‘People We Meet on Vacation’ brings charming rom-com magic to the screen 

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective thoughts, opinions and critiques.

With sun-drenched backdrops, classic rom-com tension and a will-they-or-won’t-they plot stretched across a decade of annual trips, “People We Meet on Vacation” arrives as a glossy, lighthearted crowd-pleaser, marking Emily Henry’s long-awaited leap from bestseller shelves to the screen. 

Though this is the first of Henry’s novels to be adapted, it certainly won’t be the last. Known for rom-com plots as bright and charming as their covers, the New York Times bestselling author has been on an impressive publishing streak with “Beach Read” (2020), “People We Meet on Vacation” (2021), “Book Lovers” (2022), “Happy Place” (2023) and “Funny Story” (2024). Four additional titles are also picked up for film adaptation, highlighting Henry’s dominant voice in the modern rom-com landscape. 

Directed by Brett Haley and produced by Temple Hill Entertainment, the film premiered on Jan. 9 on Netflix and quickly rose to the #1 spot in the week after its release. It follows unlikely best friends Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) over the course of 10 years. No matter where they are in the world and their lives, they meet up for a week-long vacation together every summer. 

The two leads could not be more different. While Alex thrives on routine, early-morning runs and punctuality, Poppy nearly failed P.E. “on principle,” resents their small hometown of Linfield, Ohio and chases adventure on a whim. They clash in almost every way, yet become an inseparable duo in college after bonding on a road trip home gone seriously awry, setting the foundation for a friendship — and later relationship — that unfolds throughout the film.

Poppy is an especially fun character to follow. She brings joy, whimsy and warmth to every moment, which you can practically feel through the screen. Bader perfectly brings her bubbly chaos to life. In an interview, Bader said she was determined not to lose Poppy’s “muchness” from the novel; I think that commitment shines in her performance, which feels simultaneously lively and grounded. 

I was already a fan of Bader from the period drama television series “My Lady Jane” (which I’m still mourning the cancellation of). In the show, she displays the same quick-wittedness and vibrancy that define Poppy, despite the two characters, settings and storylines being entirely different. I was also already a fan of Blyth from his performance as young President Snow in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” While I thought it might be a bit jarring to see him go from ruthless dictator-in-the-making to leading man in a rom-com, he proved his range with an endearing turn as Alex. 

Together, the pair have effortless chemistry, and whoever casted the two had impeccable vision, which the actors executed perfectly. It also helped that Blyth ditched the bleach-blonde hair that was so definitive of Snow’s character; I’m not sure I would’ve been able to see past his previous role even in the most beautiful, bucket-list-topping destinations. 

The film moves fluidly back and forth through time, providing glimpses of each trip in vibrant, postcard-worthy locations, from Barcelona to New Orleans to Tuscany, before gradually catching up to the present. This structure keeps the pacing engaging while providing emotional context for how Poppy and Alex’s relationship evolves. 

As an avid fan of early 2000s romcoms, this was definitely my favorite from the genre in recent years, rivaled only by Netflix’s “Set It Up.” It’s the kind of escapist movie that feels like summer even in the middle of winter — fun, lighthearted and visually inviting, while still delivering emotional weight. Beneath the charm lies a thoughtful exploration of how Poppy uses travel to avoid confronting her life, and how, sometimes, people can feel like home more than any place ever could. 

At the end of the movie (spoiler — or not so spoiler alert because it’s a rom-com, so of course it’s going to have an adorably predictable happy ending), they’re on vacation, finally together, at the beach. I knew the last shot looked familiar: it mimics the novel’s cover, serving as a final sendoff for book fans. 

No matter when you watch it, “People You Meet on Vacation” is guaranteed to brighten your day, and I, for one, will be reading an Emily Henry novel next, as I excitedly await the next adaptation.

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