Jakarta.  There’s something instantly comforting about People We Meet on Vacation. It feels like the kind of romcom you watch when you don’t want to think too hard, just sit back, feel the vibes, and let the story carry you. Adapted from the bestselling novel, the film gives off strong summer energy, the kind that makes you want to go on vacation and maybe romanticize your life a little more than usual.

The story follows Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen, longtime friends who reconnect through annual trips over the years. What I like is how the film doesn’t rush their relationship. It leans into the awkward pauses, the missed timing, and the feelings that sit unspoken for way too long. Travel isn’t just a backdrop here, it becomes a marker of where they are emotionally, and how much (or how little) they’re willing to admit to themselves.

A lot of the charm comes from how opposite the two leads are. Tom Blyth plays Alex as stiff, awkward, and very vanilla — someone who sticks to routines and emotional safety. Next to him is Poppy, played by Emily Bader, who is fun, colorful, and adventurous, the type who collects experiences instead of schedules. Their relationship thrives on that constant push and pull, and honestly, that tension is what keeps it interesting.

What made Poppy feel more real to me is her insecurity beneath all that confidence. She’s afraid of being truly known, of what people might think if they stay longer than a week. That fear adds emotional weight to the story and makes the friends-to-lovers trope feel more grounded, less like a fantasy and more like something that could actually happen.

People We Meet on Vacation doesn’t rely on big romantic speeches or dramatic twists. It keeps things soft, subtle, and low-stakes. It’s warm, easy, and comforting, exactly the kind of romcom you’d pick for a weekend watch when you just want chemistry, a little emotional tension, and a story that feels familiar in the best way.