People We Meet on Vacation Chapter 34: The Kiss That Unraveled Everything
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This page contains detailed discussion of Chapter 34 of People We Meet on Vacation. If you haven’t finished the book, proceed with caution.
Summary
Two summers before the present timeline, Poppy and Alex travel to Croatia with Bernard, a chatty older photographer hired by R+R. Bernard’s constant presence prevents them from having any private conversation. Both are newly single: Poppy broke up with Trey after realizing they were only running together, and Alex split from Sarah. They had been waiting months to talk openly.
On the last night, the trio gets drunk. Bernard passes out, and Alex sneaks to Poppy’s room. They share a passionate kiss that quickly escalates. Alex stops, insisting they are too drunk and that it shouldn’t have happened. Poppy, humiliated, agrees to pretend it never happened. The morning after, she finds a hickey. At the airport, Alex apologizes, saying he thought she wasn’t over Trey. Poppy insists it “was nothing.” Bernard returns, and they barely look at each other. After the trip, their texts become sparse and then stop entirely, ending a decade of friendship.
Key Events
- Poppy and Alex arrive in Croatia with Bernard, a widowed photographer who talks incessantly.
- Bernard accidentally gets a two-bedroom suite, assuming Alex will share with him, forcing Poppy and Alex apart.
- The trip recap reveals that Poppy and Trey broke up amicably in New Zealand; Alex and Sarah also split after moving in together.
- On the final evening, after heavy drinking, Bernard falls asleep snoring loudly.
- Alex knocks on Poppy’s door; they kiss and begin to undress each other, but Alex pulls away, citing drunkenness.
- Poppy feels mortified and pretends the kiss meant nothing.
- The next morning, Alex repeats his apology at the airport, saying he thought Poppy wasn’t over Trey.
- Communication dwindles to a single “ha” reply and then silence, ending their friendship.
Character Development
Poppy — For the first time, Poppy acknowledges that she missed Alex “vreselijk” (terribly) and had been waiting to see him. The kiss reveals her true feelings, but her defensive lie (“it was nothing”) is a pivotal choice that she later regrets. Her failure to reach out afterward shows her fear of rejection.
Alex — Alex initiates the kiss, then stops himself, suggesting he is more cautious or conflicted than Poppy. His apology at the airport reveals his belief that Poppy is still attached to Trey, indicating he misunderstands her heart. His withdrawal and silence after the trip demonstrate his own guilt and inability to process the moment.
Bernard — Though a minor character, Bernard functions as an obstacle. His grief and loneliness make him cling to company, but his presence also provides the pressure that forces Poppy and Alex to act impulsively on their last night.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Obstacle of the Third Wheel — Bernard’s constant chatter and physical presence symbolize the external barriers that have always existed between Poppy and Alex (Trey, Sarah, distance). As soon as the barrier falls (Bernard sleeps), the suppressed desire erupts.
Alcohol as Truth Serum and Shield — Both characters use drunkenness to justify their actions and later to deny them. The kiss is “real” under the influence, but afterward they both hide behind the excuse of intoxication.
The Silence That Speaks Louder — The chapter ends with a trail of missed texts and one‑word replies. This silence repeats a pattern from earlier in their history: when things get too real, they retreat into separate lives.
The Dead Animal in the Wall — Poppy’s apartment has a dead animal stench that cannot be eliminated. This grotesque detail mirrors the decaying state of her relationship with Alex: something has died, but they still pretend to cover the smell with citrus spray.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 34 is the emotional turning point of the entire novel. Without this Croatia trip, there would be no two‑year rift. The chapter explains why Poppy and Alex stopped speaking: not because of a fight, but because a moment of vulnerability was mishandled and then buried. It also clarifies Poppy’s deep longing for Alex—her heart “trilled” when she texted him about the breakup—and shows that Alex felt the same pull, but pulled back out of respect (or fear). The chapter sets up the central question the rest of the book must answer: can they repair the damage from that single night?
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Alex stop the kiss even though he initiated it?
He tells Poppy they are drunk and not thinking clearly. More deeply, he believes she hasn’t moved on from Trey, and he doesn’t want to be a rebound or complicate their friendship further. His action is both protective (of her) and self‑protective (of his own vulnerability).
2. How does Poppy’s reaction after the kiss accelerate the breakdown of their friendship?
By insisting the kiss “meende niets” (meant nothing) and that they should pretend it never happened, Poppy denies both of them the chance to process real feelings. She tries to save the friendship but ends up killing it because Alex interprets her denial as disinterest. Her subsequent silence confirms his guilt.
3. What role does Bernard play in the chapter’s tension?
Bernard is unaware of the history and tension between Poppy and Alex. His constant presence forces them to suppress their desire to talk and touch, building up pressure. When he finally falls asleep, they act impulsively. He also serves as a comic distraction, but his loneliness echoes Poppy and Alex’s own emotional isolation.