Sarah Torval: The Complicated Ex in People We Meet on Vacation

Overview

Sarah Torval is a supporting character in Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation who functions as both an obstacle and an unexpected bridge between the two protagonists, Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen. Described through Poppy’s biased lens as “adorable, willowy yet athletic, clean-faced” and consistently kind, Sarah represents the conventional partner Alex thought he should choose. She is a ninth-grade teacher who briefly dates Alex, creating significant tension in his friendship with Poppy, but later plays a crucial role in helping Poppy find Alex when he needs her most. Sarah’s arc traces a journey from perceived rival to ally, revealing her own desires for stability and belonging.

Plot Role

Sarah first appears indirectly in the narrative during a flashback to Poppy and Alex’s Nashville trip, where Poppy teases Alex about his “obsession” with a girl named Sarah Torval. Two chapters later, she moves from rumor to reality: Alex has been dating Sarah for nine months, and Poppy discovers that Sarah feels threatened by their annual summer trip. Sarah’s refusal to follow Poppy on Instagram and her pointed social-media posts—like captions such as “family time”—signal a quiet hostility that Poppy interprets as jealousy over her close bond with Alex.

As the years progress, Sarah becomes an active presence. During the Tuscany couples’ trip, she drops into the narrative with the line, “I’m never missing one of these trips again,” indicating her desire to be included in Alex’s world. She and Poppy gradually warm to each other, sharing wine and laughs, and Poppy admits to herself that she might have liked Sarah all along if she hadn’t been “holding so tight to Alex.” Later, after a second breakup, Sarah reappears at the climax: she meets Poppy outside the locked high school and directs her to the bar where Alex is drinking, enabling the story’s emotional resolution.

Without Sarah, the central tension between Poppy and Alex would lack a concrete external pressure. She embodies the life Alex is trying to build apart from Poppy—a stable, domestic, long-term relationship—and her eventual exit clears the path for Poppy’s confession.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Sarah’s primary motivation appears to be a deep desire for commitment and conventional intimacy. She moves from Chicago to Indiana to be near Alex while he finishes his MFA, and Poppy notes that Sarah is “happy to stay there” and “will probably follow him wherever he lands afterward.” This willingness to relocate shows her prioritization of the relationship over her own career or freedom.

Her insecurity about Poppy is evident in small actions: she does not follow Poppy back on Instagram, and she posts affectionate captions about Alex’s family that seem designed to stake a claim. However, Sarah is not malicious. When Poppy visits Linfield after quitting her job, Sarah greets her with careful neutrality rather than hostility. She volunteers information about her breakup with Alex and directs Poppy to him without bitterness, demonstrating emotional maturity.

One of Sarah’s most telling traits is her desire for public displays of affection. During the Tuscany trip, she openly complains that Alex doesn’t like hugging or holding hands, saying, “I’ve accepted my lot. I’m going to marry a man who hates holding hands.” This reveals that she craves a warmth Alex is unable to give her, perhaps because his deepest emotional connection lies elsewhere.

Chronological Arc

Sarah’s story unfolds across several summers:

Nashville trip (nine years before the present): Sarah is first mentioned as a name—the girl Alex slept with from the library. Poppy teases him about his apparent obsession with “Sarah Torval,” setting up a pattern of jealousy.
Six summers ago: Alex has been dating Sarah for nine months. The relationship is long-distance, and Sarah feels threatened enough by the summer trip that their calls become fewer. Poppy and Alex debate canceling the trip; Alex mentions that Sarah feels “weird” about it. This chapter establishes the central conflict.
Four summers ago: After Poppy’s pneumonia episode, Alex gets back together with Sarah. Poppy reflects that Trey is “to me what Sarah Torval is to Alex”—someone who fits. Sarah and Alex are now serious enough that Poppy fears the word “marry.”
Three summers ago (Tuscany): The couples’ trip to the villa. Sarah initially seems stiff but quickly relaxes, bonding with Poppy over wine and games. She tells Poppy that Alex and Sarah broke up at one point (implied earlier), but now they are back together. Sarah’s line about never missing another trip suggests she has accepted Poppy into their circle.
This summer (present): Sarah and Alex have broken up again. Sarah tells Poppy this outside the high school, and rather than being angry, she directs Poppy to Birdies bar, effectively handing Alex over. This act completes her transformation from obstacle to facilitator.

Relationships

With Alex Nilsen

Sarah and Alex’s relationship is characterized by on-again, off-again commitment. Alex is drawn to Sarah’s stability and normalcy, but he cannot fully open up to her. Poppy observes that Alex “wants marriage and kids and a home in one place, and he wants it all with someone like Sarah.” Yet Sarah herself senses that something is missing; she pushes for physical affection that Alex withholds. The relationship ultimately fails because Alex’s heart is never entirely with Sarah—he is still tethered to Poppy.

With Poppy Wright

The relationship between Sarah and Poppy is initially adversarial from Poppy’s perspective. Poppy feels threatened by Sarah, and Sarah appears to reciprocate that wariness. However, they slowly build a cautious friendship. In Tuscany, they share a laugh about holding hands, and Poppy says, “That might be the first moment that I like her.” By the end, Sarah becomes an ally: she helps Poppy find Alex without resentment, acknowledging that Poppy is the one he truly needs.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Moving to Indiana for Alex: Sarah chooses to uproot her life to be with Alex, demonstrating her commitment. This decision deepens the relationship but also intensifies Poppy’s insecurity, as it signals Alex’s willingness to build a life with Sarah.
Breaking up with Alex (first time): The breakup is implied as the catalyst for Alex’s emotional withdrawal. Poppy later learns from Alex that Sarah said the relationship was “as exciting as the school library,” which stings because it echoes Poppy’s own fear that Alex’s life might be too small.
Helping Poppy find Alex: In the climax, Sarah decides to point Poppy toward Alex rather than guarding her ex. This act allows the emotional confession scene to happen and ultimately leads to Poppy and Alex’s reunion. Sarah’s choice shows that she prioritizes Alex’s happiness over her own pride.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Sarah is deeply tied to the theme of love and friendship—she represents the kind of love that is safe and expected versus the messy, all-consuming love between Poppy and Alex. She also embodies fear of vulnerability: Alex can be himself with Poppy but not with Sarah, who requires a performance of normalcy that he finds draining.

The symbol of home and belonging applies to Sarah as well. She is associated with Linfield, the place Alex has stayed, while Poppy represents wandering. Sarah helps anchor Alex to a conventional life, but ultimately that life cannot satisfy him. By directing Poppy to Alex, Sarah indirectly acknowledges that he belongs with Poppy.

In terms of memory and nostalgia, Sarah appears in the nostalgic flashbacks of the summer trips; Poppy’s memories of Alex always include the shadow of Sarah’s presence. Sarah is a reminder of the choices Alex made while suppressing his feelings for Poppy.

Five Key Questions and Answers

1. Why does Sarah feel threatened by Poppy?
In Chapter 19, Alex admits that Sarah feels “weird about the trip.” Poppy notes that Sarah does not follow her back on Instagram and that their phone calls have become fewer, suggesting Sarah sees Poppy as a rival for Alex’s attention and emotional energy.

2. How does Sarah’s attitude toward Poppy change during the Tuscany trip?
Initially guarded, Sarah becomes “downright chatty” after wine and tells Poppy she is “never missing one of these trips again.” They share a toast and laugh, marking the first time Poppy genuinely likes her.

3. What is Sarah’s profession?
Sarah is a ninth-grade teacher, as revealed in Chapter 35 when Poppy encounters her at the high school.

4. How does Sarah help Poppy in the climax?
When Poppy tries to enter the locked high school to find Alex, Sarah meets her outside. Sarah reveals that she and Alex have broken up and suggests Alex may be at Birdies bar, giving Poppy the information she needs to deliver her confession.

5. Why does Sarah break up with Alex the second time?
The novel does not give an explicit reason, but Sarah tells Poppy they have broken up. Alex later reveals in therapy that he is afraid to be happy, implying the breakup stemmed from his inability to fully commit emotionally to Sarah.

For further exploration of Sarah’s role in the novel, see our main book page, analysis of love and friendship themes, and the ending explained.