🌴✨ Welcome to BOOKKAST - Bestsellers in Minutes! In today's episode, we're diving into the heartwarming and witty world of "People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry — a summer romance that has taken the book world by storm. If you're wondering whether this bestselling novel is your next beach read, you’re in the right place! 🏖️📚
🎙️ In just a few minutes, we explore:
👇 If you're into:
💬 Let us know in the comments: Have you ever fallen for a friend while traveling?
📲 Subscribe for more bite-sized book breakdowns — one bestseller at a time!
➡️ BOOKKAST: Bestsellers in Minutes.
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more.
🎙️ In just a few minutes, we explore:
- Who are Poppy and Alex, and why their opposites-attract friendship is so unforgettable 💑
- How Emily Henry masterfully blends humor, nostalgia, and longing ❤️🔥
- What makes this novel a New York Times Bestseller and a reader favorite 🌟
- Whether it's the kind of romance that’ll break your heart… or mend it 💔➡️💖
👇 If you're into:
- Bestselling romance novels
- Enemies to lovers / friends to lovers tropes
- Summer reads full of emotion and charm
- Emily Henry’s storytelling magic
💬 Let us know in the comments: Have you ever fallen for a friend while traveling?
📲 Subscribe for more bite-sized book breakdowns — one bestseller at a time!
➡️ BOOKKAST: Bestsellers in Minutes.
🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everybody, and welcome back to book Cast.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Paul here, Hey everyone, Sarah with you today for a
new deep dive.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
YEP book cast Bestsellers in minutes. You know how it is.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Because who really has the time to get through every
single best seller that hits the shelves these days?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Not me. I can barely keep up with my to
read pile as is. But luckily for you, that's where
we come in. We read them, we break them down,
and we give you the need to know and well minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Today's selection is an interesting one. Emily Henry's People we
Meet on Vacation. This one's been on the bestseller list
for quite a while and we got a ton of
requests from you. Our listeners do a deep dive on it.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So what's the deal with people we meet on vacation?
Why is it resonating so strongly with readers?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, let's see what the experts have to say. Abby
Jimman Is she's a USA Today bestselling author herself, and
she called the book compulsively readable, praised its sparkling wit,
and said the romance grabbed me by the heart.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh wow, that's a pretty glowing review.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It is right, and the new York Times book review
went even further, calling Emily Henry a star and saying
that people we meet on vacation is a romance that
romcom fans will swoon over. That's high praise from some
pretty reputable sources.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, definitely piques my interest. So what's the plan for
today's deep dive? What should our listeners be ready for.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, we're diving into the heart of what makes this
Friends to Lover's story tick, Why is it so captivating,
what makes it work so Well, We're going to be
looking closely at Poppy and Alex, the main characters, and
exploring their dynamic. Plus, we'll be teasing out some of
the key themes that drive the narrative. And of course
we'll be looking at specific moments, some excerpts that really
illustrate their personalities, their history together, and that's all important conflicts,
(01:40):
you know, the good stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Sounds like a plan, So let's jump right in, shall we.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Right from the start, we get Poppy's perspective on vacations.
She talks about how vacations let you connect with strangers
without that fear of like lasting awkwardness you might feel
back in the real world. It's almost like you can
be a different version of yourself on vacation. This idea
of temporary escape and the freedom it offers, it really
sets the stage, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It does, And I think it's important to remember that
the vacation setting is more than just a backdrop in
this story. It really is like another character. It provides
this unique space, a sort of temporary bubble where Poppy
and Alex's relationship can evolve and grow without the usual
pressures and expectations they face back home. There's a sense
of possibility, a kind of freedom that comes with being away,
(02:27):
like maybe the rules are a little different when you're
on vacation. I think that's a great point. And then
we get this really vivid description of one of their
vacation moments in this sticky floored bar called only BRR. Poppy,
who's twenty five, describes Alex, also twenty five, as this tall,
sandy haired guy hunched over his phone. But then there's
this detail he's facing the bar, but his legs are
(02:49):
angled toward her, like he's keeping some secret door to
himself open just for me. It's such a small thing,
but it feels so loaded with meaning.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
It is isn't it even in this kind of dingy bar,
Poppy's focus is on this subtle intimacy with Alex. It
hints at this deep connection that exists beneath the surface.
And then she talks about how there's the public Alex
the reserve never quite fully smiling Alex Nilsen that the
rest of the world gets, and then there's the private Alex,
a path straight to the weirdo. As she puts it,
it really emphasizes that special bond they share, and it
(03:19):
makes you wonder if that private connection will ever become
something more or something out in the open.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
And then later when they're in the car, Alex mentions
they didn't take any pictures at the bar. For Poppy's blog,
Poppy dismisses it, saying her readers wouldn't be interested. But
then they had this exchange about remembering the trip how
it really was and looking like ourselves. It's a tiny moment,
but it feels important in terms of how genuine they
are with each other.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
It's huge in a world obsessed with capturing and sharing everything.
They're comfort and just being themselves without needing to document
it for an audience, speaks volumes. It really makes you
think about the value of those unfiltered, unstaged moments of
connection in your own.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Life does And speaking of history, let's go back to
the beginning. We find out they first met at the
University of Chicago orientation. Poppy's first impression was that Alex
didn't fit the kind of artsy, intellectual crowd she thought
she'd be hanging out with. So it's interesting that their
connection wasn't based on those kind of immediate surface levels similarities.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You know that difference is often what makes relationships and
stories so compelling. It forces the characters and us as
readers to look beyond those initial assumptions and appreciate the
individual qualities that make each person unique. And in this case,
the fact that they were both kind of alone in
this new environment probably created an instant sense of camaraderie.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, I can see that. And then we get these
glimpses into their early friendship through these really charming anecdotes,
like the time Poppy called Alex from the bathroom and
he just stayed on the phone with her, or their
tradition of going to different movies at the same theater
just to play this shark jumping game. These little moments
really came to picture of their dynamic.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know, absolutely, it wasn't built on grand room antic gestures,
but on these shared experiences, these inside jokes, this comfort
level that allows for some well, let's unconventional behavior. It's
that kind of foundation that I think resonates with readers
because it feels so real and relatable.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
And then later on, Poppy has this thought in the car,
Alex is not who I thought. I guess. It's such
a simple line, but it speaks to this ongoing process
of discovery and maybe even a hint of those deeper
feelings starting to emerge and change her perception of him.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh that's a classic moment in a friend's to lover story.
As they spend more time together, those initial assumptions start
to fade and they see each other in a new light.
It's that shift that often hooks readers, that sense of oh,
there might be something more here than I initially.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Thought for sure. And we also get to see a
bit of Poppy's professional life as a travel writer for
Rest plus Relaxation makes There's this conversation she has with
her friend Rachel about how the kind of picture perfect
expensive vacations she writes about can feel so disconnected from
the reality most people face. It's interesting to see Poppy
questioning the whole escapism thing.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It adds this layer of depth to her character. Right,
She's not just this care free, vacation obsessed person. She's
thinking critically about the industry she's a part of, and
this conflict she feels between the idyllic and the real
it might be mirroring her own feelings about her relationship
with Alex.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh interesting, is what they have just this comfortable friendship
or could.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It be something more exactly? It's a really smart way
to connect those different aspects of her life.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And then there's that moment where Poppy accidentally texts Alex,
I miss you so much it hurts and his response
just hey, talk about awkward. It really highlights the unspoken tension,
those maybe feelings that have been simmering beneath the surface.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Oh that's so relatable, isn't it? That accidental reveal of
deeper emotions. And then that wave of uncertainty that follows.
What does Hay even mean in that context? Is he
acknowledging it ignoring it? It leaves Poppy and us as
readers hanging.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I know I was cringing reading that, but it's so
well done. And then we hear about this past trip
they took to Vancouver Island. It rained constantly and things
didn't go as planned. But Poppy has this thought. It
speaks to me, It's not about the perfect scenery or
the ideal vacation. It's about being with Alex, regardless of
the circumstances.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That's a powerful moment. It shows that what truly matters
to Poppy is that connection with Alex. It's about finding
that sense of home with another person, even when everything
else is kind of a mess.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Totally, and it's not all serious introspection, right. Yes, there
are some genuinely funny moments in this book, like when
they're in a fetish shop playing there. Does this speak
to you game?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh yeah. Those moments of humor are so important. They
show that playful dynamic, that comfort level they have with
each other. It's endearing and it keeps the story from
getting too bogged down in all the emotional stuff, for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
And then later on, during a trip to Palm Springs
for Alex's brother's wedding, the tension really ramps up. There
are all these unresolved feelings in this sense that something's.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Got to give. Ugh. The wedding setting a classic catalyst
in romance stories. It often forces characters to confront their
own desires, especially when they're surrounded by all this talk
of love and commitment.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Right, and then there's the added complication of Sarah Alex
is on again, off again girlfriend Poppy clearly has some
history with her, and it creates this whole other layer
of tension.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Definitely, Sarah's presence introduces this external conflict and raises the
stakes for Poppy and Alex. There's a sense of urgency
like if they don't act on their feelings now, they
might miss their chance.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So looking back at all these moments from people we
meet on vacation, what we see is this long standing
friendship built on shared history, inside jokes, comfortable silences, and
all those unspoken feelings. And seems like the vacation settings
really amplify everything, pushing them outside their comfort zones and
forcing them to confront what's really going on between them exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And I think that's what makes this book such a
compelling read. It's about that slow burn, that evolution from
friends to something more so for you, the learner, our
deep dive into Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation
has hopefully given you some insight into why this book
has resonated with so many readers. It's a great example
(09:14):
of the friends to lover's trope, but it's also about
those universal desires for genuine connection and finding a sense
of belonging.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, it's clear why this book has been such
a hit. It's funny, it's heartwarming, and it makes you
think about your own relationships and what you're looking for.
If you're a fan of Wrong Comms, or even if
you just enjoy a well told story about human connection,
I highly recommend checking out the full book.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
We always love to hear from you, our listeners. Let
us know what resonated with you from this deep dive,
what other questions you have about the book, and what
other bestsellers you'd like us to cover in future episodes.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Thanks for joining us for another edition of book Cast
Bestsellers in Minutes. We hope we've given you a shortcut
to understanding this beloved bestseller.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Until next time, happy reading.
Hey everybody, and welcome back to book Cast.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Paul here, Hey everyone, Sarah with you today for a
new deep dive.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
YEP book cast Bestsellers in minutes. You know how it is.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Because who really has the time to get through every
single best seller that hits the shelves these days?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Not me. I can barely keep up with my to
read pile as is. But luckily for you, that's where
we come in. We read them, we break them down,
and we give you the need to know and well minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Today's selection is an interesting one. Emily Henry's People we
Meet on Vacation. This one's been on the bestseller list
for quite a while and we got a ton of
requests from you. Our listeners do a deep dive on it.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So what's the deal with people we meet on vacation?
Why is it resonating so strongly with readers?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, let's see what the experts have to say. Abby
Jimman Is she's a USA Today bestselling author herself, and
she called the book compulsively readable, praised its sparkling wit,
and said the romance grabbed me by the heart.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Oh wow, that's a pretty glowing review.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It is right, and the new York Times book review
went even further, calling Emily Henry a star and saying
that people we meet on vacation is a romance that
romcom fans will swoon over. That's high praise from some
pretty reputable sources.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, definitely piques my interest. So what's the plan for
today's deep dive? What should our listeners be ready for.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, we're diving into the heart of what makes this
Friends to Lover's story tick, Why is it so captivating,
what makes it work so Well, We're going to be
looking closely at Poppy and Alex, the main characters, and
exploring their dynamic. Plus, we'll be teasing out some of
the key themes that drive the narrative. And of course
we'll be looking at specific moments, some excerpts that really
illustrate their personalities, their history together, and that's all important conflicts,
(01:40):
you know, the good stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Sounds like a plan, So let's jump right in, shall we.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Right from the start, we get Poppy's perspective on vacations.
She talks about how vacations let you connect with strangers
without that fear of like lasting awkwardness you might feel
back in the real world. It's almost like you can
be a different version of yourself on vacation. This idea
of temporary escape and the freedom it offers, it really
sets the stage, doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It does, And I think it's important to remember that
the vacation setting is more than just a backdrop in
this story. It really is like another character. It provides
this unique space, a sort of temporary bubble where Poppy
and Alex's relationship can evolve and grow without the usual
pressures and expectations they face back home. There's a sense
of possibility, a kind of freedom that comes with being away,
(02:27):
like maybe the rules are a little different when you're
on vacation. I think that's a great point. And then
we get this really vivid description of one of their
vacation moments in this sticky floored bar called only BRR. Poppy,
who's twenty five, describes Alex, also twenty five, as this tall,
sandy haired guy hunched over his phone. But then there's
this detail he's facing the bar, but his legs are
(02:49):
angled toward her, like he's keeping some secret door to
himself open just for me. It's such a small thing,
but it feels so loaded with meaning.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
It is isn't it even in this kind of dingy bar,
Poppy's focus is on this subtle intimacy with Alex. It
hints at this deep connection that exists beneath the surface.
And then she talks about how there's the public Alex
the reserve never quite fully smiling Alex Nilsen that the
rest of the world gets, and then there's the private Alex,
a path straight to the weirdo. As she puts it,
it really emphasizes that special bond they share, and it
(03:19):
makes you wonder if that private connection will ever become
something more or something out in the open.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
And then later when they're in the car, Alex mentions
they didn't take any pictures at the bar. For Poppy's blog,
Poppy dismisses it, saying her readers wouldn't be interested. But
then they had this exchange about remembering the trip how
it really was and looking like ourselves. It's a tiny moment,
but it feels important in terms of how genuine they
are with each other.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
It's huge in a world obsessed with capturing and sharing everything.
They're comfort and just being themselves without needing to document
it for an audience, speaks volumes. It really makes you
think about the value of those unfiltered, unstaged moments of
connection in your own.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Life does And speaking of history, let's go back to
the beginning. We find out they first met at the
University of Chicago orientation. Poppy's first impression was that Alex
didn't fit the kind of artsy, intellectual crowd she thought
she'd be hanging out with. So it's interesting that their
connection wasn't based on those kind of immediate surface levels similarities.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You know that difference is often what makes relationships and
stories so compelling. It forces the characters and us as
readers to look beyond those initial assumptions and appreciate the
individual qualities that make each person unique. And in this case,
the fact that they were both kind of alone in
this new environment probably created an instant sense of camaraderie.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, I can see that. And then we get these
glimpses into their early friendship through these really charming anecdotes,
like the time Poppy called Alex from the bathroom and
he just stayed on the phone with her, or their
tradition of going to different movies at the same theater
just to play this shark jumping game. These little moments
really came to picture of their dynamic.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know, absolutely, it wasn't built on grand room antic gestures,
but on these shared experiences, these inside jokes, this comfort
level that allows for some well, let's unconventional behavior. It's
that kind of foundation that I think resonates with readers
because it feels so real and relatable.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
And then later on, Poppy has this thought in the car,
Alex is not who I thought. I guess. It's such
a simple line, but it speaks to this ongoing process
of discovery and maybe even a hint of those deeper
feelings starting to emerge and change her perception of him.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Oh that's a classic moment in a friend's to lover story.
As they spend more time together, those initial assumptions start
to fade and they see each other in a new light.
It's that shift that often hooks readers, that sense of oh,
there might be something more here than I initially.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Thought for sure. And we also get to see a
bit of Poppy's professional life as a travel writer for
Rest plus Relaxation makes There's this conversation she has with
her friend Rachel about how the kind of picture perfect
expensive vacations she writes about can feel so disconnected from
the reality most people face. It's interesting to see Poppy
questioning the whole escapism thing.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It adds this layer of depth to her character. Right,
She's not just this care free, vacation obsessed person. She's
thinking critically about the industry she's a part of, and
this conflict she feels between the idyllic and the real
it might be mirroring her own feelings about her relationship
with Alex.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Oh interesting, is what they have just this comfortable friendship
or could.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It be something more exactly? It's a really smart way
to connect those different aspects of her life.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And then there's that moment where Poppy accidentally texts Alex,
I miss you so much it hurts and his response
just hey, talk about awkward. It really highlights the unspoken tension,
those maybe feelings that have been simmering beneath the surface.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Oh that's so relatable, isn't it? That accidental reveal of
deeper emotions. And then that wave of uncertainty that follows.
What does Hay even mean in that context? Is he
acknowledging it ignoring it? It leaves Poppy and us as
readers hanging.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I know I was cringing reading that, but it's so
well done. And then we hear about this past trip
they took to Vancouver Island. It rained constantly and things
didn't go as planned. But Poppy has this thought. It
speaks to me, It's not about the perfect scenery or
the ideal vacation. It's about being with Alex, regardless of
the circumstances.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That's a powerful moment. It shows that what truly matters
to Poppy is that connection with Alex. It's about finding
that sense of home with another person, even when everything
else is kind of a mess.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Totally, and it's not all serious introspection, right. Yes, there
are some genuinely funny moments in this book, like when
they're in a fetish shop playing there. Does this speak
to you game?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh yeah. Those moments of humor are so important. They
show that playful dynamic, that comfort level they have with
each other. It's endearing and it keeps the story from
getting too bogged down in all the emotional stuff, for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
And then later on, during a trip to Palm Springs
for Alex's brother's wedding, the tension really ramps up. There
are all these unresolved feelings in this sense that something's.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Got to give. Ugh. The wedding setting a classic catalyst
in romance stories. It often forces characters to confront their
own desires, especially when they're surrounded by all this talk
of love and commitment.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Right, and then there's the added complication of Sarah Alex
is on again, off again girlfriend Poppy clearly has some
history with her, and it creates this whole other layer
of tension.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Definitely, Sarah's presence introduces this external conflict and raises the
stakes for Poppy and Alex. There's a sense of urgency
like if they don't act on their feelings now, they
might miss their chance.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So looking back at all these moments from people we
meet on vacation, what we see is this long standing
friendship built on shared history, inside jokes, comfortable silences, and
all those unspoken feelings. And seems like the vacation settings
really amplify everything, pushing them outside their comfort zones and
forcing them to confront what's really going on between them exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And I think that's what makes this book such a
compelling read. It's about that slow burn, that evolution from
friends to something more so for you, the learner, our
deep dive into Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation
has hopefully given you some insight into why this book
has resonated with so many readers. It's a great example
(09:14):
of the friends to lover's trope, but it's also about
those universal desires for genuine connection and finding a sense
of belonging.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, it's clear why this book has been such
a hit. It's funny, it's heartwarming, and it makes you
think about your own relationships and what you're looking for.
If you're a fan of Wrong Comms, or even if
you just enjoy a well told story about human connection,
I highly recommend checking out the full book.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
We always love to hear from you, our listeners. Let
us know what resonated with you from this deep dive,
what other questions you have about the book, and what
other bestsellers you'd like us to cover in future episodes.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Thanks for joining us for another edition of book Cast
Bestsellers in Minutes. We hope we've given you a shortcut
to understanding this beloved bestseller.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Until next time, happy reading.
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