People We Meet on Vacation: Book Review
⭐️2.25/10
Characters 3.5/10
Plot -1.5/10
Setting - 1.5/10
Writing Style -2/10
Caution: Spoilers Below
The People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry (2021). Henry effectively captures the idea of soulmates through the relationship between Poppy and Alex. Despite the amazing theme of soulmates, the large number of recollections did not help readers understand the story or character development. The constant back-and-forth between past and present holidays is confusing. However, there were elements I feel should have been fleshed out further to create greater clarity about the characters and their relationship.
It would be even better if I could see inner conflicts that show the dilemma when making a decision. Although I loved both characters, particularly Alex, because he resonated with me as an older sibling who takes responsibility for caring for others. He is unconsciously thoughtful, consistently placing everyone else’s needs above his own, even when a request would negatively affect him. This selflessness rose to the surface most prominently in the instinctive things he did for Poppy, despite them being only “friends”. In the summer, they travelled to Tuscany with the partners they were seeing at the time, Trey and Sarah, respectively. When Poppy realised she might be pregnant with Trey’s baby, and panic crept in, Alex did not hesitate or question her and went with her to buy a pregnancy test. He waited beside her, spoke calmly to her, and reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Yet Henry didn’t explain why Alex would decide to prioritise a friend and forgo a potential romantic relationship with Sarah. The story only focused on articulating his concern through his words and actions without giving enough description about the emotional dilemma of the choice between friendship and a relationship.
Poppy, on the other hand, also possesses relatable traits, particularly in her struggle with identity and her uncertainty about where—and with whom—she truly belongs. She can be seen as somewhat of an “it girl,” often wanting Alex to be there for her in both good and bad moments. While one can understand her fight to be understood, her behaviour sometimes is not connected to her personality. As a result, her actions could be misinterpreted. For example, why did it take her so long to share her feelings with Alex and string him along? Why was she always throwing herself at him and never really putting herself in Alex’s shoes or understanding his trauma, despite him doing that for her? Furthermore, I admire her growth as she tends to learn about Alex’s own psychological distress as a result of his childhood, and takes the initiative to support him in return. Henry uses the personality change to deliver their value about sense of belongings and suggests that the people who surround you are ultimately what make a place feel like home. However, Henry focused on vacations that did not always seem directly relevant to the progression of Poppy and Alex’s relationship. As a result, there were limited moments in the present timeline for readers to fully understand the characters both individually and together.