Whether you prefer a calm movie night at home or getting lost in a beautiful novel for hours on end, the release of People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix has sparked a familiar debate for the world: is the movie better, or does the book still take the cake?

Originally written by Goodreads Choice Award winner Emily Henry and published in 2021, the romance novel People We Meet on Vacation quickly became a favorite among many readers. Now, with the 2026 film adaptation starring Emily Bander as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex, audiences are split as to which they like more,but after reading the book and watching the movie, one thing feels clear to me: the book tells this story better.

The book People We Meet on Vacation is about the evolving but complicated relationship between two best friends, Alex and Poppy. While the movie follows the basic storyline and some of the core moments from the book, it tends to rush through the true depth of the friendship that makes the connection between the two main characters meaningful. 

In the book, we follow the characters from their first meeting during their college years. Readers witness the two characters’ shared experiences and inside jokes from the beginning of their friendship. That slow development in the book is what makes their transition from friends into something more, feel more natural and not as forced as the movie made it feel.

In the film, the actors’ chemistry comes across well on screen, but they shortened that journey into a limited runtime. The important moments that the two characters share either feel quick or are missing, and as a result, Poppy and Alex’s relationship feels less layered. Without the internal thoughts and reflections that the book provides, Poppy and Alex’s emotions only scratched the surface in the film, while the book dug deep. 

Obviously, there are many supporters of the movie, and they might argue that it’s more convenient and engaging to watch the movie than to read the book. It’s a fair argument because movies typically are easier to consume, and seeing the characters act out the book on screen can be exciting for many viewers.

The performances by Emily Bader and Tom Blyth do bring energy to the roles and enhance many scenes to make the movie fun to watch, but it doesn’t show the story built on emotional growth. This is where the book stands out to me. Emily Henry’s story allows readers to get the full experience of Poppy’s personality, humor, uncertainty, and her overall growth over time. Alex is more than just the “quiet” person he is made to be in the movie. His thoughts and motivations are explored in ways the movie never fully captured. In the book, their relationship is felt on a deeper level than in the movie, making their connection and emotional journey feel more genuine and meaningful to the audience.

None of this means the movie has no value. It can be a fun way to revisit or discover the story for the first time, but only experiencing the film means missing out on what makes People We Meet on Vacation special in the first place. If you’re heading to your local library or just looking for your next read, pick up the novel and experience the full story for yourself. You might find that sometimes, the pages do beat the screen.