People We Meet On Vacation’s Emily Henry Revealed One Scene From Her Book That She Really Wanted In The Movie (And It Wasn’t What I Expected)

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Beware, this contains spoilers for the book People We Meet On Vacation! If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it streaming on Netflix.

The movie version of People We Meet On Vacation definitely takes some liberties with the book, but I still think it’s a beautiful and respectful adaptation of Emily Henry’s novel. Despite the changes, the characters of Alex and Poppy remain true to their book counterparts, and many scenes are directly lifted from the pages. I was curious to know which scenes Emily Henry prioritized for this Netflix adaptation, and her answer was unexpected.

Before the movie adaptation of People We Meet On Vacation comes out on Netflix in 2026, I spoke with author Emily Henry about the process. As a big fan of the book, I was eager to discuss how the movie differs from the original story. When I asked her if there were any elements from the book that absolutely had to be included, she shared the two lists she gave to the director.

We had two lists of things to include. One reflected what fans really wanted, and the other was what I personally wanted. The fan list was much more detailed and specific – it considered how much certain moments and lines meant to people, even to the point of being tattooed on them! Ultimately, decisions were made to prioritize and honor the audience who had supported us all along.

That background is important because Henry then shared a memorable scene from the movie. It happens early on, just before Alex and Poppy head to Squamish for their first real adventure together. The scene involves Poppy’s parents – played by Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck – and a large box of condoms that her mom tries to give her. It’s a genuinely funny moment, brilliantly performed by Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, and really showcases the comedic talents of Shannon and Ruck.

Henry explained the reasoning behind the scene where Poppy’s mother gives her a large box of condoms, stating:

I also had specific scenes I really wanted to include. The condom scene was a favorite of mine to write, though I understood it wasn’t essential to the plot. I was really happy Brett managed to keep it in, especially after Molly and Alan agreed to join the project. We also felt it was important to give Poppy’s parents some strong moments on screen, so we made sure to prioritize that.

I spoke with Yulin Kuang, one of the movie’s screenwriters, and she confirmed the author had created two lists. She also mentioned the lists were very brief, and the scene Henry referred to during their discussion was the one involving condoms. Kuang then continued with:

I was really surprised by Emily’s answer. During our first meeting, I asked her if there was one specific moment from the book she absolutely wanted to include in the movie. She immediately said, ‘The condom scene.’

I understand Henry’s point that the scene isn’t crucial to the main storyline, but I think it’s really important for developing the characters. Poppy’s mom giving her the condoms reveals a lot about their dynamic, and Alex’s reaction and conversation with her dad perfectly highlight his awkwardness. It’s also a genuinely funny scene in both the book and the movie. I was surprised Henry prioritized this scene over others that are more central to the plot, but I appreciate her dedication to making this moment really stand out.

I’m so glad Emily Henry insisted on keeping that scene! You can now watch the highly-rated movie, People We Meet On Vacation, on Netflix.

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2026-01-15 02:08