People We Meet on Vacation may be a lighthearted rom-com, but it’s proving to be polarizing among critics and fans alike.
The movie, which serves as the first book-to-film adaptation for bestselling author Emily Henry, follows Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) as they form an unlikely friendship while driving home from college one year. Realizing they make excellent travel pals, the pair promise to take one vacation each year together no matter the circumstances. But with each trip, their feelings grow more complex, eventually threatening to throw their entire relationship off-kilter.
“It’s surreal,” Henry exclusively told Us Weekly at the film’s Los Angeles premiere in January 2026 of seeing her work come to life on screen. “It’s really cool and magical, but also, I’m just so proud of everybody who worked on [it]. Because this is really their baby. I have the book. I love the book. I’ll always be proud of the book, but they made something really special that I feel like takes the book and then does some new stuff with it too.”
While Henry couldn’t be happier with director Brett Haley’s vision for the movie, fans and critics’ opinions are much more varied. Some thought the adaptation nailed it from start to finish, but others saw the story as underdeveloped, claiming it would have functioned better as a limited series.
Keep scrolling for the best and worst reviews of People We Meet on Vacation:
What Is ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ Rated on Rotten Tomatoes?
The rom-com currently has a 74 percent critic rating at the time of publication, while audience reviews are at 76 percent, making the film “Certified Fresh.”
What Are Critics Saying About ‘People We Meet on Vacation’?
Tom Blyth, Emily Bader Michele K. Short/Netflix © 2026
Despite People We Meet on Vacation having a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many critics have given it less than stellar reviews. The A.V. Club noted that while director Brett Haley and stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader have a “palpable sense of passion” about making the movie the “next breakout romantic hit,” the film ultimately “feels more like ordering a sparkling tropical cocktail and getting served tap water” instead. The outlet added that “unfortunately, all that globe- and time-hopping” Alex and Poppy do on vacation “can’t bulk up a movie so thin it would barely even count as a carry-on.”
Roger Ebert’s Marya E. Gates was even more scathing, calling PWMOV the “latest vapid attempt” at reviving the romantic comedy genre that feels like the filmmakers put When Harry Met Sally, My Best Friend’s Wedding and One Day “in a blender, mixed it with a few scenes from The Notebook but removed any sort of character or world building in the process.”
While the outlet, which rated the film 1.5/5 stars, does note that Haley is typically a strong director in the genre, the review claims he is on “autopilot” here, as are the writers. “On top of the film’s boring visual language, the script, with three writers — Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo — gives the characters very little development,” Gates’ review read.
NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” podcast had kinder words, claiming that it’s a “fine” and “pleasant” watch for a “weekend afternoon” but ultimately loses the things that “made the book special.”
Some outlets did rave about the movie. Screen Rant called it a “wildly entertaining and heartwarming romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of the genre, those who’ve read Henry’s original novel and anyone looking for a date night movie.”
What Are Fans Saying About ‘People We Meet on Vacation’?
Rotten Tomatoes viewers vary across the board in their reviews of People We Meet on Vacation, with some calling it “cringy” and “boring” while others compared it to “a warm cup of tea or coffee in winter morning.”
“People We Meet on Vacation was a great quick romcom,” one RT user wrote. “Both characters had beautiful development both within themselves, but also as they grow from friends to lovers. Though the movie severely differs from the book, it is a great standalone adaptation of the plot. In all, this is a great movie to watch for a good laugh and a sweet love story, but it does differ from the book to which original readers may be upset by.”
Another pointed out the incredible chemistry between leads Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, using a fire emoji to describe their dynamic. “I loooooved the movie,” they exclaimed. “Feel good vibes, super cheesy, I loved it.”
Praise for the film carried over to X, where one user said the film “soars & delights.”
“Despite a few pacing issues, I was giddy, kicking my feet, falling head over heels in love with Emily Bader & Tom Blyth as Poppy and Alex,” the fan added. “Cheers to the tiny fighters who deserve to feel like they’re not too much & worthy of love.”
Others, however, felt the adaptation would have been stronger if made in longer form. The criticism wasn’t so much about what was on screen but what was left out from the novel.
Emily Henry’s first book-to-film adaptation, People We Meet on Vacation, has officially arrived — and it does not disappoint. The movie, which premiered on Netflix Friday, January 9, is based on Henry’s 2021 novel and follows free-spirited, spontaneous Poppy (Emily Bader) and tight-laced, reserved Alex (Tom Blyth) after they connect on a trip home to […]
“Couldn’t shake the feeling that People We Meet on Vacation would have worked better as a series(an episode for every vacation) allowing us more time to fall for Poppy and Alex so the emotional weight felt heavier when needed but still a fun watch!” one person explained.
Another noted, “I watched People We Meet on Vacation and I agree, it needed to be a series. You finish the movie wanting more. There are so many questions unanswered. I need more Poppy and Alex.”
Others found it a perfect watch. “People we meet on vacation was so good like the tension and emotional vulnerability between poppy and alex,” a third person wrote via X. “The movie actually held a candle to the book.”
People We Meet on Vacation is streaming on Netflix now.
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