✈️People We Meet On Vacation (2026): Cast, Plot, Release Date– Netflix’s Romantic Escape of 2026

What if your best friend was also the love of your life — and it took a decade of vacations to realize it? Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, People We Meet on Vacation, is about to answer that question in the most heartfelt way possible. Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, the rom-com launches globally on January 9, 2026, bringing to life a tender, funny, and timeless love story that fans have been waiting for.

🌸 What is People We Meet on Vacation About?

For nearly ten years, Poppy (Emily Bader), the free-spirited adventurer, and Alex (Tom Blyth), the pragmatic bookworm, have been unlikely best friends. Though they live in different cities, every summer they reunite for a week-long vacation — their sacred tradition.

But after a mysterious falling out, the duo hasn’t spoken in years. Now, they’ve agreed to take one last trip together. As they retrace their steps and confront old memories, the careful balance of their friendship unravels. The truth becomes harder to ignore: maybe what everyone else has seen all along is real — they’re the perfect romantic match.

Emily Bader captures it best: “It’s quite a simple slice-of-life story about two people just being able to love themselves and therefore love each other.”

🎭 The Cast – A Dream Ensemble

At the heart of the film are Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Emily Bader (My Lady Jane), whose chemistry won over both the author and director. Emily Henry herself admits: “I watched their chemistry read four times in 12 hours, and I loved it more every single time.”

But the supporting cast makes the journey even richer:

• Sarah Catherine Hook (First Kill, The White Lotus)

• Jameela Jamil (The Good Place)

• Lucien Laviscount (Emily in Paris)

• Lukas Gage (You, Dead Boy Detectives)

• Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why)

• Tommy Do (Hacks)

• Alice Lee (The Union)

• Alan Ruck (Succession)

• Molly Shannon (The White Lotus)

Director Brett Haley praises his leads: “Emily and Tom’s chemistry is electric. They capture that opposites-attract dynamic in a way that feels effortless and true.”

❤️ Poppy & Alex – Opposites Who Complete Each Other

Haley describes Poppy as “funny, outspoken, zany, but also full of heart and vulnerability.” With Bader’s razor-sharp comedic timing and emotional range, she’s being compared to rom-com icons like Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts.

Alex, on the other hand, is the steady, logical counterbalance. Haley reveals: “Tom Blyth leaned into Alex’s logic and restraint in a way that made the character feel incredibly real. His eyes are so expressive you could just watch him think.”

It’s this contrast — free-spirited chaos and measured calm — that gives People We Meet on Vacation its irresistible pull.

📚 From Page to Screen

Yes, the movie is based on Emily Henry’s 2021 novel, which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list and has sold over 2 million copies in the US alone. It remains Henry’s highest-selling book and is now her first-ever book-to-film adaptation.

Director Haley admits the adaptation required tough cuts, but the heart of the story stayed intact: “Their love story is the spine of the book, and it had to be the spine of the film.”

The movie spans nearly a decade of Alex and Poppy’s friendship, missed chances, and emotional build-up. Instead of a whirlwind romance, this is about love that grows quietly, shaped by years of trust and shared adventures.

📅 Release Date & Streaming

Pack your bags and mark your calendars:

• Premiere Date: January 9, 2026

• Streaming: Only on Netflix

As Haley puts it, “My hope is that fans of the book see the care we put into bringing Poppy and Alex to life on screen, and that new audiences fall for them just as deeply.”

So grab your sunscreen, pick a playlist for the road trip, and get ready — People We Meet on Vacation is about to make you laugh, cry, and believe in love all over again.