Review of People We Meet on Vacation By Emily Henry

 People We Meet on Vacation By Emily Henry 

"Like we're two magnets trying desperately to draw together." p 251

    Look, I LOVED Beach Read (Henry's first book), and somehow the moment I knew she was coming out with a new book I just knew I would love this one too! And I did, boy did I love this book! Especially since we are all pretty much stuck inside of the house this book is exactly what I needed! On the surface, this book is about vacations and the people we meet on those vacations. But inside it's about the connections we make, the experiences that change us, and knowing what roots us when we are off traveling. We meet Poppy and Alex two friends who met ten plus years prior at their freshman year of college and have stayed glued to each other since. Poppy is loud, colorful, and unexpected while Alex is practical, logical, and ordered; they could not be more different but somehow that doesn't matter and their friendship grows to this amazing understanding and firm connection. Every year the two venture on a vacation around the states and world and it's in these moments they form unbreakable bonds. But after one bad vacation, the two have gone two years without speaking. Poppy as she reevaluates her life she realizes how much Alex is essential to her life and plans a new vacation with him that could make or break their friendship. 

    What I loved about this novel was that we really got to know and understand their friendship. I feel as though the friends to lover trope is hard because it's hard to make it feel authentic but Henry does this so well it almost feels like I've known these two for the full ten years. I think she's able to do this because as we go through this new current vacation we get intense looks at vacations from the past and learn why they make such good friends, and we learn their inside jokes and their problems and how they go about growing as people. This is really done so well honestly. Both Poppy and Alex are such relatable people I would honestly love to go get a drink with them or maybe go on vacation with them! One of the many things I loved about this was that it was a rom-com but at its core, it was also a coming of age novel for both Alex and Poppy. I really will be thinking about this novel for a few more days. I can't say enough good things about it, go read it! 

Stand out quote: 

"Maybe things can always get better between people who want to do a good job loving each other." P310

Some questions to ponder: 

1. What is it about vacations that make people act differently than their daily lives?
2. Why does it take so long for Poppy and Alex to understand their feelings for each other? 
3. On P. 181 Poppy reads one of Alex's stories, what do you think Alex is alluding to in the story and why does Poppy react the way she does? 
4. On P. 218 -219, Poppy and Alex discuss being alone and feeling lonely, what points do they make, and do you agree or disagree with them? 
5. How do you think they are handling quarantine right now? 

Don't forget to pick up BEACH READ if you haven't it's just as good! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

-MDB