Netflix recently released a new murder mystery series, The Perfect Couple, based on the Elin Hilderbrand novel of the same name. Though it received an overall positive reaction from fans, they picked up on many differences between the book and the movie. 

The plot follows the Winbury family on Nantucket, preparing for the upcoming wedding of Benji Winbury. Amelia Sachs is the bride-to-be, and she and her modest family could not be more different from the extravagant Winburys. On the night before the wedding, Merrit, Amelia’s best friend and maid of honor, is found dead in the ocean. Throughout the show, each character’s dark secrets are revealed, and the audience is left questioning who, if anyone, is guilty. 

The characters themselves remained somewhat similar to the novel, but there were additions and changes to the cast. Will Winbury, the youngest Winbury son, was not a character in the book and was added to the show as an integral part of the killer’s motive. The person responsible was the same in both the book and show, but the circumstances behind the death were completely different. While the character was a cold blooded killer in the TV series, Merrit’s death was a sequence of unfortunate events in the book and was ultimately ruled an accident. In the show, on the other hand, the murderer is caught and arrested, giving the audience a more satisfying ending. 

If someone is thinking about reading the book and watching the show afterwards, I would recommend just watching the show. The book was very long for what it was, and the majority of it took place in the past, giving context for each character. While that was helpful in some aspects, there were certain scenes that felt unnecessary to go back and watch unfold, and the ending was not very satisfying after all the build up. Without comparison to the book, the show was still enjoyable due to its drama and immersive summer setting.