Pop Culture Happy Hour: "People We Meet on Vacation" & What's Making Us Happy

Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Linda Holmes (NPR)
Guests: Waylon Wong (The Indicator from Planet Money), Candice Lim (Slate's Icy Am I?, former PCHH producer)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Netflix adaptation of Emily Henry’s beloved romance novel People We Meet on Vacation. Linda Holmes is joined by pop culture aficionados Waylon Wong and Candice Lim for a lively, critical discussion about the challenges of adapting a dialogue-driven, charming book into film form. In the back half, the panelists share what's currently making them happy in the world of pop culture.

Discussion Breakdown

1. First Impressions of "People We Meet on Vacation"

[00:57–06:11]

• Waylon Wong’s Take:

  • Praised the ending and lead actors (Emily Bader and Tom Blythe)
  • Found the film "oddly inert" and "flattened," missing the novel’s effervescence
  • Criticized reduction of thematic depth and specificity
  • Quote:

    “It felt oddly inert to me… it never really had that kind of effervescent quality that you want from a really nice rom-com… It felt very generic.” (Waylon Wong, 01:56)

• Candice Lim’s Perspective:

  • Deep personal attachment to the book; film was one of her most anticipated
  • Appreciated the visual and musical elements
  • Disappointment over seemingly minor adaptation changes that "change the dish completely"
  • Quote:

    “The book itself is dialogue. It is line, line, line. It’s quippy. It’s great as it is. ... So I’m not really sure why you would change it.” (Candice Lim, 03:08)

  • Notable frustration with change of the college setting from University of Chicago to Boston College

2. Trouble With Adaptation: Format & Faithfulness

[04:47–10:19]

• Linda Holmes’ Analysis:

  • Argued the book would have better fit as an eight-episode limited series
  • Highlighted the loss of incremental, dialogue-driven relationship development
  • Pointed out condensed pacing and abrupt shifts in character dynamics
  • Quote:

    “When you try to go directly to the point, you wind up cutting out a lot of what develops the relationship.” (Linda Holmes, 06:08)

  • Criticized unnecessary additions (e.g., Alan Ruck and Molly Shannon as Poppy’s parents) for feeling generic and irrelevant
    • Scene lampooned: Sex-misunderstanding conversation (06:53–07:12)
    • Quote:

      “Emily Henry would never.” (Linda Holmes, 07:15)

• Panel Consensuses:

  • Both main characters were "flattened," especially the depictions of Poppy’s "vacation-self" vs. "home-self"
  • The novel’s central premise (finding home in another person vs. in a place) gets lost
  • Omission of text message communication undercuts the long-distance friendship dynamic

3. Locations: Lost Meaning & Stakes

[10:19–11:34]

• Importance of Location:

  • Candice argued moving the present-day setting from Palm Springs (book) to Barcelona (film) undermines metaphorical significance
  • Palm Springs as a "last-resort final destination" matched narrative stakes and emotional closure
  • Quote:

    “The stakes are so inherent in the place.” (Candice Lim, 10:29)

• Linda’s Response:

  • Use of Barcelona is visually pleasing but emotionally generic:
    • “It could have been anywhere. … A lot of it felt like it could have been anywhere.” (Linda Holmes, 11:34)

4. Screenwriting Pitfalls & Romance Tropes

[13:09–14:42]

• Script Clichés:

  • Condensed plot leads to forced third-act complication (contrived argument)
  • Linda points out overused tropes (predictable rain gag) and mechanical plot points
  • Reference to successful multi-episode romance adaptations (Heated Rivalry, Before Sunrise) for contrast

• General Consensus:

  • The movie is a pleasant watch but lacks the book’s originality and character depth
  • Quote:

    “If you put this on like a weekend afternoon, you will be fine. It is pleasant to watch. But the things that made the book special… are almost impossible to preserve in a two-hour movie.” (Linda Holmes, 14:42)

5. Moments & Elements That Still Work

[14:42–16:19]

• Cameos and Performances:

  • Candice celebrates surprise appearances (Lucas Gage, Sarah Catherine Hook, Lucien Laviscount a.k.a. "Alfie" from Emily in Paris)
  • Highlighted memorable music moments:
    • Paula Abdul’s "Forever Your Girl" dance scene in New Orleans
    • Poppy singing Robyn’s "Hang With Me" descending the baggage claim escalator
      • “For some reason, I found it really charming. I rewatched it. I liked it.” (Candice Lim, 15:54)

• Lead Performance:

  • Emily Bader’s performance as Poppy is endearing, especially as the film progresses and her character’s quirks settle down
  • Discussion on "manic pixie dream girl" trope and character depth

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Linda Holmes ([07:15]):

  “Emily Henry would never [write a generic sex misunderstanding scene].”

• Candice Lim ([10:29]):

  “Palm Springs is the key west of the west coast. … The stakes are so inherent in the place.”

• Waylon Wong ([13:09]):

  “They still needed to shoehorn in a complication. So they have this completely arbitrary argument…”

• Linda Holmes ([14:42]):

  “If you put this on like a weekend afternoon, you will be fine. It is pleasant to watch. But the things that made the book special… are almost impossible to preserve in a two-hour movie.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:57] — Introduction to film, premise, and guest introductions
• [01:56] — Waylon Wong’s initial review
• [03:08] — Candice Lim’s passionate critique
• [04:47] — Discussion shifts to miniseries vs. film adaptation
• [06:21] — Criticism of added parent subplot/irrelevant scenes
• [09:13] — Discussion of missed themes (Poppy’s personal growth, "home-self" vs. "vacation-self")
• [10:19] — Changing Palm Springs to Barcelona: loss of figurative stakes
• [13:09] — Dissection of screenwriting clichés and "shoehorned" arguments
• [14:42] — Overall verdict and comparison to other adaptations
• [14:58] — Joy over the cast, music cues, favorite scenes

What's Making Us Happy

[19:02–23:07]

• Waylon Wong:

  • Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake (novel about a sorority with “light cannibalism,” blending dark humor and sharp social commentary)
    • “I found it to be pretty sharp, very funny, very enjoyable, a bit of a romp, but a dark romp.” (Waylon Wong, 19:10)

• Candice Lim:

  • “All The Things She Said” by Harrison (Tattoo cover), as featured in Heated Rivalry (show about two secretly-in-love hockey players)
    • “And I am playing this song every day because I am suffering. I am suffering from withdrawal.” (Candice Lim, 20:50)

• Linda Holmes:

  • Best Medicine (Fox) — a new American adaptation of Doc Martin starring Josh Charles
    • “It just absolutely asks me for nothing, wants nothing more than to just please and entertain me.” (Linda Holmes, 21:38)

Conclusion

The panelist consensus: The Netflix adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation is watchable and visually appealing, with endearing lead performances and some charming moments, but it ultimately flattens what makes the novel memorable—its witty dialogue, slow-burn chemistry, and meaningful settings. The panel would have preferred a miniseries format to do justice to Emily Henry’s layered storytelling.

Whether you're a fan of the book seeking adaptation discourse or looking for fresh pop culture recommendations, this episode is full of incisive, witty commentary and genuine affection for what makes pop storytelling work (or not).

Find full recommendations and more at npr.org/popculturenewsletter.