Is "People We Meet on Vacation" Worth the Hype?

As someone who is always up to date on movie adaptations of books, People We Meet on Vacation (2026) immediately caught my attention. As an avid fan of Emily Henry and her work, I went into this with high hopes yet a slight worry. I typically love the books more than the movies, especially with the details you can imagine on your own. Plus, there are plenty of ways to accidentally mess up a story that has already been written. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this film. As a film student, I found the color grading and on-screen chemistry beautiful. The way this film was put together and edited truly holds a special place in my heart. This is the type of film that, even if you haven't read the book, you can truly love the movie.

For those of you who haven't heard of this movie, it follows two best friends who travel the world together every summer. Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader) are two complete opposites who had a friendship breakup. We are taken through the present and their past – through flashbacks – helping to build the characters and their relationship with one another. The whole time, you are rooting for these two friends to mend their friendship... or get together romantically.

When viewed as a whole, it is a romantic and beautiful movie. The cinematography, colors, acting, chemistry, and more all go together in a gorgeous harmony. I have missed classic romcoms, which I feel haven't been the same in a few years. This film has something that I have not seen in many modern movies: color. There is so much color throughout the film, giving it a nostalgic feel. I was entranced by the movie's visual beauty; the nature, outfits, colors, and more all went hand in hand.

Now, let's move away from the technical aspects and focus on the actors' performance. I have never seen Emily Bader act before, and, safe to say, she embodied Poppy in the most charismatic way. I could tell she truly loved playing this role, easily slipping into Poppy's outgoing, ambitious self. Tom Blyth also did a glorious job. I have never seen him in a romance film, but he is great at it. He played a perfect Alex, showing his character development from his awkwardness to his growth after befriending Poppy. These two actors have some of the best on-screen chemistry I have seen in a long time. You can tell they had a fun time filming this movie together, even in some of the silly scenes that gave us the funny moments between friends.

Comparing the movie to the book, I have a somewhat biased opinion. I always believe, no matter what, that the book will always be better than the movie. Reading always provides you with much more detail to the story than movies can achieve. I understand that some major parts of the story were left out of the movie, which has upset some fans. I think that if they were going to make an adaptation of a book, it should be a show and not a movie. A show would allow the production to go in depth with the story, while a movie tries to fit all the important elements into a set amount of time.

Despite my bias, I believe People We Meet on Vacation is worth all the hype and attention it is receiving. It is a wonderfully made movie that is heartwarming to watch. Watching this with friends or a partner will elevate the experience like it did for me. It is an adorable film with a cute story, even if it is not as perfect as the book. I would recommend everyone to give this movie a chance, especially if you enjoy the classic romantic comedy!