Which book boyfriends became on-screen crushes: four recent adaptations and who plays them

Why readers care: book boyfriends arrive with established personalities and signature moments. Casting choices matter because they shape how new fans encounter those characters when a book becomes a film or series. This brief profiles four characters whose screen portrayals renewed interest in their source novels and made them widely discussed "crushes."

Adam Carlsen — the brooding scholar

Garrett Graham — the confident, emotionally available partner

Garrett Graham appears in The Deal (2015) and in the Off Campus series based on that universe. He's an ice-hockey player who combines charisma with emotional intelligence and clear communication — traits readers identify as "green-flag" behavior. Belmont Cameli portrays Garrett in the Off Campus adaptation on Prime, where scenes and lines that emphasize his supportive side helped translate his on-page likability into on-screen appeal.

Conrad Fisher — the yearner who feels deeply

Conrad Fisher is a central figure in Jenny Han's trilogy that began with The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009). He exemplifies the "yearner," a character type defined by persistent longing and emotionally charged gestures such as letters and confessions. Christopher Briney's portrayal in the Prime series captured those intense, romantic beats and brought lines that resonated with readers to life for viewers.

Alex Nilsen — the grump in grumpy×sunshine

What these adaptations did similarly

• Preserved defining character moments: each screen version kept lines and scenes fans recognized, so readers saw familiar beats on screen.
• Reinforced archetypes: brooder, yearner, grump, and green-flag partner were translated through casting choices and performance tone.
• Attracted wider audiences: films and series introduced these characters to viewers who hadn't read the books, expanding each property's cultural footprint.

• Carlsen.
• Off Campus includes Belmont Cameli as Garrett Graham on Prime.
• Prime.
• People We Meet on Vacation's Alex Nilsen is portrayed by Tom Blyth in the Netflix adaptation.

If you already like the books, the screen versions offer recognizable portrayals that emphasize the characters' signature traits. If you haven't read the novels, the adaptations provide a clear introduction to four contemporary romance archetypes brought to life by actors who have become associated with those roles.