People We Meet on Vacation premiered on Netflix on January 9, 2026, bringing Emily Henry’s beloved 2021 bestselling novel to life as one of the streaming platform’s biggest romantic comedy hits of the year. Directed by Brett Haley and starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, this friends-to-lovers romance chronicles 12 years of annual summer vacations, missed connections, and the undeniable chemistry between two people too stubborn to admit they’re perfect for each other.
What is People We Meet on Vacation About?
Free-spirited travel writer Poppy and cautious high school English teacher Alex are complete opposites who become unlikely best friends during a road trip home from college. For nearly a decade, they maintain their friendship through annual summer vacations to destinations around the world, despite living separate lives in different cities. Poppy thrives in New York City working for R&R magazine, while Alex remains in their small hometown of Linfield, Ohio.
Their tradition comes to an abrupt halt after a disastrous couples’ trip to Tuscany, Italy, where tensions with their respective partners lead to an unspoken falling out. After two years of silence, Poppy reaches out to Alex with a proposition: one more trip together to fix whatever went wrong. Their reunion at Alex’s brother David’s wedding in Barcelona forces both to confront the feelings they’ve been suppressing for over a decade, leading to the question everyone else already knows the answer to—are Poppy and Alex meant to be more than friends?
Main Characters – The Core Duo
1. Emily Bader as Poppy
Emily Bader stars as Poppy, the adventurous travel writer whose spontaneous personality and fear of settling down mask deeper insecurities about connection and belonging. Bader, fresh off her title role in Prime Video’s “My Lady Jane,” brings infectious energy and vulnerability to Poppy’s journey of self-discovery. Her performance captures Poppy’s tendency to run from problems while desperately wanting meaningful relationships, making her relatable rather than simply quirky.
2. Tom Blyth as Alex
Tom Blyth portrays Alex, the introverted English teacher who finds comfort in routine and his small-town life. Known for playing young Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Blyth brings understated intensity to Alex’s quiet devotion and fear of losing the people he loves. His chemistry with Bader anchors the film’s emotional core, making their decade-long friendship believable before romance enters the equation.
Supporting Characters
3. Sarah Catherine Hook as Sarah
Sarah Catherine Hook plays Sarah, Alex’s on-again, off-again high school sweetheart whose presence complicates the Tuscany trip. Her character represents the safe, expected choice for Alex’s life in Linfield.
4. Lucien Laviscount as Trey
Lucien Laviscount portrays Trey, Poppy’s R&R magazine colleague and romantic partner who joins the ill-fated Tuscany vacation. His character highlights Poppy’s pattern of choosing excitement over depth in relationships.
5. Miles Heizer as David
Miles Heizer appears as David, Alex’s younger brother whose Barcelona wedding becomes the catalyst for Poppy and Alex’s reunion. His character provides the external reason for them to reconnect after two years apart.
6. Jameela Jamil as Swapna
Jameela Jamil plays Swapna, likely Poppy’s friend or colleague who offers outside perspective on her relationship patterns.
7. Tommy Do as Nam
Tommy Do portrays Nam, one of the friends they encounter during their summer adventures.
8. Lukas Gage as Buck
Lukas Gage appears as Buck, adding comedic support to the vacation sequences.
9. Alice Lee as Rachel
Alice Lee plays Rachel, part of Poppy or Alex’s extended friend group.
10. Molly Shannon as Wanda
Molly Shannon portrays Wanda, likely Alex’s mother figure or family friend from Linfield.
11. Alan Ruck as Jimmy
Alan Ruck appears as Jimmy, possibly Poppy’s father or mentor figure.
12. Additional Cast
The ensemble includes Spencer Neville as Julian, Ian Porter as Ed Nilsen, Madeleine Akua as Daisy, Bethany Anne Lind as Stacey, Michael A. Newcomer as Bob, and Layton Williams as the wedding officiant, all contributing to the rich world of Poppy and Alex’s lives.
The Summer Vacation Timeline
The film uses a “X summers ago” flashback structure to showcase Poppy and Alex’s evolving relationship through their annual trips.
Ten Summers Ago: Squamish, British Columbia
Their first trip takes them to Squamish, where they take a water taxi and camp with new friends they meet along the way. This adventure establishes the dynamic of Poppy pushing Alex out of his comfort zone while Alex grounds Poppy’s wild impulses.
Seven Summers Ago: New Orleans, Louisiana
The New Orleans trip features a pivotal moment where Poppy injures herself and Alex gives her a piggyback ride through the French Quarter. This physical closeness plants seeds of romantic tension neither acknowledges.
Tuscany Couples’ Trip: The Breaking Point
The disastrous vacation to Tuscany with their respective partners—Poppy’s colleague Trey and Alex’s girlfriend Sarah—creates fractures neither can repair. Tensions escalate as Poppy and Alex struggle to maintain their friendship while navigating romantic relationships with people who don’t understand their bond. The trip ends with unspoken hurt and two years of silence.
Barcelona Reunion: David’s Wedding
Alex’s brother David’s Barcelona wedding forces Poppy and Alex back together. The romantic Spanish setting, malfunctioning air conditioning that intensifies both literal and emotional heat, and the unavoidable proximity push them toward honest conversations they’ve avoided for over a decade.
Major Changes From the Book
Director Brett Haley and screenwriters Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, and Nunzio Randazzo made several adaptations from Emily Henry’s novel.
How Poppy and Alex Meet
In the book, Poppy and Alex first connect at a college freshman orientation mixer, then reconnect during a road trip home to Linfield. The film merges these encounters into one, having them meet during the drive home with Alex wearing the same sweatshirt from the book’s orientation scene. This condensed introduction maintains the essence while streamlining for cinematic pacing.
Vacation Destinations
While the book features trips to Vancouver Island, Nashville, San Francisco, New Orleans, Vail, and Palm Springs for the reunion wedding, the film showcases Squamish, New Orleans, Tuscany, and Barcelona. The change to Barcelona for David’s wedding came from production logistics and Emily Henry’s approval, creating what Haley called a more romantic and visually vibrant setting.
The Iconic Burrito Scene
The film includes the chaotic burrito scene from their road trip home, a fan-favorite moment that establishes their platonic friendship foundation. This scene proves essential for the friends-to-lovers trope to work, showing genuine friendship before romantic feelings develop.
The Croatia Kiss Revelation
In the book, a crucial flashback reveals that Poppy and Alex drunkenly kissed during a Croatia trip, but both misinterpreted it as rejection. This moment explains years of unspoken tension and missed signals between them.
The Ending Explained
At the Barcelona rehearsal dinner, Alex discovers that Poppy rearranged her Greece work trip just to attend the wedding, not because R&R sent her as she claimed. When he confronts her, Poppy admits she missed him and wants their friendship back to how it was. Alex insists that’s impossible—they can’t go backward.
The malfunctioning air conditioning forces them to share increasingly close quarters as Barcelona’s heat mirrors their mounting emotional tension. All the unspoken issues, secrets, and suppressed feelings surface. Alex finally admits his deepest fear: that they’re too different and pursuing a romantic relationship means risking losing her completely, just like he lost his mother.
Poppy realizes through therapy and self-reflection that she has a pattern of running from her problems and that her travel writing job has become unfulfilling because she’s stopped genuinely connecting with people on her trips. She flies back to Linfield ready to fight for Alex, no longer willing to let fear dictate her choices.
Alex and Poppy finally confess their feelings and become a couple, deciding to split their time between New York City and Linfield. The ending affirms that their differences complement rather than divide them, and that friendship remains the foundation of lasting romance.
Critical Reception
People We Meet on Vacation quickly became one of Netflix’s biggest rom-com hits of 2026, delighting both longtime Emily Henry fans and newcomers to her work. The film’s 1 hour 57 minute runtime and PG-13 rating made it accessible for broad audiences, while maintaining the emotional depth and sexual tension that made the book a bestseller.
Critics praised the chemistry between Bader and Blyth, noting how their performances made the decade-long friendship feel authentic before transitioning into romance. The flashback structure received particular acclaim for allowing audiences to experience the full evolution of their relationship rather than simply telling viewers they’ve been friends for years.
Emily Henry herself expressed satisfaction with the adaptation, appreciating how Brett Haley maintained the story’s emotional core while making necessary changes for the screen. Her involvement in approving major alterations, like the Barcelona setting change, ensured the film honored her vision while serving cinematic storytelling.
Soundtrack Blend
The People We Meet on Vacation soundtrack blends upbeat synth-pop, indie ballads, and nostalgic classics to capture the emotional arc of Poppy and Alex’s decade-long relationship. Director Brett Haley, music supervisor Season Kent, and composer Keegan DeWitt avoided using direct narration, instead letting the music immerse viewers in each vacation’s unique atmosphere.
Original Score by Keegan DeWitt
Composer Keegan DeWitt, who previously collaborated with director Brett Haley on Hearts Beat Loud and All the Bright Places, created an intimate original score featuring a simple yet poignant eight-note motif that represents Poppy and Alex’s emotional bond. The score includes 11 tracks totaling approximately 24 minutes:
- Alexander the Greatest
- Be Who You Want to Be
- Vacation from Vacation
- Only Weird with You
- She’s All Yours
- One of My Favorite Trips
- I Don’t Deserve You
- You’re My Friend
- Probably Always
- Home
- People We Meet on Vacation
Featured Songs
The film’s curated playlist spans genres and eras, creating distinct moods for each vacation destination:
Road Trip & Early Vacations
- “Nanã” by Polo & Pan
- “Who Says” by Dopamoon feat. Batuk
- “Forever Your Girl” by Paula Abdul (inspires a lively dance scene between Poppy and Alex)
- “That’s How I Got to Memphis” by Tom T. Hall
- “Ani Kuni” by Polo & Pan
- “Hang With Me” by Robyn
Growing Tension & Missed Connections
- “On The Lips” by Frankie Cosmos
- “It All Feels Right” by Washed Out
- “Nantucket Island” by Willie Wright
- “Genesis” by Grimes
- “Bambro Koyo Ganda” by Bonobo feat. Innov Gnawa
- “Esperar Pra Ver” by Evinha
- “I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From” by Kings of Convenience
- “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up (Extended Mix)” by Rebirth Brass Band
Barcelona Reunion & Romantic Moments
- “Hello Hello Hello (Polo & Pan Remix)” by Remi Wolf
- “Take What’s Given” by BADBADNOTGOOD feat. Reggie
- “august” by Taylor Swift (the pivotal will-they-won’t-they moment)
- “Cool About It” by boygenius
- “L-O-V-E (Italian Version)” by Nat King Cole
- “Bella Roma” by Bruno Martino
- “Plage isolée (soleil levant)” by Polo & Pan
Final Act & Resolution
- “When I Get My Hands on You” by The New Basement Tapes (plays during wedding preparations)
- “Stumblin’ In” by CYRIL
- “X’s” by Cigarettes After Sex
- “Higher Ground (Reprise)” by ODESZA feat. Naomi Wild
The Taylor Swift Debate
Emily Henry revealed there was considerable discussion about which Taylor Swift song to include. Director Brett Haley insisted on “august” from Swift’s 2020 album Folklore, and Henry later realized how perfect the choice was. The song plays during a crucial moment in Poppy and Alex’s will-they-won’t-they dynamic, with its themes of fleeting summer romance and longing perfectly mirroring their relationship.
Emily Henry’s Favorite Track
Author Emily Henry cited “When I Get My Hands on You” by The New Basement Tapes as one of her favorite soundtrack choices. The song, featuring lyrics by Bob Dylan and recorded in 2014 by a supergroup including Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, and Jim James, plays during Poppy and Alex’s preparations for his brother’s wedding. Henry described feeling “an immense rush of excitement” whenever the song plays, calling it “alluring and soothing” and capturing “the essence of a vacation with your favorite person.” Music supervisor Season Kent noted this marked the song’s debut in a film, adding emotional weight to the moment.
Paula Abdul’s Dance Scene
Paula Abdul’s “Forever Your Girl” soundtracks a memorable scene where Poppy and Alex dance together while insisting they’re “just friends.” The 1988 pop hit’s upbeat energy contrasts with the growing romantic tension between them, creating dramatic irony as viewers recognize what the characters won’t yet admit.
The complete soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms.
Production Details
- Director: Brett Haley (Hearts Beat Loud, All the Bright Places)
- Screenwriters: Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo
- Based on: “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry (published May 11, 2021)
- Production Companies: Netflix
- Filming Locations: Various international locations including Barcelona, Spain; Squamish, British Columbia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tuscany, Italy
- Release Date: January 9, 2026 (Netflix worldwide)
- Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes
- Rating: PG-13
Why the Friends-to-Lovers Trope Works Here
People We Meet on Vacation succeeds because it earns its central romance through years of genuine friendship. The film doesn’t rush Poppy and Alex together or rely on convenient misunderstandings. Instead, it shows how two people can be perfectly compatible yet terrified of ruining what they already have.
The annual vacation structure allows the audience to witness pivotal moments that shift their dynamic—an injury that requires physical closeness, the awkwardness of bringing romantic partners into their sacred tradition, the accumulation of inside jokes and shared experiences that no one else can understand. By the time they finally admit their feelings, viewers have spent 12 years hoping for it.
Emily Henry noted the importance of establishing them as “platonic best friends who care for one another but aren’t romantically involved” before introducing attraction. This foundation makes their eventual coupling feel inevitable rather than forced, the natural evolution of two people who already know and accept each other completely.
Final Take
People We Meet on Vacation proves that book-to-screen adaptations thrive when filmmakers understand what made the source material resonate. Brett Haley’s decision to maintain the flashback structure honors Emily Henry’s storytelling while leveraging cinema’s visual strengths to showcase exotic locations and intimate moments. Tom Blyth and Emily Bader deliver performances that balance playful chemistry with genuine emotional vulnerability, making Poppy and Alex feel like real people rather than rom-com archetypes. The film reminds audiences that the best love stories aren’t about grand gestures or perfect timing, but about two people brave enough to risk everything comfortable for the possibility of something extraordinary.
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