After having read Beach Read, I was intrigued to read Emily Henry's new book, and I was not disappointed. I would even say, that I enjoyed this new novel more than her debut.
It was super easy to get into the book and I basically flew through the pages because I was hooked. I was hooked on the story and the characters. I wanted to know what had happened between Alex and Poppy that led to them not talking anymore. To be honest...the reason wasn't very surprising, but it did fit the story so I'm not disappointed about it. I really like the way the story was told through a dual timeline and we get a glimpse into every summer trip Alex and Poppy took while, at the same time, following them both as they get in touch again and are on their most recent summer trip.
The pacing of the story was almost perfect. Just in the second half I was a little bit bored for some time, but that changed rather quickly again. My biggest complaint though, is, that for the most time in the 'This Summer' timeline, I didn't feel the chemistry between Alex and Poppy. I really liked them both as characters and I loved seeing their growth, especially towards the end of the novel, but for a long time I felt like the spark was missing. Or at least the spark didn't reach me as a reader. By the end, I was in love with their relationship and I can totally see why they are perfect for each other, but I wish I had felt that before so I would've rooted for them from the very beginning.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I cannot wait for Emily Henry's next novel. I have a feeling that she's the type of author who's going to keep improving!

This is an enjoyable read, a good distraction from real life. It tells the story of Poppy and Alex as their relationship changes over the years.
The characters are likeable and you are willing them to get together as they clearly adore each other but as with any romance, the true course never runs smooth.
I could see this book translating well into a film as it has the perfect formula of sexual tension, lost moments and regret.
This will be a great beach read, even if that may be Hastings rather than Honolulu

Two friends. 10 summer trips. You And Me on Vacation follows best friends Poppy and Alex, who make a pact, every year to spend one vacation together. We follow them on trips to Vancouver when Alex discovered his fear of flying, get very drunk but manage to talk each other out of matching tattoos in New Orleans. Then there’s one summer where it all goes wrong. And then there’s now. A final trip that will determine the rest of their lives.

Oh my goodness do they or don’t they make it? This is another fantastic read. If you loved Beach Read then you’ll love this one too.

It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I really enjoyed it.

10 years, 10 years Poppy and Alex have loved each other, it’s not rocket science, everyone can see it. They are in love with each other! However, they are not compatible, not right for each other for marriage or children, well so they think and they don’t want to ruin a friendship by going a step too far, so they keep it platonic.

Henry keeps you wondering, wishing and hoping that these two come to their senses and get together, all in all they are made for each other. Don’t opposites attract?

They have an amazing friendship, which plays around with your emotions and their trips brought back some great memories. Henry gets across their sexual chemistry with ease.

I smiled, I laughed, I cried, I cringed and couldn’t help myself taking deep breaths at times and screaming out loud 🤣🤣🤣 and there were a few ‘oh my goodness’ moments.

TBH the first half of the book sets the scene and it doesn’t really get to the nitty gritty until the second half, I didn’t mind this as it was such an easy and enjoyable read.

This is fun and interesting, real and believable and I loved all of the characters. The backstory, going from the past to the present day worked too.

Quote:

“And that was what I set out to write in this book. Two characters with no obvious reason to like each other, let alone love each other. Two people with so little in common that romance never seemed to be on the table, and thus friendship could blossom. That once-in-a-lifetime kind of true, bone-deep, unconditional friendship that becomes such a part of your DNA that you could never feel quite like yourself again without it. Alex and Poppy, Poppy and Alex.”

And that’s what Henry achieved. 👏👏👏

Thank you Viking Books, Penguin Random House, NetGalley and Emily Henry for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.

You and Me on Vacation was a lovely way to experience a vicarious twenty-something life without having to leave the comfort of my armchair...or my thirties. I really enjoyed travelling from place to place as the story unfolded and felt a real warmth towards the two main characters and the lives that are unfolding in front of them.

Poppy, the protagonist, is fun, vulnerable and relatable and Alex comes across as a gentle giant; you're rooting for them both from the beginning. My favourite element of this book was definitely the witty banter between them. You feel like an insider to their jokes and I really did laugh out loud at some points.

The only reason I didn't give five stars was the pace; I'm impatient and I just wanted the romance to move a little more quickly! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for their next summer romance book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Henry and Penguin for the advanced reader copy.

Oh I loved this book ! I read it in a day. Poppy and Alex are friends from college and over the years spend vacations together as friends - I kept thinking of When Harry Met Sally ( fab film!) I loved Poppy and Alex, its a real page turner and I enjoyed hearing all of their backstory to their vacations as each chapter unfolded. The best of it all for me is the humor! I haven't laughed out loud when reading a book in ages !

I loved this book so much! After reading Beach Read last year I was so excited to hear Emily Henry had another book coming out and it did not disappoint!

Poppy and Alex were such great characters and I loved the dynamic between them despite their differences in personality. I especially enjoyed seeing how their friendship and feelings developed through each year of their summer trip.
I also really enjoyed reading about all of the different places that Poppy and Alex visited and, especially at a time where I can't travel, this really made me feel like I was there with them!

WOW! I loved this book, I am new to Emily Henry’s writing and she did not disappoint! First off I love all the characters in this book, I really felt a connection with the way Poppy was demonstrating her emotions. The relationship between Alex and Poppy was amazing yet unpredictable, I never guessed what was coming next. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, I was so determined for their relationship to blossom throughout. I could immediately pick this book back up and read it again, which isn’t often the case for me.

Thanks to the author, penguin and netgalley for allowing me to access this ARC.

Okay, okay, once again, I have fallen head over heels for the character Emily Henry has created. Much like Beach Read, You And Me On Vacation made me laugh, cry, and grin maniacally at various points and in pretty equal measure. It's the perfect read for fans of Henry's past work (or fans of, say, Josie Silver, Beth O'Leary, Casey McQuiston, etc.). Another perfect romp of a rom-com.

Loved this. I could not put this down one of my favourite so far this year. I loved the character. This book made me laugh so much will definitely be one of my guilty pleasures for re read when I want to feel good.

February - and in line with Valentine's Day and the month of love, I managed to devour a Contemporary Romance already this month. A book I truly adored in 2020 was Beach Read by Emily Henry and to get an ARC of You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry off the back of that was a real treat. I don't really have the energy for late-night reading and I especially don't have the energy to read into the early hours anymore - but apparently, I made an exception for You and Me on Vacation, starting the book at 11.30 at night and wrapping it up 2 and a half hours later.

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry Book Review

You and Me on Vacation focuses on two friends, Poppy and Alex, who met whilst they were at university in Chicago, although they quickly discover they're from the same place. With Alex returning to their childhood home in Ohio and Poppy relocating to bustling New York City to grow her travel blog and eventually work for a Travel Publication, it's fair to say that their friendship relies heavily on texting, random meet-ups and long-distance calls - and of course, the yearly trip they take together to distant and local locations. Chapter by Chapter, we are taken back and forth between the Present Day and 10 years previously to their first trip together, then their 2nd and so on - unravelling everything there is to understand about the friendship's dynamics and getting to the bottom of the 'rift' that forced them apart just two summers previously. It's easy enough to speculate about the rift but the story does remarkable things in exploring friendships, relationships and getting to the bottom of what you truly want and need,

I adored the characters - Alex is definitely the epitome of a caring and thoughtful man, whilst Poppy is the confident and 'can-do' personality we all wish we had inside of ourselves. Despite their differences, the story definitely works - everything about the story kept me completely hooked and I was really sad to get to the end of it so quickly - ah, the pains of binge reading! I 100% recommend this book to anyone who loves reading contemporary romance books; it was light-hearted for the most part and a very easy, quick read.

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry a five-star read to fall in love with. Simply put this may be the best story I read all year, it will certainly be one that I will come back and re-read so often, I plan on buying the paperback as well, as this belongs on my hall of fame bookshelf. This story will have your heart pounding in a good way and wondering and wishing and just all over the place, it’s so good. You will be laughing your head off at Poppy and Alex, this story is like all of my old favourites rolled into one, it made me smile so much an old lady on my street asked me if I was in love with a new man!! We ended up having a social distanced chat about the book and I promised to pick her up a copy when I picked mine up as she loves the sound of it. In my eyes this will appeal to everyone as it has something for everyone, do not miss this read as its simply amazing.

After reading Emily Henry’s last book ‘Beach Read’ I was interested in reading this next book from her as I liked her writing style, even if I had found Beach Read a little predictable.

‘You and Me on Vacation’ tells the story of Poppy and Alex, friends from college who take an annual summer break together every year and have done so for the last ten years. Two years ago it all went wrong and they’ve not spoken since. Poppy is determined to not let it end this way so invites Alex for one last trip, the make or break chance to save their friendship.

Ok, so after reading a few thrillers in a row I needed a light-hearted, rom-com read and this was the perfect tonic! Yes you might know how it’s going to end, but can you predict what happens along the way and why? Actually no! The characters of Poppy and Alex are everything you want them to be, the will they won’t they box of rom-com genre is ticked but you become fully invested in their journey. The flashback chapters work really well and how the memories are intertwined with the present dialogue is seamless.

I finished this book with a smile on my face and wishing that I could be friends with Poppy and Alex! The book asked you to ‘lose your heart to Poppy and Alex’ and I can honestly say I did! An easy read that does what it’s supposed to, make you believe in happy ever afters.

Thank you to Netgalley, Emily Henry and Penguin for the advanced reader copy.

You and Me on Vacation was wonderful. It was complex, real, and emotional. I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting.

Alex and Poppy meet as freshmen in college, despite growing up on different sides of the same town. They bond during a car-share that is the start of their beautiful friendship, despite being vastly different from each other. Poppy is unique and random while Alex is controlled and methodical. Their relationship is complex and they have a deep connection. Ever since that fateful car-share the two of them take a summer vacation together. Until two years ago. That last vacation ended their friendship and after two years, Poppy reaches out to Alex to see if he'll go on one last trip together and careful-thoughtful-uptight Alex says yes.

Both Poppy and Alex were written with depth and enough layers that I was invested in peeling them back. I loved watching the soul-searching, the millennial questioning of what do I do now, and the friends-to-lovers slow burn. Poppy was witty and funny and I loved the banter in this book.

Emily Henry writes incredible fiction, with well-developed romances. I enjoyed being on the journey of Poppy finding herself and discovering what she really wants in life.

This is a book that you will not want to miss out on.

You and Me on Vacation is a brilliantly written book on friendship that turns in to love. Alex and Poppy are both really likeable characters and the depths that come with Alex add extra layers which come across really well. I really enjoyed the cross between their current situation and the flashback to previous holidays that they’d taken together and the more I read, the more difficult I found this book to put down. I love a book that will keep me up until the early hours, wanting to know more, and this is definitely that kind of book. Highly recommend and looking forward to more by Emily Henry.

📖 b o o k r e v i e w 📖 ⠀
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You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry⠀
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Alex and Poppy have been friends since college. Even though they’re completely different, Poppy is spontaneous and wild whereas Alex is dependable and pragmatic, their summer vacations are the highlight of both their years. That is until two summers ago when they ruined everything and haven’t spoken since. Poppy has a great job and life in New York but is determined to repair her friendship with Alex. So she decides to invite him on one last summer vacation, to lay everything on the table and finally make things right between them. She has one week to fix everything, what could possibly go wrong. ⠀
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I really loved this book. Poppy and Alex were fun and interesting characters. Their chemistry and dynamic was really believable, and I loved that we got to watch their relationship develop over a span of 12 years. I also enjoyed how the narrative was spiced up with a few moments of completely believable tension and drama, so, while it was an easy read, it didn’t feel like a cliche, fluffy romance. ⠀
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The narrative switches back and forth between the present and past summers. As Poppy and Alex’s year revolves around their summer trips, each chapter we follow them as they travel to Croatia, Tuscany and New Orleans. This made it the perfect lockdown read and I felt like I was travelling to all of these different places from the comfort of my own home! ⠀
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Emily Henry is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors after reading and loving Beach Read (her first novel) only a few weeks ago. Her characters are fun and enjoyable to read, and she has really unique stories that keep me hooked the whole time. I’d definitely recommend you read her books if you haven’t already! ⠀
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Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced E-copy, You and Me on Vacation will be published in the U.K. in May. ⠀
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Less than 30 pages in I found myself Henry's Beach Read. That's how confident I was that I would love this book and her style of writing.

A perfect story in the friend-to-lovers trope and so heartwarming. I was looking for a light and gentle read and Henry delivered that; she also gave me something (read *someone*) who is so relatable. I'm left with such an urge to read more of Poppy Wright and her frankness in the angst and experience of those in their late20's/early 30's.

The whole book has When Harry Met Sally/One Day vibes (without the tragic ending of the latter); so pick up this book if they were your bag. And if they weren't? I'd still recommend reading You and Me on Vacation.

Emily Henry is up there now with Beth O'Leary as an auto-buy author when I need a romantic read.

Ok, so lockdown 2021 was probably not the best time for me to read this as so many beautiful vacations were detailed and we couldn't leave our house but my travel bucket list is definitely longer now than it was before the read. This is the first book I've read by Emily Henry and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other books because I loved it. Poppy and Alex are the most likeable, albeit occasionally frustrating, characters and I was instantly in their corner cheering for them to get together. The way the author flipped from the present to their previous summer trips worked really well, and I honestly felt like I was there for a lot of them. I felt like their emotions and the way they stupidly handled their relationship was realistic and it wasn't a simple, boy meets girl end, it was complex like all human relationships are and made the characters believable and more likeable. Would 100% recommend, and will be reading more of Emily's books.

I fell in love with Alex and Poppy. I loved the backstory, how they met and how their friendship grew. I knew from the first chapter when they were pretending to have just met at the bar it was going to be a fun read, and it was. The things Alex said had me giggling. The two are total opposites. There is a serious side, it does get a bit sad in parts. One minute I was laughing the next I was wanting to cry. It was the perfect book to escape from what is going off around us. I loved it

I started off not too keen on this one. I thought the character Poppy was a bit of a privelaged brat and so I took a long time reading the first few chapters. BUT... then I changed my mind completely and I absolutely fell in love with Poppy and Alex. They are just the cutest! I adored their friendship, every aspect - how they met, how they grew closer, the build up of tension, and I was just in it for the whole ride.

It's predictable, and there are some frustrating bits towards the end, but it is a rom com, so really, what else would you expect? I enjoyed Emily Henry's other novel Beach Read, but I enjoyed this one even more. The banter and little in jokes between them was just lovely. Honestly, hetero women are going to LOVE Alex.

Oh I also LOVED the travel stories - especially at the moment when none of us can go anywhere - it was nice to do a little vicarious travelling.

A perfect holiday read.

This book was the perfect antidote to the current state of the world. I would have read it in one sitting, but annoyingly I had to sleep and go to work. Emily Henry has created a vivid world with Alex and Poppy, and I wanted to inhabit it with them for so much longer. With chapters that alternate between the past and the present day, there was so much to love about this book. Reading it felt like putting on my most comfy sweater, and frankly anything that can make me forget about the state of the world right now deserves 5 stars.