Is ‘The People We Meet on Vacation’ worth a watch?

Netflix’s latest rom-com splash, The People We Meet on Vacation, has bookworms and binge-watchers buzzing since its January 2026 drop. Adapted from Emily Henry‘s bestseller, it follows free-spirited travel writer Poppy (Emily Bader) and her buttoned-up bestie Alex (Tom Blyth) as they navigate annual getaways laced with unspoken sparks. Early reviews are a mixed bag—some hail it as a sunny escape, others dub it forgettable fluff. But is this friends-to-lovers tale worth streaming? Let’s unpack the hype.

A mixed bag of vibes

Critics are split on The People We Meet on Vacation, with outlets like The Hollywood Reporter praising its warm, sunny escape that captures the friends-to-lovers charm of Emily Henry’s novel. Emily Bader and Tom Blyth shine as Poppy and Alex, bringing genuine chemistry to their annual trips, making it a cozy watch for rom-com enthusiasts craving lighthearted banter.

On the flip side, reviews from The Guardian and Roger Ebert call it a dull, charmless retread of better films, lacking the spark to elevate beyond forgettable fluff. The glossy production feels bizarrely limp, they say, failing to resurrect the formula with fresh energy despite the bestseller’s hype.

Ultimately, whether The People We Meet on Vacation is worth your queue depends on your mood—if you’re in for undemanding escapism with buzzy leads, it delivers. Book fans might find it faithful yet stumbling on deeper themes, per Plugged In, but casual viewers could skip without missing much.

Book vs screen showdown

Diving deeper into The People We Meet on Vacation, the Netflix adaptation stays true to Emily Henry’s novel, per author insights on Tudum, with tweaks to amplify visual escapism like vibrant travel locales. Fans of the book appreciate how it captures Poppy and Alex’s slow-burn tension, though some dialogue feels streamlined for pacing.

However, outlets like The Everygirl question if the movie surpasses the source, noting it amplifies rom-com tropes but loses nuanced emotional layers from the page. Emily Bader’s bubbly Poppy shines, yet Tom Blyth’s Alex comes off stuffier on screen, making their dynamic less electric than in Henry’s prose.

Audience buzz on X echoes this divide—book lovers rave about the faithful vibes and chemistry, calling it a worthy watch for cozy nights, while casual viewers find it skippable fluff. If you’re invested in the original story, stream it; otherwise, the book’s richer depth might satisfy more.

Hype meets reality

Diving into the latest buzz around The People We Meet on Vacation, Netflix’s 2026 rom-com has racked up an IMDb rating of 7.1, blending travel escapism with heartfelt moments. Directed by Brett Haley, it showcases Emily Bader’s vibrant Poppy and Tom Blyth’s grounded Alex, drawing from Emily Henry’s novel to explore opposites-attract dynamics amid exotic locales.

Recent reviews highlight its strengths: The Hollywood Reporter lauds the warm, sunny vibe as a perfect romantic escape, with the leads’ chemistry sparking genuine laughs. Yet, Rotten Tomatoes aggregates mixed scores, as some critics note it coasts on charm without innovating the genre, echoing sentiments from Roger Ebert’s take on its limp execution.

For viewers pondering if The People We Meet on Vacation merits a spot in your queue, it shines for light-hearted fans seeking undemanding fun, per audience posts on X. If deeper emotional resonance is your jam, the book might edge it out, but this adaptation offers breezy entertainment worth sampling on a lazy evening.

Final verdict vibes

Wrapping up the chatter on The People We Meet on Vacation, Netflix’s rom-com clocks in with solid viewership spikes post-launch, per streaming metrics, proving its pull for fans of Emily Henry‘s world. The film’s globe-trotting backdrops add visual pop, but it’s the leads’ easy rapport that keeps things afloat amid formulaic beats.

Digging into whether The People We Meet on Vacation earns its watchlist spot, it thrives as breezy escapism for those nursing a rom-com itch, with Emily Bader’s effervescent Poppy stealing scenes. Yet, per The New York Times, its forgettable sheen might leave deeper cravings unmet, favoring surface charm over emotional heft.

In the end, stream The People We Meet on Vacation if you’re after a low-stakes charmer with travel inspo and friends-to-lovers tropes done decently—it’s worth it for cozy nights. Skip if you seek innovation; the book’s richer layers, as noted in author chats, often outshine this sunny but slight adaptation.Worth the stream?

Ultimately, The People We Meet on Vacation delivers cozy rom-com vibes for fans craving light escapism, with its leads’ chemistry and travel allure making it a solid pick for casual viewing. But if you’re seeking fresh twists or emotional depth, the mixed reviews suggest skipping in favor of Henry’s novel—it’s worth a watch only if fluff fits your mood.