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 can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong? -

I heard so many good things about this book, and I wanted nothing more than to enjoy it like everyone else. Unfortunately, I didn’t. And I think it might be a me thing. This book has an array of amazing tropes present. Best friends – to – loves? Check! Second chance romance? Check! Summer romance? Check! Slight grumpy sunshine? Check!

Both Poppy and Alex had this rich interesting complicated history between them and for some reason I couldn’t find myself connected to it or find the will to continue. I read half of this book in September, and then finished the rest in October. It felt like there was not enough going on, and the romance wasn’t enough to bring the excitement or entertainment. Sure, the banter was great, but I needed more.

The book is told through flashbacks and present times through the sole POV of Poppy. She was an interesting character. I liked her, and care more about her personal work struggles than I did with her romance with Alex.

And again, I think it’s a me problem- but there was no spark for me. I wanted so badly to devour this one, but that didn’t happen for me.

Final Analysis

People We Meet on Vacation has the material to be a great summer read.

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