Book Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

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Title: People We Meet on Vacation

Author: Emily Henry

Sub-genre: Contemporary

Trope(s): friends to lovers

Alright, so typically when it comes to my Book of the Month selections, I try to push myself a little outside my comfort zone. I’ve read some great thrillers, historical fiction, even some lit fic from BOTM and for the most part, have really enjoyed the reads even if they aren’t what I would normally gravitate toward. And usually I stay away from romance for my pick because most of the romances they offer are ones I would buy anyway, and I prefer paperback to hardback for books that I know I am going to want to keep in my collection. But when I saw People We Meet on Vacation as an option for April, I clicked it basically immediately. I have been looking forward to this book for months and even already having preordered it, I wanted to get my hands on it as soon as possible. And it totally lived up to my expectations.

Poppy and Alex met at freshman orientation, in a one-off, we will never be friends kind of encounter. Poppy is a free spirit and Alex showed up in khakis. It isn’t until an acquaintance pairs them up to drive back to their hometown together that they realize they grew up just a few miles from one another. During their road trip home, they form a bond, despite having little in common. Alex is an oldest child who lost his mother at a young age and basically had to raise his younger brothers. Poppy comes from a loud, eccentric family that she loves dearly but has always been slightly embarrassed by. Alex and Poppy start a tradition of traveling somewhere every summer, at first on super low budget trips that Poppy eventually blogs about. Later, when Poppy lands a job with a high end travel magazine, their trips become more extravagant. No matter where they are in their lives–or who they’re dating at the time–these trips become the cornerstone of their friendship. But one summer things go from platonic to drunken romance and two years pass with Alex and Poppy not speaking to each other. When Poppy accidentally sends a random text to Alex, they start to communicate again and plan a trip to Palm Springs. Poppy needs this trip not only to rekindle her relationship with Alex, but also to give her some direction career-wise. But when they arrive, nothing goes as planned, and the sexual and romantic tension between them comes to a head. There is a lot of history and baggage to unpack and both Alex and Poppy have to open up in a way they never have before. But of course, they do, and live happily ever after.

Ugh. I low-key wish everyone would stop writing such amazing books because a) I just want to curl up and reread them immediately after finishing and b) imposter syndrome is a bitch. But also, please everyone, do not stop writing such amazing books because I need them in my life. I really loved Beach Read, but I almost feel like this relationship drew me in even more. I loved watching Poppy and Alex through the years, seeing their relationship grow and change (and silently yelling at them to get their shit together and realize how perfect they are for each other). I also loved living vicariously through their travels over the years, seeing how their vacations changed as they got older and had more money, coupled with Poppy’s job. Both Poppy and Alex are super endearing and I was rooting for them the whole time. Once I picked up the book and started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. I finished it in one day and can’t wait to read it again.

Overall Rating: 5 stars