Chapter summaries People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry

Chapter 25 Summary: This Summer (Deze zomer)

Spoiler Notice: This summary contains spoilers for Chapter 25 of People We Meet on Vacation.

Summary

Poppy and Alex arrive at the Palm Springs apartment only to find the air conditioning broken and the pool drained after a child’s accident. They meet the couple from the airport shuttle—nicknamed Hubby and Wifey—who are staying in the same complex. Back in the sweltering room, Poppy frantically calls their host Nikolai but gets no answer. She slashes the balcony plastic sheeting in frustration, but it does nothing to cool the space. Alex suggests moving to a hotel, but Poppy resists, desperate to recapture the cheap, carefree spirit of their past trips. An argument erupts: Alex insists they cannot go back in time and that their friendship has permanently changed. Just as the fight peaks, a thunderstorm begins. They tear down the remaining plastic and stand in the rain. Alex apologizes for his harsh words. Poppy confesses she never wants to lose him again, and he promises to stay as long as she wants him. She whispers that she will always want him. They share a long, rain-soaked embrace, and finally, they kiss.

Key Events

  • The apartment’s air conditioning is broken and the pool is empty, derailing Poppy’s plan for a cheap, nostalgic vacation.
  • Hubby and Wifey reveal they are staying in the same complex and invite themselves into Poppy and Alex’s day.
  • Poppy’s repeated calls to Nikolai go unanswered, escalating her stress.
  • Alex and Poppy argue about the need to accept change and stop forcing their old dynamic.
  • A sudden rainstorm breaks the tension; they tear down the balcony plastic and stand in the downpour.
  • Alex admits he was wrong and reassures Poppy he will not leave her.
  • Poppy finally voices her deepest feelings: “I will always want you, Alex.”
  • They kiss for the first time.

Character Development

  • Poppy: Her stubborn attachment to the past and her fear of losing Alex drive her outburst. The kiss marks a breakthrough: she stops suppressing her romantic love and lets it surface.
  • Alex: The argument shows his frustration with Poppy’s insistence on reliving the same dynamic. His apology and vow to stay (“Zolang je me wilt”) reveal his enduring commitment and his own feelings.
  • Hubby and Wifey: Their cheerful intrusion highlights the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the trip and serve as a foil to the couple’s tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Rain as Catharsis: The storm physically washes away the oppressive heat and symbolically cleanses the emotional tension, allowing the honest confession and kiss.
  • Change vs. Stasis: The central conflict is Poppy’s desire to preserve the past versus Alex’s insistence that they have evolved. The argument forces Poppy to confront that change is inevitable.
  • Heat as Emotional Pressure: The broken AC and stifling apartment mirror the characters’ escalating frustration and the pressure of their unresolved feelings.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional climax of the novel. The years of unspoken romantic tension between Poppy and Alex finally break through. The argument lays bare the central obstacle to their relationship—their fear of losing the friendship by acknowledging change—and the rain provides the catalyst for vulnerability. The first kiss redefines their bond and sets up the final resolution of the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Poppy resist Alex’s suggestion to move to a hotel?
Poppy equates the cheap, improvisational style of their past vacations with the essence of their friendship. She fears that fixing the problem with money will shatter the illusion that nothing has changed between them. Her resistance stems from a deep need to preserve their old dynamic and avoid confronting how much they have both grown apart.

2. How does the rain function as a turning point in the argument?
The rain arrives immediately after Alex’s frantic outburst, interrupting the deadlock. It gives them a physical activity (tearing down the plastic) that redirects their energy and lowers their defenses. The refreshing water cools the room and their tempers, creating space for apology, honesty, and physical intimacy that would have been impossible in the heated atmosphere.

3. What does Alex mean when he says, “We cannot go back in time”?
Alex is not only stating the obvious—that time moves forward—but also insisting that their individual experiences and personal growth have permanently altered who they are. He believes that trying to recreate the past is futile and that Poppy must accept their new reality before they can move forward, whether as friends or as something more.