Book title: You and Me On Vacation
ISBN: 978-0-241-99223-4
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publication year: 2021
Price: RM49.95
On vacation, you can be anyone you want. Like a good book or an incredible outfit, being on vacation transports you into another version of yourself,” – Emily Henry, Author
This is the story of Alex and Poppy, two best friends who always enjoy an annual summer vacation together. However, due to some fallouts between the two, a vacation trip is necessary to mend the relationship.
The book is probably one of the most hyped, particularly among TikTok users who have dubbed themselves as #BookTokCommunity. This book takes a different approach to the friends-to-lovers theme, with Poppy being eccentric and Alex being more prim and proper. But I found both characters endearing in their own ways.
Poppy’s point of view is used throughout the story, and the narrative alternates between the present and flashbacks of her regular summer vacations with Alex, which began twelve years ago.
With each flashback bringing us to the present day, we can see the two’s budding friendship progressing from slow burn to full-on romance.
I enjoy chapters set in the past. We get to see Poppy and Alex’s friendship blossom, and it was lovely to see how much they cared for each other before romantic feelings entered the picture, as well as the two’s character growth.
In fact, I thought the overall emphasis on various vacation destinations to be really interesting. This does not refer to meeting strangers on vacation, as the title of the book, ‘You and Me On Vacation,’ suggests.
It is the version of oneself that they discover or that others discover of them while we are away from home with nothing to lose. And this book depicts Poppy at her best during her annual vacation with Alex.
The quote “It hurts to want it all, so many things that can’t coexist within the same life,” illustrates Alex and Poppy’s connection, but the issue is that their goals aren’t aligned, and there are some things that may be tough to compromise on.
Despite their opposing personalities, Poppy and Alex appear to have a great friendship, despite the ups and downs that come with it.
The dialogue between the two is also highly amusing, with constant banter and clever use of humour.
Because the book was written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the vacations featured in the book brought back many holiday memories that we had missed out on for the past three years. While on vacation, the two meet amusing and unusual characters that provide comic relief.
The vacation scene, on the other hand, becomes repetitive, which may bore some readers. In this example, where Poppy constantly referring to their trip to Croatia without actually explaining what happened, I’m not sure if there is actually a conflict between the two.
The book also addresses several of the author’s concerns, such as whether compatibility is indeed the key to a happy relationship? Is it true that timing is important in a relationship? These are ideas that are generally recognised by the public but are usually disregarded.
This book, too, contains various themes that hit close to home, such as family, finding your place in life, burnouts, and uncertainty after achieving certain life goals, which may resonate with readers on a personal level.
Despite the leap in timelines, it was a well-executed and touching read, with great comedic moments that are also relatable in real life.
Overall, with her skills at crafting love stories, the author has definitely mastered the romantic comedy genre, and this is undeniably one of those books that I would recommend to people who primarily read romance or fiction.
