Cups & Curiosity

There is something about summer books that makes me want to slow down.

Maybe it’s because they remind me that life isn’t measured by how much we accomplish, but by the moments we remember. A road trip with the windows down. A conversation that lasts long after the coffee has gone cold. A place that feels special, not because of where it is, but because of who you’re with.

That is exactly how People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry felt.

I recently read this one with my book club, and I think it made the experience even more special. There is something wonderful about finishing a story and then sitting down with other readers to talk about the characters, debate their choices, laugh over favorite moments, and discover details you may have missed. It’s one of those books that sparks conversation because everyone walks away relating to it in a slightly different way.

At its heart, this is a story about friendship. The kind that quietly becomes woven into your life until you can’t imagine your biggest moments without that person standing somewhere in the background. Every summer, Poppy and Alex take a vacation together. They are complete opposites in almost every way, yet somehow they fit together perfectly. Then something happens that changes everything, and after two years without speaking, Poppy asks Alex to take one final trip.

The story moves between their vacations over the years and the present day, slowly revealing what brought them together and what ultimately drove them apart. I found myself looking forward to each glimpse into their past, watching their friendship evolve one trip at a time.

What I loved most about this novel wasn’t actually the romance.

It was the comfort.

Poppy and Alex feel like real people. Their conversations are messy, funny, awkward, and full of the little moments that make relationships meaningful. Emily Henry captures something that is surprisingly difficult to write well: the feeling of knowing someone so completely that silence is just as comfortable as conversation.

Of course, I also loved traveling alongside them. Palm Springs, New Orleans, Croatia, Maine. Every destination had its own personality, but none of them stole the spotlight. Instead, each place became another chapter in their friendship. It reminded me that the best vacations aren’t always about seeing the most famous landmarks. They’re about the people sitting across the table from you, laughing over dinner or watching the sunset without feeling the need to fill every quiet moment.

Beneath all of the humor and witty banter, there is also a thoughtful message about happiness.

Poppy spends much of the story chasing excitement, believing the next destination or the next adventure might finally make her feel settled. But little by little, she begins to realize that happiness isn’t always found somewhere new. Sometimes it’s found in familiar places, familiar routines, and the people who make those ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

I think that’s one of the reasons this story stayed with me after I turned the final page.

Lately, I’ve been finding joy in slower moments. Tending my little garden after work. Sitting outside as the string lights come on. Reading a good book with a cup of chamomile tea nearby. None of those things would make for a glamorous travel brochure, but they’ve become some of my favorite parts of the day. People We Meet on Vacation quietly reminded me that a meaningful life doesn’t have to be filled with constant adventure. Sometimes the most beautiful memories are made in the company we keep and the simple moments we choose to notice.

Emily Henry has a gift for writing stories that are funny without trying too hard and emotional without feeling overly dramatic. Her characters feel wonderfully imperfect, and by the end, they begin to feel like people you’ve actually spent time with.

When I closed the book, I wasn’t just wishing I could visit the places Poppy and Alex traveled.

I was thinking about the people who have walked beside me through different seasons of life. The friends who make ordinary days feel a little brighter. The conversations I’ll remember years from now, even if I forget where they happened.

Maybe that’s what this book is really about.

Not the vacations.

The people we meet along the way, and the ones we choose to keep coming back to.

This is the perfect summer read for anyone who loves heartfelt friendships, slow burn romance, witty banter, and stories that remind you the best adventures aren’t always about where you go. Sometimes they’re about who is beside you for the journey.

Journal Prompt

Who are the people that have made ordinary moments in your life unforgettable?

Take a few minutes to reflect on the friendships that have shaped you. Is there someone you’ve drifted away from who still crosses your mind? Or someone who has been there through every season of your life? Write about a memory that still makes you smile, and consider how those relationships have influenced the person you’ve become. Sometimes our greatest adventures aren’t tied to a destination at all, but to the people who walked beside us.