People We Meet on Vacation premiered on Netflix on Jan. 9. This new romcom, based on the 2021 novel by Emily Henry, is already being hailed for bringing back the genre of rom-coms. Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as the protagonists, college best friends Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen. Both actors have previous experience with book adaptations, as Bader portrayed Jane Grey in Amazon Prime’s My Lady Jane and Blyth took up the mantle of Coriolanus Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to The Hunger Games. People We Meet on Vacation achieved 17.2 million views over the weekend it debuted, proving the demand for more romantic stories.
Henry’s book follows the two friends, Poppy and Alex, as they bond over a long car ride. The two decide to meet up for a vacation every summer, prioritizing their friendship despite the responsibilities of life. The story spans a decade as the pair navigate relationships, jobs, and their own evolving feelings. Since the novel is so expansive, the filmmakers changed many details in the process of adaptation. Some of these had a massive impact on the characterization and development of the beloved leads.
Romcoms of Old
Henry’s novel was inspired by When Harry Met Sally, and the adaptation amplifies the similarities. Apart from translating People We Meet on Vacation to the screen, director Brett Haley also shaped his work into a love letter to previous romcoms. The titular characters of the 1989 film are polar opposites, with a flirty and cynical male lead and an uptight and organized female lead. People We Meet on Vacation flips these characterizations and sprinkles in even more classic romcom tropes.
In a detour from the novel, Poppy and Alex’s drive home from college gets derailed, leading to them spending a night in a motel, merging forced proximity, and the one-bed trope. Alex ends up sleeping on the floor, but the night they share leads to deep conversations and reflections on their shared hometown, which are taken from other points in the book.
The car ride conversation and motel chat quickly cement that People We Meet on Vacation is more than just an adaptation. The movie takes bits and pieces from beloved romcoms, crafting an homage to the genre that is endlessly rewatchable.
Eclectic Supporting Cast
When reading an Emily Henry novel, one can expect a respectful, yearning love interest, a perfectly nuanced lead, and a quirky group of side characters. Tough librarian Ashleigh from Funny Story and restaurant owner Captain Cecil from Great Big Beautiful Mind are some that come to mind. Buck, Daisy, and the rest of their friends appear in Poppy and Alex’s Canadian camping trip, encouraging them to let loose and go with the flow, even if that includes skinny dipping. In New Orleans, our leads encounter a newlywed couple, Stacy Pagano and Bob, at Café Du Monde and a bar, charming them with some killer dancing. This interaction does not occur in the book, but I think we’re all better off having seen Alex Nilsen’s moves.
However, not all of the side characters made the cut in People We Meet on Vacation. The cut Croatia trip also features a talkative photographer who takes it upon himself to supervise Poppy and Alex. In San Francisco, a winery worker is charmed by their false engagement story and sends them to the Blue Heron Inn, where they’re given free passes to Muir Woods. Poppy’s bubbly nature is even more apparent in the book as she connects with people in every city that they visit.
Summer Trips
While the book takes place over 12 years of friendship, the movie condenses Poppy and Alex’s relationship to only nine. Their Nashville, Sanibel Island, and Croatia trips all ended up being cut for time. And the California trip is only a passing mention in the Netflix production. This change makes complete sense when adapting, as including every detail from the vacations would have led to a 10-hour movie. A mini-series would have been a great format, though, to showcase all the little interactions.
Apart from removing some trips, the writers changed the location of the story’s main timeline. The wedding of Alex’s brother David takes place in Barcelona instead of Palm Springs. The destination nuptials are lush and colorful, covered in florals and painted umbrellas, and set to Taylor Swift’s “August.” Despite the beautiful set design, we don’t get to see Poppy and Alex discover the city, which I think is a shame, as Spain has much to offer. They could have kept the book details of the pair arriving a few days before the wedding for some sightseeing and reconnecting.
Friends to lovers
Poppy and Alex’s romance was a long time in the making. His on-again, off-again relationship and her reluctance to settle down make them seem like an impossible match. But in the book, Poppy mentions that 5% of her sometimes questions what could be. The book also shows Poppy and Alex hanging out while at college and texting back and forth, making shifts in their relationship evident, though this might not have translated to film.
The two finally confront themselves and their tension on the joint couples’ trip to Tuscany, instead of Croatia, as it was in the novel. After Alex comforts her through a pregnancy scare, Poppy kisses him, changing everything.
The decision to make them cheat on their respective partners has been divisive, though it is a common romcom trope. Movies like Sleepless in Seattle and The Wedding Planner have also had their protagonists cheat in the name of true love. Viewers can also be comforted by Poppy’s conversation with Alex’s ex, where she shares her gratefulness for the way her life has changed post-breakup.
While People We Meet on Vacation went through many changes in the process from book to film, it maintains the heart of Henry’s story and brings to life the friends-to-lovers arc that so many readers cherish. Romance lovers can expect more of Henry’s work on their screens soon, as four of her other novels are in the process of being adapted. Her first adult romance, Beach Read, is being written and directed by People We Meet on Vacation’s screenwriter, Yulin Kuang. Additionally, Happy Place’s film will be produced by Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions. With the details being kept under wraps, fans are eagerly posting their favorite picks for each of the couples.
If you loved the movie and couldn’t get enough, I fully recommend picking up the book and all of Henry’s other works.