SPOILER ALERT

Let me start by saying that I love this BOOK. I love Tia Williams as a writer; I’ve read several of her books. I was really looking forward to this! With that said, I didn’t like the Netflix movie.

As an avid reader, and more importantly, a writer, I wasn’t digging it. But first, a shout out to the cast (I love Gina Torres and Aisha Hinds), Keith Powers and Gabrielle Union did a marvelous job. However, I believe the screenplay was the culprit…

A friend (who hasn’t read the book) mentioned that she watched it and turned it off midway. My jaw dropped. So she invited me to watch it with her. I have to say, I get it.

Overall, the storyline was rushed. It probably should’ve been a limited series so that the backstory and characters could be developed properly. I say this ignorant of the budget and the politics of getting that much airtime. Yet and still, I said what I said!!!

There are some bright spots that I want to highlight.

• Tia Williams’ work is valued and recognized
• The acting was on point
• I appreciated the all-Black casting*
• The treatment of the fashion video series was creative
• The dialogue was well written
• The costuming was wonderful, especially for “Darcy” and “Jenna”

Here are my issues with the Netflix movie.

• This relationship was extremely steamy and passionate and sometimes risqué (in the book). Not so much in the movie. This is important because that kind of sensuality was new for Jenna.
• *Casting Brian as Black took away from the story. I believe their relationship issues were complex and race was a contributing factor.
• The backstory for Jenna and Brian was rushed. Also, the relationship between Jenna and Brian’s mother is not shown. They were very close in a way that she was not with her own mother. As a result, the viewer doesn’t quite realize Jenna’s past and current states of mind.
• Where is the fashion? Jenna was a top fashion editor in her previous (professional) life and obsessed with fashion. It should’ve been front and center, and I didn’t get that.
• There weren’t many workplace scenes so you didn’t have a sense of how out of place and unsure Jenna was. The staff should’ve been a group of early twenty somethings who were social media rockstars.
• The scene before the big party where Jenna and Eric met was not included. This is where you meet Jenna’s friends, and it provides more backstory on Jenna’s state of mind. We don’t even know her friend’s names or personalities in this version.
• Jenna isn’t sloshed when she meets Eric, neither is he. My friend said it didn’t track that a 40 year old woman would be up on this young stranger like that at a party. When I explained how Jenna was feeling — according to the book — and that she was cross-eyed drunk (as was he), it made more sense to her.
• The Perfect Find video series wasn’t explained. Although I appreciated the creativity of the video sessions, it would have been challenging to follow if I hadn’t read the book.
• The child’s birthday party scene was changed so the fight between Jenna and Eric didn’t quite convey.
• In this adaptation, Eric trembles before his mother. This is the polar opposite of the character in the book: he is vocal and clear about his mother’s evildoings and neglect of him. AND, he is protective of Jenna.
• The new ending was terrible. The way their secret relationship was found out; the timeline of their reconnection; and how Jenna told Eric about their son. Darcy wasn’t involved (in the book, with regard to the baby and after reconnecting) and shouldn’t have been.

To be honest, I am seldom a fan of book-to-movie adaptations, especially when I really enjoy a book. But, I know it is possible to be done well.

I urge people to read the book!!!! It is a great story that is well-written with hot, sexy scenes.