Can a movie possibly live up to a book readers already love? Upon its release, Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation became a favorite among readers for its heartfelt emotion, humor, and slow-burn romance. Many book fans tend to get nervous when they hear their favorite book has been turned into a movie, so when fans heard rumors of People We Meet on Vacation being turned into a movie, emotions were high. Would the chemistry, emotional moments, and characters translate as powerfully on the big screen? This is the question fans all over the world have been debating.
Published in May 2021, People We Meet on Vacation was a hit from the very beginning, winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Favorite Romance in 2021. The film received many positive reviews from the very beginning, landing its rating at 3.85 stars. Readers especially fell for the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers vibe between Poppy and Alex, two best friends who live in different cities but reunite every summer for a new vacation together (Goodreads). In my personal opinion, the plot and characters were both amazing, engaging, and clearly well thought out. However, while I enjoyed the overall story, it did feel slow and seemed to drag at times, which is why I would rate it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
As a self-proclaimed movie enthusiast, I was super excited to find out this novel was being adapted for the big screen. The film starred Tom Blyth and Emily Bader as Alex and Poppy, the main characters. People We Meet on Vacation seemed to be somewhat of a hit or miss with critics. Caroline Siede, a critic from AVClub.com (Rotten Tomatoes), was not a fan, stating, “Watching People We Meet On Vacation feels more like ordering a sparkling tropical cocktail and getting served tap water.” On the other hand, Randy Myers, a critic from the San Jose Mercury News (Rotten Tomatoes), gave the film a more positive review, rating it a 3 out of 4. While it may not have been his favorite, he admitted it was decent. “Since rom-coms have been a bit blah of late, this one will satisfy that itch even if it’s no game-changer.”
Many fans pointed out the similarities to the ‘When Harry Met Sally’ “we can not just be friends” trope, finding it either charming or repetitive (Kat Pettibone, US Magazine). In my opinion, the movie was well written and brought the good vibes along with the perfect amount of cheesy romance. Author, Emily Henry, was pleased with Director Brett Haley’s work and loved seeing his vision for her book come to life (Kat Pettibone, US Magazine).
In the end, People We Meet on Vacation proves that while movies may not always capture every little detail readers love about a book, they can still offer a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. The emotional depth and slow-burn storytelling of the novel made it hard to replicate perfectly, but the heart of the story was definitely there. Whether you are on team book, team movie, or thoroughly enjoyed both, one thing is clear: Poppy and Alex’s story continues to spark conversation, and that alone makes this adaptation a success.
