About “People We Meet on Vacation” in a few words:

People We Meet on Vacation is a 2026 Netflix romantic comedy based on Emily Henry’s bestselling novel. It follows Poppy Wright, a free-spirited travel writer, and her long-time best friend Alex Nilsen, a more grounded soul who’d rather read than roam. After years of annual trips and unspoken feelings, a rekindled journey forces them to ask the big question: is this just friendship or something more?

Meet the characters from People We Meet on Vacation

Poppy

Poppy is this infectious bundle of optimism who somehow balances being totally controlling and utterly spontaneous — like color-coded itineraries in one hand and a last-minute ferry ticket in the other. She’s loud with feelings, quick to forgive, and way more sentimental than she lets on (you can practically see the playlist she makes in her head). Rolewise she’s the emotional engine of the group, the person everyone leans on whether she planned it or not, which is hilarious because she’ll also panic about whether she remembered to pack a spare toothbrush. She collects postcards and has a mildly embarrassing habit of narrating other people’s lives in her head; also, she swears she doesn’t cry during rom-coms but will absolutely cry at dog rescue videos.

Alex

Alex is that quietly intense, low-key brilliant type who says two sentences and somehow nails the mood of the whole room — also prone to stubborn sulks, which are sort of his aesthetic. He’s grounded, thoughtful, annoyingly practical at 2 a.m., but every so often he’ll do something wildly romantic and surprise everybody (including himself). He plays the role of the steady counterweight: reliable, patient, slightly mysterious, the person who remembers the weird little details nobody else does. He hates small talk but hums badly to ’90s hits in the car, collects old maps but refuses to admit he likes museums, and somehow always ends up with sand in his shoes.

Sarah

Sarah is the sharp, quick-witted friend who says what everyone’s thinking but nicer, or at least with more sarcasm — she’s the group’s common sense and its secret cheerleader. Practical to a fault, she organizes people with an efficiency that looks suspiciously like boss energy, yet she hides a soft spot for sappy poetry and tiny ceramic animals that she’ll never display. Her role is the reality-check and the confidante, the one who can hand you a hard truth and then make you laugh about it five minutes later. Also, she has a houseplant named Keith (yes, she talks to it), and she’ll insist she hates surprises but then tearily loves them when they happen.

Trey

Trey is the charming, slightly chaotic free spirit who lives in the moment and is simultaneously the most fun and the least predictable person you’ll meet. He’s charismatic, endlessly optimistic, and will bail on dinner plans for a sunset surf session but somehow remembers your birthday better than your siblings do. Functionally he’s the wildcard who pushes everyone out of their comfort zones — not always in helpful ways, but usually with good intentions and a beer in hand. He wears the same pair of sunglasses nearly every day, collects random concert ticket stubs, and insists he’s terrible at commitment while being quietly loyal in that inconvenient, infuriating way.