To quote Poppy, this book speaks to me

People We Meet on Vacation speaks to me, I re-read it immediately after first read. Actually, it's just skimming at first just to refresh my memory again to write this review. Then, I found myself read the book thoroughly, especially the big revelation part until the end. I once said that Beach Read wrecked me. And now, it's the second time Emily Henry successfully wrecked me again. Call me hyperbole or exaggerated, but I always rate my book based on my feeling and right now I have mixed feelings. Happy, sad, grateful, thoughtful, I end finish this book with some moisture left in my eyes (I rarely cried when reading, my heart apparently created from stone).

Contemporary romance or women fiction or chic-lit is not my forte, but last year, after Beach Read prove me otherwise, I start to read another con-rom. Not all of the titles are good ofc, some just subpar. This year, 2023, I had read 2 titles with friends to lover trope before this book, one of the title is just a so so. But I can said with a clarity that Henry knew what she write. The blurb of this book said it all it's not difficult to predict what the story I will get and what the outcome. I know there's will be a happy ending. I know both Poppy and Alex will admit that they love each other but they are to afraid to left the status quo aka their friendship. What make me enjoy this book is the journey they taken, the vacations. The raw emotions that come from both characters. Usually trope like big misunderstanding or try to be martyr just so people they love can be happy, will irked me. That's not the case with People We Meet on Vacation. I can feel connected to both Poppy and Alex. Maybe more to Poppy, because just like her, maybe I can be too careless with my marriage. I take my husband for the granted, just like Poppy did to Alex. Reading this book make me thinking, maybe I should reexamine my own life, my purpose and also my relationship.

I'm glad that unlike Beach Read in where January always assumed things and I don't know what Gus feel because the story was written from January's PoV, that's also not the case with People We Meet. Sure we read them all from Poppy's PoV, but I also get to know what Alex feel. Goodness gracious, when the last time I read (or watch) about male fiction character crying openly in front of the heroine? To admit his feelings, his anxiety, his emotional baggage and traumas, that's he's scared for some things that out of his control? Maybe Alex can openly express his feeling because this is Poppy, his best friend. The trope friend-to-lover in this book is not like those childhood friends that separate for so many years than reunited. Or just become friend for some months to hide their actual feeling (yes, I talk about you, Hook, Line and Sinker). Or even friends with benefit. In true sense, Poppy and Alex is true best friend, that I always know from the start that they have affection for each other, but their friendship is more stronger than that. I know that platonic relationship between man and woman somehow impossible, just like Poppy and Alex that finally accept their feeling. But I also liked that their hurt feelings after they big fight (and decades friendzone) didn't healed overnight. They heal, bit by bit. In the reader guide, Henry ask her reader, will Poppy and Alex going to make it? I said, yes, they do. They will. They already found their home.

This book is so quotable, I dog-eared almost all the book pages (don't judge me. I love to dog-ear my private book collection). It's hard to choose one or two passage to be quoted, because, you know Poppy and Alex's story speak to me, lol. The vacation parts are one of the highlights, although I know that some readers may found the back and forth from present to the past can disturb the flow of the story. I'm not a travel gals myself and prefer to be at home in long weekend, but I will lie to myself if I said I don't want to at least go somewhere to be on vacation after reading this book.

Another gems from Emily Henry that not only suitable for summer (or holiday) read but also will hooked you from the first chapter to the end.