People We Meet on Vacation Netflix vs Book: Every Major Change Explained

A decade of friendship, countless summer trips, and one complicated love story—Emily Henry's beloved 2021 novel People We Meet on Vacation has finally hit Netflix. While the film stays true to the slow-burn chemistry between Poppy and Alex, the leap from page to screen brought several notable pivots that might surprise even the most dedicated fans.

People We Meet on Vacation Netflix vs Book: The New Beginning

In the original book, Poppy and Alex are alumni of the University of Chicago. However, the Netflix adaptation moves their college years to Boston College. Their iconic road trip back to Ohio is also expanded in the movie. Unlike the novel, the film includes a sequence where the pair gets stranded at a motel after a mishap at a wishing well—a classic rom-com trope added to heighten the early tension between Emily Bader and Tom Blyth.

From Palm Springs to Barcelona

Perhaps the most visual departure is the wedding location. While the book's climax unfolds in the scorching desert of Palm Springs, the movie whisks the characters off to Barcelona, Spain. Despite the upgrade in scenery, the movie cleverly incorporates the book's most famous elements: the broken air conditioner and the plastic-covered windows. That sweaty, emotionally charged night remains the heart of the story, proving that some things transcend geography.

Character dynamics saw some streamlining as well. Alex, who has three younger brothers in the novel, only has one brother named David in the film. Similarly, Poppy's large family is scaled back, though fans will be pleased to see the hilarious 'Costco-sized condom box' scene made the final cut, delivered perfectly by Molly Shannon.