Many movie fans would be surprised to know that these beloved movies originated as a book series! Here are the major differences between the two adaptations.
1. The setting
In the book: Mia and her artist mom live in Greenwich Village, New York City.
In the movie: They live in a converted firehouse-turned apartment in San Francisco.
2. Mia's friend group at school
In the book: She has a big diverse group of friends including a cheerleader named Shameeka, an artist named Ling Su, a violinist named Boris, a romance novel fanatic named Tina, and of course Lilly.
In the movie: She only hangs out with Lilly and Michael, and occasionally a magician named Jeremiah who is infatuated with Lilly.
3. The love interests
In the book: Mia has a crush on Josh and goes to a dance with him before discovering he's only using her for fame, dates Kenny, her lab partner, before getting together with Michael. She and Michael date until Michael has to go to Japan to develop a robotic hand. She then dates JP, a boy her grandmother pushes her towards who she learns is only with her for her title. She and Michael get back together and get married years later.
In the movie: Mia gets together with Michael at the end of the first movie then reveals at the beginning of the second movie that they broke up. She becomes engaged to Andrew so she can become queen, but changes the law that states that she has to be married, and breaks it off with Andrew because she wasn't in love with him. It's implied that she'll end up with Nicholas, a guy that she had a flirtationship with throughout the movie.
4. Mia's dad
In the book: He's a playboy who is unable to have children after Mia, forcing her to take on his responsibilities once he's unable to.
In the movie: He died in a motorcycle accident.
5. Lilly's activism
In the book: She likes to hold protests and has a talk show called "Lilly Tells It Like It Is" where she does exposes.
In the movie: She doesn't protest, but has a show called "Shut Up And Listen".
6. The classes they were taking
In the book: Mia, Lilly, and most of their friends were in a Gifted And Talented class.
In the movie: No evidence of them being in a class like that, but Mia does take a speech class and struggles with public speaking.
7. The government system Genovia used
In the book: Towards the end of the series, Mia uncovers an ancestor's wish that Genovia is turned into a democracy. Mia's dad Philippe runs against her cousin Rene and wins. All the while, Mia's grandmother frets about "a politician installing navy carpets in the palace" while Mia explains numerous times that they still will be living in the palace, just not running the government, if Philippe does not win.
In the movie: It's still a monarchy. Mia gets rid of the law that states a queen must marry to become queen and turns an area of the palace into an orphanage.
8. Mia's relationship with her grandma
In the book: Clarisse is very critical of her granddaughter and is a nightmare to be around, with a scary poodle to boot.
In the movie: Clarisse is stern but loving towards Mia and knows how to let her hair down and have fun once in a while.
9. The main conflict(s)
In the book: It's either Mia's friendship problems with Lilly, relationship problems with Michael, or school drama.
In the movie: An older person with rank wants to take the throne from Mia, and they have to be defeated.
