Book Review
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
For fans of friendship-turned-romance and stories full of banter and quick wit — People We Meet on Vacation is for you!
From the publisher: Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
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Reader’s Thoughts
I don’t read a lot of romances. But the description of this story had me hooked! This is the sort of book you want to read, lounging on a beach chair by the pool with palm trees swaying behind you and a fruity drink in hand. It is full-on vacation-dreams and heat.
First of all, I adore the characters in this novel. Poppy is outrageous and witty and the best sort of travel-mate. And Alex is khaki pants and a book in a bar. And yet, they blend so well together. The tension and banter between them was absolutely delightful; but yet, there was an honesty and a vulnerability to both. Emily Henry has done a masterful job crafting two very dynamic and well-rounded characters.
I also loved the vacation aspect of this story. As a Canadian, I was thrilled by the Vancouver Island getaway. Having been there myself, I can vouch for all the little details hidden within that chapter. (Add it to your bucket list, people!) These authentic touches really add to the story and allow you to be transported into the world Emily Henry has created.
While this story is a little steamier than my usual reads (I did have to skim a couple of pages) that just comes down to personal preference. These scenes weren’t super long and I don’t feel I missed much by skipping them.
People We Meet on Vacation was, however, wonderfully written. The dialogue and Poppy’s inner thought process made me laugh out loud multiple times (a rarity that pretty much guarantees itself a five-star review.) After all, that’s what good books do — they make you feel emotions. And these characters? Well, they truly did steal a bit of my heart too.
So if you enjoy romantic stories full of layered friendship, humour, and wit — I recommend giving this one a read!