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charbck 's review for:
People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
whatever. this book really really really isnt for me
i am someone of friends to lovers experience, i would even call myself an expert. so this whole thing felt so unrealistic and childlike. they r the most repressed, least horny adults of all time. also such nerds… the way they talk about “drugs” cringed me out. the “we have nothing in common. we dont make sense” excuse was very shallow and lazy writing. theyve been friends for TWELVE YEARS. henry rounded out alex with some trauma related depth but otherwise the characters felt pretty one note, the manic pixie dream girl and the stoic handsome guy. truly no romance, no yearning, no tension in this book at all until page 220.
idk… i guess i like when my books ask questions about the society they exist within, or reveal some human truths, even slightly. maybe toss in some “themes” or even a “moral” of sorts. there are missed opportunities here for self reflection like… what does it mean to have a guy/girl friendship? what is the work you need to do to make it last, to prioritize platonic bonds over sexual desire? do you feel societal pressure to just end up with that person in the end, why is that? how DO you balance deep relationships with ur bff and ur romantic partner? these are not questions henry is interested in pondering or even exploring.
cannot express enough that truly nothing happens for the first 200ish pages. even on their trips together, its just shallow vignettes. they do not explore the ups and downs of long distance, long time friendship together. how they solve problems, how they grow together. they do not explore what it means to have a friend that you love more than your heart can take. we dont even see the conversations between poppy and her bfs about alex, how she explains their relationship, how the bfs take it. all off page. poppy and alex just like… go hiking. and lament about their grade school bullies.
really hated the 3rd act tension. so forced. ALSO! i did take it personally that henry does not take time describing chicago even tho that is where the characters met! they do not even jump in the lake together! no description of the cherry blossoms in hyde park, WHERE THEY LIVE. ALSO, no one calls it U of Chicago, its UChicago. she did a great job describing new orleans! why couldnt the same craft be applied to chicago! chicago should be special to them!
im disappointed because the secret language and development of a 12 year love is such a beautiful idea to explore. this book is shallow. whatever. love takes miles
i am someone of friends to lovers experience, i would even call myself an expert. so this whole thing felt so unrealistic and childlike. they r the most repressed, least horny adults of all time. also such nerds… the way they talk about “drugs” cringed me out. the “we have nothing in common. we dont make sense” excuse was very shallow and lazy writing. theyve been friends for TWELVE YEARS. henry rounded out alex with some trauma related depth but otherwise the characters felt pretty one note, the manic pixie dream girl and the stoic handsome guy. truly no romance, no yearning, no tension in this book at all until page 220.
idk… i guess i like when my books ask questions about the society they exist within, or reveal some human truths, even slightly. maybe toss in some “themes” or even a “moral” of sorts. there are missed opportunities here for self reflection like… what does it mean to have a guy/girl friendship? what is the work you need to do to make it last, to prioritize platonic bonds over sexual desire? do you feel societal pressure to just end up with that person in the end, why is that? how DO you balance deep relationships with ur bff and ur romantic partner? these are not questions henry is interested in pondering or even exploring.
cannot express enough that truly nothing happens for the first 200ish pages. even on their trips together, its just shallow vignettes. they do not explore the ups and downs of long distance, long time friendship together. how they solve problems, how they grow together. they do not explore what it means to have a friend that you love more than your heart can take. we dont even see the conversations between poppy and her bfs about alex, how she explains their relationship, how the bfs take it. all off page. poppy and alex just like… go hiking. and lament about their grade school bullies.
really hated the 3rd act tension. so forced. ALSO! i did take it personally that henry does not take time describing chicago even tho that is where the characters met! they do not even jump in the lake together! no description of the cherry blossoms in hyde park, WHERE THEY LIVE. ALSO, no one calls it U of Chicago, its UChicago. she did a great job describing new orleans! why couldnt the same craft be applied to chicago! chicago should be special to them!
im disappointed because the secret language and development of a 12 year love is such a beautiful idea to explore. this book is shallow. whatever. love takes miles