“People We Meet on Vacation” speaks to me. I first read the novel in 2022, and I loved it. In anticipation of the film, I re-read the book and immediately started the movie after finishing it. This would prove to be a mistake. “People We Meet on Vacation” is good as both a book and a movie, as long as you don’t compare them.
The story follows long-time friends and total opposites Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth). After meeting in college, Poppy becomes a restless, world-traveling blogger while Alex returns to his hometown to teach. The thing that keeps them tied together: their annual summer trip. But as time passes and their lives become more complicated, Poppy and Alex realize it’s not the destination that matters, it’s being with each other.
The book is amazing. It cuts between their present and past vacations, slowly making the case as to why the couple is perfect for each other. The author of the novel, Emily Henry, is one of my favorites. Known for her classic rom-com style, she perfectly maintains romance genre conventions while adding incredible depth and meaning to her stories.
That nostalgic rom-com feeling is present in the “People We Meet on Vacation” film. Visually, the movie is eye-catching and exciting. The shots are colorful when the characters are happy and dull in moments of distance between the pair. Bader’s performance as Poppy is a standout. Although she plays a character often reduced to her most annoying attributes, Bader portrays the complexities that make Poppy so relatable. Blyth and the supporting cast also do a great job in making this film such a fun watch.
It’s a good movie. It’s a good rom-com. But whether or not it’s a good adaptation is another question. When a story is already popular, like Henry’s books, fans put a lot of pressure on creators to give their beloved novel justice before the adaptation even starts production. Now that it’s out, fans of the book have criticized the film. They claim the pacing is quicker than the book’s, and that it leaves out important story beats.
While I do partially agree that these critiques are valid, that doesn’t mean the movie has problems. Going from one medium to another, there will inevitably be differences. Instead of comparing the two works, audiences should be willing to appreciate things for what they are. There are so few rom-coms today that I think it’s important to appreciate a good one.
“People We Meet on Vacation” may not be a completely faithful screen adaptation, but that is OK. The film is enjoyable as a standalone experience. It’s bringing back romance adaptations and captures the original story’s essence. If I want the book’s story, I can read the book. Film adaptations will always differ from the book, so I encourage fans to look forward to something new.
*This column was updated Feb. 4, 2026.
