A huge thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
If you’re looking for a blissful escape from the mundane, you’ll definitely want to pick up People We Meet on Vacation.
Emily Henry took the world by storm during the summer of 2020 with her novel, Beach Read. I read it. I loved it. I wanted more. So when I had the opportunity to receive an advanced reader copy of her newest novel, People We Meet on Vacation, I was thrilled – and ready for another beachy escape.
Let me start by saying I haven’t read a book in one sitting since high school. I don’t normally have a schedule that allows for it and when I do, I find it hard to pay attention for that length of time. Friends, I read all of this book in under 24 hours – 80% of it in just one sitting! I couldn’t get enough. This book provided the perfect escape and fueled my wanderlust, giving me so many travel ideas for the future.
You’ll absolutely need to pick up this book. Keep reading to find out why!
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My honest review of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
Synopsis:
With one week to win back the best friend she might just be in love with, a travel writer plans the trip of a lifetime in this sparkling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read.
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?
Content warnings: (major) Sexual content, (moderate) miscarriage
This was the most precious, slow burn, friends-to-lovers story I didn’t know I needed until I read it. I couldn’t put it down and read over 80% of it in one sitting! I haven’t done that with a book since high school! I was walking around like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, with my e-reader in one hand as I moved from room to room. I’m pretty sure my husband thought I was going to hurt myself because I quite literally had my nose in this book all day long. It was that good.
Not that I expected anything less after reading Beach Read last summer. I knew that Emily Henry was a phenomenal author already, but somehow this book left me even more in awe than the last.
People We Meet on Vacation is told from the perspective of Poppy, an extroverted, confident, (dare I say) eccentric millennial woman who loves travel more than anything. She loves the anonymity of it and how she can adopt a new persona on vacation. But she loves it MOST because it means spending time with her very unlikely best friend, Alex. He’s reserved, organized, and basically the opposite of Poppy in every way. They compliment each other while simultaneously making no sense. I loved their witty banter and their inside jokes.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline. It was like witnessing their relationship evolve over time – right in front of my eyes. The way it was written had me on the edge of my seat, with a strong desire to know what “happened in Croatia.” And for every few chapters in the present, there was a chapter or two a few summers back to balance it out. As I said, I couldn’t stop reading once I started!
The author mentioned that she drew elements from When Harry Met Sally and I can definitely see that and appreciate it, but I also love that it was a unique story on its own. In these uncertain times, it was a really beautiful escape. It gave me wanderlust, sparked a strong desire for romance, and – in the last 15% of the book – I found myself so inspired by what Poppy had learned.
People We Meet on Vacation provided a much-needed escape and it will definitely be a novel I pick up again and again.
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Will you be reading People We Meet on Vacation?
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Fadima Mooneira says
This is a good book for a light reading. I like the storyline. I should add this on my TBR. Thank you for sharing.
Stephanie Whitman says
It’s light, but it also covers some more challenging content, which I really appreciated. I’m quite picky when it comes to contemporary romance, but this one ticked all the boxes!
Alice Spake says
I’ve just pre-ordered this because it is absolutely my kinda book xx
Stephanie Whitman says
No way!!! That makes my day. I hope you absolutely love it when you do read it 🙂
Kat says
Oh this book looks great! Definitely a nice escape from the world right now.
Stephanie Whitman says
It was the perfect escape and I never wanted it to end. I can’t wait to read it again and again when it comes out!
Cristina Rosano says
I mean this is a huge YES! I heard plenty of good reviews of Beach read but still need to pick it up and I am waiting for May for this to come out! I really need one of those books that you finish in a sitting because you can’t get enough! Loved the review and truly can’t wait!! xx
Stephanie Whitman says
Beach Read was a great book and I’m glad I read that one as well – but I’ll admit, this one definitely takes the cake for me. It was just such a page-turner. I couldn’t stop reading it!
Lucy says
I really like the sound of this book and I’ll definitely having a look out for it when it is released in May! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Stephanie Whitman says
It’s adorable and I hope you check it out! It just put such a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading 🙂
Neely Moldovan says
I loved this one! I was so excited to get a copy too!
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! It was just such a sweet story. I seriously couldn’t put it down!
Lizzie says
Aww that sounds like such a sweet book!! Definitely a good read. Can’t believe you finished it in 24 hours!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I couldn’t get enough of it. I think there’s something about a slow burn that just has you wanting more and more because you want it to all culminate to something spectacular!
Charley Allison says
This book looks great! I’ll definitely have to keep an eye out for it when it’s released! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you do! It was such a precious story and I never wanted it to end!
Rach says
I really enjoyed Beach Read so I feel like I will enjoy People We Meet On Vacation! I didn’t even know Emily Henry was coming out with a new book!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I think you’re going to love this one. It’s different from Beach Read in a lot of ways, but also has some fun similarities (like being a great…. beach read haha)
Raji says
Great review! This sounds like a really nice read, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it.
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you do! I can’t wait to read it again when it comes out in May. It was just too good!!!
Sarah Mark says
This sounds like a fab book! I will be adding this to my TBR pile
Stephanie Whitman says
That’s great to hear! I hope you thoroughly enjoy it when it’s released 🙂
Merry Sari says
I have this on my TBR and I REALLY want to read it! Love your review and can’t wait to read it x
Stephanie Whitman says
Eeeek you’re gonna love it! It was just the most adorable story – and it had such great depth to it as well!
Amanda says
Friends to lovers is my fav so I know I would love this! Plus it’s exciting knowing you read it in one day. I will be getting this soon! Thanks so much for sharing your review.
Stephanie Whitman says
Mine too!! I’m not big on enemies-to-lovers, which is the most popular trope in… everything? So I was EXTRA excited to see it wasn’t that haha.
Lindsey says
I’d heard of Beach Read as much because it tickles me that it the title but I hadn’t heard that the author had done more. This sounds like an utterly delightful read – can’t get a more glowing recommendation than reading it practically in one sitting. Great review!
Stephanie Whitman says
She actually had several books prior to Beach Read, but that was the one that got her on the bestseller’s list! This new book is definitely different than Beach Read, but it’s got some fun similarities as well. I just adored it!
Alice in Sheffield says
Oh this sounds like such a cute story I’ll have to check it out!
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you do! It definitely deserves the read. It was so good!
Jamie says
Omg this looks so good! I have yet to read Beach Read and now really want to read both of these!! Books you cannot put down are the absolute best and I am guilty of binge reading until wayyy too late into the night lol – great review 🙂
Stephanie Whitman says
Beach Read was awesome! It got tons of hype last year and I’m glad about that because it was really well-written… but I will admit that this one TOTALLY tops it (in my opinion, anyways). I hope you do get a chance to read them both 🙂
Lynn Mejia says
Aw, this book sounds so sweet and something I wouldnt put down either! I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much! Thank you for sharing your review xx
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m glad I enjoyed it as well! I’m a harsh critic when it comes to contemporary romance and I got super lucky with the last two I read: both got 5 stars!
Kelly Diane says
This sounds like something I’d really enjoy reading. If you found you couldn’t put it down, it really must have been good.
Stephanie Whitman says
Oooh that’s so awesome to hear! I hope you get a chance to read it 🙂
Jennifer Prince says
“If I’m looking for a blissful escape from the mundane?” Of course, I am! And this book looks like the perfect way to do so. I love that you basically devoured the book by reading it so quickly. I adore reads like that!! 🙂
Stephanie Whitman says
Haha! It really is that: a blissful escape. I wanted to travel to all the places mentioned in the book. There were so many vivid descriptions that fueled my wanderlust!
Greta says
I’ll definitely add this to my reading list when it comes out in May! It sounds so interesting.
Rachael says
Such a incredible review! I read Beach Read last year and unfortunately I didn’t LOVE it, but I am definitely going to pick this up! I think it was more my mood at the time than the actual book, that was the issue! xx
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
Contemporary romance usually isn’t my kind of book, but you make me want to check this out! Sounds like a great book for the summer!
Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says
These both sounds like great summer type books! I’m going to visit my mom at the beach next weekend, so I think I might have to buy both this one and the “Beach Read” one to bring with me on my trip. Thanks girl! Xx.
Adaleta Avdic says
I really need some more light hearted books to read because I feel like a few of my book clubs have been really bleek darker books!
Anna English says
I think this sounds like it would be a great beach read! I’m going to pick it up before my trip to Belize next month, thanks for the rec.
Deborah says
BRB – going to read this book now! It sounds RIGHT up my alley! I do like a slow-burn kind of romance (because it seems more realistic) and friends to lovers is such a cute trope!
Hayley says
Aaaaahhh thank you so much for sharing your review and for not giving anything away! I had the same kind of mindset as you: loved Beach Read last year and JUMPED at the chance to read an ARC. (I haven’t read it yet but I’m hoping to have it done by the end of the month!)
This sounds so sweet and escapist and I’m now even more excited to read it knowing you enjoyed it. 🙂
rebecca says
you convinced me! just added it to my list to read ASAP!
xx rebecca // http://www.rebeccapiersol.me
Linda says
Ok. You are my go to when I need a recommendation outside of my typical genre (mystery/thriller). Love your review and am totally intrigued by this plot. I love a story where I get completely invested in the characters and this sounds like it will do just that. Adding to my TBR! Thanks, S!
Genesis says
Haha when I read the synopsis, I already thought it sounded a lot like ‘When Harry Met Sally’! I’m not complaining- it’s one of my favourite love stories! This book sounds like a great read; I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
Amanda says
This totally sounds like it’s up my alley! I need a good, carefree book I can get lost in for a lazy day.
Sacha says
This sounds like such a good book to read -thank you for your review on it!
Nayomi says
I love the way you write you reviews. You drew me in the first paragraphs and I didn’t even know what the book was about. I love the sound of this book though,a blissful romantic escape.
Kait says
Ahh this book sounds SO GOOD. I am a total sucker for chick lit and lighthearted romances, and I can already relate to Poppy so much just from your descriptions. I need to make more time in my life to read, but it’s hard to find books I am excited enough about. This might be a good one to get me back into it.
Laura Leigh says
oh my gosh I need this book! it sounds absolutely amazing – I love that you read it in one sitting. I think I need this for a beach weekend this summer!
xo Laura leigh
https://louellareese.com
Denise says
Reading it in under 24 hours is seriously so impressive… especially with so many streaming shows now! I will need to check this out, I’m always looking for a new book.
Denise