Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - People We Meet on Vacation

Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

133 reviews

dlrosebyh's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Alex and Poppy don't have much in common. He's dressed in khakis, she's a wild child. He loves to stay home with a book, whereas she has an insatiable need to travel. They have been the best of friends ever since a tragic car share from college many years ago. She is in New York City and he is in their little hometown for the majority of the year, but they have spent one wonderful week of vacation together every summer for the past ten years.

Poppy is in a rut despite having everything she should want. She is certain that the tragic, last trip she took with Alex was the last time she felt completely content. She makes the decision to make it all right by persuading her best buddy to go on one more trip with her. Amazingly, he consents.She now has a week to make everything right. If only she can avoid the one major reality that has silently persisted throughout their ostensibly ideal relationship.

I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book. I had heard mixed reviews, so I didn't really expect it. I don't particularly love it, but I also don't despise it. It's in the middle of the spectrum, perhaps leaning more toward the loving end.

The characters in Emily Henry's novels all accept their flaws, which is a characteristic of her writing. Emily Henry also writes character studies and not just romantic novels. I enjoyed Poppy's persona even though I don't really relate to her. At least for me, Alex seemed quite relatable. Although I wished I had seen more of the other characters, I found both of them to be engaging.

The chemistry between the characters was definitely strong, it was there, it was making itself known. Don't get me wrong, the buildup was incredible, but I wasn't especially fond of the story's climax. I don't like the miscommunication trope, which is something about me, but the trope that irritates me the most is when the characters abruptly stop their relationship without even trying to communicate with one another. Even though it was ultimately quite realistic, i didn't like it. I might have found it tolerable if the execution had been better.

The repeated mention of their height and Alex's obsession with baths were the two elements in the novel that irritated me the most. Like, yeah, we understand! Poppy is small in comparison to the tall, strong Alex. You don't have to say it each time they lock eyes with one another. I initially didn't mind that Alex liked showers, but if I'm being completely honest, Poppy bringing it up roughly every two chapters started to irritate me. But yet again, I need someone who will value me as much as Alex cherishes his showers.

Content Warnings

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

axel_p's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

- Boring
- The characters were better as friends
- Stereotypical portrayal of queer people
- way too long

Content Warnings

serendipity421's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed Book Lovers. When I read Book Lovers first, everyone was saying it was much better than her previous work and I thought they were being cryptic . . . but they were right – this book was missing a spark.

This book is based on Poppy Wright. Every year for 12 years she has spent her summers with her best friend Alex Nielsen. When they met 12 years ago, they hated each other and were pretty confident they’ll never speak again. 11 years ago, they are forced to share a ride home from college and by the end of it a friendship is formed. And a pact: every year, one vacation together. 10 years ago, Poppy discovers that Alex has a fear of flying on the way to Vancouver and Poppy holds his hand the whole way. 7 years ago, they get far too drunk and narrowly avoid getting matching tattoos in New Orleans. 2 years ago, it all goes wrong. This year, Poppy asks Alex to join her on one last trip. A trip that will determine the rest of their lives.

I liked the idea of this story, and I liked the main characters, but I just felt like it was missing something. I think it’s something to do with friends to lovers I've never seen it done well except for Final Offer by Lauren Asher. I find myself skimming through this book especially towards the end, as I can’t stand 3rd part breakups. And I felt like the 2 summers ago big event was so much of a build up for it to be a little hill and not that big of a deal. The only one who really saved this book was Alex. He was so funny and sweet and awkward and the whole time I just wanted to hug him.

I liked the writing of this book, I just didn’t personally connect to it. I didn’t really vibe with Poppy and with her being the main character and main voice during the novel, I was just skimming a lot of it.

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miraileah's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5. I loved this relationship dynamic so much, and especially Alex. He was so relatable to my own experience as an eldest daughter who was emotionally parentified.

Also, LOVED the fact that both Poppy and Alex got therapy at the end!!

Also, as somebody who frequently works in Palm Springs, the allusions to local ish spots was fun! Cabazon Dinos and the Living Desert are both places I’ve been, which is cool! And of course, the INSANE summer heat. Truly bold of them to go there at all, much less in the summer.

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gummifrog's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was a fun and easy read! I liked Emily Henry's most recent book, Book Lovers, so I thought I'd give her backlist a try as a palate cleanser between heavier reads. This one was just as sexy and fun, but I have to say the reasoning for the couple not getting together just grew more confusing to me as time went on. They're not very nice to each other about the romance that hangs between them, and sometimes it felt like the masc lead was projecting way too much of his own insecurities onto the protagonist for it to be healthy (and the fact that a therapist wouldn't notice that is a baffling idea, lol).

Regardless, it was a fun and easy book for those who like travel and friends-to-lovers! I would read it again and recommend it to others for certain.

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marioosa517's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I like Emily Henry’s writing, and enjoyed the flipping back-and-forth between present day and past trips. I didn’t relate to the main characters very much, partly I think because they felt a little bit like caricatures.

Content Warnings

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was a fun escape of a book. I was really hoping the actually ending was the ending a chapter or two before, but she went with the classic rom com ending which is fair.

Content Warnings

laurab931's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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