A long-awaited novel-to-film adaptation, People We Meet on Vacation, finally hits our screens on January 9, 2026. Starring the story’s two protagonists, Emily Bader as Poppy Wright and Tom Blythe as Alex Nilsson, it follows the relationship between two very different people who are meant for each other but find all ways to not be together. The original work was written by Emily Henry.
The story of the people we meet on holidays
The story is based on the lives of free-spirited Poppy, who is a travel blogger and writer for a popular magazine, and Alex, who is an English teacher at the local school in a small town. One is adventurous and the other is the complete opposite. Over the course of several summer vacations together, they realize how he brings belonging to her life, and she brings joy, and that despite how different their lives may be, they are right for each other.
The people we meet after the holidays are over
As Alex breaks up with his longtime girlfriend, Sarah, and finally admits to himself that Poppy may have been one of the reasons it never worked out with him, he wants to be with his best friend. The two meet at his brother David’s wedding and confess their undying love, they get into an argument over how their completely different lifestyles could never be in favor of their relationship, and go their separate ways. She says a world-travelling life awaits him, while he wants to settle down and have a family. There are differences of opinion among them and no one is ready to accept defeat.
Poppy’s unexpected meeting with Sarah helps clear her mind about her relationship with Alex and makes her realize that, despite saying she never wanted a permanent address, she did not like the frustration of always being alone. Ultimately, she decides that her feelings for Alex are bigger than she imagined and she begins to pursue him and demands that they get together.
The two make plans for a future together, and the film ends with them living in their own place in New York, where they each pursue their dreams. They look at the bigger picture and think about the other person in their relationship while also trying to stay true to themselves as much as possible.
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