Netflix adapts Emily Henry’s 2021 bestseller People We Meet on Vacation into a sun-soaked rom-com, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth as best friends Poppy and Alex. The friends-to-lovers tale follows their decade of summer trips, tested by unspoken feelings after a Croatia fallout. Trailers tease vibrant vacations, heartfelt confessions, and slow-burn chemistry premiering January 9, 2026.
Release Details
The film hits Netflix exclusively on January 9, 2026, directed by Brett Haley (Hearts Beat Loud). Temple Hill and 3000 Pictures produce, with screenwriter Yulin Kuang capturing the book’s witty banter and emotional depth. Official teaser and full trailer dropped in September and December 2025, showcasing Palm Springs escapades and rainy revelations.
Cast Highlights
Emily Bader embodies free-spirited travel writer Poppy Wright, opposite Tom Blyth (Billy the Kid) as structured teacher Alex Nilsen. Supporting turns include Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Lukas Gage (You), Molly Shannon (SNL), and more for ensemble vacation vibes. Henry praised the duo: “Readers will fall in love with Poppy and Alex.”
Plot Synopsis
Poppy and Alex, opposites from college carpool days, reunite annually despite New York-Ohio distance—Croatia beaches, Palm Springs pools, until a kiss fractures their bond. Two years silent, Poppy schemes a final trip to fix them, confronting fears of change amid therapy insights and mutual admissions. Flashbacks weave past adventures, questioning if friendship masks romance everyone sees.
Production Buzz
Announced in 2022, filming wrapped by mid-2025 after script tweaks Henry calls fan-pleasing “differences.” Haley emphasizes vacation immersion over mere love story, aligning with Henry’s reader-first ethos. As Netflix’s first Henry adaptation, it rides Beach Read hype, promising escapist highs for rom-com devotees.
