People We Meet on Vacation Review: The Perfect Rom-Com to Kick Off the Year

Netflix’s long-awaited People We Meet on Vacation is finally here and well worth the wait.

Based on the bestselling novel by Emily Henry, People We Meet on Vacation illustrates why the friends-to-lovers trope remains superior when well-executed, with amazing chemistry, an iconic soundtrack, and a compelling storyline.

Despite a couple of mishaps in the book-to-screen adaptation process, People We Meet on Vacation is the perfect romantic comedy to begin 2026 with.

Emily Bader and Tom Blyth absolutely shine in their roles as best friends Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen.

Their chemistry is authentic from the moment Poppy and Alex meet to when they become intimate for the first time in Barcelona. It is not too sizzling in the beginning, just enough chemistry to illustrate the start of a meaningful friendship. 

Throughout the film, Bader and Blyth’s chemistry changes intensifies as Poppy and Alex’s romantic feelings grow. It makes the friends-to-lovers aspect feel natural.

Both Bader and Blyth deliver excellent performances that showcase their acting abilities, whether through Poppy and Alex’s playful banter or an emotional scene.

Alex Nilsen: I don’t wanna be your fucking friend, Poppy. I want you.

Director Brett Haley and screenwriters Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, and Nunzio Randazzo have done a stellar job in adapting Emily Henry’s book.

Of course, book-to-screen adaptations cannot be entirely faithful, but all things considered, People We Meet on Vacation changes several aspects while retaining the book’s most critical themes, quotes, and moments. 

The film condenses the book’s timeline, a logical and necessary change, which involves meshing some of Poppy and Alex’s vacation events together. This narrative decision actually benefits Poppy and Alex’s relationship by highlighting the most significant moments over the years.

One of the most significant changes involves Poppy and Alex’s inevitable falling-out during their vacation to Tuscany.

In the book, Poppy and Alex fall out during their trip to Croatia after an intense kiss that almost leads to more. 

The film makes a bold choice by changing this moment into an almost-kiss after Poppy’s pregnancy scare. It might be risky, but it pays off when Poppy and Alex share their first kiss in Barcelona. 

Poppy and Alex’s falling-out involving an almost-kiss makes their actual first kiss far more rewarding and emotionally charged.

Furthermore, Alex proposing to Sarah after the incident raises the stakes significantly and illustrates how wrecked Poppy and Alex’s friendship has become, whereas in the book, it seems like their friendship is not beyond repair.

The only book-to-screen change that backfires involves Alex’s on-and-off girlfriend, Sarah.

In the book, Sarah and Poppy have met many times and have an uneasy dynamic due to Poppy and Alex’s friendship. However, the film portrays Sarah and Poppy not even meeting until the Tuscany vacation. This ends up becoming a poor narrative choice because of their final scene together.

Poppy’s apology for gaslighting Sarah about her friendship with Alex falls flat because they barely know each other. Since this moment does not have any significance for the film, People We Meet on Vacation could have done without the scene altogether.

Otherwise, People We Meet on Vacation is a wonderfully faithful adaptation. The movie has many other elements that come together to make the story great.

For one, the movie is loosely inspired by the romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally.

Therefore, Poppy and Alex sharing a hotel room with Poppy taking the bed and Alex taking the floor is an exciting callback to another iconic romantic comedy—The Proposal.

It is a brilliant choice to reference other romantic comedies on a film inspired by possibly the most beloved rom-com of all time.

The soundtrack is another highlight, with iconic songs such as Paula Abdul’s “Forever Your Girl,” Taylor Swift’s “august,” and the Italian version of Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” 

Not only is the film’s soundtrack incredible, but the music is placed throughout People We Meet on Vacation at the perfect moments, making the most of these memorable songs.

Lighting is another great focal point for the film.

The soft, warm lighting, as Poppy and Alex are intimate together for the first time, contrasting their dark silhouettes, emphasizes how big of a moment this is for them.

Another excellent use of lighting is at the end of the film, when Poppy and Alex are on the beach. The warm tone, with hints of a serene turquoise, illustrates Poppy’s final point in her last monologue.

Poppy Wright: When people think of home, they think of the place where they live, or maybe the place where they grew up. Those places never felt like home to me. I spent most of my life looking for somewhere I belonged. And believe me, I searched everywhere. But it’s a thin line between searching and running away. So, after all my searching, this is what I’ve learned. Home is where you can be entirely yourself. In fact, home doesn’t have to be a place at all. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do. When you’re with the person who loves you for you… you’re always home. 

People We Meet on Vacation is a feel-good, heartwarming romantic comedy that serves as a reminder of why the best relationships begin with friendship.

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People We Meet on Vacation is available to watch on Netflix.

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