This book is destined to become a rom/com movie -- if it doesn't it will be the biggest shame!! Perfect book to take on vacation -- main characters Poppy and Alex are two people I would want as my best friends. This is the first book I've read of Emily Henry and I've heard so much hype about her books -- so happy I listed to the hype and finally read one!!

Emily Henry has done it again folks, and if you thought Beach Read was good, just wait... I loved this book!

I'm a sucker for the friends to lovers trope.

Poppy and Henry have been best friends since college despite the fact they have VERY different personalities. They have a tradition of taking a summer trip every year to a place of their choosing until they go on a trip to Croatia and an incident that ruined everything. Now Poppy has an idea for one last trip in hopes of reconciling their friendship... and just might change her life for the better.

This book gave me all the feels and I loved the witty banter. I thought the way Emily Henry told the story through past/present timelines was an excellent choice. This is a great romance novel that I will be sure to read again in the future. I look forward to reading more from her. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

***4.5 stars*** Oh this book! The relationship of Poppy and Alex took me on a ride with them from college to over a decade. The summer trips. The distance apart. The special friendship. Opposite personalities. The bonds of love. The other relationships. The people you meet on vacation and the connections you make. The life and love of Poppy and Alex.

A wonderful book! Thank you Emily Henry! And Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy! My thoughts and opinions are my own and an honest review. #NetGalley #PeopleWeMeetOnVacation

I have officially moved Emily Henry's contemporary adult books to my auto-read list. After reading Beach Read last year, I was nervous whether her new book would hold up. I am so glad to say that for me it most definitely did. This is the story of Poppy and Alex who become best friends in college. They decide to start vacationing together early on and their summer trips become a staple in their friendship. This book starts current day and we find Poppy going through a quarter life crisis of sorts. She is advised to think about the last time she was truly happy and immediately thinks of her last vacation with Alex 2 years ago (the last time she talked to him). Poppy decides to contact Alex and see if he would be up for another trip just to see if she can rekindle their friendship and "get him back."

Throughout the book we get chapters of flashbacks to different summer trips leading up to that fateful trip 2 years ago. We get to explore their entire friendship. The ups and downs and how they each grow as individuals in the 12 years that they have known each other. I loved the respect they had for each other and how much the truly cared for each other. I really appreciated how Henry approached each of these characters and really gave them both the depth the needed to make the story work.

This is a love letter to traveling. Our protagonist has the dream job of travelling and blogging for work. It jumps time periods between the past and present to show us how these two best friends started these summer travels. This is a sloooooow burn of a novel and if you’re ready to take a leisurely ride around the world be prepared for witty banter and travel lust.

I think this might be my favorite book of 2021. Alex and Poppy are good friends who over the course of many summers vacation together and never quite connect. The whole book you’re rooting for them to get together. I’ll be recommending this one to everybody. Thank you for the advanced reader copy.

Okay this book was cute. I had gotten behind on Netgalley reads (I still am but I'm working on it) and tried the audiobook because this was being archived soon. I listened to maybe a minute of it and was intrigued. I got the audiobook and started it right away.

I have to say this book is really enjoyable. I feel you go into it knowing what is going to happen but the waiting is what kept me there. It does take a while for things to happen but when it finally does you're so happy about it. At least I was.

After reading this I really want to become a travel blogger or just travel all over in general. I mean I always want to travel. I just am jealous of all my remote friends who are able to go wherever they want because they're not tied down to an office. Maybe one day.

I can't wait to read more from Emily Henry. I have only read her adult romance and want to check out her other genres as well. I also can't wait to see what she ends up writing next!

*Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Before this I have read two other books by Emily Henry, *Beach reads* and *A Million Junes.* What I loved about both those books is while romance is at the core of the stories with undeniable chemistry, in both cases our main characters make a lot of discoveries about who they are and what they want out of life outside of the romantic interests. I am so happy to say *People We Meet on Vacation* is no exception. This story is a beautifully written friends to lovers story following Alex and Poppy in a sorta duel timeline situation. On one hand we have them "this summer" after not really speaking to each other in 2 years as they go on a last minute vacation together in attempts to rekindle their friendship. On the other hand we see the 10 different summers and vacations that they have spent together leading up until now and how these best friends who obviously care for each other had ended up in this situation.

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I do have to say I had two concerns going into this book. Number one was that Poppy could very easily fall into a manic pixie dream girl stereotype. On the surface she is the type of girl that can't be held down, and has a quirky sense of style, and maybe all of her problems can be solved by this generic white man. She definitely had a lot of that going on but as I mentioned before so much of Poppy's story is not just about her relationship with Alex even with that being the catalyst for everything. She goes through a really great journey of self discovery and figuring out what she wants versus just focusing on what she doesn't want in life. Poppy definitely had the potential of being seen as rather unlikable and selfish, however her overall arc and every time we see a glimpse at her backstory made her such a sympathetic character.

My number two concern was that it would perpetuate the idea that men and women can't just be friends, especially as this is very much a *When Harry Met Sally* retelling. Luckily I felt like that was squashed kinda right away when it is obvious how much Poppy and Alex value their friendship and the other's feelings, even when they both go into a self preservation mode. It never read like either of them felt like the other owed them something just because they are friends. It's not that they can't just be friends, it's that the love they have for each other is based in the best kind of friendship. It also helped that they have fantastic "opposites attract" chemistry, complete with some great banter. They bring out a different side to each other without making the other feel as if they have to change. Instead it feels like they can be their most authentic selves around each other.

Overall I had such a great time reading about two messy people falling in love.

Emily Henry shares the story of “People We Meet on Vacation,” a tale of Poppy and Alex, who have been friends since college in spite of their very different personalities. She works in New York, and he lives in their hometown, but for 10 years, they have made time to take a week’s vacation together each summer, traveling to all sorts of places.
But two years ago, something happened, and the two haven’t really spoken since.
Poppy hates that she’s lost her best friend, so one last time, she convinces him to go with her on a trip, hoping that they can work it out
This is a nice poolside or beach read.

The perfect beach/summer read - I will be recommending this to library patrons and the book has already been ordered!

I loved Beach Read by Emily Henry so much, which made me very excited with I got a copy of People We Meet on Vacation for review. This book was so good, probably as good as the author’s previous book! Poppy and Alex were absolutely adorable together, I could not get enough of them. I loved how the author wove into the story two different timelines. We see how they met and what happened on their previous vacations, as well as what is happening in present time. I thought this was so well done. Overall a beautifully written, cute story that is perfect for the summer!

People We Meet on Vacation is an engaging, entertaining read. I enjoyed the back and forth in time as we see the relationship between Poppy and Alex develop. I loved when they met, that their friendship wasn’t instant. They are both so quirky it works.

This story is insanely cute, and I found myself routing for them the entire way through. While this novel is considered a beach read – it does tackle some tough issues, making it even more interesting. Emily Henry excels at character development. I highly recommend reading this novel. You will not be disappointed.

3.75 stars. I really enjoyed getting to know characters Poppy and Alex and they really come alive through the pages but I am not a huge fan of couples who are clearly into each other and can't or don't communicate it so this is a totally personal preference. I find myself impatiently waiting for them to have the lightbulb moment and then it's usually over but for me, that's when the story REALLY begins. This book was told in the present summer and goes back to previous summers and I was really more drawn to the present day timeline the whole time.

Poppy and Alex have been best friends since they first met at college. She’s quirky, sarcastic and loves to travel. He’s shy and would rather be at home reading with his cat for company (relatable). For most of the year they don’t get to see each other. Poppy lives in New York City and Alex has stayed in their small hometown. But every summer they take a vacation together. That is until two years ago when something happened on their trip and their friendship fell apart. Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows it was on that last trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together. Will they be able to mend their friendship?

If you are looking for a light-hearted summer read then I would 100% recommend this book!

Told from Poppy’s point of view, the narrative jumps between the current summer trip and their previous vacations. Paying homage to When Harry Met Sally, Emily Henry is brilliant at writing the banter that makes the friends to lovers trope so irresistible. She is definitely my favourite romance author,

People We Meet On Vacation is the perfect summer book and seeing as most of us can’t travel at the moment, it will definitely satisfy your wanderlust!

god bless emily henry and may she continue writing forever so i can keep feeling like this
(originally posted on goodreads)

This new novel by Emily Henry absolutely stole my heart. I still think about Henry's BEACH READ constantly, so when Berkley reached out to me about reading an advanced copy of PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION via NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. Like Henry's previous book, I devoured PEOPLE WE MEET in one sitting. I curled up in bed around 6:00 PM ("I'm pregnant" is one excuse, and "I just want to cocoon myself up in these pages" is another), and dove into the story of two best friends and their ten summer trips. I didn't come up for air until I was a weepy, mushy mess at the last page.
Poppy and Alex are as different as people can be. Poppy loves vintage clothes, loud themed parties, and jet-setting. She lives for new experiences, and the idea of being tethered in any way horrifies her.
Alex...wears khakis. He's dependable, and steady. He lives and works in his hometown, and he's happy to disappear into his books and writing.
On paper, these people couldn't be more opposite. But when they bond over a car trip after their freshman year of college, something magical happens: they become friends. Poppy and Alex have the kind of friendship that is so honest and true, that there's nothing they could hide from each other. Except, maybe some of the stuff that counts.
The friends take trips together during Alex's summer breaks from teaching. The trips are chronicled across the chapters, interspersed with chapters from the present (all in Poppy's POV). In the past, we see glimpses of the true happiness these trips brought Poppy and Alex. In the present, we learn that something happened during their last trip together that wrenched the friends apart. So when Poppy realizes the last time she was truly happy was on a trip with Alex, she decides to bridge the gap and invite him on another trip... and he agrees. Can a week away in Palm Springs—full of broken air conditioning and all kinds of bad omens—repair a decade-long friendship?
Poppy's voice is fresh and witty, and I found myself laughing out loud in several dozen places. She's a protagonist I liked immensely, and her loves and insecurities alike were so relatable. And through Poppy's eyes, I found myself loving Alex. His sturdiness, his humor, and his surprising sense of adventure made him an incredible character. As much as I rooted for their friendship, I rooted for their personal happiness, too.
Emily Henry also has such a gift for bringing places to vibrant life on the page. A glittering California mansion is as beautiful as a sticky-floored dive bar. Kitschy tourist stops and ancient redwood forests are described in stunning detail. And as for the other people Poppy and Alex meet on their trips—these characters are as full of life and personality as the two main characters. I could've happily followed any of them through several chapters.
Like I said, I read PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION in one sitting—which was a trip in itself—but it's a book you'll want to savor. Each scene is a gift, full of humor and emotion and genuine insight. I hope you'll all pick up a copy and take a trip of your own. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this gem. Congratulations, Emily Henry!

4.5 stars? Still not sure where this one will land for me exactly in the 4-5 star range.

TW: death of mother off page in past mentioned

This was one of the few friends to lover situations I really enjoy. These two met in college and have been travel buddies for over a decade. This very much gives me younger “When Harry Met Sally” vibes with the love interest not being an asshole like Harry. I enjoyed the combination of flash backs and present day, and appreciated how the book handled the characters feelings throughout the years, even while with other people, without there being any cheating behavior. The tension was believable and I really pulled for them. Towards the end, there were some things that came off a bit “mushy” for my taste, but others may not mind. Overall I really enjoyed this one, although not quite as much as Beach Read, but Emily Henry is definitely an auto-read for romance for me now.

☀️🏖️People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry
Poppy and Alex might be considered unconventional friends, but it works. Alex is the person Poppy can be herself with and vice versa. Living in different states can be hard on friendships, but they have their chance at reconnecting every year on their summer trip, which started as two friends wanting to go somewhere new, to Poppy making a career out of it.
They both want different things in life which is why they never crossed that line, until the one night in Croatia that led to two years with no communication.
Those two years led to Poppy missing her best friend and thinking of him regularly. She finally gets brave enough to reach out to him and is happily surprised when he responds. After feeling like they were picking up where they left off, Poppy gets brave and invites Alex on another summer trip where she plans to do whatever it takes to make things right, but as truths come to light, Poppy could never have imagined the turn their relationship would take.
This book lived up to every expectation that has been set. I adored Poppy and she was easy to relate to her on so many levels. A girl just trying to find where she belongs. I love a good rom-com, even with the slight predictability in them. I take comfort in knowing that chances are, the two people will always work through their stuff and end up together. This book really was about the journey that brought them to their conclusions. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a heart warming story with a laugh or two (Poppy and Alex's banter and jokes were great)!
It earns a well deserved ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!!!

I was so excited to read People We Meet on Vacation, but admittedly, I struggled to stay focused the first few chapters. The jumps between past and present felt a bit distracting and I almost abandoned the book altogether. I'm so glad I kept reading, because by the time I was about 25% into it, I was hooked.

One of the standout aspects for me was the dialogue, which is a notoriously challenging thing to write. Each character -- even supporting ones -- felt nuanced and well-defined. I highly recommend this book, and I'm already excited for Emily Henry's next one.

Two best friends and travel partners have one final chance to fall in love, in Emily Henry’s must-read friends-to-lovers romance.

Poppy and Alex couldn’t be more different. She’s spirited, colorful and lives to get away from the bustle of New York City (which she also loves). He loves his khakis, living in Ohio, and a quiet night at home. But ever since they met in college, they’re inseparable. They’ve traveled the world together—10 summer trips—with memories to last a lifetime.

But everything changed during their last trip to Croatia two years prior, and they haven’t spoken since.

Meanwhile, Poppy arguably has everything one could desire, but feels unhappy, stuck in an undefinable rut. The last time she truly felt happy, was with Alex. So, on a courageous whim, she entices Alex with one final vacation together, to face what tore them apart and see, once if for all, if the fissure can be mended.

But their week together is rife with challenges from the very beginning—their biggest challenge being the truth they’ve always secretly known. Could two friends, who live in different cities, who want very different things in life, find their way to each other? Or will it ruin everything they’ve built together?

Poppy and Alex’s story brims with charm and humor and is yet grounded by an emotional depth that strikes just the right notes. Through chapters that alternate between then and now, we fall in love with this odd couple, who have unknowingly fallen in love with each other despite their differences, despite those they’ve dated over the years.

There is an intangible effervescence to Henry’s books, making them feel fresh and singular in a genre that can sometimes feel stale or repetitive. Her expertly crafted dialogue really makes her stories come to life, shedding the truths of who her characters are, what they feel deeply. Plus, her banter is whip-smart and laugh-out-loud funny. The result is a warm, feel-good, slow-burn Summer romance I wished would last forever.