Prime Video’s 6-Part Psychological Thriller Proves A Harsh Reality About Book Adaptations

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Prime Video’s series, The Girlfriend, takes the story in a completely different direction from the original book, and this actually makes it surprisingly enjoyable and is a key reason why the show is successful. Released in September 2025, this campy psychological thriller features Robin Wright as the overbearing mother, Laura Sanderson, and Laurie Davidson as her favored son, Daniel.

At the start of the series, Laura has an overly close relationship with her adult son, and she’s deeply upset when he begins dating Cherry. Laura quickly becomes convinced that Cherry is trying to pull her son away from her, which sparks a growing and tense conflict between them.

Revealing any more details would spoil the story, but ultimately, the two women involved never resolve their conflict, and it ends in tragedy. The Girlfriend is a suspenseful psychological thriller, inspired by Michelle Frances’ 2018 novel, and reminiscent of classic ‘90s films like Poison Ivy and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

Prime Video’s The Girlfriend Changes Its Book Story Completely

What really sets this TV adaptation apart is how much it deviates from the original book. By the end of the series, The Girlfriend hardly resembles its source material, and this actually works in its favor.

Contrary to what you might read online, adaptations don’t always improve by sticking closely to the original story. In the case of the show The Girlfriend, it’s actually the significant changes made from the source material that make it enjoyable, not a faithful recreation of it.

From the beginning of the story, Cherry is presented as a villain, and her wickedness becomes increasingly obvious. She quickly manipulates both Daniel and Laura, starting within weeks of meeting them, and her actions soon become shockingly cruel – even including harming a harmless puppy.

Frances’ book lacks depth in its characters and motivations, especially regarding Laura’s overbearing affection for her son and their unsettling dynamic. Because the story consistently portrays Cherry as the bad guy and Laura as someone to pity, the plot feels slow and becomes easy to anticipate.

Unlike the book, the TV adaptation of The Girlfriend isn’t afraid to show the dark side of the wealthy Sanderson family. While the book mentions their riches, the show actively demonstrates how that wealth leads to them being inconsiderate, cruel, and morally flawed in how they treat Cherry and people like her.

While the book doesn’t give Laura many significant flaws, the show lets Kate Wright brilliantly portray her unsettling fixation on Daniel. Wright, known from House of Cards, clearly enjoys playing such a disturbing character, and it often makes viewers question who has a more negative impact on Daniel – Cherry or Laura.

The Girlfriend’s Book Changes Saved The TV Show

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, The Girlfriend is a standout show. It’s funny, features great acting from its three leads, and keeps you guessing. Interestingly, these strengths came about because the show didn’t stick closely to the original book.

The book, however, feels formulaic and lacks suspense, as the author’s clear preference for Laura and aversion to Cherry quickly reveals who will survive. The show is much bolder and more dramatic, culminating in a surprisingly dark finale that leaves you questioning the motives of everyone involved.

The Girlfriend Proves That Book Adaptations Shouldn’t Always Be Faithful

Courtesy of Prime

While readers looking for a simple, feel-good story about a wealthy woman overcoming a dangerous criminal might enjoy Frances’ The Girlfriend, it falls short as a true psychological thriller. The book relies too heavily on excusing one character’s behavior and portraying the other as purely evil, making the plot predictable and ultimately unsatisfying.

Unlike many adaptations, the Prime Video series actually benefits from significantly changing the original story. Olivia Cooke’s portrayal of Cherry is deeply human and relatable, making her violent actions even more disturbing. Viewers will likely find themselves sympathizing with her, even as she approaches a point of no return.

In the novel, Daniel feels like a tool used to develop the relationship between Laura and Cherry. However, the show gives him his own complete personality and perspective, adding depth and complexity to the story. Ultimately, the show succeeds not because of the book it’s based on, but in spite of its limitations.

Some psychological thrillers, like the excellent HBO series Sharp Objects, work best when they closely follow the book they’re based on. However, Prime Video’s The Girlfriend demonstrates that changing things up can also be a winning strategy. This show proves that a series can be truly successful by diverging from its source material.

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2026-02-18 23:49