I landed on People We Meet on Vacation (based on the bestselling novel by Emily Henry and directed by Michael Showalter) mid-scroll on Netflix — zero expectations, mild skepticism, and that familiar rom-com fatigue weighing heavy. Let’s be honest, the genre hasn’t exactly been delivering lately. Everything feels either too glossy, too try-hard, or emotionally hollow. So was I impressed? Did it actually hold my attention? And more importantly — is it worth your time?
Short answer: yes. Longer answer? Let me tell you why.
The film follows Poppy and Alex, two people who really shouldn’t work on paper. She’s loud, impulsive, emotionally expressive — the kind of person who wants to experience life at full volume. He’s quiet, structured, introverted, and deeply uncomfortable with chaos. Opposites attract? Maybe so. But what the film does right is showing how those differences don’t clash — they soften each other.
Their relationship unfolds through a tradition of yearly vacations, just the two of them, across different cities and different phases of their lives. And honestly, that structure alone is what keeps the film engaging. It’s fast-paced without feeling rushed, and if a rom-com manages to keep me off my phone for more than ten minutes, that’s already a win in my book.
Poppy, played with infectious energy by Emily Bader, might be one of the most extroverted rom-com leads we’ve seen in a while — but not in an exhausting way. She loves the simple things: dancing without caring who’s watching, eating local food like it’s an experience, throwing herself fully into moments. There’s something quietly refreshing about a female lead who reminds you that joy doesn’t have to be complicated. She feels like someone who lives out loud, and the film never punishes her for that. But somewhere in between you do wonder if she’s too much and a little lost, but maybe that’s the point.
Alex, on the other hand — and let’s get this out of the way — Tom Blyth is now firmly on my “recent crushes” list. Effortlessly charming, soft-spoken, emotionally restrained but never cold. As Alex, he initially comes across as nonchalant, almost distant, but the more time you spend with him, the clearer it becomes that he’s all heart. He just expresses it differently. His love language is showing up, staying, and choosing Poppy even when it scares him.
One of the film’s strongest elements is its use of travel — not just as pretty scenery, but as emotional markers. Every vacation feels like a snapshot of where they are in life and in their relationship. The Barcelona scenes especially stood out for me. Having lived there, I instantly recognised the aerial shots, the energy, the rhythm of the city — and it added an unexpected layer of familiarity and warmth. Two friends wandering, talking, laughing, figuring things out far from home — it’s a feeling that’s incredibly easy to sink into.
And yes, the movie absolutely earns brownie points for leaning into classic rom-com moments without irony. The angry love confession under the rain? Cliché. Predictable. And yet… completely satisfying. It’s dramatic, messy, emotional — the kind of scene OG rom-com girlies live for. Same goes for the bar scene: the music, the dancing, the carefree chemistry — it’s fun in that unforced, “this feels real” way.
Then there’s the moment that really sealed it for me: Alex cancelling his flight to Norway just to take care of Poppy in New York. No big speech. No performative gesture. Just a quiet decision that says everything. Sometimes love isn’t grand declarations — it’s choosing to stay.
That said, the film isn’t flawless. At times, it plays things a little too safe. Some emotional beats could’ve been explored more deeply, and there are moments where you wish the film lingered just a bit longer instead of moving on. The “will they, won’t they” tension is familiar, and if you’re looking for something radically new, this might not fully satisfy you.
But maybe that’s the point. People We Meet on Vacation doesn’t try to reinvent the rom-com. Instead, it reminds you why the genre worked in the first place — chemistry, timing, missed chances, and the quiet ache of loving someone for years before admitting it.
Verdict: It’s charming, comforting, emotionally warm, and surprisingly sincere. If modern rom-coms have left you cynical, this one might gently pull you back in. I’d recommend it — and honestly, don’t be surprised if it becomes a comfort watch you return to when you’re craving something familiar but heartfelt.
Sometimes, all you need is a story that makes you believe — just a little — in love again.
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