5 Books That Completely Reimagined Wuthering Heights

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Emerald Fennell's 2026 film adaptation of Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" has been all anyone can talk about since it hit theaters on Feb. 13. The film has garnered some contrasting opinions from viewers, with some criticizing the remake for its elaborate aesthetic and others praising the rendition for its tragic themes. "Understanding that it is an adaptation of the novel, and not a direct remake, I still didn't like it," one viewer told Valpo Torch. However, another added, "I loved the acting, sets, story and tragedy." But it seems the controversy has not put people off of the film, starring Margot Robbie, whose "Wuthering Heights" press tour style may be even better than her "Barbie" outfits. Despite its divisive reviews, the film has already generated more than $120 million worldwide.

If this isn't up your alley, the good news is that there are five books out there that have successfully reimagined "Wuthering Heights". "Here on Earth" by Alice Hoffman will satisfy any gothic romance craving. "What Souls Are Made Of" by Tasha Suri, part of the Remixed Classics series, reimagines "Wuthering Heights" through an Indian lens. For a fantasy twist, readers can enjoy "Ruthless Devotion" by Rebecca Kenney. In "For No Mortal Creature" by Keshe Chow, Brontë's classic is retold through a world of dark romance and Chinese superstitions. "The Favorites" by Layne Fargo portrays Cathy and Heathcliff's turbulent relationship through professional ice skaters competing at the Winter Olympics in the 21st century. Whatever you're craving, these books are guaranteed to fix the Brontë blues.

"Here on Earth" by Alice Hoffman follows the book's protagonist, March Murray, who returns to her hometown and to her ex-lover, Hollis. March spent her entire childhood with Hollis, who might have been a street child if her father hadn't taken him in. While Hollis and March were raised like siblings, their love was more than familial. Almost 20 years later, now a mother to her teenage daughter, March rekindles her relationship with her adolescent lover. Throughout the novel, she reflects on her past mistakes and tries to atone for her actions.

One reader recognized that, similar to Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," it's clear Hoffman wrote the gothic romance through the female gaze. "First off, I loved this atmospheric, picturesque tale, meant for a women's audience," they wrote, pointing out how the novel also touched on the topic of men being unable to process their pain and dealing with their sorrow alone. "Now that I'm older and have reread both Wuthering Heights and this book, I can see the parallels and what Alice Hoffman was trying to do, and it works brilliantly," another reader said. Published in 1997 — 150 years after "Wuthering Heights," which was released in 1847 — the reader explained that Hoffman was able to deeply explore some themes that Brontë was only able to allude to. While the novel brings Brontë's plot to further extremes, Hoffman still maintains the unpretty themes and dark romance within "Wuthering Heights" itself.

As part of the Remixed Classics series, "What Souls Are Made Of" sees Tasha Suri transform Brontë's portrayal of Cathy and Heathcliff from 1786 Yorkshire to South Asia. In her retelling, Suri characterizes Cathy as the British-Indian daughter of a disgraced woman, and Heathcliff as the British-Indian son of a sailor who was abandoned by his father. As the pair inevitably fall in love, Cathy struggles to choose between her responsibilities and desires, and Heathcliff battles a grief-stricken past. Like Brontë, Suri explores themes of racism and societal expectations. However, in this reimagined piece, the author experiments with deeper connotations of colonization, marginalized backgrounds, gender roles, and conformity.

Published in 2022, upon reading Suri's reimagining, readers were particularly fond of the historical research that went into curating the piece. "First thing I loved about this novel is how it doesn't shy away from the horrors of colonialism and the rule of the East India Company on Indians," a reader said. However, while exploring such harrowing concepts, Suri made sure to preserve Brontë's romantic thread. "It blends fiction, history and the tragedy of the classic and adds the yearning of freedom, love and overcoming your own past to leave readers an emotional love story," the reader added. As Suri combines harsh realities with romance, this young adult retelling could be up there with some of the most diverse romance books to broaden your reading horizons.

With the book's description leading with, "Cathy Earnshaw's got the devil inside her," it's clear that "Ruthless Devotion" by Rebecca Kenney only extends Brontë's themes of dark romance and toxic relationships. After spending her entire life living in a cult, Cathy starts to realize that her entire community has been built on deceit. While she is dealing with the feeling of impending doom, a grief-stricken Cathy meets traumatised Heathcliff. Reaching for Heathcliff would be the biggest sin she could ever commit, but desperate to make a like-minded acquaintance, Cathy cannot resist.

With nearly a four-star rating on Goodreads, Kenney has succeeded at incorporating new themes of fundamentalism and spiritual sacrifice into the original setup of "Wuthering Heights". "I loved the subtle world-building and the mix of supernatural elements, religion, and mythology," one reader wrote. By setting the novel in the boggy forests of South Carolina's Lowcountry, Kenney mirrors Brontë's use of pathetic fallacy, using the moody setting to intensify the emotional landscape of her characters. "The setting is so LUSH. Small-town secrets, backwoods cults, and this lingering sense that something dark is always watching," another reader commented. The reader went on to note that, while the novel is a clear retelling of "Wuthering Heights", Kenney does experiment with her characterization of Heathcliff, writing him in as a stolen child who initially appears broken and tender.

Released at the end of 2025, "For No Mortal Creature" by Keshe Chow has already garnered a near four-star rating on Goodreads. Chow runs with Brontë's dark themes and retells "Wuthering Heights" in a world of death. Navigating her way through an infinite afterlife, the novel's protagonist, Jia Yi, is on a mission to save her grandmother. However, to do so, Jia Yi must have faith in both of her archenemies, Prince Essien Lancaster and Lin. Drawing from Brontë's imagery of the restless dead in "Wuthering Heights", Lin appears in the form of a ghost. In her romantic fantasy, Chow portrays love and death to be equally brutal and weaves themes of Chinese superstitions throughout.

Like Brontë's characterization of Cathy, Chow characterizes Jia Yi as a complex heroine. "I am so stunned by the story, the characters, the depth, the underlying meanings that can be gleaned, that I'm struggling to find enough words to actually review the book," a reader said. Chow also mirrors the moody setting that helped build tension in "Wuthering Heights". "The rural Chinese setting is rendered with breathtaking detail, from the mist-shrouded mountains to the creaking wooden houses that seem to breathe with secrets," another reader wrote. It's clear that readers can't get enough of this combination of "Wuthering Heights" and Chinese folklore.

"The Favorites" by Layne Fargo is a softer adaptation of Brontë's "Wuthering Heights". Fargo takes Cathy and Heathcliff's irresistible but destructive relationship in the Georgian era and attaches it to her protagonists, Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha, in the modern day. The pair, Katarina with little familial support and Heath raised in the foster care system, are characterized as elite ice skaters competing at the Olympic Games. But after a stint at the Olympics destroys their dynamic, the couple ends their intense relationship. Mirroring that of "Wuthering Heights", a decade later, Katarina and Heath cross paths again. Fargo uses the same structural techniques as Brontë, building the narrative through alternate perceptions and flashbacks.

Earning more than four stars on Goodreads, Fargo clearly delivered a captivating remake of "Wuthering Heights". "When I say this really gave me 'Wuthering Heights' ... These are characters you love to hate and hate to love," a reader said. While the novel appears to be a bit lighter than Brontë's, the narrative highlights Katarina and Heath's toxic relationship throughout. "I've never experienced this level of frustration and toxicity while reading a book since I finished 'Wuthering Heights', but even 'Wuthering Heights' wasn't as frustrating as this," another reader commented. The reader also pointed to the interview-style structure, noting that it only added to the thought-provoking and frustrating emotions perpetuated by the plot. While Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" is a classic for a reason, it seems there are some Brontë-inspired narratives out there for everyone.