The difference between the show and the book is that while acquisitive, status-obsessed party monsters with less depth than a paper cut comprise the bulk of the characters on the show as in the book, the show manages to flesh them out into comically fallible, three-dimensional human beings who, even if you find them repugnant, you can find weirdly fascinating and feel empathy toward.
And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.
This is certainly different from the series - and it's not just the mounds of cocaine and pounds of marijuana consumed by the main characters.
The series features Parker, Davis and Nixon reprising their original roles, with Cattrall choosing not to return.