When it comes to book-to-screen adaptations, Emily Henry is putting her money where her heart is. The bestselling romance author says she has no desire for her work to be adapted into films - until Brett Haley came along and offered her a different kind of collaboration.
For Henry, an adaptation isn't just about getting her story out there; it's also about giving her characters a new lease on life. In the case of "People We Meet on Vacation," she gave Haley a clear vision for how to bring Poppy and Alex to the big screen - while still staying true to the essence of their relationship.
"I think all of us, at times, feel like we're too much or not enough," Henry says, highlighting the universal theme that runs through her novel. "That's what this story — and, in part, 'When Harry Met Sally' — is about."
However, when it came to adapting "People We Meet on Vacation" for the screen, Haley approached Henry with an open mind - one that was focused not just on reaching a new audience but also on staying true to her existing fans. For Henry, this approach made all the difference.
"The point of an adaptation is for it to belong to someone new," she notes, but in the case of "People We Meet on Vacation," Haley and his team worked closely with her to ensure that the film stayed grounded in the characters' motivations - even when taking some liberties to adapt them for the screen.
The resulting film captures the essence of Henry's novel while also offering a unique take on its themes. But how does an author like Henry, who has seen her work adapted into films before, approach this process? She says it was both exhilarating and terrifying at times - but ultimately, she trusts her instincts as a writer to guide her through the process.
"Most of the screenplays I worked on this past year were adaptations, so it wasn’t new stuff," Henry notes. "There are new scenes, but it’s not the same as sitting down with two completely new characters... In a novel, you get to go so much deeper into their psyches and backstory."
While adapting her work for the screen has been both challenging and rewarding, Henry is now itching to return to her novels - where she can explore the inner workings of her characters without worrying about how they'll be portrayed on the big screen.
As it turns out, Henry's passion project "Beach Read" is set to be adapted into a film as well. With its mix of witty banter and heartfelt romance, this book has captured the hearts of readers everywhere - and it seems that its adaptation will be just as well-received.
In the end, for Emily Henry, book-to-screen adaptations are about more than just bringing her stories out into the world; they're also about giving new life to characters she's grown to love over years of writing.
For Henry, an adaptation isn't just about getting her story out there; it's also about giving her characters a new lease on life. In the case of "People We Meet on Vacation," she gave Haley a clear vision for how to bring Poppy and Alex to the big screen - while still staying true to the essence of their relationship.
"I think all of us, at times, feel like we're too much or not enough," Henry says, highlighting the universal theme that runs through her novel. "That's what this story — and, in part, 'When Harry Met Sally' — is about."
However, when it came to adapting "People We Meet on Vacation" for the screen, Haley approached Henry with an open mind - one that was focused not just on reaching a new audience but also on staying true to her existing fans. For Henry, this approach made all the difference.
"The point of an adaptation is for it to belong to someone new," she notes, but in the case of "People We Meet on Vacation," Haley and his team worked closely with her to ensure that the film stayed grounded in the characters' motivations - even when taking some liberties to adapt them for the screen.
The resulting film captures the essence of Henry's novel while also offering a unique take on its themes. But how does an author like Henry, who has seen her work adapted into films before, approach this process? She says it was both exhilarating and terrifying at times - but ultimately, she trusts her instincts as a writer to guide her through the process.
"Most of the screenplays I worked on this past year were adaptations, so it wasn’t new stuff," Henry notes. "There are new scenes, but it’s not the same as sitting down with two completely new characters... In a novel, you get to go so much deeper into their psyches and backstory."
While adapting her work for the screen has been both challenging and rewarding, Henry is now itching to return to her novels - where she can explore the inner workings of her characters without worrying about how they'll be portrayed on the big screen.
As it turns out, Henry's passion project "Beach Read" is set to be adapted into a film as well. With its mix of witty banter and heartfelt romance, this book has captured the hearts of readers everywhere - and it seems that its adaptation will be just as well-received.
In the end, for Emily Henry, book-to-screen adaptations are about more than just bringing her stories out into the world; they're also about giving new life to characters she's grown to love over years of writing.
It's crazy how book-to-screen adaptations can breathe new life into characters we've fallen in love with through words alone. For me, it's all about staying true to their essence while still offering something fresh for new audiences to enjoy. When done right, these adaptations can be a beautiful way to share stories that resonate with people on a deeper level. 
, i mean its one thing to adapt a book but another to make it stay true to the essence of the story and characters. emily henry must be so relieved that her vision for poppy and alex was finally brought to life in a way that stayed authentic to her novel.
. but its awesome that she trusts her instincts as a writer to guide her through the process.
emily henry is such an amazing author and i love how passionate she is about bringing new life to her characters 
. can't wait to see how it turns out on screen
I mean, I've been living under a rock or something! But seriously, it's amazing that Emily Henry is open to adapting her books for the screen. I loved "People We Meet on Vacation" and I'm super excited to see how "Beach Read" turns out too! I think it's great that she got to work closely with Brett Haley on "People We Meet on Vacation" - that must have made such a big difference in bringing Poppy and Alex to life. As an author myself, I can imagine how nerve-wracking it must be to see your characters portrayed on screen... but I think it's great that she trusts her instincts and is excited to get back to writing novels where she has more control over the story. Fingers crossed for "Beach Read"! 
... think about it, when you put your heart and soul into something, like a character or a story, you form an emotional connection with them, but then they get to leave the page and become someone new on screen... it's like saying goodbye to a part of yourself 
. but what if that's exactly what they need, a fresh perspective? maybe the best way to do that is to have an open mind, like brett haley did with emily henry 
... anyway, i think it's beautiful that she gets to see her characters come alive in a new way, even if it means letting go of some of their original essence 
. what do you guys think?
. Emily Henry gets it, she knows that her work isn't just about herself, but about giving her characters a chance to breathe on their own. And Brett Haley does his part too, I mean, the man is like a book-to-screen whisperer 
. The thing is though, when you're working with someone who's as invested in your world as you are, it's not always easy 
. And I'm low-key excited for "Beach Read" to get adapted too... can't wait to see those characters on the big screen 
. i can relate when she said that most of her screenplays were adaptations last year - it was like, she had to get used to a new way of working with characters... but hey, it sounds like brett haley and his team did an awesome job 
... its such a great book, and if they can capture the same vibe as people we meet on vacation, i'll be all over it 
.