Sullivan’s Crossing: Key Differences Between the Show and the Book
Sullivan’s Crossing captivated Netflix audiences with its narratives of love, grief, and fidelity set in a quaint town — but how does the television adaptation stack up against the original book series?
Adapted from Robyn Carr‘s book series of the same title, Sullivan’s Crossing chronicles the story of neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan), who finds herself in legal difficulties and makes her way back to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia to rekindle her relationship with her estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson).
Now into its third season, Maggie is finally in a relationship with her love interest, Cal (Chad Michael Murray), but their romance is filled with challenges — including the unexpected return of her hidden husband, Liam (Marcus Rosner).
Sullivan’s Crossing also delves into other characters from Carr’s five-book series: What We Find, Any Day Now, The Family Gathering, The Best of Us, and The Country Guest House. However, the show — which first aired on CTV before making its way to The CW and then Netflix — has actively sought to set itself apart from Carr’s other adaptation, Virgin River.
Continue reading to discover the key differences between the show and Carr’s books:
Location, Location, Location
Viewers of Sullivan’s Crossing on Netflix were introduced to the fictional Timberlake in Nova Scotia, Canada. In contrast to the series—and the book, which is named after the Sullivan family’s campground—Carr’s story is originally set in Colorado.
The primary reason for this change is to avoid similarities with Virgin River, which focuses on a small town’s residents in Northern California, including Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and her romantic partner, Jack (Martin Henderson).
Expanded Romantic Interests Beyond Maggie and Cal
Similar to Bridgerton, which showcases different couples each season based on Julia Quinn‘s novels, the book series of Sullivan’s Crossing tells five distinct love stories. Cal’s siblings — Sierra and Dakota — are featured in their own respective novels, and Rob (Reid Price) is the focus of the third, while the final book centers on a new character, Hannah.
Cal and Maggie’s Relationship
After discovering love in the first novel, Cal and Maggie’s commitment persists throughout the remaining series. Conversely, the show has opted to introduce greater challenges for the fictional couple.
In the show, Andrew (Allan Hawco) is portrayed as a more significant ex before Maggie arrives in Sullivan’s Crossing, while, in the book, Maggie has a miscarriage while pregnant with Andrew’s child before meeting Us. The television adaptation gives Andrew a larger role leading up to his breakup with Maggie in season two.
Although Maggie and Cal were together before season three, unresolved issues lingered when the season finale concluded. This differs greatly from the book where Maggie and Cal are already married and parents to a daughter by the second novel.
Sullivan’s Crossing keeps fans eagerly awaiting new episodes after season three’s finale left several shocking revelations, including a secret marriage. Based on Robyn Carr’s novel series, the CW show — now available on Netflix — follows neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she navigates legal troubles and returns to her hometown […]
The Sully Factor
On the topic of relationship dynamics, Sully and Maggie were initially depicted as being in a strained relationship when Sullivan’s Crossing debuted on television. In contrast, Carr’s book depicts Maggie visiting her father by the time she was 11, allowing them to maintain a connection despite physical distance.
Changes to Characters — and Gender Swaps
In the book, Sydney (Lindura) is romantically linked to Cal’s younger brother Dakota instead of Rafe. Moreover, Connie (Lauren Hammersley) is a male character in Carr’s series and is matched with Cal’s sister.
