Netflix's crime thriller show, 'His & Hers' is trending globally. Amid that read on to know the major changes between the show and the novel, written by Alie Feeney.
Netflix's psychological thriller, His & Hers, which was released on January 8, 2026, has become one of the most-watched series on the OTT platform. The series, created by William Oldroyd stars Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal as leads. For the unversed, the series is based on Alice Feeney’s bestselling 2020 novel of the same name.
It is worth mentioning that even though the series is based on the bestselling novel, there are multiple differences between the two. For the unversed, the show follows Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal's characters, who are estranged spouses that are pulled back together for a murder case. As the series is grabbing attention, read on to know the difference between the show and the novel.
His & Hers is a six-episode mystery thriller on Netflix that blends crime, emotional tensions and more. For the uninitiated, the series tells the story of 'Anna Andrews' (played by Tessa Thompson). She was once a successful news anchor, who had withdrawn from her career and life, after splitting from her husband, 'Detective Jack Harper' (played by Jon Bernthal). Eventually, the ex-couple comes back together to investigate the murder of a woman named 'Rachel'. Her tragic death unfolds several past stories.
In the Netflix series, 'Anna's' returns to her job as a television news anchor after taking time off post her daughter's death. Upon returning, she confidently walks back into the newsroom and asks for her old primetime slot. However, when she is told that her position has been filled, she chooses on-field reporting. In the novel, 'Anna's' career graph is shown in a more subtle way. In it, she was temporarily filling in for another anchor, 'Cat Jones'.
A major difference between the series and the novel, His & Hers is that the name of one character was changed. In the book, 'Anna's' work rival is named 'Cat Jones', while the show named her 'Lexy Jones'. The series shows 'Lexy' as a sharp person with stronger emotional conflict. The show makes their rivalry feel more tense. The show also simplifies the backstory of 'Anna' and 'Lexy'.
In the novel, 'Rachel's’ husband is shown as elderly and bedridden. Readers instantly dismiss him as a suspect and are sure he did not kill his own wife. However, the show cleverly changes this detail. In the Netflix series, he is young, physically capable and suspicious. This adds another layer of complexity as viewers suspect him as one of the possible murderers of 'Rachel'.
Another major difference between the book and the novel is 'Anna's' addiction towards alcohol. In the bestselling novel, she often blacks out, forgets events and questions her own memories. This makes readers question her reliability. This habit also makes her one of the prime suspects as she doesn't remember events after drinking. On the other hand, the series portrays 'Anna' as an occasional drinker. She is never shown dangerous or out of control. The show portrays her as a stable woman.
Another major difference in the show, His & Hers is that the climax and final confrontation is much darker and complex in the novel. In the novel, the climax is very chaotic, violent and emotionally overwhelming. Multiple twists are revealed, leaving the readers in shock. On the other hand, the series chooses a cleaner and simpler end, making it easier for the viewers to follow the complexity. Talking about the final confession, in the show, 'Anna's' mother, 'Alice' leaves a letter, in which she explains the reason behind the murder. However, in the novel, the intentions of 'Alice' are more complex, as she tries to protect 'Anna', even though she is not the victim.
One of the biggest difference between the book and the Netflix show is that the makers changed the victim of teenage as****t. For the unversed, in the book, 'Cat Jones' is the victim of brutal as****t as a teenager and the murders are connected to it. However, in the show, 'Anna' is shown as the victim. This change completely shifts the emotional weight and adds more layers to 'Anna's' character. This change makes it easier for the viewers to understand and follow the climax.
What are your thoughts on the Netflix show, His & Hers and the changes between the show and novel? Let us know.
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