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A Virtual Vacation

“On vacation, you can be anyone you want.��

After a brief yet memorable encounter at college freshmen orientation, Poppy and Alex don’t meet again until they carpool home the summer after. Their disdain for one another soon turns to like, and the two develop a deep and lasting friendship that spans over 10 years. Their yearly summer vacations together both solidifies and destroys their friendship as the vacations bring to light Alex and Poppy’s true feelings for one another and force them to come to terms with their relationship. Will they choose love, or is the risk of ruining their friendship too great?

One shouldn’t read this for the plot. Modeled as a modern retelling of When Harry Met Sally , it is obvious how things will play out. (view spoiler)[However, reading to see how these two characters will FINALLY get there is quite fun to experience.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

The reader experiences the dynamics of their friendship through Poppy’s POV. The narrative switches back and forth between the present and past vacations. Their vacations are not told in order, which was sometimes frustrating. There is a lot of buildup to the vacation that ruined it all, and when all is finally revealed, I was a little underwhelmed.

I loved both Alex and Poppy’s characters. They are relatable characters, but there were times when I wanted to shake both of them. More than a romance, a good chunk of the book revolves around identity and acceptance.

Emily Henry is quickly becoming a favorite. She doesn’t do sap and cheese, which often takes me out of romance novels. This book is filled with drama, tension, humor, and wit. Most importantly, this book allowed me to “travel�� during the pandemic. I highly recommend for a good summer escape!

A big Thank You to Elisha Katz from Berkley Publishing, who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!