Emily Henry has done it again. I didn’t think it was possible to top Beach Read, but here we are.

Alex and Poppy meet by chance on their first day of college. They are convinced they will never see each other again. They are complete opposites, until they find out they are nearly from the same hometown and are forced to share a ride home together.

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Each summer Poppy and Alex travel to an exotic destination as “friends “, until one summer they stop speaking. The book is told through Poppy’s POV in the past and present.

I loved reading the history of Poppy and Alex. They never realizes that they were perfect for each other. They were always dating other people. What will become of the two? Read to find out’

3/3.5 STARS
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I found myself constantly wanting to skip the throwbacks to their previous summers which really affected my enjoyment of the story. However, I did like the romance and it was an easy read.

You and Me on Vacation is utterly delightful - Your hearts will be toasty warm after reading it.

While honouring the tropes of the romance genre, the author does not rehash the often frustratingly absurd or ugly conflicts and obstacles that keep lovers at bay.

We need more stories like this, full of love, charm, wit and (please!) vacations in our lives, thank you, Emily Henry.

P.S. I really enjoyed Beach Read, it this is even better!

i dont often read romance but im glad i read this one! the best friends-to-lovers trope was very well executed, i was rooting for them from the beginning.

oh how i miss vacationing, thank you to this book for giving me a great escape.

I felt that Poppy and Alex were both characters you could grow to love. Poppy being the outgoing, outspoken one and Alex is a soft and shy high school literature teacher. They were great for each other, and i wish i could have gone on those trips with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :-)

This book is flawless. I loved it so much and that is obviously all down to Emily Henry's writing. This book was my first five star read of the year and it deserves all the love and praise. It made me so emotional and I connected with Poppy in so many ways and it's such a beautiful thing to connect with a character so easily. The writing is fantastic, I felt every single thing that was written and I couldn't put it down. It gave me Sweet Home Alabama vibes with Poppy not feeling at home in her hometown and leaving it to make something of herself, but I loved this book ten times more than the film. The timeline in which the book is set is so special, it helps you get attached to the characters so fast, yet the more you read the more you're still learning such basic things about them. It helped us learn the dynamics and the way in which Alex and Poppy bounced off each other so naturally, because we witnessed them in so many different situations. We saw their relationship from the beginning and it helps connect you to them in such a special way. It was brilliant and I will be thinking about it for such a long time. All the praise for Emily Henry, she has such a talent to write something so special and unique.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

« i’ve never really felt alone since i met you. I don’t think i’ll ever feel truly alone in this world again as long as you’re in it. »

This story is told from Poppy’s POV and it alternates between present time and flashbacks of their previous yearly summer vacations together. The first flashback is from twelve years ago and each flashback gets closer to present time.

This is a friends to lovers story. A really good one ! We follow Alex & Poppy through the years and see how they’re happy together, how they need each other when something bad happens, how much the happiness of the other one matters...

Though they’re quite opposites on some levels they are drawn to each other like magnets and the slow-burn romance between these two is everything and then some !

I didn’t know at first what Alex feelings for Poppy were but i was quickly convinced that they should be together based on what they made me feel ! I mean, at times, i wanted to shout at them to just kiss already ! They so clearly wanted to !

The two main characters have a true and unique chemistry. They often forget everything else around them and it’s like they’re in their little bubble of happiness and laughter when they’re together. I really feel like we only see the real « naked Alex » (as Poppy says) when he’s with her and that’s a beautiful thing to witness !

« Maybe things can always get better between two people who want to do a good job loving each other. Maybe that’s all it takes. »

I loved the way they joke together and their witty comebacks, i sure loved to see them vulnerable and real towards each other. This was a really good read and i am now convinced that i love Emily Henry’s writing after having read and loved two books from her. The only question is : when will we get a new one ? 😜

I read Beach Read by Emily Henry last year and did enjoy it so was happy to have received this arc. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in return for an honest review .

Me and You on vacation follows Poppy ans Alex’s friendship over the years and their yearly holiday. I loved this book. It was a complete five star read for me . I loved the lay out of the plot and how we popped from year to year and holiday to holiday. I also loved Alex and Poppy. Alex is my kind of bloke (he likes a library - I am sold) and Poppy is just weird and wonderful . Their families give you the feels and it’s just a wonderful story ❤️.

I have a feeling this book is going to be a huge summer hit. Perfect for the beach. It’s fast paced, fun, emotional and romantic. I think friends to lovers may be my new favourite trope. I also love how we see that while Poppy’s job seems amazing and perfect, she isn’t actually happy and sometimes having everything isn’t that great.

I would completely recommend this book. It speaks to me 😂

This book was EXACTLY what I needed to brighten up a dull lockdown! Thank you to the publisher for offering an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Poppy and Alex met during college and the story traverses from present day to their many holidays and getaways over the years, building a relationship that has its ups, downs, tangled emotions and charts their romantic histories.

I loved Emily Henry's first book, Beach Read, and was so excited to read this. It did not disappoint. Henry is a wonderful new voice in romantic fiction but has added depth and humour to her stories, allowing the reader to become invested in her characters and their journeys.

In You and Me on Vacation, I loved how personable Poppy is and the believable relationship she has with Alex. Both main characters had their flaws and I loved the romantic tension that built throughout the novel. I also adored the different holidays they took, all perfectly described and it had me longing to get away on a holiday immediately!

Cannot wait to read more from Emily Henry, she is now firmly a favourite author of mine!

This book really got me in the mood for a holiday, Poppy gets to travel because of her job and she goes to some amazing places. I have learnt a little about the different countries she has been to whilst reading this book. I loved traveling around the world with her and Alex her friend. I think along the way she realises what could be? she loves Alex as a good friend but could there be more? It is a beautiful and funny and tender story about two friends that travel together but is the thing that they are both missing closer to them both than they think. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to go on holiday again. I can imagine reading this book around the pool, it has a very summery cover too.

This was such a cute book, honestly. Who doesn't love a best friends to lovers novel? The characters were brilliant like always, I loved the way Henry structured the book so we were allowed timely glimpses in Poppy and Alex's past, and I was in (happy) tears by the end. You guys have an absolute TREAT waiting for you this spring!

I love the way Emily Henry can get me swept up into an emotional roller coaster of a romance. Beach Read was my favourite book of 2020, and now You and Me on Vacation is holding the title of my favourite 2021. Alex & Poppy are so unique that it makes the book come alive. I love how Emily can give 110% in her books and still leave you wanting more.

fantastic! the characters step off the pages and their friendship blossoms over their many summer travels, even as life changes around them, until the year it all fell apart and communications ceased..
you cannot help but get emotionally invested in the relationship and the way it plays out, with Poppy reliving every minute and every significant moment even as Alex seems oblivious.
Touch and go for the pairs relationship many times over the ending is a great relief, even if the format lends itself to predictablility you can only be glad that the formula works!

You and Me on Vacation,  Emily Henry

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance

I really wanted to love this, it sounded such fun and yet...it passed the mark for me. It was an OK read, nothing more for me.

I didn't like the past present format, I'm not a fan of this vehicle, but often it works. Here I just felt it frustrated and confused me. I don't really see how else this particular story could have been told though. When we finally got to the reason for the separation, after all the build up I just felt a sense of anti climax.
I guess my main issue is I just didn't like Poppy. I found her shallow, selfish, self obsessed and she clung to poor Alex as her backstop whenever something in her life wasn't going right.
The story is entertaining enough, and has some humorous moments but for me it was just an OK read. I wasn't convinced by the ending that things had really changed, that Poppy had finally realised what she wanted in life, I think I needed something more than just her “I've changed” words.

Stars: Three, well written but one of those novels that just didn't cut it for me.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

Poppy and Alex have been taking vacations together for 12 yers. The book is split between present day as they are about to go on holiday together, and previous holidays they have taken. Will they become more than friends or will this holiday be their last?

Thank you Penguin UK and Netgalley for providing with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alex and Poppy meet way back in college that sees them set out on a bad note during the freshers party. Only a year and road trip later do they start to forge a lifelong friendship. But as they get older and move on with their lives, they agree to jet set to a premeditated destination every summer in a bid to hold on to their friendship. Something happens on one of these vacations that causes them to stay apart for two years. But Poppy wants to take one last vacation with Alex to give it her all to mend fences between them, and in doing so, embarks on a journey of self-realisation.

I loved the dialogues in this book - they were the highlight for me. Of course there was drama, miscommunication, and frustration, but when Poppy and Alex were in the same frame, their communication was no-nonsense and direct. I liked the fact that one instinctively knew what the other needed and wanted to hear/do - like they were psychically linked - and this was shown to me (not just told). Bonus points for the '90s pop references and the backbone of this novel "When Harry Met Sally" which is just about my FAVOURITE movies of all time. Reducing one star from the final rating as I was not convinced about Poppy's resolution of her inherent issues, which impacted the way I perceived the climax, as much as I loved it.

Apologies if I gave away any spoilers - but I highly recommend this book for the very organic relationship that Ms. Henry has attempted to develop between two seemingly disparate characters who are bound by friendship.

PRIVATE NOTES: This is the long version of "When Harry Met Sally" that I didn't know I needed!

The story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The writing - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the things I loved about the Beach Read was Emily Henry's writing. It is lovely, not as flowery as I was expecting and once again both characters felt like they had a lot of depth to them.

Although the Harry met Sally-ness of it all got a bit frustrating over time, when Poppy and Alex finally started communicating that frustration finally eases and you can just really enjoy this chilled read.

I enjoyed how the book is split between the present holiday and the past ones leading up to the infamous Croatia trip which is referenced numerous times as the reason why Poppy and Alex have had a two year break from their friendship.

I didn't enjoy it as much as Beach Read, but I think that's mostly because I get annoyed when characters just don't communicate, and that's a big part of this slow burn romance.

I'd def recommend this to anyone wanting a chilled happy and hopeful pick me up book that's well written with likeable characters.

Fave quote - Your style is, like, 1960s Parisian bread maker’s daughter bicycling through her village at dawn, shouting Bonjour, le monde whilst doling out baguettes.

Fave moment - Poppy and Alex roadtrip banter

This is a light and fluffy read, perfect for taking on holiday or just as a bit of escapism.

I was offered an ARC by the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Poppy and Alex take a trip each summer. The book jumps between their present trip and flashbacks to previous adventures. Sometimes this works well, sometimes it’s a bit confusing. I didn’t really like either character- if they were such good friends I think they’d have worked out their issues a long time ago! It’s the sort of book where it’s obvious exactly where the story is going and the reader is just along for the ride. It’s nicely written and well paced. It’s a nice example of its genre that will do well this summer, I’m sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I absolutely loved this book so much. One of the best contemporary romances I’ve read in years. Emily Henry’s writing was exceptional, at times I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book. It felt like the perfect ode to When Harry Met Sally but with a beautiful modern day feel to it. I can not wait to read more from Emily and I can’t wait till this book is released and people can fall in love with the two many characters as much as I did. If you like Christina Lauren type romances or any friends to lovers/slow burn type tropes then you will just adore this, I would pre order it now, it’s that good! ❤️

This is an easy read and the perfect light-hearted choice to read on holiday. Whilst I did enjoy it, I found it very predictable and found the jumping back and forth in time to be a bit messy and, at times, confusing. I liked ‘visiting’ all the different places that Poppy and Alex went on holiday and was so jealous of Poppy’s job. If you don’t mind a very predictable and cheesy plot, this will be perfect!

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot...otherwise why would you bother reading the book?!

I was delighted to be invited to read this as I loved Emily Henry's last novel, "Beach Read". I hoped it would be just as enjoyable - and I wasn't disappointed.

I love her style - she writes characters that feel real, you can imagine exactly how they would be in real life (and some of them reminded me of people I have met along the way). The plot is well thought out, with the lives and backgrounds of Poppy and Alex (our heroine and hero) gradually revealed over time. I liked the way the timeline wasn't linear, and really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Poppy and Alex's various trips (particularly as we cannot travel ourselves at this time!)

I read a LOT of books each year, and yet rarely find one where I like the main characters - but I really warmed to both Poppy and Alex (chalk and cheese as they are) and found myself caring about what happened to them. There's a great supporting cast in there too, some providing a humorous touch.

Just wanted to mention that it's not all sweetness and light along the road - there are some sad sections in the mix - but that's just like real life isn't it?

I could imagine this novel working as a movie...

Already looking forward to Emily Henry's next book!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.