Emily Henry's sophomore novel is spectacular. A beautiful love story as well as a novel about navigating adulthood.

So loved this ending! Unique and fun.
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I had a lot of fun reading this one and I’m sure the author truly enjoyed developing these two quirky characters. They are opposite in so many ways yet blended beautifully together.

Best friends for many years, this book is written in a method that brings us two parts of the story; the past leading up to the present, and then present day.

But not all was well with the world.

Oh, I was getting frustrated with wondering what happened! Why the break? Ack! It seemed I had to read faster to find out what was going on. And the countdown from the past to the present seriously messed with my head.

Henry has mastered the subtleties of love. Those demure inklings of Maybe. Flutterings in your belly. The slooowww burn that keeps you awake at night. Not just a love of a best friend but those strings of "could this really be what I feel?" Plus the fear of trying to explore anything for years because it’s just in your head. BFFs forever, right?

Written with wacky wit and a quirkiness that endears you to Poppy and Alex, whose weirdness unites; a deep insight into an everlasting friendship; warm feelings of love; and a connection that lasts a lifetime. We can only hope that we experience a connection like this in our lifetime. A heartwarming friends to lovers story that gives you all the feels! And that ending? SIGHHH

Another fantastic read by Emily Henry. The classic best friends to lovers trope. My only complaint is that a little communication would have gone a long way...

Oh my gosh, this book. THIS BOOK! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I can't tell you how much I adored this friends-to-lovers, summer romance, adventure around the world! If I wasn't a new mom who valued sleep above all else, I'm 100% positive I would have stayed up all night to finish this in one sitting. Addicting!

The timeline bounces from the present to the past, jumping through twelve years of summer vacations between two best friends. Poppy and Alex were written with such perfection. Their banter made me laugh, and their story made my heart smile. By the end of the book, they'll feel like people you know and don't want to say goodbye to. I wish I could go on a summer trip with them!

If you love contemporary romance, you will LOVE this! I highly highly recommend you pre-order a copy now! Even though I got this one on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, I'm pre-ordering a paperback for my bookshelf because I just loved it. :)

Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

My Favorite Rom-Com of the Year! Cue ALL THE FEELS!

Fun, Light, Refreshing, Witty, and of course Romantic! “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry has it all.

Poppy and Alex meet in College at Freshman Orientation where it is immediately clear that they have absolutely nothing in common. Going their separate ways, they make it a point not to see each other for the rest of the year. Then the two share a fateful car ride home at the end of their Freshman year and the rest is history.

Every summer for an entire decade after University, seeing as they live in different cities, the two decide to go on vacation together, and then it stops, just like that.

Almost like a break-up, except how could that be. right? Alex and Poppy are just friends, aren’t they?

Now two years have passed with nary a word. Poppy, however, has decided to make things right. To get Alex back.

Plan a vacation with her best friend to set things straight. Her life and her happiness depend on it. As it turns out, so does his.

Hilarity, Hijinks, and yes, Romance Ensue. Oh, and did I mention Sparks? Yes, those too.

Sweetness, a whole lot of sweetness, funny text messages, lots and lots of laughter, hilarious, witty banter galore, this friends turned lovers rom-com stole my heart. It’s the kind of romance I think we all dream about and the storyline here is sheer perfection. I adored both Poppy and Alex and cheered for them the entire time. For fans of women’s fiction and lighter romance novels, there were no steamy moments in this fabulous rom-com which made this reader extremely happy.

I will admit that I was originally hesitant to read “People We Meet on Vacation” simply because I read Ms. Henry’s prior novel, “Beach Read” and didn’t quite love it - while I liked the main characters in that book (Augustus and January) and enjoyed their romance, there were elements of that novel that I don’t think quite fit which led to my not enjoying the novel as much as I’d hope to. That said, I’m glad to say that all of my fears were immediately allayed here, as I loved everything about “People We Meet on Vacation” and can’t recommend it highly enough. In case it isn't obvious, this will of course appear on my Goodreads Best-of-List for 2021!

This was a great buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group (and NetGalley) for the arc.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram.

Now that’s how it’s done! The perfect Rom-Com! Deserves all the stars!

Poppy and Alex have been friends since University. Every summer they go on their annual summer vacation. Something they both look forward to each year. In the early days, it was on a shoestring budget. But in recent years, they have had the perks provided through her work.

Only two summers ago ‘something’ happened and the two have not spoken until now.

An opportunity has presented itself to bring the two friends back together. Can they mend their friendship? Can they both find their happiness?

I had a smile on my face from the first page all the way to the end, where suddenly I found myself with tears rolling down my cheeks.

I just loved both of these characters. Poppy is so quirky with the best sense of humor that brings out a whole different side of Alex.

Alex is reserved. A school teacher. Yet when Poppy is around his defenses go down and he throws caution to the wind!

This is the second book I’ve read by Emily Henry. Her last book Beach Read just fell short for me. This latest release is completely different. It has everything you are looking for in a rom-com. Characters you love, good strong chemistry, and the angst of wanting a HEA ending.

Highly recommend!

A rom-com weekend buddy read with Susanne that we both absolutely loved!❤️

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

If I could give six stars to this book, I would.

Once again, Emily Henry has hit it out of the park. There's a reason she's one of my favorite authors. I would seriously read and rave about her grocery list.

Emily has a way with words that is just incredible, saying even the simplest things in the most beautiful way. And don't get me started on her banter—she could teach a master class.

When I read digital copies, I tend to highlight lines that stand out to me. And in this book, there are several pages that are covered in yellow. The only reason I didn't finish reading all in one weekend is that I wanted it to last. When I turned the last page late last night, I was genuinely sad that it was over.

I am so excited for this book to come out in a few months, and can't wait to talk to more people about Alex and Poppy and how wonderful this book is. Do yourself a favor and pre-order it today and read it as soon as humanly possible.

Twelve years ago, Poppy met Alex at college - the two were obvious opposites: Alex was a khaki wearing homebody while Poppy was more of a free-spirited wild child. But a friendship formed on a ride to their hometown from college. They started taking an annual summer vacation, and it was something both friends looked forward to all year. That is until two years ago when something happened on their summer trip... and they haven’t spoken since. After realizing the last time she was truly happy was on that last trip, Poppy reaches out to Alex and he agrees to go on a summer vacation - this time to his brother’s wedding. Can Poppy somehow salvage their friendship and feelings of possibly more?

This was a fun story told by Poppy, alternating between present and past summer vacations. Emily Henry writes great characters and dialogue and I look forward to reading anything she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Henry has done it again. She's taken a story that I thought would be cliche and trite and turned it into a book that I couldn't put down. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning, and although I knew how it would end up, reading it didn't feel boring or disinteresting. Quite the opposite in fact.

She is brilliant at telling stories so that you find a little bit of yourself in each of the characters. She did it in Beach Read, and she did it again in People We Meet on Vacation.

This is a book I'll recommend everyone put on their summer reading list. It's fun, a quick read, and yet at the same time leaves you thinking on things for days after you've finished it.

4 flirty + amusing + wanderlust stars to this latest read from Emily Henry. Y’all this book was just pure FUN! The perfect bookish escape we all need right now. Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college- even though they are complete opposite personalities. The two have maintained their friendship over the years and through various jobs, moves and relationships by taking an annual summer vacation together. The book tells the story of their past vacations over the decade along with their current summer trip. These characters have crazy chemistry and I loved reading this slowwwww burn romance. It was interesting to see their friendship and love grow over the years as well as read about the amazing trips they took. Emily is a talented writer and her vivid descriptions made me crave a vacation!

The perfect poolside read- this book is out into the world on May 11th! Emily Henry continues her reign as queen of summer reads. Pre-order your copy now. Thank you so much to Berkeley and Netgalley for this advance reader copy.

Writing this review is hard, on one hand Emily Henry's writing is absolutely beautiful, on the other hand, by the end if the book I didn’t find the characters romantic, instead I found them codependent, they could only be happy with the other. While at the start of the book I found Poppy and Alex charming and I enjoyed their banter, by they end they were toxic to each other and other people.

At some point Poppy went from a quirky character to someone who is too over the top and can’t function without Alex and realized she can only be happy if he is next to her.
And I am still not sure who is Alex as a character, his personality seemed to change through the book, by the end I wasn’t sure who he was anymore, just someone who hated things but it was fine if he did them with Poppy.

Again, Emily's writing style is beautiful, but I couldn’t connect with characters who were ready to give up everything just for a person they have an unhealthy obessesion with.
There were a few other parts that annoyed me, Poppy and Alex drank a lot during their trips, like, a lot and yet there was never a hangover or blackouts or feeling sick, they woke up perfectly fine and ready to go on. And Rachel is supposed to be Poppy’s friend but she felt more like a prop than a friend (why does she refuse to leave NYC even for a trip?) and the fact her mom is supposed to be Poppy’s therapist is just unprofessional all along.

Emily Henry’s writing is absolutely powerful but sadly this book wasn’t for me.

Travel writer Poppy and English teacher Alex are best friends, and each summer since college they have taken a trip together to a different location. Until a mysterious circumstance while on vacation two years ago has caused them to stop talking. But Poppy misses Alex and has a plan to win back their friendship: one more summer trip to Palm Springs, where Alex's brother just happens to be getting married. Mixed with flashbacks of trips of years past, Henry's newest book is a charmer, letting the reader in on a decade of will they or won't they between Alex and Poppy. This book is an impressive page turner with a nod to the rom-com classic When Harry Met Sally.

Emily Henry has done it again! For those of you have read Beach Read, you’re in for a treat! For those who haven’t, what are you waiting for?!

This book gave me all the feels. Just like in Beach Read, Henry has a knack for being able to create such loveable and relatable characters!

I always love a good friends to lovers and this one fully fit the bill. It was a slow burn that was full of combustible tension, oodles of witty banter and had a swoon worthy lead in Alex!

The story explores Poppy and Alex’s friendship as it alternates between their past summer trips and their present day trip. I’m such a fan of multiple timelines in books and I loved how this one was able to make me feel so immersed and invested in their friendship! I also throughly enjoyed being able to travel around the world with them as we’re all craving a little getaway and escapism in these current pandemic times.

Emily Henry has now established herself as an auto-buy author for me so make sure you check this one out!

ust like Beach Read, Emily Henry's latest is utterly charming. People We Meet on Vacation doesn't have the same zingy banter that I adored about Beach Read, but rather is a slightly softer, slower story. Whenever a story is an homage to another well-known and beloved story, I'm automatically a little wary, but this nod to When Harry Met Sally is different and strong enough to be its own thing.

One of my favorite things about the story is that while there's a classic misunderstanding-leads-to-mess moment, it's not just a trope, but a moment that allows both of the characters to grow and make better decisions for themselves.

Once again, Henry's work feels like more than "just a beach read."

Emily Henry has done it again. I adored Beach Read and I absolutely adored this book! Poppy and Alex has the sweetest friendship ever! Poppy is the wild child and Alex is the sense of calm in the duo. I loved their chemistry together. I loved the history they shared and how they have always been there for each other. I laughed a lot, I cried a lot and in the end I was perfectly content and in love with these two.

Nothing but 5 stars for this one! I loved it and didn’t want it to end. I stayed up way too late finishing it and had a book hangover the next day.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This is my second book I've read by Emily Henry and I enjoyed it just as much as Beach Read. I loved the style of every other chapter going back in time through the years that Poppy and Alex made their yearly summer trips. I had a hard time putting it down because I just had to find out what exactly happened to them 2 years previously that ruined their friendship. This is a fun and fast read with a satisfying ending!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I am quite fond of Henry's book Beach Read so when I was approved for an advanced copy of this book I literally squealed.

I was not at all dkssapointed.

This book has a storyline that involves two friends who have a vacation together every summer until something happens.

We hop between past vacation and the current summer as we piece together the story. I felt a little like a detective as I was gathering my data.

The conclusion was powerful. I laughed, I cried, I squealed some more. I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest feedback

5/5

Now we all know that friends to lovers is the superior trope, but I raise you, friends to lovers to acquaintances that circle all the way back to friends to lovers again. In this sensational sophomore novel to Emily Henry’s debut Beach Read, two former best friends attempt to reconcile a past incident that ruined their decade long friendship. Despite the fact that they have completely different personalities, both Poppy and Henry have been best friends since college. Every year, the two embark on the time honored tradition of their friendship, a vacation to the destination of their choosing. When an unforeseen moment in Croatia tears apart their entire relationship, the two don’t speak again for some time. Until Poppy hatches a plan for one last vacation, one that just might let her reconcile her feelings and put her entire future.

Emily Henry has done it again folks, and if you thought Beach Read was good, just wait until you get your hands on this one. People We Meet on Vacation is the Love Rosie inspired romance of my dreams; one that tore at my heartstrings while simultaneously making me crave a vacation getaway. Where do I even begin with a book that made me laugh, cry, swear, and feel giddy, all in under a few hours. This book really is the whole package. What with its effortless humor emblematic of the romantic comedy, and its mutual pining that made me want to bash my head into the wall on more than one occasion. There really isn't anything more I could possibly want in this. The witty banter and grumpy/sunshine dynamic being enough to satisfy just about any reader. Most of this story takes place a little over a ten year time period, with chapters alternating between past and present timelines. A stylistic choice that certainly made for some excellent angst and character development. In fact, the entire focus on these significant moments through the lens of the varying vacation destinations was so interesting to me. The author utilized it in such a way as to make a commentary on the unknowability of the future and the struggle for human connection. The idea that you don't have to search the entire end of the earth to find either being central to the book's message. It’s clear that Emily Henry has perfected the romantic comedy, as she once again showcases her talent for writing romance that imparts something onto its readers. This is absolutely one of those books that I wish I could read all over again for the first time. A feeling that only grew stronger with every passing page. While I may not be able to plan a vacation getaway at the moment, I can safely say that this is shaping up to be one of the best romances of 2021. Look out world.

Trigger warnings: panic attacks (mentioned), grief, death of a loved one, alcohol consumption

Heartwarming, funny, and relatable. Emily Henry's newest is even better than Beach Read, which is really saying something as that was one of the first books that managed to take me out of all the pandemic anxiety for a bit when the U.S was first shutting down. It's an extremely well-done friends-to-lovers that I would recommend to romance readers and non-romance readers alike.