Romance books frequently inhabit the silent realms of contemplation, reluctance, and poignant hypothetical situations. It’s never simple to translate that level of intimacy to the screen, particularly when the narrative is motivated by both enormous gestures and internal strife. People We Meet on Vacation, Netflix’s adaptation of Emily Henry’s wildly successful novel, takes on that problem.
Emily Bader plays the free-spirited travel journalist Poppy Wright in the movie, while Tom Blyth plays the wary and tense schoolteacher Alex Nilsen. Similar to the book, the story follows the couple over a period of more than ten years as they take one annual vacation together and gradually come to understand that their friendship might be something more. However, a number of significant modifications alter how their plot develops as they go from page to screen.
These are the main differences between the novel and the Netflix adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation.
Fewer trips and a tighter timeline
In her book, Emily Henry recounts ten summers of travel, each of which reveals a new aspect of Poppy and Alex’s relationship. Because the entire narrative is recounted from Poppy’s perspective, readers are able to sit with her doubts, ideas, and developing emotions.
This structure is greatly condensed in the film. To keep the plot flowing, a number of sites are eliminated or combined; Nashville and Vail, for example, are no longer included in the timeline. The couple’s kiss, which now takes place in Tuscany rather than Croatia, is one of the significant emotional events that are integrated. The film’s streamlined style maintains the emphasis on momentum rather than introspection, even though it still jumps between the past and present.
Barcelona replaces Palm Springs
Everything goes wrong in Palm Springs during one of the book’s most dramatic scenes. Poppy and Alex are forced to face their unresolved emotions in awkward ways due to broken air conditioning during a heatwave, a terrible hotel stay, and near medical problems.
In the movie, a vacation to Barcelona takes the place of this tumultuous episode. The scene is far more romantic and elegant, but the emotional stakes are still very high. The transition point feels smoother and more cinematic as the emphasis moves from spiraling errors to physical chemistry and emotional tension.
Comedy takes centre stage
Emily Henry’s subtle humor is based on incisive conversation and awkward pauses. The comedy in the film is louder, more visual, and usually romantic. A number of scenes, such as food-related blunders and exaggerated misunderstandings, are reworked to make people laugh. Additionally, supporting characters contribute more to the humor. Expanded scenes with Poppy’s parents, portrayed by Molly Shannon and Alan Ruck, provide humor but detract from the poignant hook that made Henry’s novel so beloved.
Romantic rivals matter more on screen
The various relationships between Poppy and Alex are mostly peripheral to the plot of the book. Poppy’s boyfriends and Alex’s long-term partner Sarah are not the real reasons the two remain friends. Fear, especially the fear of losing each other, is their greatest challenge.
By placing more emphasis on these love partners, the film veers toward a more recognizable romantic comedy format. Whereas the book concentrated more on internal reluctance, they become more obvious obstacles to Poppy and Alex’s romance.
Poppy’s inner conflict is simplified
The way Poppy’s personal journey is handled is one of the biggest distinctions. Her anxiety about being too much, her dread of settling down, and her doubt about what she truly wants from her relationships and job are all extensively explored in the book. Her development is mostly dependent on therapy and introspection. A large portion of this contemplation is condensed in the film. Instead of being steadily explored, Poppy’s emotional realization is mostly saved for her final speech. The outcome is a character arc that is less nuanced but more obvious.
In both versions, Poppy travels to Ohio in order to finally express her feelings to Alex. But the drama is heightened in the movie. When Poppy shows up after quitting her ideal job, she finds Alex going for a run while sporting noise-canceling headphones that remind her of a previous joke. A traditional romantic comedy chase and confession ensues. In a quote taken almost verbatim from the novel, Poppy says that Alex is home to her rather than a holiday. After then, the movie jumps ahead to show the couple starting a new life in New York, providing a tidy and gratifying ending.
