‘People We Meet on Vacation’ Movie: What Romance Author Emily Henry Says About the Newly Announced Cast

There has been no shortage of Emily Henry updates in the last couple of months. First, there was the news that both Happy Place and Funny Story were being made into movies, and then there was the shocking cast announcement for her other best-selling book, People We Meet on Vacation—which sold a whopping 2 million copies plus in the U.S. That’s right, book lovers, we finally know who will be bringing characters Poppy and Alex to life! Keep reading to learn who they are and what author Emily Henry has to say!

All about the People We Meet on Vacation cast 

On Friday, August 2, 2024, author Emily Henry announced via her newsletter, Emily’s Grocery List, that Tom Blyth and Emily Bader would play Alex and Poppy. 

Blyth is best known for his work as young President Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Bader is most recognizable for My Lady Jane. 

“When I watched these two people meet, fall in love, and fall apart, I was covered in chills. I laughed aloud within two minutes of seeing them on screen together. I cried by the end. I had no idea what to expect from these two actors, and I fell completely in love with them,” Henry wrote in her newsletter. 

“Actually since watching their chemistry read AND meeting them, my and Brett’s text thread is basically just the word ‘“irresistible’ over and over again. It’s the only word I can use to describe each of their respective performances and more importantly, the magic of them together.” 

“I wish I could just show you now, but the good news is, we are MOVING, so you will get to fall in love with them very soon. I hope you are even a fraction as excited as I am right now for this film. I know how terrifying it is to loosen our grips on this story enough to let new people into the mix. My top priority for every ounce of involvement I’m granted in every of one of these adaptations is honoring you. I feel so grateful to be able to honestly tell you that I think this script and this cast does that.” 

Henry also confirmed that they have written their“mostly” final script and it’s “hilarious. She said the locations were scouted and chosen, too. 

“Get ready for a very sexy, sultry summer in Barcelona. If all goes well, I’ll be making it out to set to see some of the shoot there, and I promise to share anything they let me with you about that process,.” she added, while also hinting at a possible place Poppy and Alex might travel to. 

What is People We Meet on Vacation about? 

People We Meet on Vacation is a wildly funny, tender rom-com set in sunny Palm Springs. It follows wild-child Poppy and straight-laced Alex who didn’t hit it off when they first met in college. Then, after doing a car-share for summer break, the unlikely pair became best friends. Now, years after college, Poppy works in New York City while schoolteacher Alex stays in their hometown — but every summer, for a decade, they’ve taken a vacation together until two years ago, when they ruined it all. They haven’t spoken since, but when Poppy gets a work travel assignment and asks Alex to join her, he agrees. Soon, the two begin to realize just how much they need each other and that sometimes friendship and feelings aren't as clear as they thought they would be. 

It is unclear if the film will follow that exact plot, but one thing is for sure People We Meet on Vacation movie will be filled with Henry’s signature chemistry wit and charm. 

Emily Henry is also known for her New York Times bestselling romance novels Beach Read, Book Lovers, Happy Place, and Funny Story.

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