Dear You, by French romance author Emily Blaine, has been adapted into a series on Prime Video. The adaptation offers a modern and inclusive version, designed for younger generations, with characters reimagined to reflect new sensibilities.
Emily Blaine had envisioned in her novel Dear You an alpha male, a dark and brooding businessman. In the series adaptation, over a decade later, this hero has changed—shyer, less seductive.
“Thrilled and proud to be the first French romance author adapted into a series,” declares the author during the press presentation of the series Dear You.
Originally discovered by Éditions Harlequin, which publishes her under the &H label, Blaine, at 43, stands out from other big names in the genre, such as Morgane Moncomble, 29, or Sarah Rivens, 25.
“What makes me laugh is that they are all younger. I feel like the 'daronne' of romance, the veteran,” jokes Emily Blaine. She uses a pseudonym to preserve the privacy of her husband, who is in the military.
The 15 episodes of 22 minutes each are streaming on Prime Video starting this Friday. The script is based on her trilogy, published between 2013 and 2016.
‘Not Tall, Not Dark’
The differences between the book and its adaptation are significant, which may confuse some fans.
On the Mouv' radio station, lead actress Carla Poquin admitted not reading the book. “I thought about it, but we were advised not to before filming,” she revealed. “It's an adaptation; there are noticeable differences.”
The Californian media tycoon Andrew Blake, a ruthless businessman shrouded in mystery, has become Alexandre Blake, a Parisian startup owner lacking self-confidence.
“The book, which was written 10 or 12 years ago, has aged a bit. Since its release, we've had #MeToo. It was essential to rethink how the romantic relationship develops,” explains Emily Blaine. The story is about an unequal relationship between a luxury hotel VIP client and a young customer relations manager.
“One of the first things we reviewed with the producers was the male character—dominant, old school, very confident,” says the creator. “In my imagination, the hero was tall, dark and brooding. Here, he's neither tall nor dark.”
The series avoids idealizing feelings, as traditional Harlequin romance does, aiming instead at an audience under 30 that prioritizes consent in relationships.
‘Guardians of the Temple’
Louka Meliava, the actor who plays Alex, brings a certain geeky awkwardness to his role, portraying a character whose clumsiness charms Alma.
In the novel Dear You, the storyline is more archetypal: she discovers the cracks beneath the armor of a broad-shouldered hero who seems successful but is broken inside.
This novel will be re-released in a “collector's edition” on February 12.
After witnessing the backlash faced by Mélissa Da Costa, the best-selling author in France, over the adaptation of her novel Tout le bleu du ciel by TF1 and Netflix, Emily Blaine is also bracing for criticism.
“It will happen to me. There are those I call the 'guardians of the temple,' who demand a copy-paste version, where Andrew must have green eyes, the hair just so... Whatever we do, there will always be some disappointed fans,” she acknowledges.
With AFP
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