The Biggest Ways Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation Movie Differs From the Book

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Emily Henry, the author of the popular novel People We Meet on Vacation, didn’t intentionally set out to recreate When Harry Met Sally. However, like the creators of that classic rom-com, she was interested in the question of whether men and women can truly be ‘just friends.’ Now, Netflix is turning Henry’s book—which unintentionally pays tribute to her favorite movie—into a film.

The new streaming adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation mirrors the book’s story, following the 12-year friendship of Poppy Wright, a carefree travel writer (played by Emily Bader), and Alex Nilsen, a kind but anxious teacher (Tom Blyth, known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), through their various vacations together.

Alex and Poppy became friends unexpectedly in college and promised to take a week-long trip around the world together each summer, strictly as friends. The movie jumps between the past and present, showing flashbacks of their adventures. Currently, they haven’t spoken in two years, ever since a tense moment during a trip to Tuscany. Hoping to reconnect, Poppy impulsively books a trip to Barcelona to attend Alex’s brother’s wedding, hoping to convince him to rekindle their friendship.

It’s common for movies based on books to have some differences, and the film version of People We Meet on Vacation is no exception. Here’s a look at how the movie differs from the original book.

Alex and Poppy don’t go on as many vacations 

The story is told through Poppy’s eyes, recounting ten summers she shared with Alex. The filmmakers had to make some changes for the movie—cutting out locations like Nashville and Vail, and merging certain plot events—to keep the runtime manageable. It makes you wonder, though, if this story wouldn’t have been better suited as a longer-form series, similar to One Day on Netflix.

Although some viewers might miss the original setting of Alex and Poppy’s almost-kiss – now moved from Croatia to Tuscany – the movie does give the couple, who usually travel on a shoestring budget in the book, a welcome and luxurious vacation.

The last part of Henry’s book is set in Palm Springs, and let me tell you, it’s a disaster! Everything that could go wrong, did. We’re talking a flat tire on a beat-up rental car, the air conditioning breaking down in scorching heat, a seriously gross pool closure, and almost getting heatstroke trapped inside a cheesy dinosaur attraction on the side of the road. It was wild!

Okay, so in the movie, things don’t go as planned and they end up in Barcelona. There’s this funny bit where Poppy’s hotel A/C is broken, but honestly, it just adds to the heat when she and Alex finally share their first kiss – it makes the moment even more intense!

The movie leans way harder into the comedy

Emily Henry is known for her clever and funny dialogue, reminiscent of Nora Ephron. However, the upcoming movie adaptation aims for the over-the-top, hilarious scenes you’d find in the film Anyone But You.

A messy breakfast burrito provides a funny and memorable moment during Alex and Poppy’s first car ride together, serving as a lighthearted warning against eating while driving. Meanwhile, Poppy’s potential romance with a water taxi driver in Canada is derailed by his striking – and sobering – “remember you must die” tattoo, which reminds Poppy of a difficult family memory. And in New Orleans, a lively dance scene set to Paula Abdul’s “Forever Your Girl” is so good, it rivals the iconic routine from Friends. Tom Blyth proves he’s a surprisingly skilled dancer!

One of the funniest—and most awkward—scenes involves Poppy’s mom (Molly Shannon, who doesn’t get enough screen time) attempting to give her daughter a huge box of condoms while her dad (Alan Ruck from Succession) is explaining ‘the talk’ to Alex, who mistakenly believes they’re discussing a first airplane trip. It’s a truly cringe-worthy moment!

Alex and Poppy’s significant others play a bigger role

The book keeps Poppy’s boyfriends and Alex’s ex-girlfriend, Sarah, in the background. But the movie makes them central to the reason Poppy and Alex struggle to become more than friends.

Love triangles are common in romantic comedies, but this one feels a bit uninspired. The story shows that Alex and Poppy’s hesitation isn’t due to other relationships – it’s simply that they’re both scared to admit how they really feel.

From the beginning of the story, Poppy acknowledges a hidden possibility with Alex. While she mostly sees him as a friend – about 95% of the time – a small part of her wonders ‘what if’ they were more than that. She considers scenarios like kissing, dating, and even the potential heartbreak of a breakup. Ultimately, Poppy decides not to pursue a romantic connection because she fears jeopardizing their friendship and losing him altogether.

This book delves into Poppy’s thoughts and feelings as she struggles with anxiety about her future – both in her relationship with Alex and in her career. Through therapy, self-reflection, and a surprising encounter with someone from her past, she begins to realize why she’s hesitant to commit: she fears she’s too intense for anyone to love long-term.

The movie focuses more on the romance than on Poppy’s inner thoughts and feelings. Like many romantic comedies, it rushes through her personal growth, holding back her most important realizations until a dramatic speech at the end.

The end is slightly different — and very rom-com appropriate

Following a brief romance in Barcelona, Alex became worried that Poppy wasn’t looking for a serious relationship and ended things prematurely. He feared she only saw him as a fun distraction, a temporary escape before she moved on to something better. This made Poppy consider her feelings for Alex, and she realized he was the one person she could truly see a future with.

Similar to the book, the movie concludes with Poppy traveling to Ohio to confess her feelings to Alex, but the film makes her attempt more dramatic. She quits her ideal job as a travel writer for a prominent New York magazine and goes to Alex’s house, only to find he’s out. As she starts to leave, she spots him going for a run, wearing the same high-quality noise-canceling headphones mentioned earlier as a running gag.

She’ll have to actively pursue him, even running to catch up – a classic move seen in romantic comedies, like with Bridget Jones. Poppy is determined to do something she dislikes just to reach him.

After finally finding him on a busy street, she pours out her feelings, echoing lines from the book. Through tears, she tells Alex, “You’re not just a temporary escape for me, you’re where I belong,” and believes she feels the same way to him. The movie then jumps ahead to the following summer, showing Alex and Poppy happily building a life together in New York City. She’s discovered a place where she can truly be herself—she’s finally found home.

So, is it worth watching? 

If you enjoy romantic comedies, People We Meet on Vacation is definitely worth watching. The actors, Bader and Bly, have fantastic chemistry, making the developing relationship between their characters, Poppy and Alex, really engaging. However, it doesn’t quite reach the iconic status of When Harry Met Sally. The movie adaptation simplifies some of the emotional complexity of the original book, leaning more towards comedy than romance. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie – it’s a charming friends-to-lovers story that’s easy to enjoy – but you might feel inspired to revisit the book after watching it.

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2026-01-10 01:08