Peacock adapted The Five-Star Weekend — but what changes does the TV show have compared to Elin Hilderbrand‘s book?
Hilderbrand’s The Five-Star Weekend follows a grieving food blogger who invites a best friend from each era of her life to Nantucket following her husband’s tragic death. According to the official synopsis, the weekend “spirals into chaos as long-buried secrets, scandalous rumors, and her husband’s hidden infidelity with one of the guests are exposed.”
In addition to Jennifer Garner in the lead role, The Five-Star Weekend stars Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Harlow Jane and Timothy Olyphant.
Showrunner Bekah Brunstetter broke down her approach to the TV series.
“There’s so much change that happens in your 40s and 50s — and I don’t just mean menopause and perimenopause, which has become what we’re talking about recently,” Brunstetter told Variety in July 2026. “Big life changes continue to happen. Some women are still trying to have children. Some women are getting out of their first marriage. Some women are getting their children out of the nest. Some women are just falling in love for the first time. Some women are just where they want to be in their careers for the first time.”
Keep scrolling to see how the Peacock version differs from the novel:
The Infidelity Reveal
While the novel has a big reveal involving Gigi at the end, the show moves it up to the pilot instead.
Where Hollis and Gigi End Up
On the page, the former friends have a conversation about the infidelity. The same can’t be said for the show when Hollis asked Gigi to leave so they can move on individually.
Where Caroline Fit In
Caroline had a much larger arc in the show compared to mentions of her life in the book.
Tatum’s Health
The character was awaiting test results in both versions but in the book her biopsy is negative. In the show, Tatum got the same news but was then told there were other suspicious cells.
Dru-Ann’s Job
The biggest shakeup is when Dru-Ann made the decision to quit her job and start her own agency but that was only in the show and not the book.
The Epilogue Trip
In the book, the epilogue took place one year later while there was no time jump in the show.
Electra’s Role in the Reveal
Hilderbrand’s book had Electra exposing the affair while the show changed that up so Hollis heard it from her friend group.
