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.

I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Although COVID is stopping us from travelling right now, I was so glad I was able to live vicariously through this book. The entire book was so wonderfully heartwarming. If you're a fan of friends-to-lovers romance that includes hilarious banter and travelling, then you're going to love this book. I absolutely adored Emily Henry's Beach Read when I read it last year, but I think this book truly surpasses it.

Emily Henry is fantastic at writing realistic characters. Poppy and Alex's friendship is one of the best I've ever read. I'm usually not a huge fan of friends-to-lovers but this book has completely won me over. I love the way their entire relationship is told over the course of several years and vacations; even though every time we met them, they were in different places in their lives, it was so easy to see how much they care about each other.

This book had everything I wanted: friends-to-lovers, hate-to-love, one bed, hilarious banter, slow burn. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys romance novels.

As a fangirl of Emily Henry's last book, Beach Read, I knew I had to get my hands on her newest novel ASAP! It's winter in Minnesota right now, so the multitude of sunny vacation spots in this book were amazing. Henry describes them in great detail so you feel like you're right there. I enjoyed the relationship between Poppy and Alex, which was purposely reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. Definitely worth reading!

This book was all kinds of cute! But it also made me cry, and swoon and look forward to my next summer trip.

Alex and Poppy were perfect, and even though I would have liked to see more of them as a couple, I loved their friendship and how they complemented each other. Everybody claims that “enemies-to-lovers” is the superior trope (and I particularly enjoyed that on “Beach Read”!) but I have a soft spot for the best friends trope. And here it was perfectly executed!

I can see myself re-reading this book in the future, and I’ve already pre-ordered a physical copy for myself.

I loved Beach Read so much, and I was so excited for You and Me on Vacation; I'm so pleased that it lived up to - and exceeded! - my expectations. Emily Henry is such a special writer and, reading You and Me on Vacation, I was struck by her talent. The narrative unfolded so deftly and naturally that it made for a genuinely joyous read. For me, I felt as though I could read all of the writer's love and respect for the genre - and its readers - in the story. Poppy and Alex were brilliantly sympathetic and flawed characters, and the tension between them kept me reading into the night: I just could not, and would not, stop! It was a witty and moving rom-com, and I loved it all.

Ah, I LOVE Emily Henry! If you liked Beach Read, you'll totally love this book, it's every bit as good, and I think I even enjoyed it more, because of the 'what if' element. Also, it is SO nice to read about Palm Springs in the sunshine when it's so cold and snowy here!