Book vs Movie: Aquamarine

Aquamarine is experiencing a renewed popularity, even 20 years after its release. Gen Z is discovering the film itself and millennials are rewatching it again. Disney is developing a sequel series with Jake McDormand & Emma Roberts returning as Raymond and Claire. However, it wasn’t until very recently, that I discovered Aquamarine was also based on the young adult novel written by Practical Magic author, Alice Hoffman. In this fun edition of Book vs Adaptation, I’m going to compare the young adult novel with the 2006 film! Like all my Book vs Adaptation pieces, be aware, there are spoilers!

The Characters & Bits & Pieces of The Plot

The characters of Hailey, Claire, their relatives, Raymond and Aquamarine remain with the same names throughout the novel and film. The plot is about these two girls befriending Aquamarine. One of the girls is moving and of course there is obvious feelings between Raymond and Aquamarine.

Huge Differences With The Plot

In the novel, Claire and her grandparents are the ones moving and they are moving to Florida one reason is Capri Beach is closing down and her grandparents would do well in warmer weather.

In the film, Capri Beach is in Florida unlike how in the novel we don’t know specifically where it is. Instead of Hailey and her grandparents moving, Hailey and her mom are moving due to her mom’s career as a marine biologist.

While in both the novel and film, the girls help Aquamarine have a date with Raymond and have him fall in love with her, how and why it happens is very different. In the book Aquamarine and Raymond have one night together and they reunite in the end.

In the film, Aquamarine has 3 days to prove to her father that love exists to escape an arranged marriage. Aquamarine is in love with Raymond. Hailey and Claire are hesitant to help Aquamarine since they also have a crush on Raymond. However, Aquamarine convinces them that if they help her, she will give them a wish. The girls at first are elated because that means they can use the wish to prevent Hailey and her mom from moving to Australia.

In the book there is no wish. In both the novel and film, both girls are at peace with moving and they will always have each other and Aquamarine. I like how in the film, they acknowledge how even though moving will be tough, Hailey’s mom worked so hard for her career and decide to use the wish for something important.

In the novel, Aquamarine and Raymond reunite in Florida and Claire is there too. However, in the film, even when Raymond isn’t ready to say he loves Aquamarine yet, he and Aquamarine do love each other and plan to explore their relationship more.