The romantic comedy that took the literary world by storm in 2021 is going to make a splash on the small screen. People We Meet on Vacation, by author Emily Henry, is set to become a movie!
Published on May 11, 2021, the book was released to rave reviews, becoming a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller. It even won the GoodReads Choice Awards for Romance in 2021. With such a big following behind it, it’s no wonder it’s getting a movie!
Written by Emily Henry, known for her New York Times best-selling romance novels, People We Meet on Vacation is not her first book to be adapted into a movie. All five of her adult romance books have been optioned for on-screen adaptations, including Happy Place and Book Lovers.
But People We Meet on Vacation will be the first book by the author to be adapted and released. At the time of writing the article, the movie had finished filming, and it’s set for release!
The movie is set to debut in early 2026, and we’re going to break down every piece of information out there so far.
People We Meet on Vacation Movie – Teaser Trailer:
What is the Plot of People We Meet on Vacation Movie?
Since the movie is based on a book, expect the plot to be similar to what you’ve read. There might be some minor changes to condense the book’s plot and fit the movie’s runtime, but the overall plot would remain largely the same.
The book focuses on Poppy and Alex, who couldn’t be more different, but they became best friends after sharing a car ride home from college a few years ago.
While they live apart for most of the year, they do meet every summer and spend a week of vacation with each other. This has been going on for well over a decade, but two years ago, the vacations suddenly stopped, and so did the friendship.
After some time, Poppy reaches out to Alex and asks him to take one more vacation with her, and Alex agrees!
If you haven’t read the book and are unaware of the plot, check out the book’s official synopsis:
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends.
For most of the year, they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she could get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
People We Meet on Vacation Movie Release Date:
The film adaptation was first announced back in 2022, with filming finally beginning in Fall 2024. As of 2025, the film is set to finally premiere on January 9, 2026!
In just a few months, fans of Emily Henry’s books are going to be able to see their beloved movie on the small screen!
Who is the Cast & Crew of the People We Meet on Vacation Movie?
Starring in the lead roles in the film adaptation will be Emily Bader as Poppy Wright and Tom Blyth as Alex Nilsen!
Emily Bader is best known for her work in Amazon Prime’s My Lady Jane as the lead role of Lady Jane Grey. Tom Blyth is most known for the title role in Billy the Kid and Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which was a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy.
Rounding out the cast are Sara Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Lucien Laviscount, Lukas Gage, Miles Heizer, Alice Lee, Tommy Do, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, and Michael A. Newcomer.
Who is Developing the People We Meet on Vacation Movie?
Temple Hill Entertainment and 3000 Pictures are developing the film. Temple Hill Entertainment is best known for producing the Twilight film series, while 3000 Pictures focuses on projects for TV and streaming release.
Netflix is set to distribute the film. So, you will be able to watch the movie exclusively on the streaming platform as soon as it is released!
Directing is Brett Haley, best known for his work on The Hero and Hearts Beat Loud. Screenplay is by Yulin Kuang with Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Isaac Klausner producing.
Should You Read The Book Instead?
If you have made your way here, we are under the impression that you have read People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. But if you are in the minority of those who haven’t read the book, now is the time to do it!
The movie adaptation will be released in January 2026, which is just five months from now!
Do the friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, and one-bed trope sound appealing? Well, if it does, then this is the book for you, and you want to be ready for when the People We Meet on Vacation movie adaptation is officially out!
Upcoming Book Adaptations: