Movies this year have truly started out with a bang, and People We Meet on Vacation was easily one of my most anticipated films. I’m happy to say it really did deliver. From the opening moments, it felt like the kind of romance movie we don’t get enough of anymore.
Originally a novel by Emily Henry, this film adaptation captures everything I want from a romance: a perfect mix of sweet and spicy, emotionally driven moments, and characters that actually feel relatable. Nothing feels overly forced, and that’s what makes it work so well.
Poppy (Emily Bader) is someone who wants to explore the world, while Alex (Tom Blyth) prefers staying home with a good book. On paper, they shouldn’t work yet somehow they become best friends. Even though they live far apart, they spend one week of summer vacation together every year for an entire decade, and those trips become the foundation of their relationship.
I’m such a fan of a friends-to-lovers storyline, and this one really hits. Tom Blyth and Emily Bader are incredibly entertaining as Alex and Poppy, capturing their individual personalities so naturally. Despite being total opposites, they feed off each other beautifully, and their chemistry is undeniable. It genuinely feels like you’re watching two people slowly fall in love, even when they refuse to admit it themselves.
The yearning between them is absolutely top-tier. It’s obvious they’re destined to be more than friends, and that tension the missed moments, the lingering looks keeps you fully invested.
What really makes this film work is how real the emotional timing feels. It’s not about whether Poppy and Alex love each other it’s about whether they’re brave enough to admit it at the right moment. The fear of ruining a friendship, the hesitation, the constant “what if” all feel very relatable, and that’s what makes their story hit as hard as it does.
Visually, the film is also a treat. New Orleans, Tuscany, Barcelona watching their adventures unfold had me ready to book a flight to these places mid-movie. The travel adds so much charm and escapism.
While the script can be a little predictable at times, it’s still an easy, comforting watch the kind of movie you’d happily revisit. I don’t think it’ll become a defining rom-com classic like When Harry Met Sally or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but it doesn’t need to be.
What it does succeed at is nostalgia. It reminded me of the romance films I used to watch when I was younger warm, comforting, and made with heart. That feeling alone makes People We Meet on Vacation worth the watch.