Book vs. Movie Review: People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry’s first adapted novel (EEP!! And hopefully not the last!) comes with its highs and lows, quirks and charms. Most of all, though, I’m here to tell you about all of the differences I spotted with the book vs. the move for People We Meet on Vacation. Check out my full list below!
Book/Movie Information
Poppy (Emily Bader) has felt stuck for the past two years. She’s in a job that she thought she loved in New York City, but she just doesn’t feel happy. So when she gets reminded about a wedding she’s supposed to attend for her ex-best friend’s, Alex’s (Tom Blyth), brother, she isn’t sure if she should stay home or just go. But Alex is where things all started to go wrong for her. With alternating scenes between what happened in the past with Alex and what’s happening with him in the present, People We Meet on Vacation shows Poppy at her most vulnerable as she tries to discover what is most important to her.
Book Review | Heidi Dischler
Movie Review | Heidi Dischler
Book vs. Movie (The Differences)
So, People We Meet on Vacation is probably my second least favorite of Emily Henry’s books. Book Lovers is probably my least favorite for sure. Happy Place? My number one favorite. Without further ado, I’ll tell you all the differences between Emily Henry’s first adaptation below!
Here comes major spoilers so don’t go any further if you still need to read the book or watch the movie!!!
Minor Differences:
- Palm Springs gets changed to Barcelona (making it much easier for Poppy to pass it off as a “work” trip when talking to Alex.
- Alex only has one brother in the movie, but actually has three (ish?) in the book.
- Alex doesn’t have a cat 🥲.
- Alex doesn’t lose his clothes skinny dipping in the book. I guess it was added for more dramatic flair?
- You also don’t see Poppy’s siblings in the movie.
MAJOR DIFFERENCES:
- The When Harry Met Sally roadtrip home to Ohio is VERY overdrawn. They end up staying in a motel with only one bed (Alex sleeps on the floor), and they have a series of unfortunate events while on the road. Traffic, locked out of the car, etc. I feel like they were trying to make you connect more with the characters and give them a meet cute, but the book was just fine without all of that tropey nonsense.
- A LOT of the travel destinations get cut. I don’t remember them going to New Orleans (but they do in the movie), and a lot of the other destinations aren’t in the movie as well. Which, yes, I get that there are time constraints, but I feel like it really took away from Alex and Poppy’s buildup in their relationship.
- Poppy is not the one who reaches out to Alex about the wedding in the movie. Alex’s brother reaches out to Poppy to remind her that she has to come. Only then does Poppy reach out to Alex in the movie. This felt like it cheapened the reunion between the two of them because in the book, Poppy wanted to rekindle their friendship, so she was the one reaching out. Alex invited her to the wedding as a result.
- Alex doesn’t propose to Sarah in the books. Just in the movie (again, this move feels like it cheapens the relationship between Poppy and Alex).
- Poppy legit goes to therapy in the book for weeks before running (not literally in the book) to Alex to tell him that she loves him. I think this adds more to her character development, but I guess it didn’t make for a quick or satisfying enough ending for viewers.
So, this is all I can really remember since it’s been a while since I read the book. I think a lot of the decisions the writers/directors made kind of cheapened the relationship between Alex and Poppy because in the book, they were actively making decisions to be together (if only as friends). In the movie, it felt like things were passively happening to them to push them back to each other.
Anywayyy, I still really liked the movie when I looked at it by itself and not as an adaptation. I think it’s a decent romcom, but definitely can’t live up to the likes of its references (*cough cough* When Harry Met Sally).
