent of Childhood Classics

Disney Books for Adults: Fairy Tale Re-tellings

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The classic tale of Beauty and the Beast has been re-told for centuries. The story of the terrible monster who changes when he learns to receive love has been made into books, television shows, and movies. A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of the retellings of Disney classics that has taken on a life of its own.

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I love a Beauty and the Beast retelling and love a good fantasy romance. Put them together in a book written by Sarah J. Maas and you get a fantastic story.

The first book is just a warm-up for the rest of the series. Initially, you think you know where this story is headed, but I promise that it will take so many twists and turns, that you will not want to put this book (and the rest of the series) down.

Find this book in: Popular Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books / Sarah J Maas Books in Order / Fairy Tale Retellings / Best Books by Jewish Writers / Best Adult Fantasy Novels / ACOTAR Books in order

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This book was such a surprise in the wonderful way that it related to the original tale of the little mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen (no pun intended). Generations of women have tried to fight the curse that has followed them since the little mermaid herself. This story is well-written and has a great modern take!

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I love this take on the story of The Little Mermaid. It was always my favorite Disney movie growing up so it is the perfect adult Disney book– especially if you love mermaid books.

Find this book in: Retelling of Disney Classics

Aladdin

Aladdin is a folk tale that originates in the Middle East. Aladdin and the magic lamp is a classic. The City of Brass is an AMAZING fantasy that has everything you loved about Aladdin. Nahri has never believed in magic when she accidentally summons a djinn. This is the perfect book about genies and Arabian nights.

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I read this book a few years ago when we first started the blog. This book was one of the books that got me back into reading fantasy, one of my favorite genres to read.

Find this book in: Mythology Books / Books about Con Artists / Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / Novels Set in Egypt / Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

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Cress is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles. Cress is kept by herself in a satellite with only screens as company. It is in the future and in space, but it is loosely based on the story of Rapunzel. If you love a twisted fairytale, this one is for you. 

Cress

I love the entire Lunar Chronicles series. Cress is the third book and has such a great sci-fi spin. This is perfect for anyone who loves a twisted fairy tale. The characters from each of the books carry throughout the series which makes it get better and better!

Find this book in: Books Like the Lunar Chronicles / Adult Disney Books

frog prince

When Leigh discovers her boyfriend is the would-be Prince of Austria living in self-imposed exile, she doesn’t think twice. After all, Austria no longer has a monarchy, but when parliament moves to reinstate the throne, her boyfriend turns into a frog once again overnight and she’s along for the ride.

The Frog Prince

I found The Frog Prince as a newly minted mom immersed in the cycle of midnight feedings and loved it so much, I often opted to read a few more pages instead of catching up on much-needed sleep.

Find this book in: Royal Romance Books / Adult Retelling of Disney Classics

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Frozen, the worldwide phenomenon, was originally based on the story The Snow Queen. There was definitely no singing, no Sven, and no Olaf. The sisters did not save each other with love. 

Rather, the girl saves the boy when she thaws his frozen heart. In the classic tale by CS Lewis, the snow queen is the villain! We love the different takes on this story in this Disney book for Adults and both of these are classics themselves.

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The iconic book is actually the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. However, since the first book is technically a prequel, I consider this the first and it can be read independently of the rest of the books in the series.

Find this book in: Witch Books for Kids / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Classic Kids Books / Children’s Books About Winter / Christmas Chapter Books / Best Books for 11-year-olds / Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

Adult Disney Books Based on Books

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The Great Mouse Detective was an underrated classic in my opinion. A clear take on Sherlock Holmes, the story revolves around a mouse named Basil who lives on…yep, Baker Street. He tries to solve the mystery of the kidnapped toy-maker and deals with his arch-nemesis Ratigan.

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is also a Holmes-inspired tale, specifically, this story (and the subsequent series) features Mary Russell, a retired Holmes’ neighbor, and eventual wife. As adult Disney books go, this is one of our favorites.

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I adore this historical mystery book series, as does my dad who is a mystery reader exclusively. This series has more than a dozen books already, each better than the last. I love seeing Mary, a retired Holmes’ neighbor, and Sherlock’s relationship change over the series as Mary hones her skills. Together they solve some very clever mysteries that are as good as Doyle’s originals. What I love about these is Mary is an intellectual match for the great Holmes – total girl power!

Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Fiction / Best Historical Mystery Books / Ultimate List of Mystery Books / British Mysteries

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Gnomeo & Juliet is a more recent Disney movie edition and features the retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in the world of garden gnomes in warring backyards. Disney takes some creative liberties with Shakespeare’s tale of woe, but it’s still a retelling.

Fortier’s retelling of the same tale is my favorite retelling of all. It takes place in a dual timeline of present-day and 1340 in Siena, Italy. The present-day timeline revolves around the descendants of the real Romeo and Juliet trying to break the curse.

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I ADORE this book set in Italy and have read it numerous times. I can’t put my finger on why this story makes my top 10 favorite books, but it’s a comfort read that I go to whenever I need a pick-me-up. I re-read it again and again! It has a little bit of everything – romance, a mystery, a contemporary and historical element.

There is something so fairytale-like in this book. It is part historical fiction, part cozy mystery and 100% delight.

Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Ultimate List of Romance Books / Books Like Outlander / Kirsten’s Favorite Books of All Time / Cozy Mystery Books

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I have loved Roman and Greek mythology since I was a little girl, maybe it was because of Disney’s take on Hercules, or maybe it was because of my love of Du’Lauries Greek Myths. This love has followed me my whole life, The Odyssey is one of my favorite books and now Madeline Miller’s Circe is creeping up the ranks. It features the goddess Circe and her life of exile.

Circe

The Odyssey is one of my all-time favorite books and I think I read Du’Laires Book of Greek Myths more than any other book when I was in middle school. I ADORED Circe because it has all my favorite things about Greek mythology but for adults!

I am not a huge mythology buff like Kirsten is so I loved this book without ever reading the Odyssey. I will pause so you can gasp. It is true, I have never read the Odyssey and loved this book for Miller’s fantastic storytelling ability.

Find this book in: Greek Mythology / Books Set at the Beach / Classic Book Retellings / Best Books 2018 / Adult Fantasy Novels / Mythology Books

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The Sword and the Stone is Disney’s attempt at turning the legend of King Arthur into a children’s movie. No romance, no fighting, but still a bit about Merlin and, well, the sword in the stone.

The Mists of Avalon is not for children under ANY circumstances, unlike some of the other Disney books for adults. Bradley’s sweeping saga is filled with magic, fighting, scheming, and romance in a book that is riveting and unexpectedly dark. The book is a reimagining of Arthurian legend whose scope is a fantastic achievement. More impressive is Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote 7 other tomes in the Avalon series.

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This was my first high fantasy book series, which I routinely think about. I read it in middle school (which I absolutely shouldn’t have) and devoured this tome in days. It captivated my imagination unlike anything I had ever read before.

Find this book in: Books Set in Cornwall / Fairy Tale Retellings / Lake Books / Witch Books / Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

Fantasy / Sci-fi Disney Books for Adults

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This pair in retellings of Disney Classics is a little more untraditional because, on the one hand, you have a boy looking for his family on the Day of the Dead and on the other hand, you have Richard Mayhew. He finds himself unexpectedly non-existent to people in London and trapped in Neverwhere, the dark underground of London (London Below). 

Richard must go on a quest with Lady Door to save the world if he wants to save himself. Much like Coco’s quest to find his past and learn about himself, Richard must look at himself and decide who he is.

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I could not stop reading this book even if I found it to be very dark and creepy. It is like a strange dream that you hope you wake from sooner rather than later.

Find this book in: Adult Books Similar to Harry Potter / Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

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Badass warrior women. Need I say more? Mulan is arguably the strongest, fiercest Disney heroine of all. She LITERALLY fights the bad guys and goes to war for her country (and to protect her father’s legacy.)  Meanwhile over in the land of GOT, there are about a dozen hardcore lady warriors who can stand up to any man. Also, Mulan and Daenerys both have dragons – so there!

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This book is EPIC and the series is completely EPIC as well. There are a lot of topics that are certainly not appropriate for kids, but if you love fantasy novels and you have not read this one, what are you waiting for?

Find this book in: Books Like Game of Thrones / Best Adult Fantasy Novels / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / Dragon Books for Adults

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This is a pretty obvious correlation. Wreck-It Ralph takes place in the world of video games, more specifically inside all the video games of the arcade world. Ralph doesn’t like his lot in life where he is the villain in his video game. He goes off to test his hand at being a hero somewhere else.

Cline’s book also takes place in the world of video games, though not quite as literally. Set in 2045, Wade Watts lives to play a virtual reality game called Utopia where he is trying to unlock a puzzle and survive blurring the lives of what is and isn’t real.

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While this book is technically set in the future, everything about it screams 1980. As someone who lived her teenage years in the 80s, I consider myself an expert. This book is so unlike anything else I have read. It is smart and well-written. As a sci-fi, I feel like this would appeal to those who do not normally read sci-fi as well.

Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / Young Adult Dystopian Novels / Books Set in the 80s / Best Books About Puzzles / Books Like the Lunar Chronicles

Historical Fiction Disney Books for Adults

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A newly released book, I was Anastasia, focuses on the life of the most famous Anastasia imposter of all. The novel is a dual timeline going backward from Ana’s perspective and forward from Anastasia’s until the timelines meet. We get glimpses into what really happened when the Romanovs were overthrown and what would influence a person to claim to be someone else.

Anastasia

I am so happy that this is now a Disney film because it is a favorite from the list of Disney books for adults. As a kid, I always loved the movie Anastasia and was so happy to read this book. In this story, we get glimpses into what really happened when the Romanovs were overthrown and what would influence a person to claim to be someone else.

Find this book in: Adult Retallings of Disney Classics / Books Like the Crown / Books About the Romonov Family

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The story of the rescuers is about two mice rescuing an orphan child named Penny from a kidnapper who has sent her to retrieve a diamond. While the book Orphan Train has no mice, it is the more serious side of American history. Children were sent via train from the east to the Midwest from the late 1800s to 1929. 

Both books look at Orphans in the United States. Both the movie and this pick from adult Disney books are equally touching.

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This is such a sad time in American history and yet, this book is written is such a compelling way, it was hard to put it down. It is the perfect choice to read if you are looking for a Disney retelling to read as an adult.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics / Adult Novels Reminiscent of Childhood Classics

Robin Hood

Who cares that Disney’s version of this tale cast animals in every role. Robin Hood is Robin Hood and it’s as adventurous as it is romantic. I adore this film growing up, and when I got older, the Kevin Costner version (excuse me while I clean up this drool.)

Watson’s tale focuses more on Maid Marian – a young widow determined to keep her lands, her fortune, and her life out of the hands of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. She turns to the prince of thieves for help in protecting her fortune and ends up giving away her heart instead.

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I love this take on the classic Robin Hood Story. I think everything is better in book form and this is no exception

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

Brave is a fantastic story set in Scotland about a princess who doesn’t want to sit around doing typical girl things. She wants to be a warrior like the rest of her clansmen. In a bid to get her mother to understand her feelings, she turns to magic to disastrous effect.

The Lost Queen also takes place in Scotland and involves magic, but this tale is a twist on Arthurian legend – the main protagonist is a little-known Scottish queen who has to fight to save her kingdom. As Disney books for adults go, these stories are pretty similar.

the lost queen

I love historical fiction books and I also love stories about King Arthur. This series is perfect for me, especially because it also takes place in Scotland. This is a triple win in my books.

When I first got this book, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it. I had a very difficult time reading it since I could not pronounce any of the names. As soon as I started listening to this book, I was immediately drawn into the story. If you love historical fiction or historical fantasy, I would highly suggest listening to this series.

Find this book in: Best Books About Scotland / Books Like A Discovery of Witches / The Best Witch Books / Books like Outlander / Mythology Books

Contemporary Fiction Adult Disney Books

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Jackie and I literally high-fived over this analogy – no, Ove does not attempt to fly away from his life by setting his house afloat with balloons. Instead, Ove is trying to attempt to fly away by committing suicide because he wants to die and join his lost love in heaven. The curmudgeon Ove and Up’s Carl are cut from the same cloth for sure. Also, I dare you not to cry during either the movie or the book.

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The love and friendships that develop in this book are almost unmatched, in my opinion. Backman is a master storyteller.

This is a book that allowed me to laugh and cry equally. I loved Ove and his second chance at living life.

Find this book in: Ultimate List of Contemporary Fiction / Books Like A Man Called Ove / Books About Friendship / Jackie’s Top 10 All-Time Favorite Books

I’m still thinking about Castle of Water more than a year after reading this story. The book revolves around two deserted plane passengers who have to forage and live off the land as they try to survive in a tropical paradise.

Tarzan’s plot is a little darker as he is forced to survive the harsh jungle after his parents are killed by a Jaguar. Both tales end up being stories of survival and love. While Castle of Water doesn’t have a soundtrack by Phil Collins, the prose written by Hucklebridge is still a work of art.

Castle of Water

This is a wonderful contemporary fiction book about love and survival.  It is so much more than it appears on the surface. I cried during the ending and have been singing it’s praises ever since. Everyone I’ve ever recommended this one too has had the same response.

I loved how the characters developed in this book. It was surprising and moving.

Find this book in: Kirsten’s Favorite Books / Feel-Good Books / Plane Crash Novels / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Books Set at the Beach

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Bear with us on this one, because it’s logical but not an easily predictable leap. Monster’s Inc. at its core is really about corporate corruption. Think about it, the head guy needs to obtain more power so he makes a backdoor deal with a bad guy to get the job done in the most unethical way possible – in this case, stealing children to make them scream. Totally makes sense right?

So yeah, there are some business lessons for us adults to take-away from the otherwise fuzzy tale of silly furry monsters. The Circle, meanwhile, is about a social network whose founders are trying to get literally everyone in the world to use. They do some pretty dastardly things, though it takes a while for them to flesh out completely in the book. Trust us, these two match up exceedingly well.

The Circle

I don’t usually love sci-fi and this book has a little element of sci-fi in it, but I was sucked into the plot and the lengths people will go to for success.

Find this book in: Adult Retellings of Disney Classics

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If you are looking for adult retellings of Disney classics and are not sure where to start, here are some tips

  • Pick your favorite Disney movie and find the corresponding book for adults
  • Find a Disney movie you have not seen, watch it, and then read the book!
  • Find your favorite genre and pick one of the retellings in that category to read!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best adult retellings of Disney Classics

It would be impossible to pick a favorite from the great list of Disney movie retellings.
1. Juliet
2. A Man Called Ove
3. Mists of Avalon
4. Circe
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses

Epilogue

Which books from retellings of Disney classics are your favorite?

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