Binging the show right after finishing the pages left me oddly satisfied — it’s faithful in spirit more than in exact detail.
The heart of 'Trinkets' — three awkward, messy teens forming a friendship through Shoplifters Anonymous — is absolutely preserved. The show keeps the book’s warmth, the awkward humor, and the exploration of shame, family fracture, and
identity. Where the adaptation shifts is in scope: the series stretches scenes, adds subplots, and gives supporting characters much bigger arcs than the novel had room for, which sometimes enriches the world and sometimes softens the book’s
quieter, sharper moments.
Pacing is different too. The book’s introspective beats and compact revelations become extended, TV-friendly cliffhangers, and the visual medium leans on soundtrack and location to sell emotions that the prose handled with internal monologue. I liked both, but the show feels more communal and soap-operatic, while the book stays intimate — and that contrast is part of the fun for me.