Alex and Poppy became unlikely friends in college. Alex went on to become a teacher, and Poppy, a travel writer. Each summer, they take a trip together, until two summers ago when an event took place that caused the friends to go their separate ways. In the present, Poppy calls Alex and makes plans to take one final trip to save their friendship.
- When they first meet, Alex and Poppy are immediately put off by each other. Have you ever made a friend after a bad first impression?
I cannot recall a specific instance of someone initially giving me bad vibes and then that person becoming a friend. However, there have been occasions where I found someone annoying at first, only to later become friends with them. So, I would answer this question with a yes.
2. What’s something that you do on vacation that you’re unlikely to do in your daily life? Is there a certain comfort to anonymity?
Believe it or not, I tend to have a hard time picking up and reading a book while on vacation. There are just so many other things to do and look at that I cannot make myself focus on a book. I would say that there is a comfort in anonymity. I generally like to be left alone, and people tend not to interact with strangers. At the same time, I just live my life like I would anywhere. Location does not matter.
3. Have you ever met a goal and found that your reaction was not quite what you expected?
Definitely, you tend to think that there will be a big celebration for completion, but it usually tends to be more of a relief off your shoulders.
4. Poppy is going through professional burnout. Have you ever experienced that kind of fatigue? How did you get through it?
To be honest, I did not pick up on Poppy going through that burnout at all in this book. Towards the end, she randomly said she just wanted to quit her job, and I was like, okay… It is only human to experience this kind of fatigue, and I definitely do every so often. I usually just push through it and keep doing what I do every day. Another thing I recommend is watching a content creator who does the same thing as you, and that often encourages motivation.
5. Which vacation of Alex and Poppy’s would you most want to take? Which would you least want to take?
For the most part, definitely Tuscany. That trip did not go well for the characters, but it is in my top three places I want to go because of all the history. The next question of where I would least like to go is hard to answer. There is adventure in each and every place, but I guess that I will go with Nashville. I have been several times, and it’s not too far from me, and the culture is relatively the same as where I live.
6. Having grown up in a small town, Poppy struggles to break free of her reputation – or at least struggles to believe she can do so. When have you felt misunderstood, and how did you get past it?
I felt most misunderstood in my late teenage years—high school and in the years directly after that. Sometimes you just have to take a step back, work on yourself, and then surround yourself with the right people.
8. Why do you think it takes so long for Alex and Poppy to admit their feelings for each other?
I honestly have no clue. It’s unrealistic that it would take nearly a decade for them to do so. I guess maybe just the wrong place and wrong time, but in all honesty, once again, it’s unrealistic.
9. Rachel has a lot to say about contentment versus purpose. In your own life, do you prize one above the other? Are these ideas mutually exclusive, or can you have both?
In my own life, I never think about this. In my opinion, I think this is subjective. I would like to think that you can have both rather than them being mutually exclusive.
10. Do you think that Poppy and Alex are going to make it?
I did not feel a romantic connection between these characters whatsoever. No, I do not think they will make it as a couple and will resort to being friends again, or maybe just acquaintances.
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