Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Description
"What happens when best friends with nothing in common come together, fall apart, and fall in love? The Vacationers meets When Harry Met Sally..., from the author of Beach Read When Poppy met Alex, there was no spark, no chemistry, and no reason to think they'd ever talk again. Alex is quiet, studious, and destined for a future in academia. Poppy is a wild child who only came to U of Chicago to escape small-town life. But after sharing a ride home for the summer, the two form a surprising friendship. After all, who better to confide in than someone you could never, ever date? Over the years, Alex and Poppy's lives take them in different directions, but every summer the two find their way back to each other for a magical weeklong vacation. Until one trip goes awry, and in the fallout, they lose touch. Now, two years later, Poppy's in a rut. Her dream job, her relationships, her life--none of it is making her happy. In fact, the last time she remembers feeling truly happy was on that final, ill-fated Summer Trip. The answer to all her problems is obvious: She needs one last vacation to win back her best friend. As a hilariously disastrous week unfolds and tensions rise, Poppy and Alex are forced to confront what drove them apart--and decide what they're willing to risk for the chance to be together"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member dwcofer
I really disliked this book. On the basis of a friend’s recommendation, I previously read Beach Read by Emily Henry and disliked it. I thought perhaps this book, being her second novel, would be better. It wasn’t.
The story is told is mostly alternating chapters of “this summer” and previous
Over time, the reader finds out what happened two summers ago and the only mystery is solved. Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal. The “this summer” chapters are the main plot of the book as the couple do agree to take a summer trip together, and of course, the most obvious outcomes occurs.
The writing has numerous issues. There are a few POV shifts, even mid-paragraph, which were disturbing to the flow of the prose. There is a plot hole regarding the vehicle with the flat tire. One minute they were on the side of the road with a flat, next minute they were back to their hotel. What happened to the car with the flat tire is never explained.
The characters were typical millennials with their entitlement attitudes and feelings of ennui. I didn’t care for either Poppy or Alex. Neither were a character I could pull for. Poppy’s character was fairly well developed, but Alex’s character needed more development. I would like to have seen chapters from Alex’s POV to further know his thinking.
A minor quibble is the overt drug use detailed in the book. I didn’t feel it was necessary and took away from the story Henry was trying to tell. Also the gay characters seemed forced into the plot just so the book could be LGBTQ friendly, but again, they could have been omitted and it been just as good of a story.
The ending felt rushed. Henry did a decent job of showing us the scenery, characters, and the action, until the end. She switched to a more narrative telling of the details to finish the book sooner. If she needed to cut material, there was plenty she could have cut and made more room to improve the ending.
I cannot recommend this book as it was disappointing. If you must read it, go to the library so as not to waste your money.
The story is told is mostly alternating chapters of “this summer” and previous
Show More
summers, going back six summers ago, all from Poppy’s POV. Poppy and Alex are platonic friends who take a summer vacation together each year, at least until two years ago when something happened between them, and they have not spoken to one another for the two years since that last trip. What happened is the only mystery in the book. The rest is predictable.Over time, the reader finds out what happened two summers ago and the only mystery is solved. Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal. The “this summer” chapters are the main plot of the book as the couple do agree to take a summer trip together, and of course, the most obvious outcomes occurs.
The writing has numerous issues. There are a few POV shifts, even mid-paragraph, which were disturbing to the flow of the prose. There is a plot hole regarding the vehicle with the flat tire. One minute they were on the side of the road with a flat, next minute they were back to their hotel. What happened to the car with the flat tire is never explained.
The characters were typical millennials with their entitlement attitudes and feelings of ennui. I didn’t care for either Poppy or Alex. Neither were a character I could pull for. Poppy’s character was fairly well developed, but Alex’s character needed more development. I would like to have seen chapters from Alex’s POV to further know his thinking.
A minor quibble is the overt drug use detailed in the book. I didn’t feel it was necessary and took away from the story Henry was trying to tell. Also the gay characters seemed forced into the plot just so the book could be LGBTQ friendly, but again, they could have been omitted and it been just as good of a story.
The ending felt rushed. Henry did a decent job of showing us the scenery, characters, and the action, until the end. She switched to a more narrative telling of the details to finish the book sooner. If she needed to cut material, there was plenty she could have cut and made more room to improve the ending.
I cannot recommend this book as it was disappointing. If you must read it, go to the library so as not to waste your money.
Show Less
LibraryThing member maneekuhi
Three reasons. First, "People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry" (PV) was incredibly hyped and overly praised. It had all kinds of pre-pub shout-outs, e.g. "most eagerly awaited novel of 2021" and then all kinds of equally enthusiastic reviews; 4000 Amazon reviewers scored it an average 4 1/2 ("it
Clearly, after 361 pages of a ten year plus relationship, the ending is not going to be a surprise to anyone. It was the constant breakups, reattachments, extended breaks that drove me crazy, but that was not the worst! No,no, no. Rather, this couple came to more forks in the road than a New Jersey driver. And when they did, they turned the engine off and analyzed why they felt the way they did, and analyzed, and analyzed. To stay with the analogy a bit longer....they then jumped out of the car, she went left (forever) and he went right (forever). Well, not forever obviously. Naturally they had to get together again when her pet bird died, or was it his pet monkey? I'm not sure. If these two are truly typical of their generation, I fear for our country.
So, what's my third gripe? Flashbacks ! Not always a bad thing. Unless you do too many and a normal reader can't keep track of all the episodes in all the annual vacation spots they took since there is no chronological order to much at all.
The story had some nice moments. The author can right a great sentence and occasionally a nice paragraph. I didn't feel much romance, there was just a little humor, there was some steamy sex, and there were a few moments of misty vision. I wasn't crazy about the protagonist, nor her boyfriend. Wow, this book is really a "2".
Show More
was the best book I've read ALL YEAR". Well more than 10% of those 4000 scored it a three or less. I think my 3 is generous. Well, what's wrong with the book, you may ask?Clearly, after 361 pages of a ten year plus relationship, the ending is not going to be a surprise to anyone. It was the constant breakups, reattachments, extended breaks that drove me crazy, but that was not the worst! No,no, no. Rather, this couple came to more forks in the road than a New Jersey driver. And when they did, they turned the engine off and analyzed why they felt the way they did, and analyzed, and analyzed. To stay with the analogy a bit longer....they then jumped out of the car, she went left (forever) and he went right (forever). Well, not forever obviously. Naturally they had to get together again when her pet bird died, or was it his pet monkey? I'm not sure. If these two are truly typical of their generation, I fear for our country.
So, what's my third gripe? Flashbacks ! Not always a bad thing. Unless you do too many and a normal reader can't keep track of all the episodes in all the annual vacation spots they took since there is no chronological order to much at all.
The story had some nice moments. The author can right a great sentence and occasionally a nice paragraph. I didn't feel much romance, there was just a little humor, there was some steamy sex, and there were a few moments of misty vision. I wasn't crazy about the protagonist, nor her boyfriend. Wow, this book is really a "2".
Show Less
LibraryThing member sdbookhound
This book was on my highly anticipated list for summer 2021. I have to say that I wasn't disappointed. I really liked it a lot, but not as much as I loved Emily Henry's Beach Read. I thought this book was just a little too drawn out. I liked the back story being given out a little at a time and I
Show More
loved getting to know Poppy and Alex, but I think it could have been shorter and I would have liked it more. For romance lovers, this is a romance, but also falls in the women's fiction realm so if that is not your type of romance you may or may not like it. Solid 4 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member Narshkite
Five smiley gooey stars for this one. I absolutely adored Beach Read, Henry's first romance targeted to adults. and this one was not quite as wonderful, but it was still really close.
Poppy and Alex are beautifully drawn characters. They both had annoying and off-putting characteristics because all
I loved watching these two grow up, and I loved meeting their families, their friends, and especially the people they met on vacation. Henry has said this is an homage to When Harry Met Sally, and I think that comes through over and over. Its updated a lot, and the genders are swapped. Poppy is Harry, and she has a lot of the more adorable qualities that Billy Crystal brought to the role as well as the very non-adorable defense mechanism of fending off real feelings using humor (which is my own defense mechanism so I can guarantee it is not adorable.) Alex, the reserved rule follower, is a much more appealing character than is Sally though both embrace following the protocol to avoid hurt. (Confession: I love aspects of that movie, but I don't love the movie. I know, everyone loves the movie. But I really disliked Sally's character for the most part and I did not understand what anyone saw in her other than that she was attractive. Here I liked Alex because I understood him and saw not just the external rigid martinet, but a stable, responsible, empathic man who was absolutely lovable and also attractive.)
Anyway... this book made me feel really happy. I listened to this one and it was read by my very favorite reader and it was joy to listen to, as all books read by Julia Whelan are. I listened to some of this while driving to Pennsylvania. I turned it on as I was waiting in line to enter the Lincoln Tunnel. There was an accident and it took me over an hour to get through the (damn) tunnel. When I finally emerged into the glory that is New Jersey I was smiling like a goon. After over an hour I was less than 10 miles from home and I had spent about 30 of those minutes under the Hudson River and I was smiling! Also, I finished this last night, roughly 12 hours ago, and I am still smiling. That is a lot of smiling.
Poppy and Alex are beautifully drawn characters. They both had annoying and off-putting characteristics because all
Show More
humans have annoying and off-putting characteristics. Poppy rolls around in her millennial ennui and Alex wraps himself in "normal" to avoid failure. The primary differences in this book over others where those characteristics might bug me is that the characters grow and change, and they have a rich backstory that makes their personalities understandable and relatable to everyone. Its not "I was born in 1990 and this is our generation." It is "this is my life, I am a unique individual, and these are the experiences that shaped me. Now, what do I want to keep and what do I want to work through and develop differently."I loved watching these two grow up, and I loved meeting their families, their friends, and especially the people they met on vacation. Henry has said this is an homage to When Harry Met Sally, and I think that comes through over and over. Its updated a lot, and the genders are swapped. Poppy is Harry, and she has a lot of the more adorable qualities that Billy Crystal brought to the role as well as the very non-adorable defense mechanism of fending off real feelings using humor (which is my own defense mechanism so I can guarantee it is not adorable.) Alex, the reserved rule follower, is a much more appealing character than is Sally though both embrace following the protocol to avoid hurt. (Confession: I love aspects of that movie, but I don't love the movie. I know, everyone loves the movie. But I really disliked Sally's character for the most part and I did not understand what anyone saw in her other than that she was attractive. Here I liked Alex because I understood him and saw not just the external rigid martinet, but a stable, responsible, empathic man who was absolutely lovable and also attractive.)
Anyway... this book made me feel really happy. I listened to this one and it was read by my very favorite reader and it was joy to listen to, as all books read by Julia Whelan are. I listened to some of this while driving to Pennsylvania. I turned it on as I was waiting in line to enter the Lincoln Tunnel. There was an accident and it took me over an hour to get through the (damn) tunnel. When I finally emerged into the glory that is New Jersey I was smiling like a goon. After over an hour I was less than 10 miles from home and I had spent about 30 of those minutes under the Hudson River and I was smiling! Also, I finished this last night, roughly 12 hours ago, and I am still smiling. That is a lot of smiling.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tibobi
The Short of It:
Not quite the resolution I wanted or needed but was entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.
The Rest of It:
This pretty much sums it up:
"Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love." ~ Indiebound
Poppy and Alex meet in college. They share a ride home. Two
The story alternates between past summers and the current one. The one where Poppy finally realizes that she is in love with Alex and has been for years. The thing is, she doesn’t think Alex is in love with her, but after a recent break-up she tempts fate and sends him a text to see if he’d be interested in a summer trip. She is a travel writer and what her employer can pay for a trip is a lot more than what she can afford on her own so why not take advantage of it?
There is a lot of back and forth with this story. A lot of he said, she said but also past and present time jumping. It took me awhile to get into it, maybe 60 pages? But I really enjoyed Alex so I stayed with the book. Poppy was all over the place but sweet and well-meaning. Together, they seemed wrong for each other but then again, opposites attract.
Towards the end, there was a lot of me thinking, let’s wrap it up which probably isn’t a good sign. This is one of those reads that I enjoyed but didn’t love or adore. As for the title, I pondered it. People We Meet on Vacation. In my opinion, the story has little to do with the people they meet. It has everything to do with them meeting up with each other every year and having to re-learn their likes and dislikes. Years can change people. Bad relationships can change people too. But good friends? They can last a lifetime.
I’ve not read Henry’s other books so I can’t compare this story with her others, but there was a enough in this book to like for me to try another book by her.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
Not quite the resolution I wanted or needed but was entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.
The Rest of It:
This pretty much sums it up:
"Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love." ~ Indiebound
Poppy and Alex meet in college. They share a ride home. Two
Show More
complete opposites. It reminded me a lot of the movie When Harry Met Sally. They don’t really have much in common but they vacation together once a year, even if they are with other people which is interesting. Can men be friends with women? They believe so.The story alternates between past summers and the current one. The one where Poppy finally realizes that she is in love with Alex and has been for years. The thing is, she doesn’t think Alex is in love with her, but after a recent break-up she tempts fate and sends him a text to see if he’d be interested in a summer trip. She is a travel writer and what her employer can pay for a trip is a lot more than what she can afford on her own so why not take advantage of it?
There is a lot of back and forth with this story. A lot of he said, she said but also past and present time jumping. It took me awhile to get into it, maybe 60 pages? But I really enjoyed Alex so I stayed with the book. Poppy was all over the place but sweet and well-meaning. Together, they seemed wrong for each other but then again, opposites attract.
Towards the end, there was a lot of me thinking, let’s wrap it up which probably isn’t a good sign. This is one of those reads that I enjoyed but didn’t love or adore. As for the title, I pondered it. People We Meet on Vacation. In my opinion, the story has little to do with the people they meet. It has everything to do with them meeting up with each other every year and having to re-learn their likes and dislikes. Years can change people. Bad relationships can change people too. But good friends? They can last a lifetime.
I’ve not read Henry’s other books so I can’t compare this story with her others, but there was a enough in this book to like for me to try another book by her.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
Show Less
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
Poppy and Alex are opposites, but the kind of opposite that brings out the best in the other. Alex is repressed and cautious while Poppy is loud and kind. He likes their small town while she couldn't get out fast enough. But every summer for the past eight years they've vacationed together.
The
It's a romantic trope and there's no new ground trod here plot-wise. But Ms. Henry wrings humor and joy out of each experience that left me laughing - a lot. It's a great follow-up to Beach Read and a book worth reading.
The
Show More
story is told alternating between past trips and their current one to Palm Springs and Alex's brother's wedding. It's obvious they've always loved each other but because of their backgrounds, it's hard for them to take a chance on ruining their friendship.It's a romantic trope and there's no new ground trod here plot-wise. But Ms. Henry wrings humor and joy out of each experience that left me laughing - a lot. It's a great follow-up to Beach Read and a book worth reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SJGirl
With comparisons to When Harry Met Sally and glowing reviews galore, I was so excited for this one but unfortunately it didn’t really work for me.
The book alternates between past vacations and a present day Palm Springs trip where Poppy and Alex hope to rekindle their friendship groove after an
The flashback heavy format made for sluggish pacing with far too little forward momentum until close to the end and character arcs that didn’t have much of an arc to them. Different locations aside, the vacations were mostly variations of the same things, empty jokey banter, letting strangers mistake them for a couple, and Poppy and Alex clearly attracted to each other yet refusing to acknowledge it while they date people they weren’t actually into. Also, there was showering, lots and lots of showering. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book more obsessed with letting me know when characters were showering. The wash, rinse, repeat of it all (not just the showers) got old fast.
The book alternates between past vacations and a present day Palm Springs trip where Poppy and Alex hope to rekindle their friendship groove after an
Show More
estrangement. The flashback heavy format made for sluggish pacing with far too little forward momentum until close to the end and character arcs that didn’t have much of an arc to them. Different locations aside, the vacations were mostly variations of the same things, empty jokey banter, letting strangers mistake them for a couple, and Poppy and Alex clearly attracted to each other yet refusing to acknowledge it while they date people they weren’t actually into. Also, there was showering, lots and lots of showering. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book more obsessed with letting me know when characters were showering. The wash, rinse, repeat of it all (not just the showers) got old fast.
Show Less
LibraryThing member froxgirl
Although the reader is groomed from page 1 to anticipate the predictable ending, this is still a very enjoyable trip through the friendship of Poppy (narrator) and Alex, who meet in college and have so much fun together that they maintain platonic best friend status for years after. Although each
Quote: "The hotel has free parking for guests, which, in San Francisco, is the equivalent of a hotel giving out free kidney transplants."
Show More
has had romantic relationships along the way, they still get together annually for an exotic vacation, usually paid for by the travel magazine Poppy writes for. She hints early on about the disastrous Croatia vacation that caused a two year rift between them, and the plot alternates between pre-Croatia and the current day, when they reunite to attend a wedding. The best part of the book is the couple's silly in-jokes and Poppy's outrageous behavior, and it takes a bit too long to reach the denouement, but this is an enjoyably light summer diversion.Quote: "The hotel has free parking for guests, which, in San Francisco, is the equivalent of a hotel giving out free kidney transplants."
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Pandemic read. It's the books we read and the people we meet that help shape us. (Pandemic read. First book I've seen in ages that mentions latex allergy.)
LibraryThing member Citizenjoyce
The usual tedious romance - 300 pages of no we shouldn't, yes we should, no we can't, yes we must - on a loop. The travel situations are great though.
LibraryThing member shelleyraec
You and Me on Vacation (also published until the title People We Meet On Vacation) is a charming romantic comedy from Emily Henry.
When Poppy met Alex (that’s a deliberate reference) on the first night of college O-week, their short conversation, and wildly disparate wardrobes, was enough to
You and Me On Vacation unfolds over a period of about twelve years moving between the past, describing Poppy and Alex’s annual summer adventures, and the present, where the pair have tentatively reunited after an unnamed incident that caused a rift in their friendship. The structure works well to develop each character, and provide context for their relationship.
Friends to lovers is my favourite romance trope so You and Me on Vacation had immediate appeal for me. I thought Henry’s portrayal of the connection between Poppy and Alex was wonderful. Their banter, studded with teasing, in-jokes and obvious affection, is funny and sweet, their chemistry is evident. I could relate to the pairs fears about ruining their friendship with a romantic entanglement, especially as they seem so incompatible, with Poppy’s carefree spirit contrasting with Alex’s steady nature.
I imagine many twenty-somethings will likely relate to Poppy, one of Henry’s character’s refers to Poppy suffering ‘millennial ennui’, her career goal met, she’s restless and wondering what’s next. Though she thinks all will be solved by another vacation with Alex, to move on with her life, Poppy needs to deal with several issues, particularly those stemming from childhood bullying that affect how she sees herself and the decisions she makes.
Witty and heartfelt, I found You and Me On Vacation to be an easy, engaging read.
When Poppy met Alex (that’s a deliberate reference) on the first night of college O-week, their short conversation, and wildly disparate wardrobes, was enough to
Show More
convince her that they never need speak again, but the pair are thrown together at the end of freshman year when they carpool home for the summer. Though the two quickly discover they have little in common, except that they were both raised in Linfield, Ohio, and dislike that boats are given female names, the road trip sparks a friendship that sees Poppy, and Alex promise to vacation together every summer.You and Me On Vacation unfolds over a period of about twelve years moving between the past, describing Poppy and Alex’s annual summer adventures, and the present, where the pair have tentatively reunited after an unnamed incident that caused a rift in their friendship. The structure works well to develop each character, and provide context for their relationship.
Friends to lovers is my favourite romance trope so You and Me on Vacation had immediate appeal for me. I thought Henry’s portrayal of the connection between Poppy and Alex was wonderful. Their banter, studded with teasing, in-jokes and obvious affection, is funny and sweet, their chemistry is evident. I could relate to the pairs fears about ruining their friendship with a romantic entanglement, especially as they seem so incompatible, with Poppy’s carefree spirit contrasting with Alex’s steady nature.
I imagine many twenty-somethings will likely relate to Poppy, one of Henry’s character’s refers to Poppy suffering ‘millennial ennui’, her career goal met, she’s restless and wondering what’s next. Though she thinks all will be solved by another vacation with Alex, to move on with her life, Poppy needs to deal with several issues, particularly those stemming from childhood bullying that affect how she sees herself and the decisions she makes.
Witty and heartfelt, I found You and Me On Vacation to be an easy, engaging read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member samnreader
So after sitting down to read this in one day-one sitting really-I sat on my feelings about it for nearly another. This is not my usual.
Henry's writing is addictive; there is no denying that it's appealing and easy to read. And while I was reading this, I was swept away, I was. I never got tired of
But then I had to step away to determine how this functioned as a romance and not just a reading experience. You see, I take my reviews seriously (insert snark face) and I will now regale you with an essay on what didn't work.
Why that? Because I know for a fact that this book is absolutely gonna work for 90% of the readers. *waveshands* so go read theirs.
Problem the first:
I'm an extremely sensitive person. So much so, I can't point out certain things to people (like even my husband) if another person could find them embarrassing-not talking about something in your teeth embarrassing but other stuff that serves no purpose. (I will never say x person stunk tonight to my husband for instance, and omg do I not tease teens) Not happening. So while I can appreciate Poppy I'm also gonna tell you-her brand of funny would tear me apart. It would rain on every parade. I'd dissect it after I left her. I'd feel defensive of others in her presence. And I'd decide she wasn't a person that made me feel good. I think she'd be awesome friend for so many, but for me, I'd have to break up with her. Again, I ultimately enjoyed her character-her instant defensiveness of her family. Her spontaneity. She's funny, she's warm. But her reliance on making fun of her people the way she did, she always did, was hard for me to read at times. I might even question anything sincere she ever said with so much cutting. Yes, Alex gives some back. but I have to think about how I feel if the hero did this/held this sense of humor and I would...vomit.
2: I can buy miscommunications. I can buy hiding things. However "the conflict" from Croatia...this...this is all something else.
(view spoiler)
3) Mostly this book made me sad.
(view spoiler)I don't know what's wrong with me, but Emily Henry and I just don't have a thing. (Although it's likely I'll keep reading her because I might someday figure this out or click) In the end, none of this felt good to me?
4) I really really do not know how I felt about the sex scenes. Or the chemistry. Was this my problem?
5) The End- distinct to 3) but not quite (view spoiler)
6) Math (or editing!) problems. Alex is the tallest brother. But then in the same paragraph Callum (?) is taller than him. Like, it literally said "Alex is the tallest and broadest" and then it says "Callum is just taller than Alex" (or David, but you know, whoever) Was it a logic puzzle? It pulled me out of the story. I reread it 5 times. I feel like I'm missing something.
Also, Alex's mom died. So he cared for his brothers by cooking etc. At 6. I...what? Is this petty? Perhaps? Have you seen a kindergarten teacher and asked her what is the best stuff she has to say all day, "going to the bathroom is private," "Please don't lick the wall," At first I was under the impression that he was like 10 or 11, but then later it talks about him only knowing her and barely remembering her because she died when he was 6. I mean, it did say PBJs and not like cooking with gas...
I'm sad to say this after such a favorite opening scene. I really loved that. But Poppy and Alex left me feeling a little too busted up.
Henry's writing is addictive; there is no denying that it's appealing and easy to read. And while I was reading this, I was swept away, I was. I never got tired of
Show More
reading it or regretted spending my Sunday doing just that. And only that.But then I had to step away to determine how this functioned as a romance and not just a reading experience. You see, I take my reviews seriously (insert snark face) and I will now regale you with an essay on what didn't work.
Why that? Because I know for a fact that this book is absolutely gonna work for 90% of the readers. *waveshands* so go read theirs.
Problem the first:
I'm an extremely sensitive person. So much so, I can't point out certain things to people (like even my husband) if another person could find them embarrassing-not talking about something in your teeth embarrassing but other stuff that serves no purpose. (I will never say x person stunk tonight to my husband for instance, and omg do I not tease teens) Not happening. So while I can appreciate Poppy I'm also gonna tell you-her brand of funny would tear me apart. It would rain on every parade. I'd dissect it after I left her. I'd feel defensive of others in her presence. And I'd decide she wasn't a person that made me feel good. I think she'd be awesome friend for so many, but for me, I'd have to break up with her. Again, I ultimately enjoyed her character-her instant defensiveness of her family. Her spontaneity. She's funny, she's warm. But her reliance on making fun of her people the way she did, she always did, was hard for me to read at times. I might even question anything sincere she ever said with so much cutting. Yes, Alex gives some back. but I have to think about how I feel if the hero did this/held this sense of humor and I would...vomit.
2: I can buy miscommunications. I can buy hiding things. However "the conflict" from Croatia...this...this is all something else.
(view spoiler)
3) Mostly this book made me sad.
(view spoiler)I don't know what's wrong with me, but Emily Henry and I just don't have a thing. (Although it's likely I'll keep reading her because I might someday figure this out or click) In the end, none of this felt good to me?
4) I really really do not know how I felt about the sex scenes. Or the chemistry. Was this my problem?
5) The End- distinct to 3) but not quite (view spoiler)
6) Math (or editing!) problems. Alex is the tallest brother. But then in the same paragraph Callum (?) is taller than him. Like, it literally said "Alex is the tallest and broadest" and then it says "Callum is just taller than Alex" (or David, but you know, whoever) Was it a logic puzzle? It pulled me out of the story. I reread it 5 times. I feel like I'm missing something.
Also, Alex's mom died. So he cared for his brothers by cooking etc. At 6. I...what? Is this petty? Perhaps? Have you seen a kindergarten teacher and asked her what is the best stuff she has to say all day, "going to the bathroom is private," "Please don't lick the wall," At first I was under the impression that he was like 10 or 11, but then later it talks about him only knowing her and barely remembering her because she died when he was 6. I mean, it did say PBJs and not like cooking with gas...
I'm sad to say this after such a favorite opening scene. I really loved that. But Poppy and Alex left me feeling a little too busted up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dawnlovesbooks
I read this book in one day. Two friends, Alex and Poppy, take a vacaction together every summer. They have been best friends for a long time, but is their relationship more than a friendship? I laughed at the witty banter between Alex and Poppy and I cried over their love for another and
Show More
desperately wanted them to end up together. I just loved it so much! Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
It’s sweltering this week and this read was the perfect choice. Trapped in a vacation home with no AC two old friends try to mend their relationship. If you loved Beach Read, definitely check this one out.
“That crush of happiness, that feeling that this is what life‘s about: being somewhere
“We’re happy, and even when we are not, it’s so much better than it was without him.”
“That crush of happiness, that feeling that this is what life‘s about: being somewhere
Show More
beautiful, with someone you love.”“We’re happy, and even when we are not, it’s so much better than it was without him.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member Nancyjcbs
People We Meet on Vacation is a perfect romantic comedy. I loved both Alex and Poppy, felt joy, heartbreak, laughs and awkwardness just as they did. The secondary characters are also likable and fun.
If you enjoyed “When Harry Met Sally” you will enjoy Emily Henry’s latest.
If you enjoyed “When Harry Met Sally” you will enjoy Emily Henry’s latest.
LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
Predictable, but fun, summer rom-com.
LibraryThing member Gingersnap000
The author's narrative made the weak plot more enjoyable. This love story was so drawn out and unbelievable. How can Poppy not realize she loved Alex before twelve years, it made no sense. If you love a dramatic love story, this book will be worth the read.
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
Super cute and just the right amount of romance. The characters felt real and the complications to their relationship made sense. The way Henry built Alex and Poppy's relationship over several years' worth of vacations, worked really well giving background but didn't drag it out.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
An interesting romance. Loved both characters. Enjoyed the travel. A bit long.
LibraryThing member ftbooklover
Poppy and Alex were best friends in college and continued their friendship even after Poppy dropped out, which is amazing considering their dramatically different personalities. To continue their friendship, they start taking summer trips together and do so for a decade through a variety of jobs,
The audience for People We Meet on Vacation is clearly millennials. As a result, I have mixed feelings about this novel. It is very well written, developing the characters and drawing out the reader's emotions. The book shows the dissatisfaction millennials experience after reaching their life goals when they should instead be searching for what makes them happy. This search makes some of the characters, especially Poppy, seem immature, ungrateful, and cowardly. The romance, however, is first rate and very sweet with love scenes that fade to black. The description of the many locations that Poppy and Alex visit is both enjoyable and hilarious. Overall, People We Meet on Vacation is a very good book with laugh out loud moments and a clear target audience.
Show More
boyfriends, and girlfriends. They remain friends until their trip to Croatia. Since then, they haven't spoken and Poppy finds herself at a crossroads. She misses Alex and finds her current life unsatisfying, so she decides to try another trip, this time to the wedding of Alex's brother in California. What happens on this trip may determine the paths they take for the rest of their lives.The audience for People We Meet on Vacation is clearly millennials. As a result, I have mixed feelings about this novel. It is very well written, developing the characters and drawing out the reader's emotions. The book shows the dissatisfaction millennials experience after reaching their life goals when they should instead be searching for what makes them happy. This search makes some of the characters, especially Poppy, seem immature, ungrateful, and cowardly. The romance, however, is first rate and very sweet with love scenes that fade to black. The description of the many locations that Poppy and Alex visit is both enjoyable and hilarious. Overall, People We Meet on Vacation is a very good book with laugh out loud moments and a clear target audience.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Poppy and Alex have a fun relationship as friends who take summer trips together. They've had years to develop private jokes, hilarious memories of vacations gone wrong, etc. But each is missing something in their lives. The slow-burn love story is romantic and steamy and engaging, until the author
Show More
overdoes the development. A tighter story would have been more engaging but romance readers will probably enjoy the back and forth of the relationship. I liked the humor. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Poppy and Alex are total opposites but have been friends for ten years, going on summer trips every year until that fateful trip to Croatia two years ago, which left their friendship strained and awkward. Unhappy at work, Poppy decides to take time off and go on one more vacation with Alex. Going
I really enjoyed Poppy's voice as she narrates this friends-to-lovers romance story, going back and forth between "This Summer" and previous trips she and Alex have taken together over the years. In the process, we see their friendship develop into something that they're not really willing to explore. It's a v-e-r-y slow burn (and kinda annoying in that way), and I related to Alex and his carefully thinking through than Poppy's impulsivity. But the ending was satisfying and I'd read more by Emily Henry.
Show More
back to her roots as a shoestring-budget vacation blogger and going to Alex's brother's wedding together should be the perfect way to rekindle their friendship, right?I really enjoyed Poppy's voice as she narrates this friends-to-lovers romance story, going back and forth between "This Summer" and previous trips she and Alex have taken together over the years. In the process, we see their friendship develop into something that they're not really willing to explore. It's a v-e-r-y slow burn (and kinda annoying in that way), and I related to Alex and his carefully thinking through than Poppy's impulsivity. But the ending was satisfying and I'd read more by Emily Henry.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Poppy and Alex are best friends, despite being so different in temperament and desires. But at the start of this novel they have been estranged and Poppy wants to change that. Told with backflashes, we clearly see what they both have been hiding from each other - they aren't just friends, they are
Show More
in love with each other. This is a long journey to overcoming fear and seeing each other more clearly and finally to taking that leap of faith in each other and in the power of their feelings. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
The second I saw Emily Henry was coming out with a new book I knew I had to own it. And boy, she did not disappoint!! People We Meet on Vacation is a love letter/tribute to When Harry Met Sally (which makes me love it even a teensy bit more). It's the story of two friends, Poppy and Alex, and the
Show More
summers they share. These oddballs met in college and were instantly best friends. They get each other's jokes and mannerisms; they just make sense together. Poppy is more than a little bit in love with him (a fact she will hardly admit to herself) but she's not willing to risk her friendship with Alex. She NEEDS him in her life - even if that's just as a friend. Since college they've always gone on a summer trip together - many years, that's the only time they see each other since Poppy moved to New York City and he stayed in Ohio. The story alternates between all their previous trips all the way up to the current summer. The banter between the two is electric and laugh out loud funny. You can also cut the sexual tension with a knife. This is the book of the summer! Show Less
LibraryThing member StefanieGeeks
Delightful When Harry Met Sally vibes. Stays true to the author's style and a great friends to lovers rom-com.
Awards
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Romance — 2022)
NPR: Books We Love (2021)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Romance — 2021)
Indie Next List (May 2021)
LibraryReads (Annual Voter Favorite — May 2021)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Adults (Romance — 2021)
Original publication date
2021-05-11