From there, the series deviates quite dramatically from the book, because each of the guests know they're micro-dosing and are actively consenting to it, drinking their smoothies-which, in the series, become increasingly potent-with full knowledge of their contents. But it only takes three episodes of the series for the guests, specifically Heather, to realize that their smoothies are spiked with psychedelics.

Before that, they'd noticed some behavioral changes, but nothing as dramatic as in the series-no violence, for example. In Moriarty's book, the guests of Tranquillum House only learn they've been drugged towards the end of their stay, during a climactic final day. In the book, the guests do not consent to being drugged. She's a sympathetic character, but one that we can't quite trust, one that seems capable of going off the rails at any point. This Carmel has faced the same betrayal, but the experience has left her with violent tendencies-perhaps she's always had them?-which we see in episode three when she tries to attack Lars and tells Jessica she wants to punch her. The Carmel of the series is played to perfection by Regina Hall, but the character herself is quite different.

In the book, Masha considers herself a personal savior for the guests in her wellness retreat, willing to go to any lengths to help them re-connect with themselves, and that's reflected in the series. In many ways, Masha of the book is the same Masha that is brought to life by Nicole Kidman: platinum blonde, striking, self-assured, and originally from Russia. In the book, Masha does not receive threatening messages. Spoilers ahead for episodes 1-4 of Nine Perfect Strangers. Ahead, a guide to what's notably different and similar between the series and the hit book.

But, again, as with Big Little Lies, Kelley kept Moriarty's cast of characters and simply adapted the plot for Nine Perfect Strangers the series to make it better suited to a television format. Kelley moved the adaptation to the States (even though, confusingly, the series was actually filmed in Australia). Moriarty's novel is set in Australia, but David E. As with Big Little Lies, the book Nine Perfect Strangers is set in an entirely different country than the series.

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