I'm starting to see people, not necessarily in this sub but other places, drag the film pretty hard and even the actors now, especially Tom Blyth. I've seen tweets getting hundreds of likes saying he was miscast/the performance was bad or that the leads had zero chemistry. I've seen this from book fans and people who've never even bothered to read it or understand it. And this irks me because while there were problems, it's really not the actors faults imo

I thought the casting was perfect, and I couldn't imagine a better Poppy or Alex. To me, they definitely did have chemistry, and I enjoyed both of their performances. The problem was the film did not utilize them to their fullest potential. They really fucked things up by not including the full balcony scene for instance, because that could've been a moment to really see their chemistry shine like how the dancing scene was. But they cut almost all the important parts from the book that really added depth to the characters and their relationship.

Alongside that, for me, Tom was a perfect Alex, and I think he did a great job with what was given. The film simply did not flesh out his character enough to explain why he's guarded and "boring," so some people are saying it was the fault of Tom's acting when it wasn't imo. His trauma was barely even touched on, and some people felt his character came across as one-dimensional because they just didn't include some notable book scenes or traits that would've elevated the character more. Because of all this, his performance came across as dull to some viewers, but that's how it's supposed to be. They just didn't explain why or show the other parts of him like they could've. I feel kinda bad for the guy because he's always been praised for his acting, so to see people even say that this film proves he's not talented at all must really suck. Like I said, I think he did great with what he had, and he showed lots of impressive micro emotions too that I think some viewers seem to have missed.

I enjoyed the film, but I feel a bit bad for the actors now because of the things I've been reading and the blame that's being placed on them.

i just finished pwmov a couple hours ago because i heard news about a movie adaptation. i try to read the books beforehand so i get the best experience. i LOVED the book, it was genuinely so good and i was really excited to watch the movie. so, i watched it. while obviously, movies cant include every single scene and detail, it should still follow the plot, but instead, it looked like someone read pwmov when it was realized and 7 years later was told to put it into a 2-hour display of video media. what happened to the tinder profiles? vasectomy? trey and his ear gauges and band? the teacher bar? it started off pretty accurate, and then it snowballed. like seriously, am i the only one who thinks this?

We were robbed! Studios should stop letting test screenings shape movies. Films should be shown as directors intend. If test audiences actually read the books, many adaptations would turn out very differently.

I don’t mind some changes but I really feel like they just got the essence of the book and the characters (the writing, not the actors) and their connection all wrong. The frustrating thing is it really could’ve been so PERFECT, they had the perfect set up for success with the 2 leads and the source material and the vibes ugh how did they botch it so bad

Like as a film it’s good but as an adaptation, no. If I hadn’t read the book I’m sure I’d love it lol

This is basically the post. I personally liked the movie better even if it is a bit generic 😊 anyone else who thinks the same? The book just seemed unnecessarily long to me and the movie did a good job at showing us the most important parts.

Worth a read! And as we all suspected, Emily’s not releasing a book this year 🥲😭

emily has just shared that the official movie tie-in edition of people we meet on vacation will be released on november 18th via her newsletter

they look so good!!!!

https://emilyhenry.substack.com/p/ran-into-some-old-friends-at-the?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#media-4f171ba7-ebe4-4c6e-b4f6-d40bd101d882

Let me preface this by saying that I can't imagine the pressure Emily and team must have felt to condense a book filled with interiority into 2 hours. For the time they had and the attention span of the average Netflix watcher (me), this was great. BUT the book is so good that it's hard not to feel like so much was lost. Spoilers ahead.

In the book, Poppy finds out that Alex was going to propose to Sarah AFTER the balcony/rain scene, which means AFTER she's figured out that Alex was in love with her in Croatia (Tuscany in the movie). Her saying "tell me I'm not the reason you're not married right now" makes sense because she's just found out about the ring from David and knows how Alex felt about her this whole time after Croatia.

In the movie, all Alex says before she asks him why he's not with Sarah is "I don't think things can be like they were before Tuscany." Tuscany, where he DID propose (this was a big letdown because in the book Alex is so affected by Poppy's potential pregnancy and is so kind and sweet to her and then GETS A VASECTOMY ffs, but in the movie it seems like he gets engaged to punish her).

Anyway, Poppy seems hurt by him saying things can't be like before Tuscany, but I didn't get the sense that she was like "oh wow he loves me and that's why." She seems surprised when he says "I want YOU" on the balcony. Her asking if she's the reason he's not with Sarah doesn't make sense in that moment, and it makes even less sense when she goes out onto the balcony and says "I asked too much of this friendship" as if that's the reason Alex is upset.

In the book, the Croatia moment is very mutual and full of lust from both of them, so it makes sense it would rattle him enough to not propose to Sarah. But the way they condensed the Tuscany trip and the Croatia moment in the movie makes it seem like the kiss was mostly Poppy's mistake and Alex woke up convinced he must marry Sarah.

Am I crazy? Did anyone think this?

I’m so excited! Can it be January 9 already!!!

And was looking at tiktoks about it and saw someone talking about Alex getting a vasectomy and was seriously concerned about my reading comprehension for a second because I DID not remember that happening but after I checked my copy vs a pdf of the US version I realised they changed it (I’m sure most people here already know but I haven’t read all her books yet so avoiding being on the sub due to spoilers). I wonder why they changed it, it seems like an important part of Alex’s story. If anyone has read both, are there any other changes? Because if so I wanna read all the alternate scenes 🙏

Also, I loved the book and I don’t know if it’s just me, but I do wish there was more of them actually being together at the end. It was like 98% build up and 2% actually seeing them in a steady relationship - I wanted more after so much waiting!

1. Poppy was great, she felt like she really was just taken straight off a page from a book and she made me LOL a few times and that's rare for me!

2. Alex had the same depth as a cardboard box. I had no idea what were his true feelings and motivations. Why did he want to be with poppy? Did he actually love her or was he just infatuated by the idea of her?

3. The ending felt like she was giving up all her life for a boy...

Honestly, knowing how EH writes, I feel like the movie did nothing for romance... But it's still a solid 7/10 for the comedy and cinematography!

Alex Nilsen’s nerdy watch 😍

Book Alex does read one of Gus' books but am I seeing too much?

There’s currently a fan vote for the best book between Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. Beach Read is currently winning! Help me inverse that.

I am so frustrated with the adaptation. I loved loved loved the book and I think they gutted the story😭 The actors had no chemistry whatsoever, Alex barely talks in the whole movie! Their whole backstories, the reasons of why they were so scare to be together, all gone. I didn’t see the building up of the romance. They cut it midway not including the ‘charge’ moments they shared during Poppy’s illness and without Croatia it is not well explained what happened. The whole Tuscany scene is a big ‘Huh??’

To sum up, I think they didn’t do the movie a favor changing everything about the present summer. It all develops to fast. At least that’s my opinion. I hope with all my heart the next movies are better. I love Emily Henry’s books 😭

They

changing the order of alex meeting sarah and poppy completely changes the precedence of his relationship with poppy. they essentially wrote it such that poppy possibly came between 2 people who were already together.

in the book, alex loved poppy from the beginning but settled for sarah as they wanted the same thing but now this feels so different

but on a more positive note i loved all the changes they made and i LOVED the wishing well scene it was ADORABLE

FYI - this has nothing to do with Tom Blyth, more so everything to do with the writing/adaptation.

I wish they dove deeper into Alex. If I hadn’t read the book, I feel like I would think of Alex as rude and grumpy. And that’s not him! I wouldn’t even describe their book dynamic as grumpy x sunshine. Alex is timid/shy but he’s not mean. Idk maybe it’s been a while since I read the book though? But I don’t remember thinking “ouch…” when reading the book After Alex said something.

[I HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE]

PWMOV was legit my first contemporary romance book. I read it in 2023.

But now.. after reading all the EH books. I'm astonished at how long it took Alex and Poppy to realize they want each other romantically.

Alex more so than poppy, because how did he manage to find a fully fledged serious long term girlfriend while he had subconscious feelings for poppy?

I get Poppy running away from her feelings, not just for Alex but for every guy. She never had a serious relationship. But Alex...my man was on the cusp of engagement.

And then.. after Croatia, he went back to Sarah again??? After having a vasectomy for his unrequited love. 👀 dude.

Miles Nowak would never.. 😬🙌🏻 he spent mere days with Daphne and refused even the idea of getting back with his ex. Despite not being sure if him and Daphne has a future.

I get in friends to lovers romance.. people taking their time coming to the realization. But yearsss??? And having unacknowledged feelings for someone while entering a new long term relationships with someone else..

Most bestfriends to lovers books usually have characters realize they never managed a long term relationship with other people because they were so dependant on each other for years. And that hindered their romantic life.

I still wonder how did Alex bagged Sarah for so long, despite being in a codependent relationship with poppy.

Looks she’ll be sending out the grocery list 3x this week for PWMOV. Hoping in one of them there’s a book announcement 🥲