Review | Romantic comedy goals meet fiction in ‘People We Meet on Vacation’

TikTok's book community gawks over romance novels, with “People We Meet on Vacation” being a fan-favorite. Photo illustration by SIMRAH AHMAD, Staff Photographer

Any romantic comedy fanatic worth their salt knows the one film that should be adorned with affection, heart-eye emojis and rose petals thrown at its feet: "When Harry Met Sally."

Directed by Nora Ephron, the 1989 film features two characters, played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, that begin their relationship with hatred and sarcasm but transform into lifelong friends that fall in love. Though the 80s classic fits the trope of flirtatious friends turning into gag-worthy lovers, "When Harry Met Sally" interprets that formula in its own comedic fashion and turns the movie into delightful bliss.

One would assume the odds of something being as great as "When Harry Met Sally" is zero to none, but author Emily Henry has other plans.

Henry was able to authentically write a story that emulates the love and adoration people have for "When Harry Met Sally" in her second book "People We Meet on Vacation." Not only did Henry admit in the Reader's Guide at the end of her book that "When Harry Met Sally" is her favorite movie (and why wouldn't it be?), but she also stressed that the film is the inspiration for the story in her latest book, even though it wasn't her immediate intention.

"When I started 'People We Meet on Vacation', I didn't set out to write a homage to one of my favorite romantic comedies," Henry wrote in the Reader's Guide found at the end of the book. "But perhaps it was Ephron who left this indelible mark on me, planted a seed of ardent appreciation for characters who grate and irritate and infuriate, until the moment they suddenly don't. Not only because they've changed, but because you've begun to see the full picture of who they are. And that was what I set out to write in this book."

So, if you're a die-hard of rom-coms and tend to think you are just as high-maintenance as Ryan’s character Sally Albright in the 1989 film, then "People We Meet on Vacation" is the perfect parallel for your literary side. 

The book focuses on Poppy and Alex, who both meet in college at the University of Chicago, following the footsteps of Harry and Sally. After carpooling back to their home state of Ohio together during a break from school, they instantly bond over their quirks and sarcastic jokes about each other's taste in music. 

The fact that Poppy and Alex even become friends in the first place is miraculous. Poppy aspires to travel the world and move as far away as possible from her small town. Conversely, Alex enjoys the familiarity of their hometown; he spends his days wearing khakis and cuddling up with his cat Flannery O'Connor. 

After college, Poppy moves to New York City and begins a career at a travel magazine while Alex remains in Ohio as a teacher. However, they always get together each summer for a fabulous vacation. Each chapter flashbacks to their previous adventures in the last ten years, up until their last vacation in Croatia where their relationship crumbles. 

Several years after Croatia, Poppy feels an emptiness in her life and pleads with Alex to go on one more vacation together in Palm Springs. Throughout the book the reader is wondering: will Poppy and Alex rekindle their friendship or will something else emerge?

As is the case with any rom-com, the reader possesses a sixth-sense that the two main characters will eventually fall in love, with lots of flirtation and teasing along the way. A touch of steaminess seems to be a common thread in most rom-com books, which have been trending all thanks to TikTok. 

The book-worm side of TikTok, also known as BookTok, is where readers find their next page-turner. Most users post content relating to romance books like "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover, "Red White & Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston and of course Emily Henry's "People We Meet on Vacation" as well as her debut novel "Beach Read."

Not only has BookTok helped many people, including me, get back into reading for fun, but it has also helped the print book market increase by 9% in the past year. Many bookstores like Barnes & Noble cater to this niche side of TikTok by having a section in the store dedicated to BookTok. 

If I'm being honest, the reason I picked up "People We Meet on Vacation" this past July was because I thought the title was very appropriate for summer, and I liked how vibrant the cover looked. Little did I know, I would be reading a book parallel in so many ways to my favorite movie. 

Of course, the book was appropriate for summer vacation, but it also helped that the storyline made me feel like I was watching a modern day version of "When Harry Met Sally," gushing at every chapter.

One of the most heartwarming discussions in this book is when Poppy suddenly realizes it's not where you are, but who you are with that makes it feel like home. Whether it's Alex traveling for hours just to be with Poppy when she is sick or all of the inside jokes they share with one another, the bond between these two characters deserves an A plus.