
All the Same… or Not
2022 • Comedy, Drama, Family • TV-PG
Carol and her friends prepare for a new year of going to school, to the beach, and having fun in their beloved Rio de Janeiro... but their friendship will be put to the test. Carol will deal with her mother's marriage, her stepfather being her teacher, her insufferable half-brother, and her friends' personal problems. But they will stick together... or not.
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Why you should read the novel
Before you stream All the Same… or Not, meet the story at its source: Next Door (Na Porta ao Lado) by Luly Trigo. This heartfelt young adult novel delivers a richer, more intimate coming‑of‑age journey that inspired the Disney+ series, with layered emotions, nuanced friendships, and the authentic voice of a Brazilian teen navigating first love and a newly blended family.
Readers who loved the show’s sunlit vibe will find even more depth on the page. Luly Trigo’s novel lingers on the small moments—conversations, doubts, and choices—that shape Carol’s growth. It’s the perfect pick for fans of contemporary YA, realistic romance, and character‑driven stories rooted in Rio de Janeiro’s everyday life.
Choose the book to experience the original tone, pacing, and inner world that adaptations can only hint at. Seek out Na Porta ao Lado in its original Portuguese or in licensed translations where available, and discover why Luly Trigo’s storytelling became the foundation for All the Same… or Not.
Adaptation differences
All the Same… or Not broadens the perspective compared to Luly Trigo’s Next Door (Na Porta ao Lado). While the novel closely follows Carol’s inner life, the series spotlights the entire friend group and family ensemble, giving more screen time to side characters and creating parallel arcs designed for episodic television.
Pacing and structure also shift in the adaptation. Events that unfold organically across chapters in the book are reordered and condensed into season‑friendly beats with cliffhangers. Some conflicts stretch across episodes or seasons, whereas the novel resolves key threads within a single, cohesive arc.
Tone and focus reflect the platform. The Disney+ version leans into upbeat, family‑friendly humor and visually vibrant Rio locations, softening or streamlining heavier emotional layers that the book explores more introspectively. Expect contemporary updates—social media dynamics, slang, and school set pieces—geared toward on‑screen immediacy.
Finally, the show introduces original subplots and composites to sustain an ensemble series. Secondary characters receive expanded backstories, certain relationships are amplified, and a few moments are invented for visual impact. The heart of Carol’s journey remains, but the path—who drives a scene, when turning points land, and how conflicts resolve—often differs from the novel’s more intimate, book-first design.
All the Same… or Not inspired from
Next Door (Na Porta ao Lado)
by Luly Trigo