8 Big Differences Between Netflix's "The Perfect Find" and Tia Williams's Romance Novel

If you're a fan of Tia Williams, then you're probably over the moon that her romance novel "The Perfect Find" has been turned into a Netflix movie. The film, which hit the streamer on June 23, stars Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers as Williams's characters Jenna and Eric — who serendipitously fall in love as 40 and 20-something-year-old coworkers at Stylezine, a fashion empire run by Jenna's frenemy boss and Eric's mom, Darcy (played by Gina Torres in the film). Numa Perrier directed the movie with Union on board as one of the producers.

As expected, Perrier's adaptation takes some liberties with Williams's story while still staying true to its core plot: Jenna's pursuit of love and a fresh career start. It's a challenge the director says she thoroughly enjoyed tackling. "I really love working with a book and adapting that. I love having that base to go back to," Perrier tells POPSUGAR. "So for me, having the book as the anchor to be able to dive back into and find the little nuances in there, that's very helpful to me. I don't so much look at having the book as an obstacle. I look at it as a big source of support for me as I'm figuring things out, and then I let my imagination fly from there."

"I wanted to really keep that intact because I feel like it's something we can all connect to."

Rest assured, "The Perfect Find" book-lovers, Perrier confirms she still kept two major things the same in her version of William's romantic tale — which are also the plot points that deeply resonated with her. "That very thing that I related to, a woman of a certain age needing to reinvent herself or get back to herself; find herself again after suffering some pretty big blows," Perrier explains. "Love and work mean a lot to most people, and so having to figure out what your next steps are and what the next chapter of your life looks like, I wanted to really keep that intact because I feel like it's something we can all connect to."

Perrier also made sure to include those super spicy moments between Jenna and Eric. Perrier says, "The book is very steamy and doesn't shy away from those intimate moments. And so I said, when we do have those kisses, those kisses got to sizzle — every single one." And Union and Powers share a lot. "In directing Gab and Keith, I would say, 'OK, I feel like this kiss was like this,'" Perrier says, motioning a simple peck. "'I need it to be like this,'" she adds, gesturing a juicy smooch.

She continues, "We had our ways of communicating with each other and they have so much great chemistry, and they were so game to really milk it. So yeah, the sensuality, the intimacy, and that pathway of a woman trying to get back to herself, those are the things that mattered most."

Keep reading ahead for a full breakdown of all the biggest differences between "The Perfect Find" novel and the movie.

01
Stylezine Is Darzine
Netflix

Stylezine Is Darzine

In William's "The Perfect Find," Jenna's career restart (after her epic meltdown following her breakup with longtime boyfriend Brian) brings her back to New York City for a new job at a growing fashion publication called Stylezine — Darcy's proudest achievement following Eric.

In the movie, though, Jenna makes her way back to the Big Apple to beg Darcy for a job at the same publication, now called Darzine. And unlike her tiny custodial closet office in the novel, Union's Jenna makes use of Darzine's glamorous, fashion-filled zoo showroom as her new office space.

02
Jenna and Eric's Cab Argument
YouTube | Netflix

Jenna and Eric's Cab Argument

In Williams's book, the turning point in Jenna and Eric's unconventional work relationship comes when they get into a heated argument in a scorching hot cab ride, as they're both drained following their failed recording for the "Perfect Find" digital series. While the movie stays pretty true to what the two fight about — Eric's ex Madison who calls during the car ride — it trades their hot summer weather for a rainy day. And instead of Jenna storming out of the car and walking back to Stylezine in the heat, Eric, instead, hops out to walk in the rain.

03
"The Perfect Find" Digital Series
Netflix

"The Perfect Find" Digital Series

One of the biggest and most creative changes to "The Perfect Find" is the digital series of the same name that becomes Jenna's career save and celebrated work baby with Eric. In the book, Jenna's concept revolves around recruiting stylish celebrities and influencers to come up with an item they've always dreamed of owning but could never find. Then, as their "fairy stylemother," she gets the scoop on their personal style (all recorded by Eric thanks to his USC master's degree in film) and gives them $50 to have their dream item made, aka their perfect find. The items then get sold as 30 limited-edition pieces on Stylezine, where readers mob the website to get their hands on them. However, the movie puts a whole new twist on the digital franchise — a vintage Hollywood twist.

Instead of the aforementioned, Union's Jenna comes up with a plan to milk people's nostalgia for her series (which her entire job depends upon) by having a designer recreate classic garments and accessories from iconic films — like Dorothy Dandridge's striking red and black ensemble in "Carmen Jones" (worn by Remy Ma in the Netflix movie) — while Eric films the celeb or influencer modeling them. It becomes a massive hit at Darzine and scores Jenna and Eric that infamous magazine article that blows the cover on their hush-hush romance.

04
Jenna and Eric's First Time Together
Netflix

Jenna and Eric's First Time Together

As promised, "The Perfect Find" movie is just as steamy as Williams's book. But compared to Jenna and Eric's first romp together in the novel, their first time sleeping together in the movie doesn't happen after their first official date night out. It, instead, happens unexpectedly after Jenna's infamous dinner party — where Eric's friend Tim (played by Sterling "Steelo" Brim in the movie) suffers an allergic reaction and Jenna's blind date Jimmy (comedian Godfrey) nearly comes to blows with Eric.

05
Jenna Meets Eric's Ex, Madison
Netflix

Jenna Meets Eric's Ex, Madison

In the book, Eric's ex Madison is only mentioned by name when he gets into an argument with Jenna about why he broke up with his "simple" ballerina girlfriend. But in the Netflix film, Jenna actually comes face to face with Madison at her friend Billie's daughter's birthday party, as Madison is the little one's dance teacher. In a jealous fit, Jenna marches over to interrupt Eric and Madison's conversation, resulting in a fight with her secret boyfriend who storms off.

In the book, however, the cause of Eric and Jenna's argument is the latter's insistent attempts at making Eric seem mature enough to hang out in her world for a change. But their age gap makes it even more apparent that they're on two different pages.

06
Jenna's Ex, Brian
YouTube | Netflix

Jenna's Ex, Brian

The biggest change to Brian (played by DB Woodside) in the "Perfect Find" movie is, well, he's Black, compared to the "tall white guy" Jenna fell hopelessly in love with in Williams's book before meeting Eric. It was a purposeful decision on Perrier's part, who's been vocal about the movie having an all-Black cast.

But more notably, Brian doesn't make too many appearances in the film, unlike the book. In fact, Woodside's Brian only shows up in one pivotal scene with Jenna to break the news that his mom died and he wants Jenna back. In the book, however, the former couple's reunion is much more emotional, as Jenna ventures back to the home the two used to live in together. They even go out on a date (while Jenna is still seeing Eric), which gets cut short when Jenna realizes she's completely over the heartbreak of her ex and wants nothing to do with him.

07
How Darcy Outs Jenna and Eric's Love Affair
Netflix

How Darcy Outs Jenna and Eric's Love Affair

Who can forget the dramatic way Darcy exposes Jenna and Eric's love affair in Williams's book? Planting cameras in the 10th-floor fashion closet the two would often sneak off to for office quickies and playing the security footage in front of the entire Stylezine staff. It was as scandalous as it sounds. Luckily (or not so luckily) for Union's Jenna and Powers's Eric, in the movie, Darcy catches them in the act at her penthouse during the work day — no audience around. Similar to the book, Torres's Darcy fires Jenna for sleeping with Eric, which prompts the forbidden couple to break up.

08
Eric's Reaction to Jenna's Baby News
Netflix

Eric's Reaction to Jenna's Baby News

And finally, the big plot twist in Williams's story: Jenna's surprise baby news. The book concludes with an unexpected, yet endearing ending where baby-obsessed Jenna finally has the kid she's always wanted, unbeknownst to Eric — who she doesn't inform that they have a child together (a son named after Eric's father, Otis) until years later when they randomly run into each other at a Brooklyn park. Turns out, Jenna was pregnant when she and Eric left Stylezine behind, but she never told him because she didn't want to get in the way of him living out his 20s and film aspirations. However, the movie completely flips this ending into something a bit more controversial.

Unlike Eric in the book, who beams with excitement when he learns about his son with Jenna, Eric in the movie has a less than enthusiastic reaction to Jenna's pregnancy. A few months after splitting, the two meet up at a coffee shop where Union's Jenna presents Eric with an ultrasound photo of their baby. At first, he expresses that he's not ready to process the news and storms out on Jenna. However, Eric eventually comes around in the end when he reunites with Jenna at her doctor's appointment. The two learn they're having a son, who they decide to name after Eric's late father, Otis. The film ends with the reunited couple attending Darcy's big gala with a pregnant Jenna proudly showing off her baby bump.

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"The Perfect Find" Trailer

"The Perfect Find" is now streaming on Netflix.