Chapter 35 Summary: Confronting the Past and Burnout
Spoiler Notice
This page contains detailed spoilers for Chapter 35 of People We Meet on Vacation. If you haven't completed reading through this chapter, you may want to proceed with caution.
Summary
Poppy begins the chapter re-evaluating the kiss she shared with Alex two years ago in Croatia. She realises she had misinterpreted his regret—he was hurt that she treated the moment carelessly, not that it had happened. Now back in New York after Palm Springs, she is in a deep slump, struggling with everyday tasks and feeling overwhelmed. Her boss Swapna notices and urges Poppy to speak with someone, handing her a therapist’s card. Poppy starts therapy with Dr. Sandra Krohn (Rachel’s mother) and begins keeping a journal, trying new hobbies like weaving, and occasionally searching for jobs near Linfield. On the subway, she runs into Jason Stanley, her childhood crush who later bullied her. Jason apologises sincerely, explaining that he acted out of insecurity in high school. The encounter forces Poppy to see that people can change and that running from her past hasn’t solved anything. Later, she tells Rachel she plans to quit her job but first needs to find another one.
Key Events
- Poppy reinterprets the Croatia kiss and understands Alex’s perspective
- Swapna confronts Poppy about her low mood and recommends therapy
- Poppy attends her first session with Dr. Krohn and begins opening up
- She tries weaving and other solitary activities to feel rooted
- A chance meeting with Jason Stanley on the subway leads to an apology
- Jason explains his past bullying was driven by his own fear
- Poppy realises she cannot escape her past by moving away
- She decides to leave her job at R+R and searches for a new direction
Character Development
Poppy shows significant growth as she stops running from her emotions. For the first time she acknowledges her burnout and seeks professional help. Her encounter with Jason forces her to confront the story she told herself about high school—that she was inherently flawed—and to accept that people (including herself) evolve. Her decision to quit her job signals a willingness to reshape her life rather than just escape it.
Jason Stanley appears as a changed man. Once a bully who tormented Poppy, he now offers a genuine apology and explains his own adolescent insecurities. His presence in New York and his honest admission show that people can mature and reflect on past harm.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Confronting versus fleeing the past is the central theme. Poppy has built a life in New York to leave Linfield behind, but the appearance of Jason proves she can’t outrun her history. Therapy also pushes her to examine her childhood instead of avoiding it.
Burnout and mental health are depicted through Poppy’s exhaustion, inability to perform basic tasks, and her eventual decision to see a therapist. The chapter underscores the importance of seeking help and not dismissing one’s own struggles.
Change and forgiveness emerge when Jason apologises. Poppy must accept that people can grow, which in turn lets her reconsider her own capacity for change.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Poppy’s internal journey. It directly addresses the emotional fallout from her falling‑out with Alex and her stalled career. By beginning therapy, she takes the first concrete step toward healing. The chance encounter with Jason Stanley forces her to examine the stories she has told herself about worth and belonging, which have influenced her decisions for years. Her decision to quit R+R, even before she has a new plan, marks a shift from fleeing to actively redesigning her life.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Poppy’s understanding of the Croatia kiss change in this chapter?
She realises that Alex’s regret was not about the kiss itself but about how it happened—while they were drunk and she seemed uncertain. She had felt rejected by him, but now sees that he believed she was careless with his feelings.
2. What purpose does Jason Stanley’s apology serve in the narrative?
It challenges Poppy’s belief that her past defined her. Jason’s admission that he was a bully out of his own fear shows that people can change, and that Poppy’s running from Linfield was based partly on a static view of herself and others.
3. Why does Poppy decide to quit her job, and what does this reveal about her growth?
She recognises that her job, once a symbol of escape, now fuels her unhappiness. Instead of simply fleeing, she plans to find a new role first, indicating a more thoughtful, less impulsive approach to change.