Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation Falls Short of the Beloved Book

Netflix’s adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation had all the ingredients of a streaming rom-com hit: a bestselling novel, a loyal fanbase, and a friends-to-lovers storyline tailor-made for cozy viewing. Instead, the film lands as a muted and surprisingly unsatisfying take on one of Emily Henry’s most popular novels. The movie, now streaming on Netflix, marks the first screen adaptation of Henry’s work, with more projects already in development. Unfortunately, this debut outing suggests the transition from page to screen may not be as seamless as fans hoped.

A Familiar Romance Setup

Like the novel, the film follows Poppy and Alex, longtime best friends whose relationship unfolds over a decade of summer vacations. Poppy, played by Emily Bader, is a spontaneous travel writer, while Alex, portrayed by Tom Blyth, prefers routine and stability in their shared hometown of Linfield, Ohio. The story opens in the present day, with the pair estranged after an unexplained falling-out. When Poppy receives an invitation to a destination wedding in Barcelona, she sees it as a final chance to repair their friendship — and possibly something more.

Flashbacks Do the Heavy Lifting

The film relies heavily on flashbacks to chart Poppy and Alex’s annual trips, hopping between Canada, New Orleans, Italy, and Spain. Early scenes work well, particularly their first meeting during a post-college road trip that clearly nods to When Harry Met Sally. Bader’s chaotic charm plays nicely against Blyth’s restrained seriousness. But as the timeline jumps forward, the structure begins to feel mechanical. Each flashback serves the plot but rarely deepens the characters, assuming viewers are already emotionally invested.

A Travel Movie That Lacks a Sense of Place

For a story built around vacations, the film feels oddly placeless. Aside from a lively New Orleans sequence, most destinations blend together, stripped of texture and atmosphere. Barcelona, which anchors the present-day storyline, looks polished but generic, more like a soundstage than a living city. This lack of immersion weakens the central idea of “vacation selves” — the heightened versions of Poppy and Alex that only emerge when they escape real life.

Chemistry Isn’t the Problem

The strongest element remains the chemistry between Bader and Blyth. Their friendship feels genuine, and their romantic tension simmers convincingly. Yet even this can’t salvage the film’s rushed third act. The inevitable breakup-before-the-happy-ending feels forced, missing key emotional groundwork from the book. A newly added “running to the final scene” trope, absent from the novel, further undercuts the emotional payoff.

Why the Adaptation Disappoints

Much of what made People We Meet on Vacation resonate on the page — the slow accumulation of shared history and emotional nuance — gets flattened here. The film simplifies the characters’ past, making their eventual commitment feel rushed and, at times, unearned. Fans of the book may still enjoy seeing beloved characters come to life. But as a standalone rom-com, Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation lacks the warmth, depth, and escapism that defined the novel. In the end, the movie reminds viewers how difficult it is to adapt intimate romance for the small screen — and how easily even a comforting love story can lose its magic.