witcheslovingwitches's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Grief, Cancer, and Animal death
kmynhier's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Animal death, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
angelfireeast24's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
very spicy book. The character's journey is a moving one. You want to scream to get it together but when characters finally go through self reflection and theapy I found myself feeling it was prefect. Poppy needed to confront herself and find herself. Alex needed to confront his fears. I lovethe open future for them. They are together but where they will live is undecided.Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, Bullying, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Medical content, and Drug use
lisavandonselaar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Pregnancy
2kyr6's review
Minor: Animal death and Grief
chrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
On vacation, you can be anyone you want.
People We Meet on Vacation reminded me how much I love the friends-to-lovers trope. Being friends first is a great foundation for a romantic relationship because you get to know someone deeply as a friend before taking things further.
I loved it, except for the end where I feel a loose thread wasn't tied up: how different Alex and Poppy are.
Spoiler
They differ greatly, particularly on important deal-breakers like having kids (Alex wants them, Poppy doesn't). Alex was right: they don't make sense together. I understand that Alex is willing to do anything for Poppy, as everything (for him) revolves around her, butHowever, I must admit that this book touched me on a personal level. If I had read it five or six years ago, I know I would have made different choices in my life. I would have either waited or chosen a different path. This book was my "what if," my alternate reality, and honestly, it hurts to think about it.
I can confidently say that I'll read anything Emily Henry writes. Although I've only read two of her books so far (and by the way, Beach Read is much better than People We Meet on Vacation and I prefer Gus over Alex by a long shot), I'm eagerly looking forward to reading Book Lovers and Happy Place.
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content
Minor: Death and Death of parent
arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death and Death of parent
abbeyroad1410's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The highlight of People We Meet On Vacation is truly Poppy's character development and growth throughout the story. She comes across as a real person with real problems and insecurities. Yes, her hometown brings back bad memories, but it is where her people are. Yes, her job brings her success but she feels unfulfilled. Acting on feelings for her friend gives her anxiety, and it's taken so long you don't know how it will end.
Additionally, per usual, Emily Henry's male lead is everyone's dream guy. He's soft and understanding and has the maturity some guys lack. Additionally, you see him work on himself throughout the novel.
Of course, this book has it's shortcomings. The biggest one for me was the rapid resolution of various plots. As someone currently dating her long-time friend, even after you admit your feelings there can be this long game of chicken (a part that we didn't get a clear view of but rather a montage). Additionally Alex should have been a lot angrier about the lie that R&R was paying for the trip because it didn't make a lot of sense to lie about. Instead, it felt like Alex was mad for two seconds.
Overall, this book was a wonderful read, and I can't wait for Emily Henry's next novel in Summer 2024.
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Animal death
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Addiction and Animal death
smuttymcbookface's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As usual, Emily Henry creates these complicated, multi-dimensional characters that have such amazing banter and personality development that you can truly imagine a Poppy and an Alex vacationing with each other every summer. The hilarious writing, and unbelievably real picture of two people falling in love meant that you were truly invested in these two finding their happiness together.
Although there were two parts in this story that I typically don't like, which were the main characters being in serious long-term relationships with other people, and a non-linear story progression, I still fell in love with this book. For the other long-term relationships, it worked because you could almost feel the desperate attempts from the characters to find someone who they could love just as much that would also fit into their ideal future, yet you could palpably sense that it was never going to happen with anyone else. For the non-linear story, beyond the first couple of "flashbacks", it became a sweet way to juxtapose the love that was and the love that just can't go away, no matter how hard they try.
All-in-all, this was such an amazing read that I wish I could just continue to learn more and more about their perfectly mundane happiness together, but all books must eventually end.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol