Right, so where to start?

This book was disappointing, especially considering how amazing ‘Beach Read’ was.

I don’t want to spend a lot of time on this but the biggest gripes were the lack of connection?

Our main characters really did not get on… at all. The relationship just felt forced. They didn’t get on or like each other as people. There were too many times, I had to re-read a line because I genuinely couldn’t believe this was the pairing the book was pushing.

Like…. WHY?

It’s not by force, right? WHY?!

The other issue was with the flashbacks. My God. They were so disorientating and were more filler chapters than anything else. I really didn’t understand what purpose they served to really constitute being a whole chapter?!

This book had redeeming parts, the steamy scenes were great. Really good. Then they would end, and so would the connection between the characters…

Just really disappointed overall, but I can understand no book would live up to 'Beach Read'.

3.5 rounded up.

This is a sort of Harry met Sally but substituting when Poppy met Alex. Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen have been friends for a while and take vacations together. Poppy works for a travel magazine and Alex is a teacher in their home town in Ohio. The story is told in varying holiday timelines from twelve years ago to now.

Having loved Beach Read I eagerly anticipated this one. However, although I like it, it doesn’t resonate as much as the previous book. The characters are very different to each other with Poppy coming across more strongly. She is very likeable, you feel her tipsy turvy emotions throughout the book which feels authentic, real and relatable. Their relationship comes across well with all the accompanying ups and downs of a genuine friendship, they’re flawed as people are. I really like the premise which is heartwarming in that it’s about finding your emotional and actual home. The dialogue is good, I like the banter between them and there is good use of humour. Since we are Covid home bound one of the best aspects is holidaying vicariously with Poppy and Alex and them walking along the Golden Gate Bridge brought back some wonderful holiday memories for which I’m really grateful! I like the ending, it feels right and we get there eventually.

However, this is a slow burner friends to lovers situation and it takes a while to immerse yourself in. Although you can visualise Poppy very easily it’s a less clear picture with Alex who isn’t as well developed. Is it just me, or is he a tiny bit on the dull side? The estrangement between their friendship which is sort of dangled in front of you in a tantalising way is a bit of a let down and doesn’t feel like much of a big deal. The zipping backwards and forwards in time gets a bit wearing and I just wanted to get in with the ‘Now’!

Overall, although I didn’t connect as well as to Beach Read it’s still an enjoyable book which takes you out of yourself and transports you to some lovely places for a while.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the arc for an honest review.

I'm afraid I was really disappointed by this book. I ADORED Beach Read and for me this fell so short of Henry's debut. It's nice romantic escapism but it's not a great deal more than that - perfect for romance lovers but I felt it lacked the depth that made Beach Read so special. I'm not sure the style, with changing timelines and multiple throwbacks, helped with becoming invested in the characters. I wanted to know so much more about Alex but I feel like we only really skimmed the surface with both characters.

Things I loved:
- The travel inspiration via Poppy and Alex's holidays and Poppy's writing.
- The families of both the main characters are wonderful, richly written and make you want to be part of their crew.
- The author's note at the end of the book.

I'm keen to see whether other people feel the same way, or whether I'm quite possibly the anomaly with this one. The cover is utterly gorgeous though and I would watch the movie/TV edition in a heart beat!

Alex and Poppy met 12 summers ago at college, with little in common, they vow to go their separate ways. A year later, when forced to share a ride home from college together, an unlikely friendship forms and a sworn promise to have a vacation together every year. Their annual vacations are filled with laughter, tender moments and everything in between. There is effortless wit, some laugh-out-loud moments, but also a simmering love and tension between the pair that you find yourself rooting for.

Told through a series of flashbacks to holidays gone by, we see the story through Poppy's perspective in the present day, where whilst working as a travel writer she is thinking about her life and happiness. Each flashback fills in a little piece of the jigsaw and builds the foundation of her and Alex's friendship in a simmering slow burn. There is an excellent dynamic between the pair - Poppy is more adventurous, hyperactive and quick-witted, whereas Alex is more bookish, demure and dedicated. Their interactions are perfection, there's a good mix of tit-for-tat where they're on the same level and can be their true authentic selves with one another.

It has all the best elements from a classic rom-com rolled into one - you've got enemies to friends/maybe lovers, a flickering timeline with an incident that shaped their whole friendship dynamic that you just haven't discovered yet, and some saccharine cute moments (plus a balcony sex scene)- to be frank, it was the best. You've got some iconic tropes including 'there's only one bed', an incredible amount of pining, witty banter, SEXUAL TENSION APLENTY, and some will-they-won't-they moments, all of which just made me tear through it so much quicker.

This is a wonderful story, which Emily Henry relates to When Harry Met Sally (which sadly I've never seen, shock) but it really reminded me of the queen of friends to lovers rom-com aka Love, Rosie. It is a masterpiece of handling a relationship trope of the late 20s-early 30s variety, with enough uncertainty and angst to keep you interested. It is one of those romances that doesn't fall into the futile predictability category when it comes to plot or character dynamics. There are some definitive moments of emotional depth, some beautiful scenic descriptions and two main characters who I could probably read 1000 more books about. A huge chef's kiss to Emily Henry from me, I can't a) believe that the book was this good and b) that I got to read it early.

*HUGE thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the proof, I am in awe

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry is an excellent modern romance that I truly loved and devoured with relish.

I have read several books by Ms. Henry in the past, which I thought were fantastic, so I knew I would enjoy her latest. It did not disappoint.

I absolutely loved the artistic ability that she has to weave together past and present, present and past, and piece together a story of two people and their path to current-day. To slowly peel back layers, weave between what we know now, and how it came to be from the past, and what will happen now...is delicious and addicting. I found myself staying up way past bedtime to find out what was going to happen next.

The journeys of Poppy and Alex and the unfolding of events in their lives, individually and together, was stunning. The characters were well-drawn, complex, likable, relatable, and had total chemistry from day one. Opposites attract, they compliment each other so well, yet also can bring out the worst (and best) in one another. Seeing the push/pull aspect was perfect. It made the final ending so much sweeter.

This book just reaffirms my previously-held belief that I love Ms. Henry, and I will continue being a huge of hers in the future.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Penguin General UK for this excellent arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts publication on 7/8/21.

Summary:
When Alex and Poppy met for the first time 12 years ago, they quickly realize that they have nothing in common. But after a shared car ride from college back to their hometown a year later, they become best friends despite their differences. In the following years, Alex and Poppy take trips together every summer. 2 years ago everything went wrong and now might be their last chance to take a trip together and to fix their friendship – or to turn it into something more?

Review:
Friends to lovers is such an amazing trope when it’s well done and Emily Henry definitely did an incredible job. Some early reviews claimed that it’s also enemies to lovers which it very much isn’t and it kinda made me expect something else but I still ended up enjoying it more than expected.
My favorite part was without a doubt Alex and Poppy’s friendship. I loved that they were so different but somehow just really understood each other, I loved their banter and how much they cared about each other. There are also a lot of flashbacks with scenes from their past trips and it was so much fun to see them growing up and their relationship evolving. They also just experienced some very entertaining things on their trips and I definitely laughed out loud a couple of times. Both characters were very fleshed out and I felt like I really knew them and was right there with them. I also liked their chemistry and their romance was just swoon-worthy.
Maybe I remember Beach Read (Emily Henry’s last romance) differently because it’s been a while but I felt like You and Me on Vacation had a bit of a lighter tone. It still deals with some serious topics and the character development was also great as they not only fell in love but also figured out some things for their own lives. I personally prefer light-hearted romances so I was pleasantly surprised by the humor.
My only big criticism is that I think the conflict between them was a bit underwhelming. In the beginning of the book, Poppy described their fallout as this terrible fight and something that isn’t easily forgiven so when I finally found out what happened (without spoiling anything) I just expected more. Since I believed that the cause of their fallout was bigger than it actually was, I was a bit confused that present day Alex and Poppy mostly acted like nothing had happened and there was only some awkwardness between them. I kinda just expected more drama, I guess. As a result, the pacing also sometimes felt a bit off but I still enjoyed it a lot and read it quite quickly.
You and Me on Vacation is an entertaining friends to lovers romance that is perfect for everyone who misses traveling the world during these times or who’s looking to escape reality for a bit.

When I heard that Emily Henry's You and Me on Vacation compared with When Harry Met Sally and One Day, I knew I had to read it straight away, but I was also nervous that it might not live up to the hype of two of my favourite stories of great love and friendship.

I needn't have worried. I fell in love with everything about You and Me on Vacation. The characters and their concerns are so relatable, endearing and easy to understand. The structure takes us back and forth to exotic locations (an added bonus to experience some armchair travel to Nashville, Vancouver and Tuscany!) and is a great way of keeping the plot moving and keeping us guessing. The dialogue is genuinely funny and entertaining. The romantic story made my heart hurt and soar in equal measure.

I'm so glad that You and Me on Vacation found its way to me. It's the feel good book I didn't know I needed to read and it's a rare one that I know I'll return to again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Georgia at Penguin Random House for an advance copy of You and Me on Vacation in exchange for an honest review (it's easy to do when you love a book this much!)

Are you a fan of second chance romance?

For Poppy and Alex, their friendship hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. The book spans 12 summers, reflecting on 6 of them.

Honestly, I wasn't as enamored with this as I was with Emily Henry's last book. I didn't feel this pressing need to continue reading it, despite enjoying what I was reading. I didn't feel some magical chemistry between Alex and Poppy, in fact I wasn't sure there was any. The entire front of the book focused on why they didn't like each other mostly.

In the end, it wasn't enough to keep me reading. To be fair, If a book doesn't grip my attention at first, I'm easily distracted. I'm sure that many are going to love this one.

Actual rating: 3,5-3,75 stars

You know how much I love me a best friends to lovers story, but I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. I really, really enjoyed Alex and Poppy's banter and I just love how much they care for each other. The author added many layers and backgrounds to the characters which made them a lot more relatable. The different vacations including the people they met were really fun to read about as well.

I just didn't particularly like how the story was told, especially in the beginning. I mean I get what the author was trying to do but for me personally, there were just too many different flashbacks in-between that made me feel a bit detached from the actual story. I wish we would've got more present day plot.

However, I definitely like this book more than Beach Read and I feel like it was quite a step up from her first novel. As I've already mentioned in my Beach Read review, and I'm saying it once again, Emily Henry's writing is incredible. Her many descriptions of Poppy and Alex' interactions left me swooning.

I just love Emily Henry. I loved her with the magic of Beach Read, and now I love her for her latest book (out in May, 2021 in the US and June, 2021 in the UK). In the US it is called People We Meet on Vacation, and in the UK it is called You and Me on Vacation.

This time around we meet Alex and Poppy while they are on vacation. They have been long-distance friends for 10 years, but every summer they make a point to get together for a vacation. But every summer isn’t as carefree and easy as it sounds.

As the chapters transition in a non-linear format (for example, from present day to a vacation from the past, and back to the present, etc.) we learn about Alex and Poppy’s relationship and why they have not spoken for 2 years. In other books, I was not a fan of this style, but in this story I found that it works. I kept turning pages to see what happened in the past that landed them in the situation they were in now, and where they would end up!

WHAT I LOVED

What didn’t I love would be the easier thing to answer. I loved the relationship between Poppy and Alex – how they would banter, how they would support each other, and how they were on vacation. I loved living a life I could never through Poppy. I’m too much of a homebody to travel like she does, so it’s always great to get lost in a story of someone who lives life differently than I do. Then there were Poppy’s parents, who had me cracking up when they gave Poppy a gift before she set off on one of her vacations with Alex (can’t spoil that one!)

The Name Change

As I mentioned earlier, the US title and the UK title are different. I wondered about that while I was reading the book, to see which title I liked better. Both fit the book very well, so I do not dislike any of the names each publishing house chose for the book.

The UK title is very obvious. You and Me on Vacation. Alex and Poppy. They go on vacation. I get that! The US title though. Wow. You won’t discover why it’s really called People We Meet on Vacation until you read the ending. And I loved it. I think me looking into the title differences brought a new perspective to the book that I may not have gotten had I not been looking so closely for the answer. I was not disappointed, and, dare I say, it made me love Poppy all the more.

The blurbs on the back of the book are also different. The US is your standard blurb to get you hooked on wanting to read the book. The UK blurb took a different approach and helped those who do not do well with the non-linear format of the book. They provided a linear timeline of Alex and Poppy’s relationship. I feel like that took away a teeny bit of the magic of having their relationship discovered throughout the book, but for those that struggle to keep the timeline in their heads, it will help!

All in all, if you were a fan of Beach Read, I think you will also be a fan of People You Meet on Vacation/You and Me on Vacation! You can pre-order your copy now.

Aaah this was sweet!
A story told via a series of holidays
Perfect timing when we can't go anywhere in real life although I would read it anytime.
Fun and fresh.

Upon first meeting 12 summers ago, Poppy and Alex strongly dislike each other and would never estimate how much their lives and friendship would change 12 summers later. The unlikely pair develop a strong friendship as every summer they go on vacation together. It wasn’t until a vacation to Croatia where things got heated and slowed their friendship right down. Now Poppy is determined to rekindle what they had with the quest of one final vacation together.

I have thought a lot about how to structure this review because there was a lot I loved about this book and I thought the best way to start is from the cover. As soon as I received this e-ARC I knew I would love it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and colourful. When the book is released I am definitely going to be purchasing a physical copy to add to my bookshelf. And just like the cover, the story is so bright and colourful with some really descriptive worldbuilding surrounding the characters’ vacations. I really loved how Henry transported us from multiple places and I really felt like they were all different – be that in Vancouver or the atmospheric BAR. Right from the prologue I was hooked. Henry’s witty and charming writing allows for the plot to be easily followed and provide a constant nostalgic feeling. Perhaps reading this in a time of a global pandemic has allowed me to appreciate the descriptions of places and social interactions, but also the flashbacks to many summers ago aids this.

The narrative is anecdotal with loosely alternating chapters of present day and the past. This is a technical and clever choice by Henry to evoke a simultaneous storyline. The reader learn about Alex and Poppy’s first meeting, while also reading where they are presently. There are some really clever choices used with the flashbacks mirroring the next present day chapter. It appears that during both stages of their lives they repressed their romantic emotions for each other and that long-standing emotion provides a more powerful and intense connection. However, this does cause for a rollercoaster of emotions.

The chemistry between Alex and Poppy is never lost. Their love for each other radiates through every page and causes the reader to grow impatient. I know I started to get impatient with them and just wanted the pair to get together because Henry’s beautiful talent forced me to get so invested in them. From the prologue I was rooting for the pair but as the story started I had no idea where it was going to go considering they had lost touch. I enjoyed reading their reconnection. It felt like their wasn’t a dormant part of their friendship and could pick up straight away where they left it. This proves how much of a special connection they have. They both remember small details about each other and this provides a very caring atmosphere. An example which really stuck with me was when Alex wouldn’t let Poppy sleep on the pull out chair due to a potential migraine. It is these small, thoughtful details that made my heart flutter. I also found their heated discussion over Tinder humorous.

The characters of Poppy and Alex were very unique to read and Henry hasn’t made their characteristics predictable. I like how she captured the complexity of love, friendship, and commitment. The difficulties in accepting and revealing true feelings. The honest account also allows for more truth to be explored with Poppy and her job. She has achieved her dream, yet, it was not how she thought. Henry writes how this is OK and reminds the reader that expectations aren’t always met. With this in mind, I especially enjoyed the character of Rachel. As the reader guide at the end of the book stated ‘Rachel has a lot to say about contentment versus purpose’ and that provided a strong underlying message and theme – and is surely something I am going to consider more often, hoping to answer whether both can be achieved or if they are mutually exclusive as the guide questioned.

Overall, I absolutely loved this read and I am excited to pick up more books by Henry. This is the first I have read of this author and am quite excited to read more.

This review will be published 1/7/21 on my blog: www.fortheliterature.wordpress.com

I ADORED this book!
It was just perfect and everything I needed in a book at the moment, just pure escapism!
I loved the characters of Poppy and Alex and the way their friendship blossomed was delightful to read. Im going to recommending this to everyone as their book to be reading over the summer!!

This was wonderful. This authors previous book was a huge hit with me last year and I was over the moon to be allowed the opportunity to review an early copy of their next work. This takes you on an emotional I certainly didnt see coming not only because this cover implies a light and breezy read but the plot does too. It's a real fun time and depth.

You and Me on Vacation is easily the best book I've read so far in 2021. This best friends to lovers story from Emily Henry packed a solid punch, and its been a long time since I sobbed right through the ending of a book.

The present and past narration of the Summer Trips by our heroine Poppy had me breathless- first in hurt for how strained their present relationship was, and then in anticipation to find out what exactly was it that ruined 10 years of friendship 2 summers ago. I think my favorite genre of book is the kind that hurts in all the right spots, and then soothes you right over, and oh, what a soothing Emily's words do. Its an emotionally exhausting journey to be with Poppy and her thoughts and confusion and listlessness, both about her life and about her relationship with Alex, but damn if she isn't so wholly real. She is so herself, and yet struggling to find herself, and the fact that her character has everything millennials dream of, and yet wasn't happy was a great choice for her character. I love that Henry also added in some swift commentary on millennials and capitalism through the delightfully supportive side character of Rachel! The messages of connection and loneliness and unfiltered joy and loss and grief make the book even more real, and a reminder that our love lives aren't independent of the things we experience growing up.

The best friends to lovers trope is one very, very close to my heart. In Henry's book, I mourned the love I couldn't have, and sobbing my heart out from about the 50% mark made the book that much closer to me. Every chapter is so purposeful, every word so intentional in what it intends to convey, that it felt like a book taking my hand and talking to me in the 12 am darkness of my room. This delicious hurt and angst of their story also means that this book isn't one I'm going to be able to re-read, and yet I'm looking forward to my physical copy because You and Me on Vacation is so very important to me.

Beach Read, the author's previous book, was a spur of the moment buy for me from last year, and it ended up being one of my favourites of 2020. So the bar was pretty high going into this one.

After spending the whole day reading Me and You On Vacation from beginning to end, I can safely say that it was just as amazing as I expected, if not more. Emily Henry is now a definite auto-buy author.

When I so completely adore a book, I always find it hard to put together a coherent review that isn't just me screaming in people's faces how amazing the book is and to just buy it right now. So I'll try my best, but be warned that I am also very teary after reading this because I found it so beautiful and compelling, and it just "really speaks to me" (see what I did there).

The basic premise is that Poppy and Alex have been friends for years and used to go on summer vacations together, until two years ago when something happened and they have since stopped talking.
I loved Poppy and Alex. Their banter made me laugh out loud more than once, and I loved seeing their friendship blossom over twelve years or so of summer vacations. Because the book takes you through all those vacations, from the first one to the one that changed it all, it really feels like you get time to know both characters, and I really felt like I was in on the inside jokes they had. From the beginning you know that something is coming, and I was so intrigued that I found it impossible to put the book down. I just needed to read one more chapter, one more slice of their story.

The travelling itself, and the descriptions of the different places they went to, was so well done. It was just the right amount of description to paint a picture and to make me want to visit them all. After being stuck in the house for almost a year, in and out of lockdown, reading about the two of them discovering new places was such a joy.

So all in all, I adored this book and will now be impatiently waiting for 1) this book to come out so I can have it on my shelves, and 2) the next book by Emily Henry which is going to be an absolute torture.

I *loved* this book, in so many ways and for so many reasons. It was exactly what I needed to read, when I needed to read it -‘I have highlighted pages of quotes and scribbled some of them in my journal too. Emily Henry captures feelings and glimmerings of feelings in this book in a way I’ve never read anyone else do.

I love this book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Since this is a friends-to-lovers trope, the book mostly concentrated on friendship, eventually leading to love. It is light, adorable, well written, and filled with so many itineraries. I liked travel books; and, that combined with romance is the perfect book for me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading Romance novels. If you're up for a slow-burn, friends-to-lover trope romance, then you should definitely read You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry.

Thanks to Penguin UK, NetGalley, and the author for this eARC.

Genre: Romance

Release Date: Expected July 8th 2021

(Previously known as People We Meet On Vacation)



Travel writer Poppy is arguably gorgeous (from certain angles), she's loud, she spills everything and she's really not good at stayng still.

Alex is her polar opposite. Since school he's become a teacher, has the house and the car, and still takes selfies without using the front camera.

But somehow, for the last 12 years they've been best friends, with a pact to spend every single summer together. And after ten glorious summers of being so drunk that matching tattoos slowly become appealing and travelling to amazing places, it was the perfect friendship. Until it wasn't and their friendship turned into just a fond memory. But now Poppy decides it's time for one last trip with her former best friend and this could change everything.

Let's get this right - I had very high expectations going into this. After Beach Read, which was definitely my feel-good hit of the summer last year it was going to be hard to live up to that standard - but I was not dissapointed.

As we travel through our dynamic duo's many summer adventures, we slowly peice together exactly what makes their relationship so special and just how they managed to go from people who had no intention of even exchanging numbers to being each others person. This was the type of story that even though you were pretty certain you knew where it was going, just enjoying the journey on our way there was adventure enough.

This was another perfectly feel-good, completely adorable romance that was exactly the thing you need while sitting in the sun (Even though this is an early review and I've forgotten how the sun feels!) Emily Henry takes all the familiar, comforting tropes of the genre and turns it into something heartwarming magical.





RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐



Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Henry for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Poppy and Alex's shared story is sweet, romantic, and fun. The plot is perfectly balanced between their past and present. The different settings and characters were entertaining, especially these days when travelling for holidays isn't happening.