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

3.0

This might be a controversial take but maybe Emily Henry is just not for me. I’ve now read 4 of her 5 books. I started with Book Lovers which I loved. But the next three did not live up to expectations. Sure, they were entertaining, but I haven’t felt like I can’t put them down. 

I maybe liked People We Meet on Vacation slightly better than some of the others…at least until the miscommunication hit. It starts with When Harry Met Sally vibes which I was here for. Two unlikely best friends, a guy and a girl (Alex and Poppy), complete opposites, take a trip together every summer. When they started ten years ago, they travelled as cheaply as possible. With Poppy’s travel magazine job funding their more recent adventures, they’ve gotten more extragvant. They haven’t spoken in two years since their last trip ended awkwardly, and are back together for a trip to Alex’s brother’s wedding. But this time, the magazine isn’t paying. 

My first thought was why two professionals, presumably around 30, couldn’t afford better accommodations than the run-down hotel with broken A/C in the middle of summer in Palm Springs. I know they try to explain it away with Poppy’s expensive NYC apartment and Alex’s low-paying teacher career, but I didn’t buy that they would be willing to travel this way by this point in their lives, and enjoy it. 

Obviously, once the friends become lovers, there needs to be a conflict to push them apart. I felt like this one came out of nowehere. Had they just communicated properly, it wouldn’t have been a problem. I get that for the story there needs to be tension. But to me, Alex’s reason for being mad at Poppy made no sense. 

Anyway, I did like hearing about their previous trips and seeing the development and growth of their relationship. I do think Emiliy Henry’s books are a tad too long – so I would suggest more editing.