> At a Glance
> – Yulin Kuang wrote the Netflix rom-com People We Meet on Vacation, released Jan. 9, 2026
> – She also authored the Reese’s Book Club pick How to End a Love Story
> – Why it matters: Kuang is shaping Hollywood’s romance boom with fresh adaptations and original novels
Yulin Kuang grew up on MGM musicals and Disney princess films, staying up at night to rewrite A Few Good Men so Demi Moore and Tom Cruise would kiss. That childhood habit became a career: she now writes and directs love stories for both page and screen.
From Fanfic to Netflix
After studying screenwriting at Carnegie Mellon, Kuang landed in Los Angeles via NBCUniversal’s page program. She created the CW Seed comedy I Ship It and wrote for Hulu’s Dollface before pivoting full-time to romance.
- 2016: rediscovered the genre by binge-reading Sherry Thomas
- 2024: published debut novel How to End a Love Story
- 2026: Netflix launches her adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation
Writing the Adaptation
Kuang co-wrote the People We Meet on Vacation screenplay with Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo, calling the slow-burn friends-to-lovers plot “a tricky adaptation puzzle.” Brett Haley directs; Tom Blyth and Emily Bader star as Alex and Poppy.
> Kuang on the project:
> > “It reminded me of the old-school romcoms I grew up loving, but felt fresh and new.”
She discovered Henry’s work while scouting books to adapt and felt an instant creative match: “It’s like we had an arranged marriage through our respective industries.”
What’s Next
Kuang will write and direct the film version of Henry’s Beach Read and is drafting new novels. She believes romance is “on the cusp of changing again,” driven by TikTok communities and streaming demand.
Key Takeaways
- People We Meet on Vacation drops on Netflix Jan. 9, 2026
- Kuang’s debut novel earned praise from Emily Henry and Reese’s Book Club
- She thrives within creative bounds, turning adaptation limits into narrative fuel
Love stories, she says, are “one of the most timeless themes,” and Kuang keeps proving there’s always a fresh way to make audiences swoon.
