Books Like People We Meet on Vacation: 9 Romances

Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is a high point of the modern romance boom — a witty, warm, friends-to-lovers story about two best friends who take one trip together every summer until a falling-out ends the tradition. Henry’s signature is the blend of sharp, laugh-out-loud banter with genuine emotional depth, and the slow-burn tension between her leads pays off in a way that has made her one of the most beloved romance authors writing today.

The books below share that sweet spot — clever dialogue, swoony slow-burn romance, real feeling beneath the comedy, and the deep satisfaction of a guaranteed happy ending. They are perfect for readers who want their romance smart and funny as well as heartfelt.

More Emily Henry and Banter-Driven Romance

#1 — Beach Read by Emily Henry

Henry’s breakout novel pairs two rival writers who challenge each other to swap genres for a summer. The witty banter, the slow-burn tension, and the emotional depth beneath the comedy make it the essential next read for anyone who loved People We Meet on Vacation.

#2 — Book Lovers by Emily Henry

A clever, self-aware romance that flips the small-town love story on its head, Book Lovers delivers Henry’s trademark sharp dialogue and emotional richness, with a bookish heroine readers adore. It is a must-read for fans wanting more of her voice.

#3 — Happy Place by Emily Henry

Henry’s tender second-chance romance follows a couple pretending to still be together during a group vacation. Its blend of humor, heartache, and warmth makes it another natural choice for readers who loved the friends-and-feelings core of People We Meet on Vacation.

Enemies to Lovers and Slow-Burn Tension

#4 — The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The quintessential enemies-to-lovers office romance. Thorne’s sparkling, addictive novel delivers the sharp banter and simmering tension that People We Meet on Vacation fans crave, with a slow burn that pays off beautifully.

#5 — The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

A fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers romance with the slow-burn tension and witty sparring that fans of banter-driven romance love. Its charm and heat make it a popular pick for readers working through the modern rom-com canon.

#6 — The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Two people who can’t stand each other are stuck sharing a honeymoon in this funny, feel-good enemies-to-lovers romance. Its witty tone and irresistible chemistry make it a perfect match for Emily Henry’s sensibility.

Warmth, Heart, and Memorable Couples

#7 — One Day by David Nicholls

For readers drawn to the will-they-won’t-they ache of a long friendship, Nicholls’s beloved novel revisits two people on the same day across twenty years. Funnier and more bittersweet than a typical romance, it shares the emotional depth that lifts People We Meet on Vacation above the average rom-com.

#8 — The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

A charming, funny romance about a socially awkward geneticist approaching love as a logistics problem. Its warmth, humor, and lovable lead make it a delightful companion for readers who want their romance clever as well as sweet.

#9 — Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

For readers who love the emotional intelligence and sharp wit behind Henry’s romance but want a story with more plot and a touch of mystery, Moriarty’s blend of humor, heart, and secrets offers smart, character-rich entertainment with real warmth.

Finding Your Next Read

Where you go next depends on what you loved most about Emily Henry. If it was her voice — the banter, the wit, the emotional depth — simply keep reading her, starting with Beach Read and Book Lovers. If it was the crackling enemies-to-lovers tension, The Hating Game, The Unhoneymooners, and The Spanish Love Deception deliver that slow burn most directly. And if it was the bittersweet ache of a relationship tested by time, One Day offers that same emotional payoff in a more poignant key.

What unites these books is the modern romance’s best quality: the marriage of genuine humor with genuine feeling, so that the laughter and the swoon both land. Emily Henry helped define that balance, and the novels above each strike it in their own way. Whichever you choose, you will find the witty, warm, emotionally satisfying escape that made People We Meet on Vacation such a beloved summer read.

In Short

The modern romance earns its devoted readership by refusing to choose between laughter and feeling, and People We Meet on Vacation is a near-perfect example — funny enough to read in a single delighted sitting, but warm and true enough to leave a lasting impression. Every book on this list strikes that same balance in its own way. Beach Read and Book Lovers give you more of Emily Henry’s exact voice; The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners turn up the enemies-to-lovers heat; One Day trades some comedy for a deeper ache. What they share is the conviction that a love story can be smart, funny, and genuinely moving all at once — and that the slow burn toward a happy ending is one of fiction’s most reliable pleasures. Whichever you pick up next, you are guaranteed the witty banter, the swoon, and the satisfying payoff that make these books such perfect comfort reading.

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