Netflix’s First Adaptation From Popular BookTok Author Instantly Becomes No. 1 On Streaming Charts

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Emily Henry’s novel, People We Meet on Vacation, has been adapted into a popular movie now streaming on Netflix. The film tells the story of Poppy and Alex, two best friends since college who have taken a yearly trip together for the past ten years. After one vacation goes wrong, they stop speaking, but they attempt to reconnect on one last trip.

Since its release on Netflix, “People We Meet on Vacation” has quickly become the most popular movie on the platform. It’s currently ahead of other titles like “Evil Influencer” at number two, followed by “The Bad Guys,” “Soul on Fire,” and “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Before its release, the movie adaptation of Henry’s first book was highly anticipated for 2026. The author gained a large following on BookTok during the pandemic, starting with her 2020 novel, Beach Read, which became a New York Times bestseller. A year later, People We Meet on Vacation also hit the bestseller list, eventually catching the attention of Netflix and leading to a movie adaptation.

Daniel Escale/Netflix

Netflix has cast Rachel Zegler (known for Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and Jane Bader (My Lady Jane) in a new project. Brett Haley will direct, and the screenplay is being written by Yulin Kuang, Amos Vernon, and Nunzio Randazzo.

The new Netflix movie is both a hit with viewers and critics. Early reviews for People We Meet on Vacation were mostly positive, with praise for the two main actors and its nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic romantic comedies. Currently, the film has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences seem to love it just as much, giving it an 83% score on the Popcornmeter.

Before the new Netflix film even came out, plans were already underway to adapt four more of Emily Henry’s books, including Beach Read and Book Lovers. Her novels are now highly desirable for movie and TV adaptations, and the positive reception to People We Meet on Vacation marks a successful first step into the world of on-screen adaptations for the author.

Netflix likely recognized the potential for success with Emily Henry’s stories, and recently announced they’re developing both Funny Story and Happy Place. While she was an executive producer on People We Meet on Vacation, she’ll now also write the screenplays for these next two films. Given the enthusiastic response to her work, this could be the start of a lasting collaboration.

People We Meet on Vacation is now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-01-10 20:00