What Is The Setting Of 'People We Meet On Vacation'?

The setting of 'People We Meet on Vacation' is a nostalgic road trip through some of the most iconic vacation spots in the US. The story alternates between present-day scenes in Palm Springs, where the two main characters reunite after years of estrangement, and flashbacks to their past summer trips. These flashbacks take us to places like Nashville’s honky-tonk bars, a cozy lakeside cabin in Montana, and even a chaotic weekend in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The contrast between the glamorous Palm Springs resort and their more adventurous, sometimes messy past trips adds depth to their relationship. The author uses these locations almost like characters, shaping the dynamics between Poppy and Alex with each new backdrop. It’s a love letter to travel and how shared experiences in different places can bond people forever.

'People We Meet on Vacation' plays out across two timelines, weaving between the protagonists’ past summer trips and their current attempt to reconnect in Palm Springs. The past trips are the heart of the story—each destination reflects a phase of their relationship. There’s Vancouver, where they first truly connect as friends under rainy skies and cozy bookshops. Then there’s Croatia, where sun-drenched beaches and midnight swims hint at deeper feelings neither acknowledges. The chaotic energy of Las Vegas contrasts sharply with the quiet intimacy of a rented cottage in the Florida Keys.

The present-day Palm Springs setting is deliberately luxurious but sterile, mirroring the emotional distance between Poppy and Alex. The desert heat and manicured resort pools feel worlds away from their spontaneous past adventures. What makes the setting special is how it isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a catalyst. Every location pushes them closer or pulls them apart, from crowded hostels where they share beds platonically to upscale hotels where they finally confront their unresolved tension. The book makes you feel the sticky humidity of New Orleans and the crisp mountain air of Colorado, proving travel isn’t just where they go, but how they fall in love.

Emily Henry’s 'People We Meet on Vacation' uses its settings like emotional punctuation marks. Most of the story unfolds in a series of vividly described vacation spots, each chosen to highlight a different facet of Poppy and Alex’s complicated friendship. There’s the sleepy coastal town where they get stuck in a storm, forcing them to share a single motel room with flickering neon lights. Or the bustling streets of Austin, where live music and food trucks become the soundtrack to their late-night confessions.

Palm Springs is where the present-day story unfolds, and it’s a brilliant choice—it’s glamorous but artificial, much like the perfect Instagram version of their relationship they’re trying to recreate. The desert’s emptiness mirrors how far they’ve drifted. The flashbacks to past trips are where the magic happens, though. Henry picks locations that feel alive, whether it’s the saltwater smell of a Maine beach or the neon glow of a Vegas casino at 3 AM. These places don’t just host their story; they shape it, proving that sometimes where you are matters just as much as who you’re with.