PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry

Published by Jove New York in 2021

361 pages

ISBN 978-1-9848-0675-8

Grade: 3/5

Genre: Romance

Keywords: USA Ohio, New York; travelling; blogging; friendship, family relationships; school bullying; contemporary love story;

The main character is Poppy, she is living her dream life travelling the world; brought up in Ohio in a loving but somewhat eccentric family; she was bullied in school but escaped to college in Chicago. There she met Alex from a neighbouring town in Ohio, she thought him a nerd and boring. He had been the rock of his family growing up, as his father had been completely paralysed by the death of his wife. Poppy and Alex share a car driving home for the summer holiday and they become very close friends although being complete opposites, she is load and colourful like her family; he quiet and handsome.

During the second year of college Poppy realises that travelling low-cost and blogging about it will be her live purpose and she drops out of college.

‘for me travelling is about wandering, meeting new people you don’t expect, doing things you have never done’ (page 118)

Over time the highlight of Poppy’s year is a one-week holiday with Alex; they are poor students and have to save every cent during the year for a vacation on a budget. Her blog becomes well-known and she was hired by a luxury travel magazine (Rest & Relaxation) to write about glamourous travelling for the very rich. Alex continues his studies finishing a MA and PhD in English literature and starts to teach at the local high school in his hometown. Throughout the book we hear about all their holidays.

They both have different love interests, but always find a way to go on their summer vacation together, but two years ago something happened, and they have not spoken since.

Poppy feels burned out and depressed when her friend Rachel, a colleague and a lifestyle blogger, suggests that Poppy should remember when was the last time she was truly happy. She realizes she has been happy only on the vacations she had with Alex.

Over the ten vacations they enjoyed together, they have changed, grown, so how is it possible to go back to what was?

Can man and woman be friends without a sexual romantic relationship?

On the author: Emily Henry

She graduated 2012 from Hope College, Michigan. She Is a full-time writer. This is her 6th book.

Will I read more by her? Probably not.