People We Meet on Vacation (2026) Review: Love & Friendship

People We Meet on Vacation (2026) Review: 90’s romcom coming back to life

Is This the Friends-to-Lovers Rom-Com We've Been Waiting For?

People we Meet on Vacation is a romantic-comedy based on the best selling novel by Emily Henry. This movie follows Poppy, a girl who doesn’t know where the wind will take her and her carefree nature led her to meet her best friend Alex who is a bit opposite of her. An unexpected carpool led them to be each other’s vacation partners but something between them shifts that creates the whole plot of the movie interesting.

For more Netflix romance and drama, read our Voicemails for Isabelle review, The Breadwinner (2026) review and the full movie reviews archive. The film adapts Emily Henry's novel, summarised on Wikipedia, and full credits are on IMDb.

Release Date: January 9, 2026 Streaming Platform: Netflix Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romance Director: Brett Haley

Main Cast

• Emily Bader
• Tom Blyth
• Sarah Catherine Hook
• Lucien Laviscount

Rating

IMDb: G.G/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% Critics | G8% Audience

Metacritic: 50/100 Critics | 5.5/10 Users

TMDB: 7.0/10

What is “People we Meet on Vacation” about?

Poppy and Alex Despite being complete opposites, they become close friends after meeting in college and develop a tradition of taking a vacation together every summer. Their trips become an important part of their friendship.

As the years pass, Poppy and Alex begin to question whether their relationship has always been more than friendship. The movie follows their journey as they reconnect with their feelings and consider whether two longtime best friends could actually become a romantic match. Without revealing the ending, People We Meet on Vacation is a friends-to-lovers romantic comedy about friendship, travel, timing, and discovering that the person you've been looking for might have been beside you all along.

Travel and Vacation in People We Meet on Vacation (2026)

The movie takes the pair to several destinations, including Squamish, New Orleans, Tuscany, and Barcelona. Their adventures range from camping and exploring new places to experiencing city life and attending a destination wedding. The changing locations give the story a sense of movement while allowing Poppy and Alex to create memories together.

The trips also give Poppy and Alex an escape from everyday life. Away from work, responsibilities, and familiar surroundings, they can relax and experience a different side of themselves. More importantly, the vacations gradually show them that the destination may not be the most important part of their journeys.

Themes in People We Meet on Vacation

One of the main themes in the movie is friends-to-lovers romance. At the start of the movie, Poppy and Alex became close friends, AS their favourite thing was to travel together and share years of memories before they started questioning whether their connection could become something more. The story explores how a strong friendship can develop into romance when feelings that were once ignored finally come to the surface.

The movie also explains the idea that opposites attract. Poppy is spontaneous, adventurous, and always ready to try something new, while Alex is more organized, careful, and comfortable with routine and hates changes, like living in the same place forever . Their differences sometimes create conflict, but they also help balance each other and show why two very different people can form such a strong bond.

Friendship and communication are also the basic yet most important parts. Both of them had always shared a deep connection, but misunderstandings and miscommunication led to complications in their relationship that show even the strongest friendships can struggle when people are unwilling or unable to communicate honestly.

Personal growth was also the main focus . Their journeys are not only about traveling to different places but also about discovering what they want from life. As they face their fears and reconsider their choices, both characters have opportunities to become more confident about who they are and what they want.

Finally, People We Meet on Vacation explores finding home and belonging. Home is presented as more than a particular city or house; it can also mean feeling understood, comfortable, and connected to another person. For Poppy and Alex, their travels gradually help them realize that the most important part of a journey may not be where they go, but who they are with.

Cinematography and Visual

The film uses sunny outdoor scenes, colorful surroundings, and natural-looking locations to make Poppy and Alex’s vacations feel exciting. The changing settings also help keep the story visually fresh as their relationship develops.

The film also uses its visuals to highlight the difference between Poppy and Alex. Poppy’s adventurous personality fits naturally with colorful, lively, and spontaneous environments, while Alex’s quieter personality is often balanced by calmer and more intimate moments. Their time together gradually makes these different sides of the film feel connected.

Close-ups and intimate framing are useful during the quieter romantic scenes because they allow the audience to focus on Poppy and Alex’s expressions and chemistry. These moments are important because their relationship develops slowly through years of friendship rather than through instant attraction.

What Makes People We Meet on Vacation (2026) Different From Other Rom-Coms?

People We Meet on Vacation (2025) feels different from many other romantic comedies because its love story grows from a long friendship. Poppy and Alex have very different personalities, but their yearly vacations bring them closer and give them many special memories together. Instead of falling in love right

away, they slowly begin to understand their feelings for each other. The mix of friendship, travel, humor, romance, and personal growth gives the movie a warm and natural feel.

What I Liked About the movie

The first thing I liked about People We Meet on Vacation is the chemistry between Emily Bader and Tom Blyth. Poppy and Alex feel comfortable together, and their friendship makes their romance more believable. I also enjoyed the friends-to-lovers storyline, because their relationship grows slowly instead of happening all at once. The movie has plenty of light humor, beautiful travel scenes, and emotional moments, which give it a warm and easy-going feel. The performances also work well, especially from the two leads.

What I Didn't Like About the movie

The movie also has a few weak points. Some parts of the story feel predictable, especially for viewers who watch a lot of romantic comedies. The pacing can feel rushed because the story covers many years and different vacations in less than two hours. Because of this, some parts of Poppy and Alex's relationship do not get as much time as they could. Some supporting characters also feel less developed than the main pair. Readers of Emily Henry's book may notice that several events and character details were changed or shortened for the movie.

Is the movie Worth Watching?

Yes, the movie is a good choice for viewers who enjoy romantic comedies, friends-to-lovers stories, travel, and feel-good romance. Fans of Emily Henry's book may enjoy seeing Poppy and Alex brought to life, although some may prefer the book because it has more room to develop their relationship.

For Netflix viewers looking for a light romantic movie with humor, beautiful

locations, and a slow-burn love story, People We Meet on Vacation is an easy choice for a relaxed movie night.

My Rating: 8/10 Frequently asked questions

Are People We Meet on Vacation Based on a Book?

Yes. The movie is based on Emily Henry’s 2021 bestselling novel People We Meet on Vacation. It is the first screen adaptation of one of Henry’s novels.

Who plays Poppy and Alex?

Emily Bader plays Poppy Wright, while Tom Blyth plays Alex Nilsen. The cast also includes Sarah Catherine Hook, Lucien Laviscount, Jameela Jamil, Miles Heizer, Molly Shannon, Alan Ruck, and Lukas Gage.

What are People We Meet on Vacation About?

The movie follows Poppy and Alex, two longtime best friends with very different personalities. Poppy loves adventure and travel, while Alex prefers planning and routine. After years of spending their summers together, they begin to wonder whether their close friendship could become something more.

Is People We Meet on Vacation a romantic comedy?

Yes. Netflix classifies it as a romantic comedy, as well as a romance and a movie based on a book.

What happens at the end of the movie?

Spoilers: Poppy and Alex finally admit their feelings for each other and decide to build a life together. Poppy returns to Alex and tells him that he is not simply another vacation in her life—he is home. The film ends with them together, enjoying their life and continuing their travels.

Is the movie suitable for teenagers?

The film is rated PG-13 in the U.S. for sexual content, drug use, nudity, and brief strong language. Common Sense Media recommends it for viewers 13 and older, so it may be suitable for teenagers, although parents may want to consider its mature romantic and sexual content.

Where can you watch People We Meet on Vacation (2026)?

The movie is streaming on Netflix. Netflix's Pakistan page currently lists People We Meet on Vacation as a 2026 romance movie and provides viewing options in Pakistan.

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