The Five Star Weekend, a new series starring Jennifer Garner as widow and celebrity food blogger Hollis Shaw, has premiered on Sky and NOW. The show follows Hollis as she invites four friends from different stages of her life to her Nantucket home for a weekend getaway, where buried secrets surface and tensions rise.
Cast and Premise
The cast includes Gemma Chan as Gigi Ling, D'Arcy Carden as Brooke Kirtley, Regina Hall as Dru-Ann Jones, and Chloë Sevigny as Tatum McKenzie. The eight-part series adapts Elin Hilderbrand's 2023 best-selling novel of the same name.
Fans Note a Major Change
Fans of the original book have taken to Reddit to discuss the adaptation, highlighting a significant alteration to Gigi's backstory. In the novel, Gigi had an affair with Hollis's husband Matthew Shaw (Josh Hamilton) before his death, but she did not know he was married. Matthew lied to her for seven months about his marital status. In the TV series, however, Gigi is aware from the start that Matthew is married.
One Reddit user posted: "I liked it but I wish they had written Gigi closer to what was in the book. And in the book originally, Gigi didn't know that Matthew was married. He lied to her for seven months." Another responded: "Ooh that would make Gigi more likable."
A third commenter noted: "If I remember correctly, doesn't he lie to her for a long time, but when he finally tells her, she doesn't have the heart to end it with him? I remember still being very conflicted about her in the novel."
Reactions to the Change
Some fans felt the change cheapened the story. One wrote: "Having Gigi know Matthew was married from the get go cheapened the significance of their relationship and makes her character a lot worse. I could at least understand somewhat how hard it might be to let go of a relationship with someone you have fallen in love with for like a year before finding out they're married." Another added: "Hadn't read the book so didn't realize that about Gigi. I agree I think it would have felt less diabolical and uncomfortable and creepy tbh."
Overall Reception
Despite the changes, many viewers enjoyed the series. One wrote: "It's a great summer show. Wish they didn't drop it all so fast and let it develop more of an audience. Was barely advertised." Another said: "I absolutely loved it, I give it 5 stars!!!!" A third commented: "I just finished episode three and I am gagged. I didn't have any expectations going into this but I am so happy I started watching."
The Five Star Weekend is streaming now on Sky and NOW.
