Since I have read the strawberry panic Light Novel and it tell the story differently. In the novel the Main point is more about the Etoille competition and more drama I think the love Triangle with Yaya Hikari and Amane and a new girl names Makoto. Well that was a short summary.
When you have see the Anime and read the Novel which "version" of Strawberry Panic was the better and for the one who only see the Anime does the Novel version good to you ?

In my case I think the Anime version was a bit dramatic than the novel specially the Nagisa Shizuma part but the End in the novel was better since there was clear that Nagsia and Shizuma are getting together