People We Meet On Vacation ★★★

Released: 9 Jan 2026 (Netflix)

Director: Brett Haley

Starring: Tom Blyth, Emily Bader

Drected by Brett Haley (All the Bright Places) and starring Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and Emily Bader (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin), People We Meet on Vacation is an adaptation of the book of the same title penned by Emily Henry. This is the first of five of her novels set to receive the big screen adaptation treatment. The story follows Alex and Poppy, two decade-long unlikely best friends spending each summer vacationing together due to living in different cities. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else – could they actually be the perfect romantic match? With good central performances from Blyth and Bader, excellent chemistry and a fun jet-setting element to the plot, it proves an enjoyable watch despite the obvious tropes and predictability.

In an era of ‘TikTok books’ and the resurgence of romance novels, Emily Henry is an author whose name has dominated much of the conversation. From Beach Read to Book Lovers, she is not only known for her yearning, swoon-worthy love stories but for focussing her works on the art of books and writing. Poppy is a travel writer who longs for adventure, meaning the plot often whisks us away to scenic locations including Barcelona and Costa Brava. Not only does this add a level of excitement to the plot as we don’t know where we’ll end up next, but allows for some stunning cinematography and locations to pull through. The yearly holidays allow straight-laced Alex to push himself out of his comfort zone, whilst satiating Poppy’s wanderlust. At first glance, a two-hour runtime seems inflated for a breezy rom-com, but People We Meet on Vacation has many miles to cover. Flashbacks of prior summers spent on holiday fill out our knowledge of Poppy and Alex’s bond, teaching us the ins and outs of their friends, to almost enemies, to lovers relationship. The non-linear narrative provides an interesting way to take in the story, putting focus on their all-important bond.

Both Tom Blyth and Emily Bader are fantastic here. Looking to settle down and have a simple life, Alex is a creature of habit. Morning runs and residing in his hometown are just two of the reasons Poppy thinks they aren’t right for each other. Alex may not seem the most intriguing character to follow at first, but Blyth brings natural charm and a warm energy to the character that ensures we see there’s something about him from the first few frames. The more Alex comes out of his shell through his trips and experiences, the more Blyth gets to flex his acting chops, and he’s very good. Bader is equally believable and charming as Poppy. Her quirks may be a tad forced from the get-go, though this helps demonstrate that Poppy and Alex are polar opposites. Okay with being casually late, eating messy food in a car and not settling down in one place for long, she is free-spirited, energetic and describes herself as ‘too much’. Despite their kinetic bond and chemistry that is more obvious to their family, friends and the audience than themselves, the pair are convinced they won’t work. Easy to root for and demonstrating off the charts chemistry, Blyth and Bader are great both separately and together. They deliver the dialogue well, flawlessly convince us they’re made for each other and often make us laugh in the process.

Like many romance movies, especially those based on novels that explores a friends to lovers relationship, the story has an air of predictability. Upon pressing play, it’s obvious that our pair will wind up together, which may prevent some viewers from feeling the emotional weight of any arguments and issues that occur. Such predictability doesn’t stop here; as far as tropes are concerned, People We Meet on Vacation is the epitome of them. Quirky girl and plain guy, only one hotel room left, kissing in the rain, confessing feelings at the wrong time and being looked after when sick with a fever are just a handful of events readers and viewers are used to experiencing in these stories. Original author Emily Henry is a master of her craft, creating likable characters and fun hijinks that give many of these tropes a free pass and even a warm welcome, but that doesn’t excuse it entirely. For many hitting play on Netflix, they may not be entertained enough as to put it simply, they’ve seen it all before.

People We Meet on Vacation is less about what the title suggests, and more about the people who have been in front of us the entire time. A compelling cast, awesome locations and a romance you can root for ensure it’s one the better Netflix rom-com efforts, and fans of the novel are likely to be satisfied. Due to its predictability and lack of fresh ideas, it may not end up the most memorable or rewatchable, but it’s a more than serviceable way to pass a couple of hours.