When a popular book is adapted for the screen, changes are almost always made. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is a well-loved romance novel, so Netflix’s adaptation had high expectations. While both versions tell the same story, several important moments were changed or removed.

One of the biggest differences is how the story is told. In the book, readers are inside Poppy’s thoughts, which helps explain her fears and feelings about Alex. This makes the story feel more emotional and personal. In the Netflix adaptation, those thoughts are not included, so viewers must understand the characters through dialogue and acting instead.

Another major change involves the timeline. The novel moves back and forth between past vacations and the present, slowly revealing what went wrong in Poppy and Alex’s friendship. This structure builds suspense, especially around the Croatia trip. In the book, the Croatia vacation is a turning point where everything falls apart, even though readers do not immediately know why. The Netflix version shortens or changes this trip, which makes the conflict feel less intense.

The way Poppy and Alex meet is also different. In the novel, their first meeting is awkward and realistic, showing how different they are and why their friendship works. In the adaptation, this moment is simplified, making their connection feel quicker and less detailed.

Overall, the book focuses more on emotional depth, while the Netflix adaptation prioritizes a smoother and faster story. By changing moments like the Croatia trip and their first meeting, the movie becomes easier to watch but loses some of the meaning that made the book special. Even so, both versions still tell a story about friendship, timing, and love.