{"id":217089,"date":"2026-01-16T21:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T21:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/why-people-we-meet-on-vacation-is-getting-mixed-reviews-from-fans\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T21:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T21:34:32","slug":"why-people-we-meet-on-vacation-is-getting-mixed-reviews-from-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/why-people-we-meet-on-vacation-is-getting-mixed-reviews-from-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Why People We Meet on Vacation Is Getting Mixed Reviews From Fans"},"content":{"rendered":"


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People We Meet on Vacation<\/em> may be a lighthearted rom-com, but it\u2019s proving to be polarizing among critics and fans alike.<\/p>\n

The movie, which serves as the first book-to-film adaptation<\/a> for bestselling author Emily Henry<\/strong>, follows Poppy (Emily Bader<\/strong>) and Alex (Tom Blyth<\/strong>) 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s surreal,\u201d Henry exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> at the film\u2019s Los Angeles premiere<\/a> in January 2026 of seeing her work come to life on screen. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool and magical, but also, I\u2019m just so proud of everybody who worked on [it]. Because this is really their baby. I have the book. I love the book. I\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Henry couldn\u2019t be happier with director Brett Haley\u2019s<\/strong> vision for the movie, fans and critics\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for the best and worst reviews of People We Meet on Vacation<\/em>:<\/p>\n

What Is \u2018People We Meet on Vacation\u2019 Rated on Rotten Tomatoes?<\/h2>\n

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 \u201cCertified Fresh<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Are Critics Saying About \u2018People We Meet on Vacation\u2019?<\/h2>\n
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\n Tom Blyth, Emily Bader<\/span> Michele K. Short\/Netflix \u00a9 2026<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite People We Meet on Vacation<\/em> having a \u201cFresh\u201d rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many critics have given it less than stellar reviews. The A.V. Club<\/em><\/a> noted that while director Brett Haley and stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader have a \u201cpalpable sense of passion\u201d about making the movie the \u201cnext breakout romantic hit,\u201d the film ultimately \u201cfeels more like ordering a sparkling tropical cocktail and getting served tap water\u201d instead. The outlet added that \u201cunfortunately, all that globe- and time-hopping\u201d Alex and Poppy do on vacation \u201ccan\u2019t bulk up a movie so thin it would barely even count as a carry-on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roger Ebert\u2019s<\/em> <\/a>Marya E. Gates<\/strong> was even more scathing, calling PWMOV<\/em> the \u201clatest vapid attempt\u201d at reviving the romantic comedy genre that feels like the filmmakers put When Harry Met Sally, My Best Friend\u2019s Wedding<\/em> and One Day<\/em> \u201cin a blender, mixed it with a few scenes from The Notebook<\/em> but removed any sort of character or world building in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u201cautopilot\u201d here, as are the writers. \u201cOn top of the film\u2019s boring visual language, the script, with three writers \u2014 Yulin Kuang<\/strong>, Amos Vernon<\/strong> and Nunzio Randazzo<\/strong> \u2014 gives the characters very little development,\u201d Gates\u2019 review read.<\/p>\n

NPR\u2019s \u201cPop Culture Happy Hour<\/a>\u201d podcast had kinder words, claiming that it\u2019s a \u201cfine\u201d and \u201cpleasant\u201d watch for a \u201cweekend afternoon\u201d but ultimately loses the things that \u201cmade the book special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some outlets did rave about the movie. Screen Rant<\/em> called it a \u201cwildly entertaining and heartwarming romantic comedy that\u2019s perfect for fans of the genre, those who\u2019ve read Henry\u2019s original novel and anyone looking for a date night movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Are Fans Saying About \u2018People We Meet on Vacation\u2019?<\/h2>\n

Rotten Tomatoes viewers vary across the board in their reviews of People We Meet on Vacation<\/em>, with some calling it \u201ccringy\u201d and \u201cboring\u201d while others compared it to \u201ca warm cup of tea or coffee in winter morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople We Meet on Vacation<\/em> was a great quick romcom,\u201d one RT user wrote. \u201cBoth 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another pointed out the incredible chemistry<\/a> between leads Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, using a fire emoji to describe their dynamic. \u201cI loooooved the movie,\u201d they exclaimed. \u201cFeel good vibes, super cheesy, I loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Praise for the film carried over to X, where one user said the film \u201csoars & delights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite 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,\u201d the fan added. \u201cCheers to the tiny fighters who deserve to feel like they\u2019re not too much & worthy of love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others, however, felt the adaptation would have been stronger if made in longer form. The criticism wasn\u2019t so much about what was on screen but what was left out from the novel.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Do Poppy and Alex End Up Together in ‘People We Meet on Vacation’?\u00a0<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tEmily Henry\u2019s first book-to-film adaptation, People We Meet on Vacation, has officially arrived \u2014 and it does not disappoint. The movie, which premiered on Netflix Friday, January 9, is based on Henry\u2019s 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 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t shake the feeling that People We Meet on Vacation<\/em> 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!\u201d one person explained.<\/p>\n

Another noted, \u201cI watched People We Meet on Vacation<\/em> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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