July - People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
July is begging us to read something fun that reminds us of the days when summer meant travel and relaxation. People We Meet on Vacation is that perfect book, the rom-com for the summer.
Poppy and Alex have been friends since college. They are completely wrong for each other for so many reasons and, of course, perfect for each other.
Poppy loves to travel, so every summer, she and Alex take a vacation. They meet people, take pictures for Poppy's blog, and indulge each of their weird quirks. Alex wants to find a book store, and Poppy wants to rummage through antique stores and vintage shops.
We all know that Poppy and Alex will end up together, but this book is not about a suspenseful ending. It's about the journey, people! The entertaining banter, the twists and turns that keep them apart, the other woman, and the angst of ruining their friendship. The slow-burning sexual attraction.
Yes, it's fun, but it's also smart. Emily Henry gives us real characters in this romp of a story and even a few genuine insights. Poppy and Alex remind us, very gently but with certainty, how absolutely terrifying it is to be in love and not be sure you are loved back. The vulnerability of not knowing if you could survive the loss keeps them from reaching for the person that they want the most. And though this might be what's happening in every "boy meets girl" story ever written. Here, Henry deftly delivers. She also takes the time to create authentic childhoods for Poppy and Alex and shows us how those shaped them as adults. Their histories impact their psyches, and these details make their story a little deeper and a step above your typical ROMCOM.
But besides that, we get to travel with Poppy and Alex. After a year or more of not leaving our houses, this is the perfect opportunity to take to the road in a summer novel. We get to travel to Sanibel Island forget that it rained the whole time they were there. And the San Juans where they ended up meeting a host of fun young people despite the fact that they were staying in a retirement village. And the trip to the desert of Palm Springs in the heat of summer? Ahh… remember when we went places?
Take the plunge. And join Poppy and Alex on vacation. They don't always stay in the best places, but they are such a fun couple to travel with; you won't want to miss the chance to go along.
Support your local bookstore and pick up a copy, or find more books by Emily Henry at https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com/books or at Blue Bicycle Books.
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