People We Meet on Vacation

Poppy is a spontaneous, go-with-the-flow type who treasures summer freedom, while Alex prefers schedules and careful plans. They’ve been close friends for years, taking yearly vacations that serve as a safe place to relax and recharge together. As those trips accumulate, small tensions and unspoken attractions start to surface, and both characters have to reconsider what their friendship means. The film follows their evolving relationship across seasons and destinations, showing how shared history, different temperaments, and life choices complicate a possible romance, without giving away any surprises about how things ultimately turn out.

Directed by Brett Haley, the movie adapts Emily Henry’s novel, with Yulin Kuang and Amos Vernon credited among the creators. The production leans into intimate locations and character moments to translate the book’s tone to the screen.

Audience and critic response has been mixed to favorable, reflected in an average user score near 6.9 out of 10 from early reviewers. Viewers tend to praise the chemistry between Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, while some critics note that portions of the plot follow familiar rom-com patterns. The film highlights themes of timing, communication, and how friendship can shift when people change.

While it hasn’t spawned a major awards conversation, the film has connected with fans of the original novel, prompting discussion online about vacation dynamics and the blurred line between friendship and romance. Social media posts and fan conversations have centered on favorite scenes and the leads’ performances, helping maintain interest beyond release week.

Box office totals haven’t been widely publicized, and its profile seems driven more by streaming availability and word of mouth than by blockbuster ticket sales. The modest commercial footprint hasn’t stopped it from finding an audience among viewers who enjoy character-driven romantic comedies.