Like the previous Nicole Kidman/David E. Kelley films "The Undoing" and "Big Little Lies," the new Hulu series (opens in new tab) "Nine Perfect Strangers" (opens in new tab) is based on the hit film In fact, the book was written by best-selling Australian author Liane Moriarty, who also wrote "Big Little Lies. The book is about a group of young women who are all very much in love with each other: Masha, Tony, Frances, Napoleon, Zoe, Heather Marconi, Ben and Jessica, Lars, Yao and Delilah, and Carmel.

Like "Big Little Lies," "Nine Perfect Strangers" is set in a completely different country than the series. Moriarty's novels are set in Australia, but David E. Kelley moved the film adaptation to the United States (confusingly, the series was actually filmed in Australia (open in new tab)). However, as with "Big Little Lies," Kelly simply adapted the plot of the "Nine Perfect Strangers" series to fit the TV format, while keeping Moriarty's character intact (opens in new tab). Here are some of the differences and similarities between the series and the hit movie. Spoilers for episodes 1-4 of "Nine Perfect Strangers" ahead.

In many ways, the Masha of the books is the same Masha that Nicole Kidman brought to life: (opens in new tab) platinum blonde, striking, confident, and from Russia. In the books, Masha considers herself a personal savior to the guests of her wellness retreats and is willing to do whatever it takes to help them reconnect with themselves, which is reflected in the series.

The series, however, introduces a new storyline: the threatening emails Masha receives. In particular, the anonymous blackmailer who filmed Masha swimming in the morning in episode 3 (this would be private property). However, Masha in this book would probably respond to such a text in exactly the same way as Masha in this series.

The Carmel of this book is a kind, reassuringly ordinary woman who has been raising her daughters for the past decade. In the aftermath of her betrayal, the Carmel of this book suffers from body dysmorphia and is forced to reevaluate her life choices, but she shows no violent or dangerous tendencies.

The Carmel of the series is played to perfection by Regina Hall, but the character itself is quite different. This Carmel has faced the same betrayal, but the experience has given her violent tendencies - perhaps she always had them. In episode 3, she tries to attack Lars and tells Jessica that she wants to hit him. She is a sympathetic character, but one who is not at all trustworthy and could go off the rails at any moment.

In Moriarty's book, the guests at Tranquillum House learn on the final day of the climax that they have been drugged. Earlier, they had noticed some changes in their behavior, but nothing as dramatic as in the series. However, it is only in the third episode of the series that the guests, especially Heather, realize that their smoothies are laced with psychedelics. This is because each guest knows she is microdosing, actively agrees to do so, and drinks the smoothies.

In the book, it is also Heather who first realizes that the guests are being drugged, and by the end of the book, the guests are given higher doses, which leads to Heather's realization, but the guests never once consent to the process.

Guests in this book meet one-on-one with Marcia, but many of the activities mandated in the series (bagging races, Earth Day, introductory sessions) do not appear in this book. In fact, "Tranquillum House" depicts a more typical wellness retreat-like setting, with guests hiking, fasting, choosing their own activities, and practicing "Noble Silence" for five consecutive days.

The series is more actively transformative, with a series of mandatory activities suitable for a television series. (The five days of "noble silence" probably did not translate well.)

In the series, Delilah and Yao are a couple, but it is implied that they are both sexually bonded to Masha. [In this book, Yao and Delilah are not a couple, but have sex in a friendship-like relationship.