Emily Henry’s #1 New York Times bestseller People We Meet on Vacation was adapted for the screen in 2026 as a Netflix film. Starring Tom Blyth as Alex Nilsen and Emily Bader as Poppy Wright, the film explores their decade-long friendship through their many summer vacations. After one summer night results in years of silence, the pair meet up in one last trip to confront their true feelings. 

It is always a touchy subject when a book is made into a movie, as beloved readers fear important details and favorite moments being left out of the live-action remake. In this case, however, many critics find that their favorite parts of the book made it into the on-screen film. According to the online movie critic The Everygirl, “This was an amazing adaptation. The cast and the crew translated the magic of the source material so beautifully, and any changes only made the story better.” Reviews like this reflect a broader consensus that the film successfully captures the spirit of the novel, a rarity in many recent adaptations. 

On the other hand, English 9 and 10 and AP Psychology teacher Waldina Pineda, who is very familiar with the book, felt as though “the book will always be better.” She believes that, although the movie was great, “the characters were toned down for the movie.” In the book, Poppy has a whole lot of personality, and Alex is a bit uptight. Mrs. Pineda feels that this did not come across in the movie, and their relationship fell “flat.”  

Sarah Sherman (‘26) has not yet read People We Meet on Vacation but is eager to pick it up and dig deeper into the characters’ inner monologues after watching the adaptation. “Reading the book would give more insight into what Alex’s thoughts were,” said Sherman. Much of Alex’s character was stripped back in the film, painting him as extremely cautious, simple, and even boring. The book delves into the nuances of Alex’s character, including the lingering trauma of his mother’s death and his fan-loved cat, Flannery O’Connor. 

Even with integral parts of Alex’s character left out, he still manages to find his way into the hearts of viewers, and even into the meaning of the book and film’s title. On the surface, People We Meet on Vacation seems to suggest that Alex and Poppy are meeting other people on their travels. While the two do meet new faces, the title may hint more at the versions of Alex and Poppy that they bring out of each other with each vacation. 

“Poppy brought out the best of Alex, turning him into a new person. The people they meet are the new sides of their personalities that come out when they are together,” said Sherman. 

People We Meet on Vacation proves that a book-to-film adaptation can still resonate, even if it does not capture every detail that fans love. While some readers feel the depth of the characters is best experienced on the page, the Netflix film succeeds in honoring the heart of Emily Henry’s story and introducing its themes to a wider audience.