Top 10 Differences Between Pretty Little Liars TV Show & Books

Top 10 Differences Between the Pretty Little Liars TV Show & Books

Got a secret, can you keep it? Welcome to MsMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Differences Between the Pretty Little Liars TV Show & Books.

For this list, we’re looking at all the ways that this hugely popular show differs from its source material. Please note, since we’ll be discussing plot points, major spoilers lie ahead.

#10: Mona's Storyline

In both the book and the TV show, Mona Vanderwaal is an old friend of Hanna’s, but her storyline in the TV version differs quite a bit. It all starts off similarly enough, with Mona being revealed to be the first “A” in both media. In the book however, Mona dies shortly after this revelation is made in a struggle with Spencer where she falls off a cliff. In the show, she fakes her own death but is later revealed to be very much alive. Considering her role in the series, it’s hard to imagine her being taken out so early!

#9: Mental Institution Switch-Up

In both the tv series and in the books, Hanna struggles with an eating disorder.In the books, and then towards the end of the series, The Radley was turned into a hotel. In the books however, it ultimately results in Hanna’s father sending her to the The Preserve at Addison-Stevens to address this serious issue. In the show, The Preserve isn’t as relevant, but the Radley Sanitarium is. That’s where Mona goes after she is revealed as “A” and Spencer later ends up there as well. In the books, and then towards the end of the television series, The Radley gets turned into a hotel.

#8: Many Characters Are Original to the Show

You may not realize it, but a number of the characters that you come to know and love (or hate!) in the show were actually original creations who never appeared in the books at all. Some examples are Shana, Sydney, Charles, Mary, Bethany, Sara,Paige, and Garrett. On the other hand, there are also tons of book characters who never made it onto the show, like, Kelsey, Tabitha, Amelia, Zach, Nick, Iris, Isaac, Courtney and Jordan/Katherine. We can’t help but wonder why the creators decided to chose some characters to include and not others!

#7: The Timeline of Ali's Death

When the TV show kicks off in the pilot, Alison has been missing for exactly a year when her body is found. Aria has just returned from Iceland, and they’re all still processing what has happened. In the book however, Alison went missing in the summer of 7th grade and a whole three years go by before anyone finds her body. This changes the dynamic quite a bit, because it means that when the initial incident took place in the book, all of the girls were quite young. It also means that the book versions of the characters all had time to grow before A started torturing them.

#6: Caleb Isn't in the Books

We already mentioned that some of the show’s characters weren’t present in the book, but it’s hard to imagine that someone as important as Caleb wasn’t in the source material at all. In the show, he’s Hanna’s main love interest– and of course, also has a brief relationship with Spencer during the time jump. But in the book, Hanna dates Aria’s brother Mike Montgomery for much of the story. Caleb’s hacking skills are essential to many of the show’s plotlines, not to mention he’s a total heartthrob, so in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine the story without him.

#5: Spoby Doesn’t Exist in the Books

It may shock you to find out that one of the biggest “Pretty Little Liars” ships is based on two characters who never get together in the books. In fact, in the books Toby is kind of a creep who sexually abuses his step-sister and watches the girls while they’re changing. The only one of the liars he has even the potential of a romantic match with is actually Emily, but it all falls apart before it can really start, with book Toby ultimately committing suicide by overdosing on drugs. Thankfully, the “Spoby” we know and love are alive and well on TV.

#4: The Ezria Relationship Ends Much Sooner

Speaking of major ships that never were, here’s another one for you. Aria and Ezra’s relationship is a major plot point for much of the TV series, but in the book Ezra is really only around for a very short period of time. Their relationship starts pretty much the same way, but they are soon found out and Ezra loses his job in Rosewood. Anyone who has seen the end of the show knows that Ezria is totally end game and that these two ultimately wind up tying the knot, so it’s tough to imagine the show without this prominent fan-favorite couple.

#3: Who Lives & Who Dies

So we already mentioned two major characters who die in the books but who survive throughout the show: Mona and Toby. But there are even more! Perhaps most importantly, Jenna is murdered! In the book, her last name is Cavanaugh rather than Marshall, and she is killed by the real Alison DiLaurentis (more on that later), because she knows too much. Of course, these changes of fate go both ways. Some characters who died in the show, like Maya, actually survive in the books, though her and Emily still don’t wind up together.

#2: The Main 4 Characters All Look Different

When doing the casting for “Pretty Little Liars”, the creators clearly decided to choose the actress who they thought would best fit the role regardless of physical appearance. The way the characters are described in the books would pretty much make them unrecognizable on the show. Emily is supposed to have strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, but on the show she has darker coloring. In the book, Aria is supposed to be quite tall with blue eyes, Hanna has dyed auburn hair and dark eyes and Spencer is blonde with blue eyes. It’s almost like they all switched!

Aria Dates Noel for Most of the Book Series

There’s No 5-Year Jump in the Books

Melissa's Romantic Life

#1: In the Books, Ali Is A

Get ready because we’re about to spoil the major plot of both the show and the books here. If you’ve read the books or seen the show, you know that Ali is actually alive and always has been, but the details behind her disappearance differ greatly. In the books, Alison has a twin named Courtney who was actually murdered by Alison herself, but in the show she has no twin and this role is partially replaced by Bethany. In the book, the real Alison is actually “A”, but in the show it’s Charlotte AKA CeCe AKA Charles. Phew, did you follow all that?