People We Meet On Vacation: Author Explains Netflix Film’s Toned-Down Steamy Scene

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Warning: This article contains spoilers from People We Meet on Vacation.

Readers who enjoyed Emily Henry’s book, People We Meet on Vacation, may have noticed the Netflix movie softened some of the more intimate moments. Now, the author has explained why those scenes were changed. The story follows Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen as they reconnect after a long time, and their friendship blossoms into something more romantic.

Poppy and Alex have a romantic scene together in the movie, though it wasn’t as explicit as it was in the book. Henry recently told Variety that the director, Brett Haley, actually filmed the scene exactly as it was written, and described it as “beautiful and flawless.”

During editing and test screenings of People We Meet on Vacation, the intimate scene between Poppy and Alex didn’t quite fit with the rest of the movie. It felt abrupt, particularly for viewers who weren’t familiar with the original novel by Henry.

I was really struck by the conversation between the director and Henry. The author clearly felt strongly about this particular scene, explaining it was important because they were trying to break down a stigma. But ultimately, she was incredibly gracious, letting Haley take the lead because she believed every single scene needs to contribute to the overall story. It’s smart – you don’t want the audience to feel like the movie suddenly veers off track and becomes something else entirely.

Honestly, when I first saw that scene, it took my breath away – it was just beautifully done. I even told all my friends it was one of the most powerfully sensual scenes I’d ever witnessed, seriously, on par with something iconic like Titanic. It felt incredibly real, tender, and raw. So, when the director, Brett, started thinking about cutting it after some test screenings, I was a little worried. Apparently, viewers who hadn’t read the source material felt it came across as jarring. He asked me how crucial the scene was, both for me personally and for the book’s fans. I explained that I thought it was important – that it helped break down some stigmas – but ultimately, I told him it had to serve the story. My biggest fear was that it would pull people out of the movie and make it feel disconnected, like they’d suddenly jumped onto a completely different track. It needed to feel integral, not like an unnecessary detour.

The version of People We Meet on Vacation currently streaming on Netflix is the finished film, but Henry is hoping a director’s cut will be released in the future, allowing fans to see the original, more complete version of the intimate scene between Poppy and Alex.

“It’s just breathtaking. Everyone really went above and beyond,” she said. “It feels so genuine and heartfelt, but also incredibly sensual and romantic.”

How future movie and TV adaptations handle intimate scenes will depend on the specific story. Since each of Henry’s novels is different – not all are as steamy as People We Meet on Vacation – some adaptations might show more explicit moments, while others will use a more classic, lighthearted approach, like a simple fade to black.

It’ll be interesting to see how intimacy is portrayed across different adaptations. The tone won’t necessarily be consistent with “People We Meet on Vacation,” and even the books themselves aren’t all the same. We’re planning a range of scenes, from explicitly sensual moments to more classic, romantic fade-to-blacks. We want to cover the whole spectrum. Brett and I have even discussed the possibility of a director’s cut someday to include a particularly beautiful scene that, while tender, real, and very romantic, ultimately didn’t quite fit the overall flow of the movie. It’s a reminder that even great scenes need to serve the larger project.

In a recent interview with Variety, the director admitted that telling a friends-to-lovers story well is challenging.

Haley understands that even though fans might want the two characters to become a couple, there’s a real danger in moving from friendship to romance. He explained that once you start a romantic relationship, you can’t easily go back to just being friends.

As a total movie buff, I was really interested to hear how Haley approached filming People We Meet on Vacation. She was laser-focused on making sure Emily Bader (Poppy) and Tom Blyth (Alex) had believable chemistry – not just as friends, but as potential lovers too! She knew if that spark wasn’t there, the audience wouldn’t buy into Poppy and Alex’s whole relationship journey throughout the film, and honestly, she was right to prioritize that.

As a film fan, I find this movie really special because of its friends-to-lovers storyline – it’s a trope that’s surprisingly hard to pull off well. So many films stumble when they just rush the characters into a relationship, assuming shared affection is enough. But truly great stories understand the huge risk involved in crossing that line with a close friend; there’s no going back if it doesn’t work. For me, the key was establishing a genuine, believable friendship between Tom and Emily before any romantic feelings developed, and making sure we, as the audience, could really feel that connection.

The connection between Bader and Blyth was clear on screen, but Haley felt their romantic scene didn’t quite land, agreeing with the writer’s concerns. He explained that the scene was too intense for the overall feel of the story, and he needed to strike a balance between sensuality and tenderness.

Many romantic comedies, like When Harry Met Sally and Notting Hill, focus on the sweeter aspects of love. Haley’s adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation includes those familiar elements, but also tries to update the genre with a more sensual story that stays tasteful.

When it came to the more intimate scenes, my main concern was maintaining the right feel for the movie. I really wanted to be faithful to the spirit of the book by Emily, and we actually filmed one scene exactly as written. But honestly, it just didn’t quite fit with the overall tone of the film. It was about finding the right balance. I’m hoping to evolve this genre, and I believe romantic comedies can be genuinely sensual. I think this movie achieves that. There are classic rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally and Notting Hill that don’t rely heavily on explicit scenes, but the chemistry is still strong and it works beautifully. I kept referencing those films, and others like Jerry Maguire that inspired this one, and realized that particular scene just didn’t belong.

Ultimately, Haley is happy with how the movie turned out, especially the intimate scene between Poppy and Alex. She feels it captures the essence of the book while still working as a cohesive film.

As a longtime movie fan, what always matters to me is keeping the tone consistent, and that was my biggest concern here. We see these characters develop over time, starting as children and becoming adults, so it was crucial to strike the right balance. I really wanted to capture both the innocence and genuine connection of their love, alongside any more intimate moments. I think we achieved that – the final result feels true to the source material without jarring the overall feel of the film. There was one scene, based on something from the book, where my initial idea just didn’t quite fit, and I’m glad we adjusted it.

Even though the movie version of People We Meet on Vacation differs from the book, it’s been generally well-received. Critics gave it a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences scored it at 78%.

The cast of People We Meet on Vacation features Sarah Catherine Hook, Miles Heizer, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, Jameela Jamil, and Alice Lee, in addition to Simone Bader and Zach Blyth.

People We Meet on Vacation is now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-01-13 22:00