The fans of Emily Henry’s novels were counting down the days until the film adaptation of “People We Meet on Vacation.” The highly anticipated film released Jan. 9 on Netflix and brought a dose of sunshine to our lackluster winter.

The story follows Poppy Wright (Emily Bader,) a chaotic, colorful travel writer living her best life in New York City, and Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth,) a reserved, formal high school teacher in a small town in Ohio. Despite being polar opposites, the two friends have taken a summer vacation together every year for a decade — until two years ago, when a falling-out in Croatia ended their friendship.

The movie jumps between their “last ditch” trip to Barcelona, an effort to save their friendship, and flashbacks of their past trips to New Orleans, Tuscany and San Francisco. It’s a slow-burning, classic friends-to-lovers trope.

Emily Bader perfectly captures Poppy’s energy without making it annoying, and Tom Blyth, widely recognized for his work in “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” is great acting as the homebody that is Alex. Their banter feels natural, which is the make-or-break element for any rom-com.

From the sun-drenched streets of Spain to the neon lights of New Orleans, the cinematography is gorgeous. The movie made me want to immediately start a Pinterest board for my own future summer trips.

While the movie is a fun watch, it isn’t without its bumps. Fans of the book might be disappointed by how much of Alex’s backstory was cut. In the novel, Alex’s rigid personality stems from family trauma; in the movie, he’s just a guy who really likes schedules. Though the decision flowed well with the movie, it was a choice that stayed in the back of my mind during the duration of the film.

“People We Meet on Vacation” isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s a cozy, vibes-only movie that succeeds because it leans into the charm of its leads. While it’s not as deep as the book, it’s the perfect Friday night watch.