The romantic comedy film People We Meet on Vacation is based on a best-selling novel by Emily Henry, which he published in 2021 under the same title. Poppy Wright, who works as a travel writer, portrays the lead role of a free-spirited character, while Alex Nilsen, who works as a high school teacher, is portrayed by Tom Blyth. The two have been best friends for over a decade, as they live in different cities but meet each summer to spend their vacation together.
People We Meet on Vacation depicts their past vacations through flashbacks, demonstrating their relationship development, their friendship, and their hidden romantic feelings for each other. The two characters who have opposing personalities face difficulties in their relationship because they meet again after not seeing each other for two years. The film directed by Brett Haley shows the romantic comedy charm of When Harry Met Sally by depicting characters who show their inner selves and develop throughout the story.
People We Meet on Vacation was released on Netflix on January 9, 2026. Viewers who want to watch the movie can do so at any time through the Netflix application or website because it runs for 1 hour and 58 minutes with a PG-13 rating.
People We Meet on Vacation: Overview of the Plot
People We Meet on Vacation opens with Poppy, who is disenchanted with her life in New York City working for a travel magazine, getting an invitation for her friend David’s wedding in Barcelona. She gets in touch with David’s brother, Alex, who also happens to be her estranged best friend. Through flashbacks, the film shows the friendship that began when the two met on their way home from college on a road trip to Ohio.
Despite their differences, they found common ground in their eccentricities, and they make promises to go on an annual summer vacation, ranging from camping in Squamish, British Columbia, to visiting New Orleans and Tuscany. In the present, Poppy pretends to be in Barcelona for work to attend the wedding and see Alex. Poppy and Alex’s reunion is awkward, with them reminiscing about their past adventures. The narrative has a non-linear plot, illustrating how life changes, such as breakups and career changes, affect their interactions.
The narrative focuses on how vacations allow them to be their true selves, as opposed to their daily lives. There are no major plot twists, only emotional growth. The movie has supporting characters, such as Alex’s ex, Sarah, played by Sarah Catherine Hook, and David, played by Miles Heizer. Filming in various locations that resemble those in the book helped to reinforce the travel theme.
People We Meet on Vacation: The build-up to the reunion in Barcelona
The various vacations serve as the foundation of the complex relationship between Poppy and Alex. The early vacations, like the one to Squamish where they go camping and join the locals, set the tradition. Their pretend honeymoon in New Orleans also adds a touch of intimacy to the relationship. The trip to Tuscany two years before the reunion has a touch of tension. On a double date with their partners, Trey accompanies Poppy, and Sarah accompanies Alex, a near-kiss ends in Alex asking Sarah to marry him and ending the vacation.
A flashback also shows the cancellation of a trip to Norway because of Poppy’s illness, where Alex takes care of her in New York. After being apart for two years, Poppy uses David’s wedding in Barcelona as an excuse to call Alex and claim she is working. The two reunite with awkwardness in the hot hotel room without air conditioning. Through their conversations, Alex shares that she broke up with Sarah a year ago. The wedding and the rain and heat serve as a backdrop to the emotional pressure building up between the two characters. The scene shows the opposites-attract theme as Poppy is impulsive and Alex is more reserved.
People We Meet on Vacation Climax: Confessions and conflicts
Tensions between Poppy and Alex are high at the Barcelona wedding. Poppy and Alex have a disagreement after attending the rehearsal dinner, and Poppy reveals to Alex that she has been lying to him about her work. Poppy and Alex confess their longing for each other, but Poppy wants to go back to the old way, and Alex does not agree. Poppy wants to know about his breakup with Sarah, and Alex reveals that it was due to his love for Poppy. They confess their love for each other, kiss, and spend the night together.
Poppy and Alex have a good time at the wedding, but they have a disagreement about their future. This sparks an argument, with Alex accusing Poppy of escaping reality by traveling, while Poppy in turn accuses Alex of being stuck on his club, Linfield. Feeling betrayed, Alex walks away, implying that they are not compatible. Poppy meets Sarah at the airport, and they apologize, with the breakup being mutual because they are both uncertain.
The encounter with Sarah makes Poppy introspective about her own fears. The climax: the rain-soaked confession scene echoes an important book moment. The conflicts are mainly because of their lifestyles, with Poppy being on the move and Alex being settled, and show the personal growth that both characters need. The sequence solves some conflicts and leads up to the final resolution.
People We Meet on Vacation: Do Poppy and Alex End Up Together?
Yes, Poppy and Alex end up together. After the argument, Poppy returns to New York but realizes her reluctance has risked their relationship. She quits her magazine job, where her boss noted her lost spark, and travels to Linfield. Spotting Alex jogging, she chases him down in a crosswalk. Poppy confesses her fear of being “too much” for him but affirms he feels like “home,” not just a vacation escape. Alex reciprocates, and they kiss, committing to a future. An epilogue shows them one year later, living together in a New York apartment.
They resume annual vacations as a couple, sharing wine at home and relaxing on a beach, holding hands on a plane. This ending emphasizes self-love enabling mutual love, with Alex reading a novel tying into Emily Henry’s universe. The resolution provides closure, affirming their compatibility despite differences. It aligns with rom-com conventions, delivering a happy ending without abrupt changes. Viewers see their growth from friends to partners.
Differences from the book’s ending
People We Meet on Vacation ending closely follows the book’s but includes adaptations for the screen. In the novel Poppy’s confession occurs at Alex’s high school and a bar before co-workers after running into a former bully. The film simplifies this Poppy chases Alex on his jog declaring him “home” in a crosswalk. The epilogue differs slightly because the book ends poolside in Palm Springs while the movie shows a beach vacation and Alex reading Augustus Everett’s novel from Henry’s “Beach Read” which adds a crossover nod.
The reunion trip shifts from Palm Springs to Barcelona for visual appeal and logistics because the building lacks air conditioning which creates suspense until the rain confession. The Tuscany setting differs between the book and the movie because the book includes a post-trip kiss and fallout whereas the movie shows a double-date near-kiss and Alex’s proposal to Sarah which leads to the immediate trip end.
The changes condense the story for a 118-minute runtime while maintaining the emotional core through two elements which include location changes and sequence modifications. Director Brett Haley prioritized character journeys over exact replication. The work maintains its core themes without significant alterations.
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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