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

It's been 15 mins since I finished reading this and I'm trying to figure out my feelings. I might feel differently later, but at the moment I just love this moment.
I haven't read many "Friends to lovers" books and I think mainly because I don't really like the "I love you a lot so we gotta stay friends" kinda dynamics. I mean sometimes it makes sense, but most of the time it doesn't.
In this book there were also some things that I didn't like that much. But the overall reading experience was good. I like their friendship in general, being each other's safe place & not taking anyone for granted. Loved it when they tried to include each other in their lives & trying to make time for each other. Those are the subtle moments I loved cuz I miss those moments with my friends. Tbh I wasn't a big fan of the "lovers" side of theirs. It became a little bit stereotypical when they fell in love. But there was one time when Alex's trauma started to act up & I felt like crying. Over all it's a good book & a fun read. (Except for the boring scenes after falling in love)

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pantslint's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

This is by far the funniest fucking book by Emily Henry, and ultimately my favorite. The friendship between Poppy and Alex is so well-written; their dialogue reads so authentically as people who've known each other for over a decade. They feel so real, with real problems and real insecurities. The sarcastic, teasing banter between them is hilarious—from callbacks of inside-joke phrases peppered throughout the book, to reminiscing about events that happened only between them. And then, the beautiful friends-to-lovers transition. Of course they should shut up and just be together already, but executing the built tension and pining is so well-done. The way the chapters alternate between past and present to build up to their romance was such a good way to drive me crazy. Like, thank you Emily Henry, but also what the fuck.

Don't get me wrong... this book made me fucking cry, too. The following is a list of quotes/moments from the book where I sobbed:

During David and Tham's wedding, after Mr. Nilsen's speech, where Poppy narrates, "Maybe things can always get better between people who want to do a good job loving each other. Maybe that's all it takes."
When Alex and Poppy part at the airport, and she tells him she loves him, and he says, "I love you too, Poppy... That's never been our problem." And they just have to fucking LEAVE?
And then after that, Poppy sits alone and narrates, "For the first time in my life, the airport strikes me as the loneliest place in the world."
When Poppy meets Sarah at the high school and apologizes to her, "I'm sorry. I wish I'd understood what I was feeling before it had a chance to hurt anyone."
And a bunch of shit Alex said, but particularly when he tells Poppy during his big come-to-Jesus confession, "I'm afraid I won't be able to keep getting out of bed if you're gone, and if we had kids, they'd have these horrible lives where their amazing mom is gone, and their dad can't look at them."

Anyway, I can't wait to make the phrase,

"too many wine"

my entire personality for the next few weeks.

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rimsha04's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

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meremeth's review

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hopeful 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? No

3.0

I don't love a plot that hinges on miscommunication, has you screaming at the book JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER
And I felt the lead character was less interesting than other Emily Henry leads.

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transcendent's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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

emily henry the woman that you are!
loved poppy and alex's dynamic so much, like yes besties be in denial FOR 12 YEARS (

totally not reminding me of my current irl situation in any way shape or form. moving on

)
i too would love a friend who invites me over to their annual trip and falls in love with me eventually and also has a

size kink

Hello who was that????? anyway. 4 stars banger book thank you for mothering

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kitcat_reads's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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