Oh wow. I really enjoyed Henry's debut adult romance Beach Read, but this blew it out of the water for me. This dual timeline friends to lovers romance between travel writer Poppy and teacher Alex, who have been unexpected best friends since college completely busted my heart open. They are both great, well-developed characters with excellent chemistry. There were laugh out loud funny lines and one of the best and most relatable depictions of millennial ennui I've ever seen in a romance novel. A new favorite.

As with Henry's last book Beach Reach, People We Meet On Vacation is another heartfelt, touching romance novel. Following two friends through the years via their summer vacations, Henry creates a wonderful novel about the lies we tell ourselves and others to protect our hearts. A unique novel that takes the classic friends to lovers story and will make you scream, "Just kiss already!" nearly every chapter.

Once again, Emily Henry delivers another winning romance that feels akin to a comfort read. I had high expectations after BEACH READ, but PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION absolutely tops them all. From the sharp humor to the heartfelt pains of longing and belonging, Henry has fully cemented herself as one of my favorite romance writers from here on out.

Poppy and Alex have been friends since college and take an annual summer vacation together. Two years ago, something happened during their trip to Croatia and they haven't spoken since. When Poppy begins to struggle, she asks herself when she was truly happy and the answer is summers with Alex. Alternating between the present and the past (working from their first meeting to present day), the reader gets a glimpse into their relationship. I guessed where it was going and wasn't wrong but that didn't make the journey any less fun! A big fan of Emily Henry's first book and the second one didn't disappoint. A fun rom-com.

I think that Emily Henry may be on deck to be my new favorite author. With People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read, I find myself in awe of the lightness of the text while delivering heavy and, quite frankly, life altering relationships to the readers. Alex and Poppy have become some of my favorite characters. Their banter made me laugh, and their unwavering love for each other made me feel as if I had transcended (who doesn't want to feel that for someone in their lives?). I feel as if what I just said may be a bit much, but in life there are people we are afraid to take that next step with because we don't want to ruin it, and Alex and Poppy have become the epitome of that. 12 years of travel, friendship, and love, but for what? Pining and disappointment in each of them, unbeknownst to the other. Henry's writing is beautiful, and I couldn't put it down. I will preach her writing until the day I die. She's magnificent. She's real. She's necessary.

Wow, this book was truest a master piece, I’ve never felt this much while reading a book. This love story was so heartbreakingly pure and real that I cried on several occasions. This is my favourite romance now. Brb while I go read it again!

First, I have to say that I can't remember the last time I read a book that had me literally laughing out loud, uncontrollably. This book has some pretty serious themes and a few sad parts, but the dialogue between Poppy and Alex is filled with smart, snappy humor. The humor is the thread that holds the whole book together and keeps us loving these characters and cheering them on.

Poppy and Alex actually grew up in the same Ohio town, but don't meet until their freshman year at the University of Chicago. They both have considerable scars from childhood. Poppy was odd one out and bullied. Alex lost his mother at age six and stepped in to manage things as his father fell apart. Alex ends up teaching high school English in their hometown, but Poppy can't get out fast enough. Alex wants to plant roots in Ohio, get married and have a family. Poppy feels she would suffocate if she did that. So, they want completely different things, and they fall in love with other people along the way. In the meantime, Poppy builds a career as a travel writer. One of her perks is going on free trips. So, every summer, for ten years, Alex and Poppy take a summer trip together.

They are great friends, and clearly in love with one another, but life is complicated and gets in the way. As the book opens, they are on their current trip, but in alternating chapters we flash back to previous trips and fully understand Poppy and Alex's entire relationship. This is a great love story. I enjoyed Beach Read, also by this author, but People We Meet on Vacation is even better.

God, that was excruciating! I wasn’t even going to read this, but the publisher sent it to me because I reviewed the author’s last book, which was quite a bit better than this, though not earth shattering. There were many things wrong with this book, the first being that Poppy and Alex P. Keaton don’t meet on vacation. While I’m not a particularly literal person, I’m not clear on the the reason for the title. The reader also has to sit through a year by year recap of every boring vacation these two boring people take, followed by a climax that culminates in both of them whining about their lack of personal adjustment to real life. Not recommended.

I loved this book! Way more than I thought I would. Emily Henry’s book Beach Read was one of my favorite rom-coms of this year and I didn’t think she could write another that was up to par; I was completely wrong.

The People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy's writings of her travels (for her blog, then R&R company when she begins to work there), along with her best friend Alex over the summer for 12 years… well until 2 years prior to now when something happened that halted communication between the two. The novel transitions between the present (This Summer) and past (_X_ Summers Ago); each few chapters moving between another Summer Trip. At first, I didn’t think I would like this, I tend to have trouble following timelines well in books, but it worked – I guess since it was only a year here and there in chronological order.

One thing I thoroughly enjoyed, the connections between character's mentioned in past Summer Trips to the current or other past trips. It felt isolating between just Poppy and Alex, but throw in other characters they met along the way and it felt less like I was following two people who only had life for each other. Another thing I really enjoyed was the quirky side notes/thoughts from Poppy - the additional parenthetical notes mostly at the beginning and end of the book. These added something to her charismatic, funny, lively personality. Having inside jokes that carried between Poppy and Alex throughout the book were cute! The little Beach Read connection(s) fit in well – anyone care to read an Augustus Everett novel? The characters were really likable and the trips were fun! The complexity of the characters was rather shocking, but I guess it built up to that – the pain and feeling of loss deep down.

There was a period in reading the book I was tired of it being just the two of them – Poppy and Alex. But then another character would be mentioned or joined and it felt less awkward. Overall though, great book! It exceeded my expectations… which were rather high from loving Beach Read so much!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for giving the opportunity to access this ARC! We read Beach Read for a book club earlier this year, this one could be another selection after it’s release!

This was another great novel by Emily Henry. I stayed up too late reading because I could not put it down. I will continue to recommend her to library patrons.

I love Emily Henry and I loved this book. I live for will-they-won't-they-be-more-than-friends and this book delivered. I finished it and spend the next few days rereading sections because I was sure I read it too quickly the first time.

This is only the second Emily Henry book I've read. I enjoy her style. It is witty without being too obvious. She creates characters who are both believable and admirable, which can be rare in a romance.

I loved this book so much! "Beach Read" was my first book by Emily Henry, so I had high expectations for this book. I completely fell in love with the main characters, Poppy and Alex, and it was so tickling to read their story! Also a super interesting format switching between chapters from the past and current.

If you liked Beach Read by Emily Henry (which I sure did), then you will love People We Meet on Vacation! It fills a specific and wonderful genre of vacation + romance + friends-to-lovers. The descriptions of the places that our characters travel, for Poppy's work as a travel blogger, will help quench the wanderlust of the 2020 pandemic times. You can't go anywhere, but you can read about it!

Poppy and Alex have been odd-couple friends since college. Poppy is a colorful travel blogger looking to never go back to her small-town, Midwestern roots as a weird, bullied girl. Alex is a straight edge guy from a neighboring town who has been responsible and practical his whole life. The two don't make much sense on paper, but they have fun and are themselves around each other. Their tradition of a summer trip together ended two years ago with some awkwardness. However, Poppy is trying to bring it back and get their friendship back on track. Told in alternating timelines with trips from the past and the current summer vacation, it is fun, if a little predictable.
Recommend for summer romance lovers!

Just like Emily Henry's other book Beach Read, I loved this one! I was drawn in from the beginning to Alex and Poppy's relationship and how different they were but how close they were despite that.
I liked seeing their relationship through the years. I didn't mind the jumping back and forth in time. I will read anything Emily Henry writes!

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

A well written, friends to lovers story in the vein of "When Harry Met Sally" (The book itself makes the reference.) Poppy and Alex meet at freshman orientation in college. The next time they are together they are car sharing to their hometown for summer vacation. On the drive they become best friends. They start what becomes a tradition of taking a vacation together every summer. Regardless of their jobs and love status they meet and travel to Vancouver, New Orleans, San Francsico and more. Alex goes on to be a teacher at the same high school Poppy attended. Poppy turns her love of travel into a career writing for a travel magazine in NYC.

The characters are real and well developed. Alex and Poppy each have their own issues. The conversations and experiences, told through Poppy's POV are funny and occasionally heart wrenching. This is very much a slow burn build. At times I was frustrated because I wanted to find out why they weren't already together. But that is a good author building the tension. The chapters jump from the present day vacation to trips over the previous 12 years giving all the back story. I think this would be excellent read for book clubs. There is very little language and minimally more than fade to black steaminess.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked Emily Henry's first book, Beach Read, and was worried this one wouldn't live up to it. Turns out I had nothing to worry about! This is the story of Poppy and Alex, who met in university and at first didn't really click, but then get to know each other quickly on a car ride home at the end of the school year. We then see their friendship unfold throughout their summer trips over the next several years. This book gave me all the feels. I cried several times, I laughed out loud and I didn't want the story to end. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I cannot wait to see what this author will come out with next.

5 stars!! Emily Henry has quickly become my favorite author. You could feel from the beginning the love Alex and Poppy had for each other. I loved the different family dynamics, how they not only grew as friends but as individuals as well. I can not wait to purchase this book.

I really enjoyed Emily Henry’s “Beach Read” and was so excited when I saw she was coming out with another book.  Poppy and Alex are best friends, since they shared an awkward ride back to their hometown after their freshman year of college.  Poppy is an open book, kind of quirky and loves almost everything with a wild and crazy family, while Alex is very serious, private and buttoned up. He feels responsible for everyone and puts their happiness above his own. Long story short, they are total opposites, but when they’re together, they feel complete. They can be totally honest with each other in a way that they can’t with other people.  Since college they have traveled together (usually on a shoe-string budget until Poppy gets a job at a fancy magazine), eventually dubbing their annual trip “The Summer Trip”.  Every year they both look forward to this trip.  Something happens on the last trip they took together to Croatia that led to them not traveling or really speak to each other.  It’s now two years later and Poppy isn’t feeling inspired at her job anymore and misses talking to Alex, so she convinces him to take another Summer Trip so she can try to fix what’s wrong between them.

It was so great to be able to watch Poppy and Alex get to know each other and build the foundation for their friendship in one storyline and see them finding their way back to each other and unraveling what came between them to get back to how they once were in the other one.  Writing the book this way allows readers to see the complete friendship and really invest in and root for both Poppy and Alex.  The speech that Poppy says to Alex at the end of the book reminded me of the speech that Julia Roberts gave Hugh Grant at the end of "Notting Hill".

I loved the premise of two friends traveling together year after year exploring new places and meeting new and interesting people. Poppy and Alex are total opposites, but that adds to the chemistry they have. About 1/4 into the book, I wanted to jump right into the book and push these two together!  I really enjoy the banter that Emily Henry writes in her books.  Some of the stuff that Alex and Poppy say to each other had me laughing out loud while I was reading. I highly enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation and can't wait to tell everyone about this book.

Emily has done it again. How does she get me EVERY SINGLE TIME. This story made me laugh, tear up, and SWOON. I will eat up every single one of her books with a spoon. All the stars.