Netflix’s Virgin River is based on Robyn Carr’s book series, but the TV adaptation takes some huge creative liberties with the original story. The Netflix version of Virgin River follows nurse practitioner Mel Monroe, who moves to the titular town for a fresh start after the death of her husband. It doesn’t take long for Mel to become an integral part of the community, especially when she begins a relationship with bar owner Jack Sheridan. Though Virgin River season 1 follows the first Virgin River book fairly closely, the Netflix series makes some major changes to the books in subsequent seasons.
The Netflix adaptation of Virgin River combines elements of multiple of the Virgin River books. However, with 21 books in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series, the Netflix series is bound to miss some details, and some of the changes it makes are majorly different to the original books. Here are the biggest changes Netflix’s Virgin River makes to the original Virgin River books, including what really happens in the books.
16 Lizzie Is Pregnant In The Virgin River Books
Lizzie’s Pregnancy In The Show Is Much Later In Her Storyline
Lizzie, Ricky’s main love interest in Virgin River, is introduced in the Netflix show’s second season, but the Virgin River show chose to leave out a crucial part of Lizzie’s book storyline. In both versions of Virgin River, Lizzie is Connie’s niece who comes to stay with her aunt at the behest of her parents, but this is where the similarities end. Not only did Netflix’s Virgin River age up Lizzie from a teenager to a young adult, but the adaptation also left out the fact that Lizzie is actually pregnant in the original books.
In Robyn Carr’s original Virgin River books, Lizzie and Ricky are forced to grow up early when Lizzie becomes pregnant while they are both teenagers. However, tragedy strikes when Lizzie ends up having a stillbirth. Given the abundance of pregnancy storylines in Netflix’s Virgin River, it makes sense why the Netflix show decided to remove this aspect of Lizzie’s story. However, this is a major change to Lizzie’s character that in turn makes her and Ricky’s relationship entirely different in Netflix’s Virgin River.
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15 The Virgin River Books Have Different Protagonists
Each Book Focuses On A Different Couple
Virgin River has many iconic characters, and unlike the Netflix series, the book series gives all of them a spotlight. Like the book of the same name, Virgin River season 1 follows Mel and Jack as Mel adjusts to her new home in the titular town, but unlike the books, the Netflix series keeps Jack and Mel the main focus throughout the show. This is different from Robyn Carr’s Virgin River books, which, much like the Bridgerton series, all follow different protagonists.
Each novel in the series focuses on a different character and their love story. In some cases, the characters are introduced as supporting players in the previous book, and former main characters can continue to pop up in later books. Changing this aspect of the original Virgin River books makes sense to streamline the story for TV, but unfortunately, it means that some huge storylines like Preacher and Paige’s get sidelined.
14 The Relationship Between Preacher And Paige Plays Out Differently
Preacher Has A New Love Interest In The Show
Elements of the first and second books in the series were combined to create the first season of the show. Preacher is actually the main character of the second book in the series as he meets Paige and her young son and falls for her while protecting her from her abusive ex-husband. While elements of that storyline exist in the show, it plays out in a much more dramatic fashion.
Because of the show involving a hidden dead body, Paige leaves Virgin River for much of her storyline. In the books, Paige and Preacher have a slightly less drama-filled romance, and she sticks around. The show sees her leave because she is free from her ex, and Preacher finds new love with Kaia, who joins the show in season 5 and is not someone in the books.
13 Mel Has A Different Tragic Backstory In The Books
Mel’s Backstory Revolves Around Her Husband’s Death
Over the course of Virgin River season 1, the audience learns about the circumstances that brought Mel to Virgin River, but in the original books, Mel has a different backstory. In Netflix’s Virgin River, it’s revealed that Mel and her recently deceased husband, Mark, had struggled with fertility issues and eventually had a stillborn baby, which drove a wedge between them. Unfortunately, Mel and Mark never got to resolve their issues, as he is tragically killed in a car crash in the Netflix show.
While this backstory for Mel works in Netflix’s Virgin River, Mel’s story is a bit different in the original books. Though Mel’s husband Mark also died prior to the events of the Virgin River books, he doesn’t die in a car crash. Rather, Mark was killed in a convenience store robbery. Additionally, Mel and Mark didn’t have a stillborn baby in the Virgin River book series.
These changes in the Netflix series add some more emotional depth to Mel’s story, since she has to deal with the guilt of having been arguing with Mark when they got in the car accident. However, even if the changes to Mel’s story make sense, they still stray majorly from what happened in the Virgin River books.
12 There’s No Charmaine/Jack/Mel Love Triangle In The Virgin Books
The Love Triangle Is Played Up For The Show
The early parts of Netflix’s Virgin River are dominated by a love triangle between Jack, Charmaine, and Mel, but there is no such dynamic in the books. At the beginning of both Netflix’s Virgin River and the book series, Jack is initially in a casual relationship with Charmaine when Mel arrives in town. However, once Jack and Mel begin to develop feelings for each other in the Virgin River book, Jack immediately breaks off his casual relationship with Charmaine.
In the Netflix series, Jack is more wishy-washy with both women, creating a love triangle that dominates their storyline for a while. When Charmaine and Mel first meet, they both do not hide their dislike from one another very well. Though this makes more drama for Netflix’s Virgin River, it’s a far different dynamic from the books.
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11 Doc And Hope Aren’t A Couple In The Virgin River Books
Their Characters Are Very Different In The Show
Doc and Hope have a cute relationship in Netflix’s Virgin River, but it doesn’t exist in the original Virgin River books. In Netflix’s Virgin River, Doc and Hope are revealed to be an estranged married couple that have been separated for 20 years. The two eventually reconcile, resuming their marriage and becoming one of the Netflix show’s most steadfast couples. Doc even proposes again in season 5.
Sadly, however, Doc and Hope’s love story is a creation of Netflix’s Virgin River. In the book series, the two Virgin River characters have a strictly platonic relationship. Though their marriage in the Netflix show is a huge change from the Virgin River books, Doc and Hope’s relationship is an interesting addition to the show. Their characterizations are slightly different in the show and book as well, making them more compatible in the series than they would be in the books.
10 Brie Has A Different Love Interest In The Virgin River Books
Mike Is Her Book Love Interest
Netflix’s Virgin River shows Brie dating Brady, but in the original books, Brie’s heart belongs to someone else. Jack’s sister, Brie Sheridan, is introduced in Virgin River season 3, and she almost immediately begins a relationship with Jack’s frequent frenemy, Brady. Brie’s relationship with Brady has its ups and downs in the Netflix show, particularly when Brady gets (wrongly) arrested. However, while Brie and Brady have one of the more tumultuous relationships in the Netflix series, it isn’t part of the original books’ story.
In the Virgin River books, Brie doesn’t date Brady, but one of Jack’s other Marine friends, Mike. Brie and Mike’s book relationship is such a significant aspect of the series that the third Virgin River book, Whispering Rock, is devoted to their love story, making Netflix’s decision to discard their relationship a major change.
Mike is a minor character in Netflix’s Virgin River, so it’s possible that Brie and Mike might still end up together eventually in a future season of Virgin River like they do in the books. At this point, however, it appears that Netflix’s Virgin River is intent on changing Brie and Mike’s story.
9 The Virgin River Books Have A Different Tone
The Books Are More Classic Romance Stories
Both the Netflix and book versions of Virgin River are planted in the romance genre, but their executions of the story are a bit different. The original Virgin River books are classic romance stories, and as a result, there are a lot of steamy scenes between the main couples in the series. The romance between each book’s main characters are the focus of the stories.
While the Netflix series certainly has some romantic scenes, it is decidedly more PG-13 than Robyn Carr’s Virgin River books. This change gives Netflix’s Virgin River a wider target demographic, especially since the series tends to lean more into mystery and drama. The Netflix series plays up a lot of its more dramatic storylines, creating longer story arcs. However, the differences in tone are likely jarring to fans of the original book series.
8 The Virgin River Books Are Paced Differently
The Books Move Faster Than The Series
A common critique of Netflix’s Virgin River is its bizarre pacing, but the original Virgin River books don’t have the same issue. Though Netflix’s Virgin River has had five seasons, with confirmed six and seven seasons, all of Virgin River’s seasons through season 5 are meant to be taking place within a year of each other. Charmaine’s pregnancy, after all, takes place over the first five seasons. This has created a wildly confusing timeline for the Netflix adaptation.
The original series of books take place over a longer period of time, which alleviates this issue. It’s unclear why Netflix decided to change the pacing of the Virgin River series so drastically, but the differing timelines are a huge difference between the books and the show. It means a lot of events are taking place in a very short period of time.
7 Characters Are Introduced At Different Times
This Is Due To The Rotating Book Cast
Because there are 21 books in the Virgin River series and each book highlights a different romance, the cast of characters is introduced much more slowly over time. For example, the first book focuses on the relationship with Jack and Mel, but the second book spins out of their storyline to focus on one of Jack’s friend’s relationships. Later books in the series will focus on one member of a Virgin River family, only to introduce their siblings in the next book.
The book series’ method allows the cast of characters to expand very gradually. A character plays a supporting role in an early book, then becomes the main character in a later book. It helps to flesh out all of the characters in the small town over time. The show, however, has a larger cast of characters from the beginning because it would not make sense for Mel to never meet these people that she lives and works alongside.
6 Lilly’s Story Plays Out In Record Time
Lilly’s Story Is Closest To The Novels With A Twist
Lilly’s storyline in the series involves her hiding a pregnancy, ending up with a fatal illness, and passing away in a very short time. In the Netflix series, her storyline takes place in a matter of months simply because the first five seasons of the show take place in roughly one year.
That’s not the case for the novels, which take place over a number of years. Lilly’s storyline in the show very closely resembles her story of the novels. The big difference is that it all takes place incredibly quickly in the show. In the novels, her story takes place over a number of years as she plays a supporting role.
The change is likely because the show takes place over such a compressed timeframe compared to the novels. It could also be because the actor who plays Lilly, Lynda Boyd, is in definite demand in the Canadian filming industry. Boyd appeared in dozens of other movies and TV series during the same time that she appeared in three seasons of Virgin River.
5 Ricky Joined The Military For A Different Reason In The Virgin River Books
The Books And Show Feature A Heavy Military Presence
The military features heavily in both the book series and the Netflix show. Most of the male characters introduced in both formats are either active or former military members. As a result of so many adult characters having been in the military, some of the younger characters also become interested in joining the armed forces. In both the Virgin River TV series and books, Ricky Sutter decides to go into the Marines, but the circumstances of the decision are different in the books.
During the Netflix series, Ricky is portrayed as a good kid who has always aspired to follow in the footsteps of Jack and join the Marines. However, Ricky’s book storyline is darker, and, reeling from the emotional turmoil of he and Lizzie losing their baby, Ricky decides to join the Marines to get away from it all. This is a stark contrast to Ricky’s story in the Virgin River show, which is far more wholesome.
4 Charmaine Has A Way Bigger Role In Netflix’s Virgin River
Charmaine Is A Supporting Character In The Novels
Charmaine is one of the major antagonists in Netflix’s Virgin River, but she has a smaller role in the books. In Netflix’s Virgin River, Charmaine struggles with Jack’s decision to end their relationship and frequently attempts to get back together with him, with their lives becoming more complicated when Charmaine discovers she’s pregnant. Throughout seasons 2 through 4, Charmaine’s pregnancy is a major storyline that creates tons of drama, particularly when she reveals the bombshell that the babies aren’t Jack’s at the end of season 4.
Despite Charmaine creating issues for Jack and Mel in Netflix’s Virgin River, her storyline is a creation of the show. In the Virgin River books, Charmaine is a minor character. Like in the Netflix adaptation, she and Jack are casually seeing each other when Mel arrives in Virgin River. When Jack develops feelings for Mel, he breaks up with Charmaine, a decision that, unlike in the TV show, Charmaine accepts. After this, Charmaine doesn’t have a featuring role in the story.
Though Charmaine’s storyline in the books is more realistic, it makes sense why Netflix elevated her character for the adaptation, since Charmaine is a fun villain. However, even if Charmaine makes great drama, her role in Netflix’s Virgin River is a huge change to the books.
3 Mel’s Parentage Does Not Feature In The Novels
The Potential Spinoff Series Will Be New
Mel’s parentage becomes a huge plot point in season 5 as she begins the search for her biological father. While family dynamics play a role throughout the Virgin River books, Mel’s search is not the huge presence in the novels, which is part of what makes the season 6 flashback’s to Mel’s mother’s life in Virgin River in the 1970s so interesting.
The storyline for Mel’s parents is something created for the show. Specifically, it’s been created to test the waters for a spinoff series focused on Mel’s parents and their romance in the small town over 30 years earlier. Using new characters and new storylines opens the door for a lot of potential for Virgin River storylines that fans of the books will not be expecting.
The potential spinoff also raises the question of whether other characters from the novels who have not featured in the show could end up with their own spinoff shows.
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2 The Riordans Are Missing From Virgin River
Many Book Characters Are Missing From The Show
While there are a handful of characters created specifically for the show, there are also a lot of characters who appear only in the novels instead of the show. Again, that’s likely because the show’s first five seasons take place over the course of about a year instead of several years. Because each novel focuses on a different romantic relationship, there are many characters in the 21 novels who have not appeared in the Netflix series.
Some of those characters make up the Riordan family. The first two members of the family are introduced in the sixth novel of the series as one of the five brothers returns to Virgin River to do some repairs on cabins he owns. Over the next several novels in the series, his four brothers, their friends, their love interests, and their mother are all introduced. Those characters have not appeared in the series at all yet.
1 Charmaine’s Pregnancy Storyline Is Different
Charmaine Has One Of The Longest Pregnancies In Television
Charmaine is revealed to be pregnant in the first season of the show, but she does not go into labor until the end of season 5. That makes her pregnancy seem like one of the longest in television or streaming. Of course, her pregnancy helps to establish the timeline of the first five seasons of the show as taking place in the course of the year. The seemingly long timeline, however, is not the difference in the storyline for Charmaine’s pregnancy though.
In the show, when Charmaine announces her pregnancy, nearly every character that hears the news simply assumes the father is Jack. Because of her previous relationship with Jack, it’s simply taken at face value that Jack is the father, and that assumption is used to amp up the drama in a love triangle that does not really exist in the books. The identity of the father is held onto for seasons to continue to prolong that drama. In the book, the father is revealed right away.
Many of the Virgin River differences are clearly made to have appeal to a wider audience and to create more conflict for the characters.
6/10
Virgin River
A television adaptation of the romantic novel series from Robyn Carr, Virgin River sees nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe accepting a new job in the titular northern California town to escape her past. But Melinda’s small-town expectations are checked when she realizes that adjusting to this new and straightforward way of life is a tricky balancing act – with the possibility of new love on the horizon.
- Release Date
- December 6, 2019
- Cast
- Jenny Cooper , Chase Petriw , Grayson Gurnsey , Martin Henderson , Colin Lawrence , Annette O’Toole , Benjamin Hollingsworth , Alexandra Breckenridge , Tim Matheson , Lauren Hammersley , Sarah Dugdale , marco grazzini
- Showrunner
- Patrick Sean Smith
