Book-to-movie adaptations are known to be very hit or miss for readers, which is why the release of People We Meet on Vacation had Emily Henry fans holding their breath before it quickly topped global Netflix charts. 

The book was originally published in 2021 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller, gaining a wide fanbase in a short amount of time. In 2024, People We Meet on Vacation was announced to be getting a movie adaptation starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader. 

Following its January 2026 release, the movie quickly made its way up the global charts and became the currently most watched movie on Netflix. It received a 74% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76% audience rating.  

The film centers around two friends who take a summer vacation together once a year. Unfortunately, after a trip to Croatia, their friendship takes an unfortunate turn, causing them to lose contact with each other. The story features two timelines as we uncover the events of the past while trying to rekindle their friendship with a final vacation in the present. 

The movie has received mixed feedback, some saying that it lacked originality and was boring, while others say it became one of their favorite movies. Meanwhile, readers are sharing what they think about the adaptation across multiple social media platforms. Though the movie was surprisingly accurate in most ways, many are upset at left out details and tweaked storylines. This has also caused viewers to feel like the film was rushed and that some parts should’ve been prolonged despite having a near two-hour runtime. 

Though this film has seen its successes, it is safe to assume that Emily Henry fans enjoy the book better than the movie and are excited to see what the author has in store for them next.