This is your classic friends to lovers romance but despite it being predictable it didn’t matter as Poppy and Alex were what made this book what it was.

Poppy and Alex are such fantastic characters and were written so well. They felt so real and there friendship was so authentic with the jokes made, banter they had along the way and the arguments.

As the story begins you soon come to realise that they are no longer best friends due to something happening two years ago. From here the story flips between the current summer and past vacations where you begin to piece together their life together and the events that led up to the fateful vacation where everything went wrong.

Each of the vacations the reader gets transported back to were so much fun to read about. These two characters could not be anymore different with their beliefs and likes and dislikes – but you know immediately that despite all this they are perfect for each other and want nothing more than for them to realise this.

At the end the author does mention that the book is based on the film ‘When Harry Met Sally’ which I’ll admit I’ve never seen but if it’s similar to this story then I definitely need to give it a watch!

Overall this was such a wonderful story that had me with a permanent smile on my face throughout. Brilliantly written with genuine lovable characters that will sweep you off your feet – a definite re-read!

Poppy and Alex met 12 years ago in college and for years they would go on vacation together every summer. Then 2 years ago something happened and they haven't spoken since. Until Poppy asks Alex to go on one last trip to try and repair their relationship...

I LOVED Beach Read by Emily Henry so I was really excited to get stuck into this.

I'll be honest, I haven't read many romance books with the friends-to-lovers trope and I don't think it's my favourite. However, I did think Alex and Poppy's friendship was adorable! I enjoyed their banter and I liked them more as the story progressed. There were even a few moments towards the end that made me feel very emotional.

It's been a long time since I've been abroad and I loved following the two main characters on all their holidays. It almost made me feel like I was on vacation too!

CW: alcohol (I didn't actually notice this until someone else pointed it out to me but the characters spend a lot of time getting drunk throughout the book so if that's something you don't enjoy reading about then I wanted to mention it!)

I really enjoyed this will they/ won’t they love story which follows Poppy and her best friend Alex as they embark on their annual summer trip.

I found the story telling easy to follow and liked the flashbacks for earlier holidays. I think this would be a perfect holiday read.

Alex and Poppy are unlikely friends. Alex is reserved and in control while Poppy is loud and a free spirit. After a long roadtrip home from college getting to know each other, they agree to go on a summer holiday every year. Even though they live miles apart they always go on a trip. That is until two years ago when something happened to make them never speak to each other. When the opportunity arises to try and make amends Poppy takes it. One last summer trip to repair their friendship or turn it into something more.

I was so excited to read more from Emily Henry after reading Beach Read and she didn't disappoint. I would say this one is more romcom than Beach Read making it the perfect summer read.

Dare I say that Emily Henry has made me reconsider friends to lovers? I totally bought the fact that they'd both been secretly pining for the other. Because there are flashbacks to their previous holidays you really get to see how their friendship developed instead of just being told what great friends they are. Even though Alex and Poppy are opposites, they compliment each other in a lot of ways. I can see why they'd both think they are too different to work together but they do.

As for Poppy and Alex individually, they were okay. Perhaps I didn't connect with them as much because they reminded me of January and Augustus from Beach Read. Maybe because I was so invested in their relationship I didn't particularly care for their work and personal problems.

I also thought there were a few too many side characters. Extended families, friends and all the people they come across on their trips left for a lot of names to keep track of.

I loved the sunny atmosphere of this book. I could really feel the heat described. It's the perfect beach read.

I found myself also giggling quite a few times. Alex and Poppy's banter was so good. It made it really believable that they were friends.

Basically, pick this book up if you want a fast and fun summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I just loved this book! There is something so addictive about Emily Henry's writing that I just adore!

Poppy and Alex were just brilliant characters and I just loved that we got to go through so many years of their trips together! I just loved both characters so much!

I will definitely be adding this book to the list I recommend to my friends!

How do I even begin to explain how much I loved this book?!

There is something about Emily Henry's writing style that latches onto me and pulls me into her stories and her characters from page one. I felt that way with Beach Read and even more so with You and Me on Vacation (because the only thing I love more than an enemies-to-lovers romance is a friends-to-lovers romance).

I fell in love with Poppy and Alex right away. Emily Henry tells their story through dual timelines - one in present day, and one that starts 12 years back but gets closer to present day with each chapter. This format really allows the reader to get to know everything about Poppy and Alex and their history. I was so absorbed in everything, from the hilarious travel mishaps to the tiny details of one single glance or smirk.

Emily Henry's writing is smart, funny, and pulls at your heartstrings when it needs to. After Beach Read, I said I would read anything Henry writes and this book has solidified her name on my list of auto-buy authors. Year round, this is the perfect escapist read that'll still keep you grounded enough in your real life that you won't be able to stop thinking about it!

A delightful book that follows Poppy and Alex from their first meeting at college and a friendship formed through to 12 years later when they are not speaking to each other. They made a pact to take a holiday each year with each other and we revisit some of their holidays to see how their friendship develops. The underlying thread is what happened two summers ago to mean that they now don't speak to each other.
Poppy reaches out and asks Alex to join her on one last trip.

It's a fun book with lots of travel references that I enjoyed. You warm to the characters although you want to shout at them sometimes! You just want to keep reading to the end!

5 stars!

I read this whole thing in pretty much one sitting because I just could not put it down. I don’t have a lot of coherent thoughts apart from the fact that at the end I was trying to keep myself from crying. I was feeling too much and relating too much and this book was just incredible.

This book follows Alex and Poppy through 10 years of travels and being best friends. It’s all about love and friendship and missed opportunities and what it is like to be afraid to put yourself out there.

Emily Henry has once again created characters that feel like they could be you at any given time and writes as if she can see through everyone’s insecurities and deepest desires.

This is a wonderful wonderful story and you all need to do yourselves a favor and read it. At this point, reading this book is a form of self care.

After reading The Beach Read, I had high hopes for this book and I wasn't disappointed, yet another great summer read from Emily Henry.

The two main characters, Alex and Poppy, first met 12 years ago at University and every year since, have been on holiday together. Their. relationship is purely friendship, but is it really?

It was great to join them on their holidays and visit some amazing places with them whilst sitting in my book nook. It was great that there were mishaps along the way, and their adventures were not just plain sailing.

I highly recommend this perfect summer book of romantic escapism.

Will they won't they? Life goals not meshing, romance lines not meshing. How can they live together but can they really be apart? A unique and novel twist to male and female friends and if it really can be friends without sex getting involved.
A believable take that I really enjoyed and how you Need to be honest with yourself and those you care about.

Emily and Alex are high school friends who would like to be more. Both of them are afraid to give it a try in case it goes wrong and they are heartbroken. Emily Henry says in the author notes that she was going for a When Harry met Sally vibe. The story does have that vibe but somehow just missed the mark for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

“A GORGEOUS AND SIZZLING PAGE-TURNER OF A BOOK”

This is the story of Poppy & Alex who met 12 summers ago, they hated each other and didn’t think they’d meet up again. Then after having to share a taxi, they become friends and made a deal, that every year, one holiday would be spent together.

It follows some of the years where they spent summers together, and the one summer where everything went wrong.

Now, Poppy asks Alex to come with her on a final trip. But, will this trip make them finally part ways for good or map out the rest of their lives…..

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS

After reading and enjoying Beach Read by Emily Henry last year, I was super grateful and excited to have access to an early copy of her latest release.

You and Me on Vacation is a friends to lovers romance told in dual timelines. We first meet Poppy and Alex 12 years ago at college when they don't seem to hit it off, but soon turn into the best of friends and holiday together every year. We also follow Poppy and Alex in the present day, two years after everything seemed to go wrong and as they try to recover their friendship.

I loved reading about the pair in both timelines and seeing their friendship develop over the years. Both Poppy and Alex felt like real, tangible people to me and therefore their relationship felt organic and well developed. The sexual tension was *chef's kiss* but not only that, the friendship between the two was so well executed and I loved their banter and inside jokes.

I raced through this book and it was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. A perfect Summer escape read with a heartwarming happy ever after and a little bit of spice sprinkled in. Also, Alex.

I love anything written by Emily Henry, and YOU AND ME ON VACATION is no exception. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. Emily Henry does an amazing job at keeping readers invested in the realness of the MCs complications and struggles. The romance was beautifully written and felt achingly real in a way some romance reads are unable to do.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Twelve summers ago: Poppy and Alex meet. They hate each other, and are pretty confident they'll never speak again. Eleven summers ago: They're forced to share a car ride home from college and by the end of it a friendship is formed. And a pact: every year, one vacation together. Ten summers ago: Alex discovers his fear of flying. Poppy holds his hand the whole way. Seven summers ago: They get far too drunk and narrowly avoid getting matching tattoos. Tow summers ago: It all goes wrong. This summer Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. A trip that will determine the rest of their lives.

Poppy and Alex have been going on holiday for years. But something happened that made the holidays stop. They don't see or speak to each other anymore, Poppy invites Alex on a low budget holiday to sort out their relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

Both Poppy and Alex have flaws. They are complete opposites of each other, but opposites often attract. We are given flashbacks to the holidays Poppy and Alex have spent together. The build up is slow and drags out. The characters were well developed and likable. I quite enjoyed this quirky read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #EmilyHenry for my ARC of #YouAndMeOnVacation in exchange for an honest review.

Alex and Poppy first met at the University of Chicago. He caught her eye on the first day and she decided to introduce herself. You couldn’t have found any two people so polar opposite to each other, this eventually ended up being a good thing because within 12 months or so they became the best of friends.

This friendship spans over 12 years and only deepens every summer when they go on vacation together. Poppy’s spontaneity and fantastic sense of humour delivers up some very witty and hilarious banter between the two of them. I love how Alex knows what she is thinking and plays along with the games she makes up. I loved his dry sense of humour and how Poppy brings out the ‘Naked Alex’ when they are together - which is the unguarded version of him nothing to do with nudity at all :)

They share so many wonderful times together, travelling around America at first and then when Poppy gets a job working for a travel publication, they venture into countries around the world. They share their innermost secrets and thoughts, which only adds to the depth of love and respect they have for each other. They aren’t a ‘couple’ however, throughout this story they both date other people and at one point all holiday together with their respective partners.

‘Vacations always end. It’s the very fact that it’s finite that makes travelling special. You could move to any one of those destinations you loved in small doses, and it wouldn’t be the spellbinding, life-altering seven days you spent there as a guest, letting a place into your heart fully, letting it change you.’

A situation is alluded to throughout the story, one that has affected them so much, they haven’t seen each other for the last two years. Until Poppy decides to reach out and see if Alex is up for one last holiday together. Seeing each other again is the balm they were both needing. They have both missed each other terribly and they slip back into the comfortable familiarity they have always had together. This holiday will define the future of their friendship and it was everything I hoped it would be!

‘Poppy, of course it was because of you. Everything is because of you. Everything.’

‘I can’t be the break from your real life, and I won’t be the thing that keeps you from having what you want.’

This is my second reading experience from Emily Henry and once again she completely captured all of my attention and made me feel like I truly was on holiday. To this end, I decided to fully embrace the holiday theme and did lots of lounging around, drinking copious amounts of wine and soaking in the hot tub over the weekend :)

This is a lovely summer read - the story of Poppy and Alex, two friends who take a holiday together each year.

The story flips back and forth from their current holiday to the breaks they have taken before. We know that something happened to upset their perfect friendship two summers ago so the time jumps bring us to that point.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read - really good descriptions of the breaks they took made me feel as if I was with them on their trips. And I was rooting for both characters to find their happiness. I wasn't disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review - this is the perfect summer read.

Poppy & Alex meet at college and through circumstance rather than choice, become friends.

After college their yearly holidays together are full of adventure and excitement despite them being very different, with different interests.

These adventures, past and present told from Poppy's point of view describe a continual 'wrong place, wrong time' aspect to any sort of relationship other than friends. That is of course until she realises her feelings have changed.

I liked reading about how Poppy and Alex's relationship grew, even when they were soooo different, with different interests, ideas and experiences. I liked her sense of humour and Alex's anxiousness and how through it all, he was always there for her.

Throughout the book I could not confidently predict the ending and this is probably what kept my interest. I was so invested in how things would, or could, work out that I just had to keep going.

I will definitely read Emily Henry again.

The ultimate feel good book! This book has it all, I laughed, I cried, I had my heart in my mouth many times!

This book starts off as an easy to read, feel good, will they /won’t they book….but soon it gets under your skin and you feel completely invested in the story of Alex and Poppy. Not just will they get together but did they already?

Hilarious scenes alongside heart wrenching emotion. The characters are so real and raw I adored them.

A brilliant look at what it means to be human, to be vulnerable and to fall in love.

Read it, you won’t regret it!

This is a slow burn friends-to-lovers romance with 12 summers worth of simmering chemistry but the payoff is 100% worth it. If that hasn’t already sold it for you, it’s also described as both an escapist read AND a laugh-out-loud comedy. I wholeheartedly agree with both of these statements.

I fell in love with Poppy and Alex very early on. They’re both incredibly likeable. Yes, they’re polar opposites but they compliment each other in all the right places. And the chemistry between them was just flawless.

Emily Henry has an incredible talent for fleshing out her characters. They are always so human and relatable and they all have their quirks and flaws. I can’t stress enough how much Poppy and Alex’s vulnerabilities add to this book. Poppy has grown up feeling isolated and Alex lost his mum at a really young age so you see how these things shape who they are, their experiences and expectations as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. And I thought that was done phenomenally well. It really did make me feel deeply for both characters.

In comparison to Beach Read (which I also adored), I would say that this one is much more light-hearted. You and Me on Vacation filled me with joy while Beach Read was more of an emotional rollercoaster. There are a few moments in this book that made me feel sad but nowhere near the same intensity as Beach Read which honestly felt like someone had torn out my heart and stomped on the pieces at times.