A review by izzylmcdonald
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

hopeful lighthearted medium-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

3.5

I feel like when it comes to smutty romance, it is hard to get better than this. I really enjoyed the book. I found it funny and an easy read. Now for the flaws, cause they are always more fun. Overall, there were parts of the book that dragged. I had to set it down for while, and then forge through parts of the latter half of the book. I also found the smutty parts of the book to come out with no warning. I don't mind it sometimes, but I wish that it had not gone from 0 to 60. Last thing, and I have noticed this in many recent romance novels, the women can be flawed and selfish and imperfect in the eyes of the culture, but the men can not. Maybe it is just all in the fantasy that a man is like that. Like I am sorry, but no man exists in a vacuum untouched by the patriarchy. I think it is a disservice to the character. Like everyone has a little bit of selfishness in them. Also Spoiler  but if near the end Alex mentions STARTING therapy, so unfair that he has this kind of self-awareness and social understanding that Poppy lacks. I think there is a unfairness makes women out to be the ones who have to go through an ego-death/ transformation/self-acknowledgement. Why are male characters not held to the same standards? Just cause we all want to fuck the guy who is hot and we don't have to apologize to people of color, lgbt people, or women for? Is the real fantasy a romance where we are loved and respected? Can't wait for the movie to come out.   
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