What an amazing book! This author is so great at taking a romcom trope and then adding so much heart and depth to the characters that it really takes the book to a whole new level!

Alex and Poppy have been best friends since the first year of college, and have taken advantage of Poppy's travel-blog skills to take a trip every summer - until the year everything is changed and Poppy is now trying desperately to save their friendship with one last summer trip.

I related maybe too much to Poppy, with her big messy family and big messy feelings, but Alex was a great character as well! Too often the calm, sensible male characters are treated like boring doormats to be thrown over for the brooding and mysterious, but Alex is a great guy and certainly not boring, even if he does wear khakis and plan to stay in his hometown.

5 stars, although I was tempted to take one away for Poppy's dig about brown-eyeliner-wearing kindergarten teachers, because some of us just don't dig the black liner! Heh, I know it was all from her insecurities, but it turned out it hit one of mine!

Poppy and Alex meet their freshman year of college, and find out they are both from the same town in Ohio. They quickly become friends, and start planning annual summer trips together. This is a great friends to lovers romance, but the slow burn is definitely a SLOW burn! While I enjoy a slow burn romance, I wanted more. I felt like the first half of this book dragged big time.

I also wasn't a huge fan of alternating between the past and the present chapters. I liked reading about what happened in the past, and all of their previous trips together. I was not a fan of how it was put in between present chapters though. Sometimes it read very choppy, and I had to go back and see what timeline I was in.

4 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

A n amazing and heartbreaking romance wrapped up in one. Alex and Poppy are stuck in the friend zone. After years of friendship, things become strained after a joint trip to Croatia. The readers are given clues along the way through alternating chapters which jump between the history of their friendship and present. Both Alex and Poppy are realistic and genuine characters. I think that is a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much. The story is solid and the writing made me feel for each of the characters. I think this may be one of my favorite romance books of the year so far.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

In People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, Poppy and Alex meet as freshman in college. They have nothing in common - Poppy wants to travel the world and Alex would prefer to stay home and read a book. They realize they are from different sides of the same town and ride-share home together at the end of the year. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since. Poppy has her dream job but has lost her spark. She realizes the last time she was excited to travel was the last trip with Alex. Poppy accidentally sends a “hey” text which results in convincing Alex to take another vacation together. With a week to fix their friendship and address the incident from two years earlier, their low-budget vacation takes on a life of its own...

I loved the descriptions of the yearly vacations Poppy and Alex take through the years. This is a great slow burn friends-to-lovers trope.

I was so excited to read this book. After reading Beach Read last year, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this one. It did not disappoint at all. In fact, it really surpassed all of my expectations. There are not a lot of authors who can squeeze five stars out of me, let alone, get that from me twice in a row! I’m telling you right now that this author is on my must read, must buy list!

Poppy and Alex are best friends who couldn’t be more different. In fact, on paper they don’t make sense but somehow they click. Every year, Poppy forces them to take a vacation together. Two years ago, something occurred on the trip that causes their friendship to end. Desperate to regain her friendship, Poppy invites Alex on another vacation to make a last attempt to mend things.

There is truly something so magical and truly deliciously romantic about her books. I love the slow burn of it. I never thought I would say that but it is true. The author carefully crafted Poppy and Alex’s story in a way that held the romantic suspense in the air leaving me craving for them to do something and I do mean anything.

I love the characters both separately and together. Poppy is such an amazing female lead. She is so in your face and the wild child. She lives her life to the fullest or so she thinks. She is fun and quirky. Alex is serious and subdued. His dry humor meshes so well with Poppy’s bold and brash banter. The dialogue is so hilarious.

Then there are the sparks. As we (the readers) get to see how Alex and Poppy got to the present day, you can feel the tension from both of them. I couldn’t wait for them to take a leap of faith together. They are just perfect for one another. This is one of the best friends to lovers story that I’ve read.

At the end, I became emotionally as Poppy puts it all on the line. OMG! The feels! I love when an author can just give you all of the feels and leaving you wanting more. I finish this story with a serious book hangover.

I recommend this for romance fans across the board.

~ Samantha

This book speaks to me! (IFYKYK 😉) I fell in love with this book and with Poppy and Alex. I loved how each chapter was a different trip Poppy and Alex took and how it alternated between the past trips and the present summer. I lived for the vacations they took and can't wait to be able to travel again! I want to go everywhere! But for now, I'll be a tourist in my own city. 😊 I loved the best friends to lovers trope and enjoyed watching Poppy and Alex fall in love through their trips. I felt like these characters were real people too! I love when a book gives me those vibes. I want to be friends with Poppy! Haha. I also loved the banter throughout the book. I was laughing out loud at so many descriptions that I could picture. I also found myself crying at the end as the book wrapped up. Because the story was so well written! And because it was over. I'll definitely be keeping this on my shelves and recommending it to everyone. This is the perfect summer read!

Stop what you’re doing and grab this book!!! You will love it! Our hearts are overflowing with love –we could sit and re-read this book all over again. It was beautiful, magical, funny, sincere, and written to perfection! People We Meet on Vacation is, without a doubt, one of the best friends to lovers romances we’ve ever read. Not only that, it’s one of our top reads this year. Absolutely bloody brilliant! A funny and heartfelt emotion fest. You’ll need tissues!

“You won’t lose me.” He says. “As long as you want me, I’m here.”

Responsible for one of our favourites last year with Beach Read, Emily Henry has solidified herself as a 1Click author to us. In fact, we’re already stalking her to see what she’s up to next!

‘I want him to remember. I want every moment to matter as much to him as it has to me.’

From start to finish, this book wowed us. We never wavered in our love for the characters and the story. The banter was on point – we were constantly giggling and grinning like fools. Alex’s sense of humour was so dry – half the time he was witty without even realising it. Poppy, his snarky funny as hell bestie, kept us on our toes and in fits with her sharp humour.

The chemistry, the characters, the joy, the sadness, and the ever-flowing emotions hit every part of our hearts. We loved it all! Everything about this story worked on every level. When done right, the friends to lovers’ trope is all-consuming. When you experience the undercurrent of feelings between two people teetering on the brink of taking a chance at love or remaining friends, you are taken through a gamut of emotions, and Emily Henry nailed it magnificently!

“…sometimes, when you lose your happiness, it’s best to look for it the same way you’d look for anything else.”

Told over twelve years, we are there as a friendship develops between the sweet and stoic Alex Nilsen and the forthright and flighty Poppy Wright. Despite being chalk and cheese Alex and Poppy become best friends. We then spend every summer with them as they navigate their lives through many ups and downs. Broken hearts, insecurities – all their highlights and lowlights were laid bare. We laughed, we cried, and we fell completely in love with their friendship.

‘He is tall, quiet, and eager to see the library. I’m short, loud, and hoping someone comes by and invites us to a real party.’

Alex was a contradiction who completely stole our hearts. A character such as Alex is quite difficult to write – there is a fine line between making him a pushover against Poppy’s strong personality or a little belligerent, but Emily Henry wrote him to perfection! Just wait until you meet Alex! He’s definitely on the list of top book boyfriends!

‘Years of undying love, occasional jealousy, missed opportunities, bad timing, other relationships, building sexual tension, a fight, and the silence afterward, and the pain of living life without him.’

Somewhere along the lines, their friendship fell apart two years previously whilst on a vacation in Croatia. What happened to put such a strain on their friendship that they would go nearly two years without communicating? We switch from past to present as the story builds to that moment.

“I don’t think I knew I was lonely until I met you.”

Just how do we tell you how special this book is? It’s complex and layered – it’s everything you could ask for in a romance. All we can do is tell you to grab this book and find out for yourself. We’re confident your heart will be bursting with love and it will become a favourite for you too!

“I’ve never really felt alone since I met you. I don’t think I’ll ever truly feel alone in this world again as long as you’re in it.”

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION is out in the world today and this is yet another book that solidifies Emily Henry as one of my favorite authors. I don’t know how she does it, but every story and character she writes claims a little piece of my heart. I just want to climb inside her mind and experience the goodness that’s there. (is that weird? maybe, but it’s the truth).

told in flashbacks between Alex and Poppy’s past vacations and their present one, we learn about how they met, their budding friendship, and how that friendship has solidified over the years. their conversations, banter, and inside jokes were the best. (I would very much like my own Alex, please & thank you). the story also fed my love of travel, and though it’s not quite safe to do that yet, I felt like I was jet-setting all around the world in this story. it was a wonderful escape.

Poppy discusses why she loves travel so much and how it helped with her feelings of loneliness. there was so much of her journey that I resonated with, even down to the reasons why I love travel myself. there’s something so exciting about escaping and experiencing a new place and new people while learning about yourself as well. reading through Alex and Poppy’s vacations together took me right back to the trips I’ve taken with family and friends. I can’t wait until I can hop on a plane to a new destination again.

I am a huge fan of declarations of love and this gem of a story gives us not just one, but two. you can say that I was swooning the entire time. I’ve noticed that trend in Emily Henry’s books and it’s another thing I love so much about her writing style. I fall in love with the written word every time I read something she writes. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m so grateful she shares it with the world.

these were also lovely characters to get to know and I definitely saw parts of myself in both Alex and Poppy–from his quiet and steady demeanor to her love of getting out in the world and doing. we learn about their pasts and how it’s shaped the way they are now, and it broke my heart in the best way possible. Emily Henry mentions that this is a book about home–and all its meanings–and how we go back each time we leave. what is home? a place? a thing? a person? it takes a little while for Alex and Poppy to figure this out, but the journey is the best part.

I can’t recommend this–and all of Emily Henry’s books!–enough. pick up PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION now–you won’t regret it!

I can't say enough good things about this book. The story is about Poppy and Alex, two lifelong friends who have nothing in common but enjoy ribbing each other about their differences. They live in different cities but look forward to sharing a summer vacation every year for almost a decade, until something happens and they don't talk for the next two years.

I fell in love with Alex from the first chapter, when he goes to a bar and sits in the corner reading a book on his phone. Alex is that sweet introverted friend who's always there for you and doesn't even care how nerdy he is. And Poppy is the vivacious opposite of Alex. The banter between them is mean and hilarious and touched my heart at the same time and this story is just all you could possibly want in a feel good romance.

The chapters alternates between present day and flashbacks to each of their summer vacations. Even though I really wanted to find out what the big thing was that happened two years ago, I also didn't want the story to end, and really enjoyed getting to know the characters and their quirky relationship with each other and reading about each of their summer destinations.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, but about once a year a book comes along that is too good to listen to, so I put down my headphones and start reading it and trying to make it last longer. Last year this was The Book of Longings for me, and this year, this is that book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

BEACH READ was one of my absolute favorites last year. I knew I had to read PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION. This friends to lovers instantly reminds me of the movie When Harry Met Sally (which I don’t really love- BUT you learn to love it) Emily Henry wrote a note in the back about writing this story. Don’t read it until after you’ve read PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION. Trust me and you’ll see.

I loved Poppy and her adventurous spirit. Alex and his steadfastness. They have absolutely nothing in common. But they have been best friends for the last decade, until they aren’t anymore. After two years of silence, Poppy decides it’s time for a be all end all trip, to clear the air and move forward. But what happens when too much has happened and you can’t tell which way is up much less forward.

Their relationship is one of humor, truth, and love. The kind you can only share with your best friend. Poppy’s one liners, Alex’s willingness to guide her through the rickety adventure she creates. They are like oil and water but at the same time they work. Like the salad dressing you have to shake and mix before pouring all over your salad.

Just go read it. Then go watch When Harry Met Sally because that’s what I did. And guess what? I loved it!

I was pleasantly surprised by “Beach Read” last year and was so excited to get a copy of this book. “People We Meet on Vacation” is a friends-to-lovers trope that is definitely more a slow burn. It takes approximately 70% of the book to really get to the romance part. As a result, some of it can feel like a bit of dragging, but I found the characters so likeable that I was able to get past that. You also know ahead of time that something big happened in the past to alter their relationship and the book works it’s way toward that, building some ancillary excitement in that regard. All in all, I enjoyed this, but not quite as much as “Beach Read.” Henry writes funny and feel-good romances and I can’t wait to see what she does next. This is a 4 star ⭐️ book for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was my first time reading Emily Henry but it for sure won’t be my last time!

I’ve really been struggling with reading lately but this book has totally broken that slump!

I absolutely hate angst just for the sake of angst but when it’s done right...😍 The way this story weaves Poppy and Alex’s past and future had me hanging on for dear life. Will they or won’t they? Did they or didn’t they? What happened two years ago?!? I could not put this book down and I highly recommend you grab yourself a copy!!

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and loveable story. If you’re looking for slow burn, opposites attract romance, I definitely recommend this. Or if you read Henry’s previous romcom, Beach Read, I actually enjoyed this plot even more!

But my issue with People We Meet on Vacation was the non-linear timeline. A lot of the story is told in flashbacks. I honestly didn’t mind it for the first half of the book, but by the time I reached the halfway point, I felt like I wanted to just stay in the present. I kept feeling like I wanted to skip the flashback chapters (I didn’t).

But in the end, it was a story I found endearing and I had fun reading it.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

I knew I wanted to read this before it even came out. Beach Read was one of my favourite books in 2020, and I knew anything that Emily Henry wrote I was on board to read.
I didn’t think it was possible to love a story like I loved Beach Read. I absolutely LOVED People We Meet on Vacation.

I loved Poppy and Alex’s quick banter and their undeniable chemistry. I also really enjoyed reading about this summer’s trip mixed with flashbacks of past vacations. Their friendship was admirable and fun. I loved escaping to all the different places they travelled to, even the unbearably hot apartment.

Seriously guys and gals, if you like a good friends to lovers/opposites attract romance, this is the one to read. I laughed so much, and I also cried. All the feels were felt when I read this book.

I just can’t praise Henry’s writing enough! Definitely at the top of my favourite authors list!!

5/5 bright stars!!!!



Thank you Netgalley, Berkeley Publishing Group and Emily Henry for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I stayed up WAY later than my bedtime last night...1:30 am to be extact, to finish this one. I was at the 50% mark when I started and couldn’t stop until I got to the end. Alex is a new fav and all I’ll shout is “WAKE UP POPPY!”

I loved this one! It’s the perfect summer/beach/vacation/rainy day read. Emily Henry is now an auto-buy author for me!

my book synopsis: Ying to their yang bffs make a yearly summer trip together that would make any significant other jealous. They are true and comfortable with each other so why aren’t they together? Don’t give me that “he’s like a brother to me nonsense” you aren’t fooling anyone...we just get to read all the ways you’re not getting it!!! Enjoy :)

Did I tell you I loved this one yet?!

People We Meet on Vacation is a novel about a wanderer and a homebody, and how their friendship changes through a dozen years of summer trips.

Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college, despite being an odd couple pairing. Poppy wears loud clothes and desires adventure, and Alex is a sweet grump who has PTA-dad vibes. Despite their notable differences, they share an intimate friendship, unsullied by romantic intentions – ninety-five percent of the time.

Every summer, Alex and Poppy have taken trips together, at first on a shoestring budget. Then, Poppy is hired by R+R, a travel magazine, and their vacations change. But Poppy knows their friendship never will, and she anticipates every getaway, looking forward to time spent in Alex’s company and the fun they have together. Then something happens. And Poppy and Alex don’t speak for two years.

Burned out and feeling lost, Poppy is caught off guard when a friend asks her when she was last happy. The answer is two years earlier, on her last trip with Alex. She doesn’t know if they can recapture the magic of their friendship, but she’s willing to try. Can one more vacation fix what happened between them, or will her most important relationship remain fractured?

I love, love, love Alex. He’s such a sweetie; kind, generous, and has a huge heart. Following a family tragedy, he had to mature at a young age and be a parental figure to his younger brothers. He’s a teacher, a cat dad, and wants to be husband and father; he feels real, and his actions and feelings feel true to his character at every turn. I would recommend this book for Alex alone! There’s a strong ring of authenticity to Poppy as well – even though at times she can seem like something of a millennial stereotype – and her family and her feelings toward them have a lot of weight and really add to the reader’s understanding of her. In fact, all the characters are incredibly strong, even the ones we meet only briefly. The story lends itself to a large cast, and each voice feels authentic, each character fully-formed. Character relationships are also very well-developed; Poppy and Alex have a really raw, emotional connection. There’s also the fact that the chemistry between them is PALPABLE and very sexy. Their relationship is a tender, aching love that is slowly revealed throughout the story and events from the past, and present.

Though I was initially skeptical about the switching between time periods which forms the novel’s basic structure, it really works for the story and it feels organic to the narrative as it unfolds. It also increases tension for the reader as the history of the characters unwinds and small details come into focus.

The tone of the book took me a little by surprise, as it was quite heavy at times. I kind of expected some light angst, but the book has a really deep emotional core. It still has some wonderfully funny moments, but I was definitely a little taken aback by how intense it is. I also found the pacing to be a little off as the story enters its third act. The resolution doesn’t feel as final as I’d like, either, with some of the roadblocks seemingly remaining unresolved.

People We Meet on Vacation surprised me in a lot of ways, and while I had some issues with it, I would still definitely recommend it. Some of my favorite tropes are at work in this book – opposites attract and friends to lovers, just to name two. It’s a great read, and will definitely satisfy anyone who loves a good getaway.

Usually I am not the biggest fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, but when done right, it is my jam and People We Meet on Vacation DOES. IT. RIGHT! This book was laugh-out-loud funny with some of the silliest, most endearing mishaps and adventures written this year. I just absolutely adored Poppy and Alex and their dynamic. Emily Henry knows how to write A+ witty dialogue and I look forward to continually comfort reading this book over and over for many years to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review ⭐️⭐️💫 People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
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Despite having nothing in common, those two have been friends for years. However, two years ago, after their summer trip, text and calls start to fizzle out, life gets busier and busier and reaching for the phone get more difficult each time. Now, Poppy has everything she should want, her dream career in a wonderful city, but she's stuck in a rut. When she's ask when was the last time she was truly happy, Alex's face pops in her mind. She decides to try to convince her best friend to give them another chance, and at her surprise he accepts, giving her a week to fix everything.
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I loved the complexity of this book, how heartbreaking and beautiful their love was for each other. I loved how both of them felt seen with the other, how being together brought their true self to the surface, without the facade they would put on for everybody else. The writing was completely flawless, I could easily see myself in all the gorgeous places they went too, feel on my skin the ocean air, and the heat crushing them to their breaking point. I however found that as much as I rooted for them to find each other and finally let go of the pretences of being only friends, I couldn't help but see all the devastation and hurt they left in their wake. I couldn't help imagine I was Sarah feeling jealous of my boyfriend's best friend, him assuring me I was wrong and that there was nothing to worry about, when all along they were truly in love with one another. I can vividly imagine Sarah, silent tears down her cheeks, looking out the window to her boyfriend sitting in his car in the driveway finishing his conversation with the love of his life, while still assuring me I'm being worried for nothing. But emotional cheating is just as legitimate as physical cheating in my book, and this year long affair was so hurtful to the ones who dared getting to close and loving them.
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I want to thank @netgalley @berkleyromance and Emily Henry for the advanced reader's copy, as always all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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I have to confess that I do not read romance, rom-com or any romantic related genre. There. I said it. With that been said, as a booklover, I’m open to read anything under the rainbow though and here’s the thing: Emily Henry is corrupting me into romance novels!!! I just loveddd Alex and Poppy story and I also wanted to punch both in the face too! The writing reminded me of Beach Read and I loved that one too by the way. I’m here for more (and I can’t believe I’m saying that😂) Thank you so much for the copy!

4.5 stars

After reading The People We Meet on Vacation, one thing is clear: I need a getaway, stat. I was left with a smile on my face and a dozen travel destination tabs open on my browser by the end of the book.

I am willing to go anywhere, but I only want to take a trip with someone like Poppy or Alex. I want to spend a week with a person who knows me inside and out, who won’t judge me but instead loves me because of all my quirks; someone who goes with the flow and makes mundane things and even disasters fun; someone who is unconditionally supportive.

I loved seeing Alex and Poppy’s unlikely 12-year friendship grow. This is a friends-to-lovers story with the slowest of slow burns. It is very subtle at first, but the love they share as friends is potent and only grows stronger each year, just as they come closer to developing and acknowledging their romantic feelings for each other.

The author makes Poppy and Alex infinitely interesting with their completely opposite and well-developed personalities. I fell in love with both of them. Poppy is outgoing and over the top. Alex is a dry witted introvert. Their banter is top notch and their inside jokes are crazy fun. I wish Poppy wasn’t so hard on herself, especially toward the end. Maybe they don’t handle things perfectly, but I admire the fact that they don’t play the blame game with each other. They take responsibility for their own happiness.

All the strange and wonderful characters they encounter along the way serve to round out this funny and heartwarming story. The vacations they take are described with such detail that the locations come to life on the page. I could feel, taste, smell, and see every aspect of each destination. Luckily, summer break is right around the corner, and this book is the perfect beach read to take with you.