New Hit Netflix Movie Slammed by Fans of the Original Book: “Seriously Terrible”

Netflix’s latest book-to-movie adaptation is proving divisive. While it’s currently a hit with general audiences – topping the charts on Netflix and earning an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes – many book fans are disappointed, saying it significantly deviates from the original story.

I was so excited when I heard People We Meet on Vacation was getting a movie adaptation! But honestly, the disappointment started right away with the casting choices. It just didn’t feel right compared to how I pictured the characters in the book, and it’s only gotten worse from there. The story follows Poppy and Alex, who are best friends but live far apart. They make it a tradition to take a summer trip together every year. It’s a sweet story about their friendship, and whether they might actually be meant for something more than just friendship – something everyone around them seems to already know!

Where Did The Film Go Wrong?

One viewer vented their frustration on Reddit, calling the movie “seriously terrible.” While they thought the book was okay, they doubted it could be adapted well, especially given the lack of connection between the characters. The book at least offered internal thoughts to help develop those characters, but the movie completely missed that, and made unnecessary changes to the story. Many others agreed, with one person pointing out that the film lost everything that made the book worth adapting. They felt the movie failed to capture the romantic tension between the characters, which was clear in the book – the will-they-won’t-they dynamic was completely absent.

Reviews are mixed. Tania Lamb of Lola Lambchops surprisingly thought the movie adaptation of “People We Meet on Vacation” was actually better than the book. However, Alistair Ryder of Looper gave it a middling 6 out of 10 stars, noting it heavily borrows from When Harry Met Sally. While it tries to feel modern and relatable, Ryder suggests this approach might not land well with viewers familiar with the original film, despite some of its inherent charm.

Most critics agree the movie’s plot feels familiar, echoing a classic romantic comedy. However, they say the strong connection between the two lead actors, Tom Blythe and Emily Bader, is what really makes the story work.

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2026-01-12 00:40

Where Did The Film Go Wrong?

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