Based on Robyn Carr’s 20-book series, Netflix’s Virgin River just premiered its third season on July 9. I have noticed some major differences in the Virgin River books and the show. this is what you need to know. major spoilers follow for netflix’s virgin river series and robyn carr’s virgin river.
The first novel in the series, Virgin River, follows Melinda Monroe, played on the show by Alexandra Breckinridge. she is a recently widowed midwife who moves to a small mountain town to start over. but what seems like a perfect new life is interrupted by a record moment: her new home is barely habitable and the doctor she’ll be working with is barely welcoming. Ella Mel is ready to pack her things, until a newborn left on her doorstep and a handsome marine named Jack (Martin Henderson) force her to stay in Virgin River forever.
You are reading: What happens to jack and mel in virgin river books
The number of novels Carr has published on his virgin river is nothing short of prolific. After the first three books (Virgin River, Shelter Mountain, and Whispering Rock) came out in 2007, the beloved romance author followed them with a bonus installment in 2008 and three books and a short story in 2009. Three new books landed in stores in 2010, along with a novel and a second short story. Carr published four Virgin River books in 2011 and four more in 2012. If you keep count, that’s 18 novels—two short stories and one novel—published in a span of six years. Carr’s most recent title in the series, Return to Virgin River, came out in 2020. That’s a lot of material for the series to work with.
Here’s how the Virgin River books compare to the Netflix show.
content warning: pregnancy loss debate.
mel’s tragic backstory has changed
See Also: The Books of Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher by Various – Audiobook – Audible.com
In the books, Mel lost her husband, Mark (Daniel Gillies), who was killed during an ongoing robbery at a convenience store. She died before they could have the children they desperately wanted, which was made all the more poignant when a baby later appeared on Mel’s porch.
If that wasn’t tragic enough for you, you can enjoy Netflix’s version of Mel’s story, which marks the drama in two key ways. On the show, Mel had a miscarriage, and she and Mark were discussing whether or not they wanted to try to get pregnant again when they were involved in a car accident. Mel survived, but her husband did not.
charmaine plays a bigger role in the show…
Although she has a major role in the netflix series, charmaine (lauren hammersley) is not a major actor in carr’s novels. She is Jack’s ex-girlfriend, whom he dumps shortly after Mel comes to town, although she is not too disheartened by the end of the relationship. that’s pretty much where she begins and ends her story in the book series.
… and his story is much more dramatic
In Netflix’s Virgin River, Charmaine and Jack have an on-and-off relationship that’s complicated by her pregnancy and his romantic interest in the couple. After learning that she is pregnant in Season 1, and that she is expecting twins in Season 2, Charmaine becomes Mel’s semi-permanent romantic rival.
As for why the netflix series decided to write a new role for charmaine, showrunner sue tenney explained to parade that “charmaine is dealing with unrequited love because she loves jack, but jack doesn’t love her.” . Mel and Jack want to be together, but Mel isn’t ready. so for us as we write this, having charmaine pregnant adds to the complications: when you’re with someone, breaking up or getting divorced is one thing, but kids are forever.”
See Also: The 50 Best Multicultural Middle Grade Books Of 2020 – Colours of Us
Although Jack is willing to step up and care for the twins, some fans have theorized that Charmaine’s babies are not Jack’s biological children. The theory is based on a different situation found in the fifth Virgin River book, Second Chance Pass, in which another Marine, Paul, falls in love with a widow named Vanessa. Paul’s chances of a happy ending with Vanessa begin to look bleak as he waits to tell her how he feels…and meanwhile he learns that another woman he’s slept with, Terry, is pregnant. It’s not until Terry is wary of a few key details that Paul realizes his baby can’t be his.
the romantic tone is totally different on screen
Romance readers expect books in their favorite genre to end with a hea or hfn: that’s happily ever after or happily ever after, for the uninitiated. although netflix decided to focus primarily on a romance in bridgerton’s first season and move on to the stories of other couples in later seasons, following the outline of the books, each of which focuses on the love story of a different bridgerton brother , the streaming platform has taken a different approach with virgin river. Instead of ending Mel and Jack’s romance with a little bow in the season finale, Virgin River upped the drama, not once, but twice.
at the end of season 1, mel finds out about charmaine’s pregnancy and doesn’t take the new information well. She makes plans to leave town after Charmaine tells her that the only way Jack will choose her, and her child, over Mel is if Mel isn’t in the picture at all.
of course, mel and jack patch things up over the course of season 2 and eventually consummate their relationship. however, it’s not a problem because viewers see jack bleeding from a gunshot wound just before the credits roll.
virgin river on netflix is also not as attractive as carr’s books. The PG-14 series is no Bridgerton, and much of the action on the page takes place behind closed doors on screen. That’s not to say the show isn’t a delight, just that Carr fans looking for a gripping watch may be disappointed by the cooler, more drama-focused tone of the Netflix series.
netflix virgin river is streaming now.
See Also: Sara B. Larson – YA Author