Netflix has released 'People We Meet on Vacation,' the first film adaptation of a novel by bestselling author Emily Henry. Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as best friends Poppy and Alex, the romantic comedy follows their annual summer trips and eventual reunion at a family wedding in Barcelona. Directed by Brett Haley, the movie draws comparisons to 'When Harry Met Sally' for its friends-to-lovers storyline.
'People We Meet on Vacation' premiered on Netflix on January 9, 2026, marking the first screen adaptation of Emily Henry's popular romance novels, with three others still in development. The story centers on Poppy Wright, a free-spirited travel writer from New York, and Alex Nilsen, a routine-loving academic based in Ohio. Both hail from the fictional town of Linfield, Ohio, and first meet awkwardly during a carpool ride home from Boston College, sparking a tense but enduring friendship.
Over nine years, Poppy and Alex embark on annual summer vacations to destinations including New Orleans, Tuscany, the Canadian wilderness, and Squamish, British Columbia. These trips highlight their opposites-attract dynamic, filled with spontaneous adventures like a pretend engagement for free beignets and a vibrant dance scene choreographed by Maya Taylor. The film employs a dual timeline, interweaving flashbacks of their past escapades with the present, where they reunite after two years of silence for Alex's brother David's wedding in Barcelona. David is played by Miles Heizer.
Emily Bader brings comedic genuineness and expressiveness to Poppy, while Tom Blyth portrays Alex's rigid personality with subtle warmth, creating strong on-screen chemistry. Supporting cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook as Alex's long-term girlfriend Sarah, Lucien Laviscount, Lukas Gage as water-taxi driver Buck, Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck as Poppy's parents, Jameela Jamil, Tommy Do, and Alice Lee. The screenplay by Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, and Nunzio Randazzo adapts Henry's book faithfully, though it simplifies some miscommunications from the novel.
Reviews praise the film's lighthearted tone, humor, and needle-drop soundtrack featuring Robyn's 'Hang With Me' and Paula Abdul's 'Forever Your Girl,' with a score by Keegan DeWitt. Directed by Brett Haley, the 117-minute PG-13 movie offers sunny escapism, though some note its predictability. At the Los Angeles premiere, Sarah Catherine Hook, known for roles in 'The White Lotus' and 'First Kill,' expressed joy in her rom-com debut: 'I’m so happy to be here, to be a mellow girl on screen, not screaming or crying.' The film sets a high bar for future Henry adaptations, providing comforting satisfaction in its predictable yet charming resolution.
