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‘People We Meet on Vacation’ Tops Netflix as Adaptation Choices Divide Viewers

The creative team defends a streamlined, non‑linear take plus toned‑down intimacy as audiences weigh the film against the book.

Overview

  • Released on Jan. 9, the Netflix film starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth has reached No. 1 on the platform’s movie chart, even as reactions remain split.
  • Critics highlight the leads’ chemistry and glossy rom‑com vibe, while many readers argue key material was cut and suggest the story would have worked better as a miniseries.
  • Director Brett Haley retained the novel’s ‘X summers ago’ flashback structure and added Easter‑egg nods, including a closing image that echoes the book’s cover.
  • Author Emily Henry endorsed several changes for runtime and character focus, including fewer depicted trips and a revised arc for Alex’s girlfriend Sarah.
  • A sex scene faithful to the book was filmed but reduced after test screenings for tonal consistency, and the project is framed as the first in a slate of Henry adaptations in development.