Rewind this Valentine’s Day with dream vacations, a destination wedding and a decade-long friend-to-lovers romance with Netflix’s “People We Meet on Vacation.”
Based on Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, the film stars Emily Bader as Poppy Wright, a vivacious lifestyle journalist, and Tom Blyth as Alex Nilsen, a reserved aspiring professor.
This slow burn unfolds through flashbacks spanning seven summers of vacations together and a present-day reunion at Nilsen’s brother’s wedding in Barcelona, with tension resulting from a two-year break in their friendship.
Opposites from the start, Wright and Nilsen share a disastrous car ride home from college to Linfield, Ohio, which bonds them forever over a shared love of travel. Over the next seven summers, the two’s relationship grows and their vacations become an essential escape formed by a pact that no matter where they are in life, they will meet every summer for a trip.
In the present day, tensions between Wright and Nilsen surge as the two stand outside Wright’s rental space. Nilsen confronts Wright for lying about her ability to attend the wedding after his brother reveals she had work in Greece, not Barcelona. Wright answers that she missed her best friend and wished things could “go back to the way they were before Tuscany,” the cause of their tension.
Unlike their other trips, this escapade in Italy lacks the familiarity of Nilsen and Wright’s relationship in the presence of their current partners, Trey and Sarah. However, this stiffness does not stop Nilsen from rushing to Wright’s side the moment she needs him.
A vulnerable and emotional moment turns into a scrambled affirmation from Wright that they are best friends and nothing more. This confirmation of their relationship spurs Nilsen into proposing to Sarah the next morning.
Wright offers her congratulations but privately expresses her doubts to Nilsen about his future, saying he is “settling.” Nilsen, angered by Wright’s judgment, declares their trip to Italy will be their last together.
Back in Barcelona, Nilsen decides he is done settling and follows Wright inside exclaiming, “I don’t want to go back to the way things were before Tuscany.”
Wright, overwhelmed by the tension and heat of her rental with its broken AC, tears back outside into the rain with Nilsen following.
Thunder rolls as the two argue. Wright demands Nilsen tell her he didn’t leave Sarah because of her. Nilsen cannot do that, saying instead, “of course you were the reason.” Both confess their desire and spend a long-awaited night together.
The next evening, while on the dance floor, Nilsen questions Wright about their future. Wright, not wanting to “ruin the moment” with “real-life,” upsets Nilsen as she hesitates to choose him over her high-speed life and he leaves her there alone.
Back home, Wright realizes a life with Nilsen is what she wants more than anything. She resigns from her job and returns to Linfield to find him.
She receives no answer at his door and just when she is about to give up, Nilsen jogs by, oblivious to her on his morning run. With no other option, Wright does what she hates most and runs after him.
Slower than Nilsen, Wright only catches him when he stops at a crosswalk. Breathless, she tells him of her love, declaring that he is her home and not just a vacation. Nilsen answers with only a kiss.
The rom-com concludes with the couple on a stunning beach — their first vacation in a new life built together.
