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lkristin2018's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.5
Poppy and Alex met in college. They have very different personalities, but grew to be very close friends. However, at the beginning of the book, it is clear that something happened two years ago to fracture their friendship. Every summer for ten years, they had vacationed together, and they agree to try again.
This is a sweet romantic comedy that also deals with some serious issues, in particular how being bullied and feeling different continues to affect people even after the bullying has ended. It also shows how losing a parent at a young age causes pain that is not easily dealt with, even for adults. And, of course, like many romantic comedies, miscommunication and incorrect assumptions about other people cause many difficulties.
I enjoyed the way Emily Henry wove the story together, alternating the present and the past gradually until the full picture could be understood. I also liked the character development and that both of the main characters went to therapy to better understand themselves. This definitely helps destigmatize seeking help for mental health.
This is a sweet romantic comedy that also deals with some serious issues, in particular how being bullied and feeling different continues to affect people even after the bullying has ended. It also shows how losing a parent at a young age causes pain that is not easily dealt with, even for adults. And, of course, like many romantic comedies, miscommunication and incorrect assumptions about other people cause many difficulties.
I enjoyed the way Emily Henry wove the story together, alternating the present and the past gradually until the full picture could be understood. I also liked the character development and that both of the main characters went to therapy to better understand themselves. This definitely helps destigmatize seeking help for mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
One joke about suicide and one joke about self harm. Lots of drinking and drug references. One main character was bullied and sexually harassed as a teenager and one main character was dealing with the grief of having lost a parent at a young age.gauriraut's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy
heresyourletter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
2.5
Easy beach read that uses lots of contemporary romance tropes. I didn’t find it laugh out loud funny and felt some plot aspects could have been fleshed out more, but there were some witty lines that made me smile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Pregnancy
One of the main character’s mothers passes away in childbirth before the story begins. There is discussion of how the character’s father never recovered from his grief. One main character recounts several instances of bullying from her childhood. One character is made fun of (in an unnecessarily aggressive way) by two other characters for liking reality tv. One character gets pneumonia (there is a detailed account of her illness). One minor character is described smoking marijuana. Another minor character smokes a cigarette. Lots of drinking (including one scene where the two in characters get quite drunk). A few mentions of pets that passed away. Several brief sex scenes. Occasional use of “f*ck” and other swear words.amberg25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, and Pregnancy
rchulin1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
gracescanlon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
What in the contrived-barely-a-reason-not-to-be-together…?
Still, adorable, and I’m a little mad about it. How can the thing keeping these two apart be so DUMB, but the book be enjoyable enough to earn 4 stars? Ugh. I’m annoyed at myself for seeing this book’s glaring flaw and liking it anyway, and I’m annoyed with Ms. Henry for charming me enough to do so.
4 stars — begrudgingly.
Still, adorable, and I’m a little mad about it. How can the thing keeping these two apart be so DUMB, but the book be enjoyable enough to earn 4 stars? Ugh. I’m annoyed at myself for seeing this book’s glaring flaw and liking it anyway, and I’m annoyed with Ms. Henry for charming me enough to do so.
4 stars — begrudgingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
ambercunningham'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
5.0
I was a puddle of emotions for weeks after reading this. I still can’t get Alex and Poppy out of my head. The flashbacks and buildup of their friendship through the years had me straight up falling in love with them. Alex is one of my fav MMC’s ever. This story is just the sweetest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
danajoy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I started this reread because it was my birthday and this is one of my favourite books.
The day after my birthday was a collossal mess and unexpectedly stressful. This story is a ray of sunshine. I love both Poppy and Alex. I love the way Emily Henry shows their friendship.
I even think that the third act conflict is valid.
If you like stories spanning years, travelling the world and the US and home being a person then read this book.
The day after my birthday was a collossal mess and unexpectedly stressful. This story is a ray of sunshine. I love both Poppy and Alex. I love the way Emily Henry shows their friendship.
I even think that the third act conflict is valid.
If you like stories spanning years, travelling the world and the US and home being a person then read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
This is my favorite book by Emily Hebry so far. very spicy book. The character's journey is a moving one. You want to scream to get it together but when characters finally go through self reflection and theapy I found myself feeling it was prefect. Poppy needed to confront herself and find herself. Alex needed to confront his fears. I lovethe open future for them. They are together but where they will live is undecided.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Medical content
renpuspita's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
To quote Poppy, this book speaks to me
People We Meet on Vacation speaks to me, I re-read it immediately after first read. Actually, it's just skimming at first just to refresh my memory again to write this review. Then, I found myself read the book thoroughly, especially the big revelation part until the end. I once said that Beach Read wrecked me. And now, it's the second time Emily Henry successfully wrecked me again. Call me hyperbole or exaggerated, but I always rate my book based on my feeling and right now I have mixed feelings. Happy, sad, grateful, thoughtful, I end finish this book with some moisture left in my eyes (I rarely cried when reading, my heart apparently created from stone).
Contemporary romance or women fiction or chic-lit is not my forte, but last year, after Beach Read prove me otherwise, I start to read another con-rom. Not all of the titles are good ofc, some just subpar. This year, 2023, I had read 2 titles with friends to lover trope before this book, one of the title is just a so so. But I can said with a clarity that Henry knew what she write. The blurb of this book said it all it's not difficult to predict what the story I will get and what the outcome. I know there's will be a happy ending. I know both Poppy and Alex will admit that they love each other but they are to afraid to left the status quo aka their friendship. What make me enjoy this book is the journey they taken, the vacations. The raw emotions that come from both characters. Usually trope like big misunderstanding or try to be martyr just so people they love can be happy, will irked me. That's not the case with People We Meet on Vacation. I can feel connected to both Poppy and Alex. Maybe more to Poppy, because just like her, maybe I can be too careless with my marriage. I take my husband for the granted, just like Poppy did to Alex. Reading this book make me thinking, maybe I should reexamine my own life, my purpose and also my relationship.
I'm glad that unlike Beach Read in where January always assumed things and I don't know what Gus feel because the story was written from January's PoV, that's also not the case with People We Meet. Sure we read them all from Poppy's PoV, but I also get to know what Alex feel. Goodness gracious, when the last time I read (or watch) about male fiction character crying openly in front of the heroine? To admit his feelings, his anxiety, his emotional baggage and traumas, that's he's scared for some things that out of his control? Maybe Alex can openly express his feeling because this is Poppy, his best friend. The trope friend-to-lover in this book is not like those childhood friends that separate for so many years than reunited. Or just become friend for some months to hide their actual feeling (yes, I talk about you, Hook, Line and Sinker). Or even friends with benefit. In true sense, Poppy and Alex is true best friend, that I always know from the start that they have affection for each other, but their friendship is more stronger than that. I know that platonic relationship between man and woman somehow impossible, just like Poppy and Alex that finally accept their feeling. But I also liked that their hurt feelings after they big fight (and decades friendzone) didn't healed overnight. They heal, bit by bit. In the reader guide, Henry ask her reader, will Poppy and Alex going to make it? I said, yes, they do. They will. They already found their home.
This book is so quotable, I dog-eared almost all the book pages (don't judge me. I love to dog-ear my private book collection). It's hard to choose one or two passage to be quoted, because, you know Poppy and Alex's story speak to me, lol. The vacation parts are one of the highlights, although I know that some readers may found the back and forth from present to the past can disturb the flow of the story. I'm not a travel gals myself and prefer to be at home in long weekend, but I will lie to myself if I said I don't want to at least go somewhere to be on vacation after reading this book.
Another gems from Emily Henry that not only suitable for summer (or holiday) read but also will hooked you from the first chapter to the end.
People We Meet on Vacation speaks to me, I re-read it immediately after first read. Actually, it's just skimming at first just to refresh my memory again to write this review. Then, I found myself read the book thoroughly, especially the big revelation part until the end. I once said that Beach Read wrecked me. And now, it's the second time Emily Henry successfully wrecked me again. Call me hyperbole or exaggerated, but I always rate my book based on my feeling and right now I have mixed feelings. Happy, sad, grateful, thoughtful, I end finish this book with some moisture left in my eyes (I rarely cried when reading, my heart apparently created from stone).
Contemporary romance or women fiction or chic-lit is not my forte, but last year, after Beach Read prove me otherwise, I start to read another con-rom. Not all of the titles are good ofc, some just subpar. This year, 2023, I had read 2 titles with friends to lover trope before this book, one of the title is just a so so. But I can said with a clarity that Henry knew what she write. The blurb of this book said it all it's not difficult to predict what the story I will get and what the outcome. I know there's will be a happy ending. I know both Poppy and Alex will admit that they love each other but they are to afraid to left the status quo aka their friendship. What make me enjoy this book is the journey they taken, the vacations. The raw emotions that come from both characters. Usually trope like big misunderstanding or try to be martyr just so people they love can be happy, will irked me. That's not the case with People We Meet on Vacation. I can feel connected to both Poppy and Alex. Maybe more to Poppy, because just like her, maybe I can be too careless with my marriage. I take my husband for the granted, just like Poppy did to Alex. Reading this book make me thinking, maybe I should reexamine my own life, my purpose and also my relationship.
I'm glad that unlike Beach Read in where January always assumed things and I don't know what Gus feel because the story was written from January's PoV, that's also not the case with People We Meet. Sure we read them all from Poppy's PoV, but I also get to know what Alex feel. Goodness gracious, when the last time I read (or watch) about male fiction character crying openly in front of the heroine? To admit his feelings, his anxiety, his emotional baggage and traumas, that's he's scared for some things that out of his control? Maybe Alex can openly express his feeling because this is Poppy, his best friend. The trope friend-to-lover in this book is not like those childhood friends that separate for so many years than reunited. Or just become friend for some months to hide their actual feeling (yes, I talk about you, Hook, Line and Sinker). Or even friends with benefit. In true sense, Poppy and Alex is true best friend, that I always know from the start that they have affection for each other, but their friendship is more stronger than that. I know that platonic relationship between man and woman somehow impossible, just like Poppy and Alex that finally accept their feeling. But I also liked that their hurt feelings after they big fight (and decades friendzone) didn't healed overnight. They heal, bit by bit. In the reader guide, Henry ask her reader, will Poppy and Alex going to make it? I said, yes, they do. They will. They already found their home.
This book is so quotable, I dog-eared almost all the book pages (don't judge me. I love to dog-ear my private book collection). It's hard to choose one or two passage to be quoted, because, you know Poppy and Alex's story speak to me, lol. The vacation parts are one of the highlights, although I know that some readers may found the back and forth from present to the past can disturb the flow of the story. I'm not a travel gals myself and prefer to be at home in long weekend, but I will lie to myself if I said I don't want to at least go somewhere to be on vacation after reading this book.
Another gems from Emily Henry that not only suitable for summer (or holiday) read but also will hooked you from the first chapter to the end.
"You're not a vacation, and you're not the answer to my career crisis, but when I'm in a crisis or I'm sick or I'm sad, you're the only thing I want. And when I'm happy, you make me so much happier. I still have a lot to figure out, but one thing I know is, wherever you are, that's where I belong. I'll never belong anywhere like I belong with you. No matter what I'm feeling, I want you next to me. You're home to me, Alex. And I think I'm that for you too."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy