Reviews and Recommendations: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

It’s been a minute, and this blog needs a makeover more than anything, but I thought jump right back into it by writing about what I love to do most – reading. I recognize I am so late to the game on books that have such a presence on #BookTok (the book reader side of TikTok, for those readers unaware), but I must confess I’ve had my head in nonfiction as of late, and a 500-page journalistic retelling on what happened in hospitals during Hurricane Katrina and the legislative aftermath tends to take a really long time to get through.

But somehow I found my way to People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry, and I am so delighted that I did. This story is so perfect, filled with romance, comedy, cheesiness, and raw human emotion that it was a fun indulgence while a reflection on what it means to be alive. The main character, Poppy, serves as the narrator throughout this adventure, and her journey of uncovering her own truths is a vastly important contrast to the friends-to-lovers romantic comedy that is also playing out on the pages.

The Non-Spoiler Review:

People We Meet on Vacation is the fun-filled story of two estranged best friends who seek to reconnect by vacationing in Palms Springs, California. The story flips between present day and vacations past to give us a full understanding of Poppy, our New York-based high-end Travel blogger, and the hometown teacher and cat owner Alex’s unlikely friendship and how they got to the point of needing to reconnect. The story spans ten to twelve years of vacations, and it all comes to a head by helping readers truly understanding the dissonance of the doors we open and close in life. Reading for the frills is an absolute can-do, but readers can also pull personal reflection from the story that might just change their lives as well.

The Spoiler Review:

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Okay, you’ve been warned enough.

People We Meet on Vacation is a story about what it means to have wanderlust coupled with the desire to escape a world that wasn’t enough for the Poppy, and the antithesis of her essence in her former best friend, Alex. Poppy, in a desperate attempt to reengage herself in her own life, seeks out Alex to reconnect on vacation, as they traditionally did in years past, but following the escapade of making out while drunk in Croatia.

First: so relatable. Who hasn’t made out with their (former) best guy friend with catastrophic implications for the friendship? Second: as a woman pioneering her career, Poppy’s struggles hits deep.

Super Spoiler: When Alex and Poppy finally get together, it’s not the end of the story, and not all is made magically well for Poppy, and that’s my favorite part. Instead, Poppy is pushed to address the deeply human issues she’s facing–the stunt of growth and desire in her own life–that not even being with Alex is satisfactory to reigniting passion into who she is becoming. Despite being vulnerable to finally succeed in getting the guy she loves, Poppy is still required to take more risks for herself in order to find her way back to who she wanted to be. She also has to confront the hurt she feels from her home town, juxtaposed against the fact that the events of her pain are so minimal in the minds of the people who caused it.

There’s a moment in the book where Poppy realizes how lonely she is in the airport. This comes after she shares in the beginning of the story that the adventure of meeting new people going off to their own adventures and loved ones is what makes traveling so meaningful and fun. But it’s in this moment towards the end where Poppy’s wanderlust is exposed in part to be a quick-fix remedy for wanting to get away from hurt and disappointment, and at some point, the miracle medicine bottle runs out. So instead of excitement, she feels dread and loneliness, and the vulnerability of her character shines. It’s from there she’s able to assess the decisions she needs to make to return to enjoying her life and moving herself forward, and I’d argue it’s the climax the book leads up to (rather than the somewhat tame but kind of raunchy sex scene that precedes it – my grandmothers, great aunts and uncles who read these blog posts beware).

As a reader who falls into wanderlust with frequency, I’ve had moments time and time again just like the one Poppy had in LAX (ironic, since I am literally always there and had these moments there too). I tire of places without roots, and while I find magic in different corners of the country, I am perpetually homesick. Unlike Poppy, going home isn’t so simple, or so simply defined, as I’m not too sure where it is anymore, but I’d like to return once I do discover its location.

People We Meet on Vacation is a story about falling in love, solving your own problems, allowing Prince Charming to guide you on your way to slay the dragon, and going home. It’s a comfort novel that brought me joy and taught me things I needed to know, and I’m so grateful I came across it.

4.6/5 – will absolutely be reading again.

For more from me reading, I’m on GoodReads at KendallJames11 (I think) 🙂