To put it bluntly: "People We Meet on Vacation" isn't about meeting new people on vacation.
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth co-star in the first installment in author Emily Henry's cinematic universe, which hit Netflix Jan. 9. An homage to "When Harry Met Sally...," the story follows best friends Poppy and Alex from when they meet at college through years of annual summer trips.
The film is a romantic romp, with settings like Barcelona, Tuscany, New Orleans and the woods of Canada, set to a soundtrack consisting of Robyn, Taylor Swift and Paula Abdul. And it hits all the romantic comedy beats: a hilarious miscommunication between Alex and Poppy's dad (played by Alan Ruck), a steamy kiss on a balcony in the pouring rain (the actors say it was actually freezing) and a sprint to profess one's love (through an Ohio neighborhood, rather than an airport).
The book was first published in May 2021, marking the second in Henry's meteoric run of romantic comedies. She published six books in five years — "Beach Read" (2020), "People We Meet on Vacation" (2021), "Book Lovers" (2022), "Happy Place" (2023), "Funny Story" (2024), "A Great Big Beautiful Life" (2025) — almost all of which are currently optioned for screen adaptations. (On Jan. 8, Deadline reported that "Funny Story" is headed to development at Netflix, while Henry herself is set to write the screenplays for both "Funny Story" and "Happy Place.")
"I think it's so amazing that we got to be a part of the first one," Bader tells TODAY.com in a joint interview with Blyth. "I do think that it's going to be a very long journey for (Henry)."
"Emily Henry's not only a genius, but a very wonderful human being," Bader continues.
"A very thoughtful, emotionally available human being," Blyth adds.
Below, the co-stars unpack answer all on our burning questions, starting with the often mused fan question, why is it called "People We Meet on Vacation"? (Of note, the U.K. version of the book is titled, "You and Me on Vacation.")
Their answer? Surprisingly deep.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
As a longtime fan of the book, some people say the title 'People We Meet on Vacation' doesn't make the most sense, since it's just between two people over the course of many years. How would you both explain why that title is important?
Tom Blyth: Why is it called "People We Meet on Vacation" when it's mostly about the two of us —
Emily Bader: About two people who don't meet on vacation?
TB: I think that's kind of the point. I think it's about these two people meeting new versions of each other again and again and again over time, and falling in love with each other again and again, and more and more. So it's like (gesturing between them) these are the people we meet on vacation.
EB: We meet different versions of ourselves. That's it. Canon now.
This is a love letter to 'When Harry Met Sally...,' and the film has a lot of tropes. What would you say is the trope your character best embodies or puts their own spin on?
EB: It's funny because Poppy almost sort of is taking the role of the man character that you often see in the rom-coms. Like if we're talking "When Harry Met Sally...," (she's) more Billy Crystal. And I think that's really fun. She's very carefree and takes up all the space that she wants to, which I think is an exciting new interpretation.
TB: I think for Alex, his unique spin is the "Vacation Alex" aspect, which is him slowly coming out of his shell because of this person who gives him the power to express himself — epitomized by him stripping off and running into the sea.
EB: Getting naked. (Laughs.)
That rain scene, that kiss on the balcony. How was that pulled off? What can you share about the real-life logistics?
EB: There's a lot of them. It's very logistical.
TB: Very technical.
EB: A lot of gallon tanks filled with just ice cold, chilly water that they that they just pelt you with.
TB: We'd love to tell you it was super romantic to film the rain scene, but it's very cold and loud because the machines were on non-stop.
EB: And I think it was like 4 in the morning. So we were very delusional. There was a lot of giggling.
TB: And there was a storm in Barcelona anyway so it was already —
EB: It was already raining, but we couldn't —
TB: Couldn't use it because you can't see it on camera. But yeah, we just, we hung in there, relied on each other, and I think we pulled it off.
EB: We'll see.
This is the first movie adaptation of what some have dubbed the Emily Henry cinematic universe. Did that come with any pressure? Do you have any advice for whoever might join next?
EB: I think it's so amazing that we got to be a part of the first one. I do think that it's going to be a very long journey for her. Advice? Have fun. They're amazing people. Emily Henry's not only a genius, but a very wonderful human.
TB: Very thoughtful, emotionally available human being.
EB: Emotionally intelligent. And so are the fans of her books.
TB: Lean in. Have fun. You can have that too much fun, that's what I learned. I went into this trying to play Alex — he's quite serious at times. But it's so much fun when he gets to release. And so, yeah, as much release as possible.
The needle drops — after the trailer dropped, I listened to 'Hang With Me' constantly. In the film, there's Paula Abdul, there's Robyn. Emily, what does that show about Poppy? And then for Alex, what kind of music do you think he likes that we didn't get to hear?
EB: I think for Poppy, her music taste is also sort of seen in the way that she dresses. She's someone who reacts really strongly to something that she loves, and once she loves it, it's hers forever, even if it makes absolutely no sense in her closet or her catalog of music. And I love that about her. She just, she likes what she likes, and it's all over the map.
TB: The soundtrack's amazing. (Director) Brett Haley is a musical genius. He picks songs like nobody else. I think it's going to go down in history as a great movie soundtrack.
For Alex, I think the musical side of him that we didn't see, I've seen him described as a black cat boyfriend. Instead of like a golden retriever, he's more of a black cat. And so I think it's like The Smiths. "500 Days of Summer" kind of vibes.
EB: Oh, he is such a "500 Days of Summer" guy. And absolutely no jazz, apparently.
TB: But he's got moves.
