| Title | : | The Wedding People |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250899575 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250899576 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 384 |
| Publication | : | First published July 30, 2024 |
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help us start anew.
It's a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamt of coming for years―she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she's here without him. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe―which makes it that much more surprising when the women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns uproariously, absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach's The Wedding People is a look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined―and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
The Wedding People Reviews
-
if i'm not supposed to judge books by their covers, why do they have such beautiful ones
-
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! i am so sad it’s over and i know it will stick with me for awhile—the best feeling ever if you ask me 🫶🏼
i loved so much about it—the characters, the message, the topics, the humor, the storyline, the ending 🙌🏼👏🏼 and Helen Laser (narrator) brought the humor and all the personalities to life SO well—all the characters were iconic and hilarious and necessary in their own way and they truly depicted “wedding people” to a T. plus it ended EXACTLY how i wanted it to.
i binged the audiobook in under 24 hours but would have finished in one sitting if i could have. if you’re an audiobook girlie, definitely do that route for this one. some parts will have you laughing until you cry (true story… i found 1 specific scene so funny i kept rewinding it to laugh again and had tears streaming down my face and the girl next to me on the plane was deff concerned😂)
the author covers many heavy topics with such grace and in delicate way, yet makes the overall situation so relatable and humorous. and can we talk about the overall theme behind treating strangers with kindness? in today’s world this is more important than ever.
this book was perfect—there was truly nothing i would change 🥹 it’s been a minute since i’ve felt this passionately and happy about a book and if you’ve been following me for awhile, you know my 5 stars are rare.
i also loved the quotes here and there about the monotony of life and what happiness truly means. two of my fave quotes:
“This is exactly what Phoebe has always hated and about life—how unpredictable it is. How things can change in an instant.”
“Life is strange. Always thinking that this one thing is going to make you happy. Because then you get it. And then you’re maybe not as happy as you imagined you would be. Because every day is just every day. Like the happiness becomes so big you have no choice but to live inside it. Until you can no longer see or feel it. And so you start to fixate on something else.”
1000/10 folks!! pick it up!!!!
*also if you’re reading this and can relate to Phoebe (trying to keep spoiler free), please know you are loved 🫶🏼 i hope a stranger smiles at you at the airport or the coffee shop and turns your day around 🤍
thanks to Henry Holt for the gifted ARC and LibroFM for the gifted ALC! -
The Wedding People
Arc Review- 5 Stars
Publishing Date 7/30/2024
“But life is strange, always thinking this one thing is going to make you happy, because then you get it, and then maybe you’re not as happy as you imagined you would be, because everyday is still just like everyday. Like the happiness becomes so big, you have no choice but to live inside of it, until you can no longer see it or feel it. And so you start to fixate on something else”
I’m obsessed. I found a new comfort read. I immediately pre-order this book once I was finished.
The Plot-
Phoebe hits rock bottom, She always wanted to travel to Newport, Rhode Island, so she decides to go and she rents a room in an expensive hotel, but when she gets there she realizes she just crashed a wedding weekend.
What To Expect and Content Warnings:
🍾Mental Health Representation
🍾Dark Humor
🍾Wedding Week Vibes
🍾Infidelity
🍾Depression
🍾Death of a Spouse/Parent
🍾Suicidal Ideation
“Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself. It’s your job to take care of yourself like that”
My Thoughts-
This book is absolutely amazing. This would be an amazing movie that I would pay top dollar to watch. This is one of my favorite books this year. The story is captivating, the writing is beautiful. This book is filled with humor and heart. This book at its core is about human connection that we all crave and everyone we meet is for a reason.
All the characters in this story were well liked. They all had a story to share. And I was so invested in each story. I had empathy for all of them. The characters were flawed but yet relatable. You really see how most people you know are lonely and miserable but put up a facade that everything is okay.
Going to touch on the two FMC
Phoebe- my black cat sassy protagonist. I LOVE her. She is such a well written character you can’t help but fall in love with her. I really wanted to take her under my wing. Her character development was top tier.
Lila- ahh the spoiled rich girl that’s getting married. Honestly I adore her. She was so delulu and comical. I was really rooting for her happiness as well.
I think that both these FMC complimented each other so well. You have two ladies that are polar opposites but mesh so well. I love their weird friendship
“At night she stared at her sagging breast and her thin skin over her hand and wondered what happened to her” “I had been too embarrassed then,” she says. “Simply put, I thought I was fat, but what a shame because now I see that I was too young and beautiful then not to be naked all the time” 🥹😭🥹😭
The authors writing style really stood out to me. I really felt like I was throw into the world of Phoebe walking besides her while she survived the wedding week. The dialogue was incredible. Filled with so much charm, humor and meaningful conversations. I see some complain they didn’t know what chapter they were one but that didn’t bother me at all cause everything meshed together so well, the narrative was crafted well that I was emotional connected.
Overall I would recommend this read. I really hope the book gets the hype it’s deserves. I can sit and break down this book chapter by chapter and rave about it, but I truly think this is a book a lot of people will enjoy and relate too.
“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”
Playlist-
💍Never Felt So Alone- Labyrinth
💍I'm Only A Fool For you- Dybbukk
💍Down Bad- Taylor Swift
💍When The Party Is Over- Billie Ellish
💍Happiness Is A Butterfly- Lana Del Rey
💍Water Under The Bridge- Adele
💍Lost- Frank Ocean
💍FOURFIVESECONDS- Rhianna
💍Fix You- Yellowcard
💍I Feel It Coming- The Weekend
💍Landslide- Fleetwood Mac
💍Somebody I Used To Know- Gotye
💍Champagne Problems- Taylor Swift
💍Lose You To Love Me- Selena Gomez
💍Bejeweled- Taylor Swift
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨ -
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Narrated by Helen Laser
Expected Publication Date: July 30, 2024
Smart, Honest and Hopeful
Forty-ish Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn and checks into the most expensive room for one night. She is wearing her green dress and gold heels, so she looks the part of a wedding guest-but she isn’t there to celebrate the start of a new life-she is there to END hers.
Infertility, Infidelity, Depression, Divorce and now the death of her beloved cat.
That is what has led to this tragic decision.
Meanwhile, the 28 year old bride, Lila has planned the PERFECT six day wedding, booking the entire Cornwall Inn for her “once in a lifetime” event. So it “just won’t do” that there has been a mix-up which allowed one random guest to check-in-even if it was just for the first night.
And, it’s definitely UNACCEPTABLE when she meets Phoebe and learns of her intent. NOBODY will ruin her wedding!
A chance encounter, an unlikely alliance, an unexpected friendship.
Sometimes vulnerable people make the WRONG decisions. But, if you are lucky-you can still end up with the RIGHT outcome.
This is the kind of book that you will still be thinking about long after you finish-Especially if you are a woman of a certain age-or a certain stage of your life. And, even, if like me, you hate “sex themed” bachelorette activities, and don’t really even enjoy weddings!
Of course, there are some of these things to endure in this book, and my personal preference is to read about this “well intentioned” pre-wedding fun without resorting to the unnecessary use of the more vulgar sexual terms to drive your point home-the three “C” words. They didn’t seem to fit with the more reflective conversations that characterized the rest of this story. (- .5)
The ending wasn’t completely unexpected, though it is one that I hoped for, and the wisdom of the parting words shared between Phoebe and Lila, brought a tear to my eye, and is the reason I rounded up instead of down. I will remember the story.
I’m glad there wasn’t an epilogue and that the reader can envision what they think happens next…
4.5 stars ⭐️
I listened to the Audiobook, provided by MacMillan Audio through NetGalley, which was expertly narrated by Helen Laser who delivered a wide range of voices and accents to the diverse cast of characters! This has been optioned for film and I look forward to watching too.
The book and Audible are both available NOW!
These are my Candid thoughts. -
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
***Tri-Star pictures has already acquired the rights to this novel !!
I have been holding off on writing this review because I’m afraid that I won’t do it justice!! I went into this one thinking it might be another vapid rom-com. I couldn’t have been more wrong!
We begin at a beautiful old hotel, the Cornwall Inn, in Newport, Rhode Island, on the ocean.
Phoebe Stone arrives without any bags and dressed in a beautiful green dress and gold heels.
She quickly realizes that she is surrounded by people here for the wedding between Lila and Gary, a grand affair that will take place over a week’s time.
Over the course of the book we will get to know these characters well - they are so well described that I felt that I knew them and wanted the book to continue.
Phoebe is at the lowest point in her life, failed IVF rounds followed by her husband leaving her for another woman. Lila is at a high point, finally the big day has arrived, she has been planning this wedding for over a year.
These two characters are thrown together and find friendship, acceptance and understanding. They become each others “sounding board” for lots of repressed feelings.
There are many stories about life in these pages; marriage, infidelity, infertility, loneliness and disappointment. There is the message of friendship and love, death of loved ones, career challenges - the list goes on and on.
There literally wasn’t a slow or disappointing moment in this novel.
This is what great contemporary adult fiction should be!! So pitch perfect that I can’t find a single fault with it.
You can read the blurb for a summary, I don’t want to spoil a single moment of your enjoyment of this novel.
*Author’s Notes - just as good as the book. So sincere, so thankful to her friends, family, readers, even her cat. Have to love someone who writes “. . .to my cat, who I realize will never read or understand this, but who quite literally sits by my side and keeps one supportive paw on my forearm while I write”. Cat lovers can understand this but I’m sure you could insert “dog” and it would be just as meaningful.
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a well written, fun and relatable novel with characters you can relate to.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my great pleasure to read and review this novel. -
"𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝑜 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈, 𝓈𝑜 𝒷𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑒𝓇𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 - 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇." - 𝒜𝓁𝒾𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝐸𝓈𝓅𝒶𝒸𝒽, "𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝑒𝒹𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒫𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒" 𖠋♡𖠋
I had to take the night and let this one marinate in thought. I'm still not quite sure where to start - it covered so many bases, in such a broad and significant spectrum.
When her life takes a drastic turn, Phoebe Stone spontaneously decides to get away from it all and take the trip she has dreamed of taking with her now ex-husband. The Cornwall Inn in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, is brimming with guests when she arrives- dressed to the nines and when she’s mistaken for one of them, Phoebe’s swept up in all the pomp and circumstance.
As the story evolves, we see Phoebe transform from a depressed and constricted individual to a disarmingly honest personality that touches people. This was an enjoyable character study covering themes such as suicide, infertility, abandonment, life goals, sexuality, and relationships.
The setting and the wedding week atmosphere adds a touch of lightness, humor and chaos.
I love dark humor and the author really delivered, I found myself cracking up and really appreciating each and every one of the characters. All of the personalities are so refreshing and realistic.
╰⪼ Smart, laugh out loud funny, emotional - this book has range! Highly recommend!
“𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝓂𝒶𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀 𝓌𝑒’𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝑜 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉.”
「 ✦ A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help us start anew. ✦ 」
╰┈➤ 𐙚 𝓘𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒞𝒶𝓃 𝐸𝓍𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉... 𓍯𓂃𓏧♡꒱
°˖➴🥂Whitty
°˖➴🥂Dark Humored
°˖➴🥂Feel Good
°˖➴🥂Wedding Week Vibes
°˖➴🥂Exceptionally Well Written
╰┈➤ 𐙚 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽/𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𓍯𓂃𓏧♡ ꒱
°˖➴💍Infidelity
°˖➴💍Infertility
°˖➴💍Unfulfilling job
°˖➴💍Divorce
°˖➴💍Suicide
°˖➴💍Depression
°˖➴💍Death/Grief.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Alison Espach for the last min complementary audio copy in exchange for an honest review. 💐 -
This book is absolutely brilliant.
It's beautifully written, and the character work is incredible. It's deep, and so full of heart, but also funny, sweet and very hopeful.
Every character felt so real and complex, I was almost instantly attached to them and felt like I knew them in real life.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolutely fantastic and the experience really immersive.
I highly recommend this book, and especially in the audiobook version. -
4.5⭐
Revolving around themes of friendship, family, personal growth, self-acceptance and human connection, The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a beautifully written novel that will strike a chord in your heart.
As the story begins, we meet Phoebe Stone, an adjunct professor in literature in her forties, as she arrives alone at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, with a heavy heart. This was a place that she had hoped to visit with her now ex-husband, but here she was, in a green dress and heels with no luggage. Phoebe’s room is the only one not booked for the wedding of twenty-eight-year-old Lila, who has meticulously planned a week-long sequence of pre-wedding activities leading up to the day of her nuptials. Initially mistaken to be one of the wedding people, the misunderstanding is soon cleared up, but much to Lila’s dismay, she realizes that Phoebe’s plans for her own stay would surely ruin her wedding. The narrative follows as Phobe and Lila strike up an unlikely friendship as Phoebe soon becomes one of the wedding people – an experience that might just be the nudge she needs to rethink her own priorities.
There is a lot about this book that is praiseworthy and the glowing reviews are more than justified. The description of the book suggests that this might be a light-hearted read, but this novel proved to be much more than I had expected. The author writes with heart, wisdom and humor. The narrative does suffer from minor pacing issues, but overall, the story flows well. Each of the characters was well thought out - authentic, relatable and endearing. I adored Phoebe and loved how she bonded with a complete group of strangers showing kindness and empathy to those who needed the same but also being strong and forceful in situations that demanded attention. Lila did strike me as a tad immature at times, but I could understand her motivations and why she behaved in certain ways. I loved the coverage of the pre-wedding activities – the chaos, confusion and unforeseen complications – which result in situations both humorous and heartwarming. The author’s strength lies in her characterizations and depiction of complex human emotions and I enjoyed following both Lila's and Phoebe's individual journeys over the course of the events described in this story. The author addresses several sensitive topics such as infidelity, bereavement, infertility, mental health, depression and suicidal ideation with insight and compassion. The story emphasizes the importance of being kind – to one another and oneself – the latter being something many of us forget.
Overall, I found this to be an evocative and thought-provoking read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction.
I listened to the audiobook brilliantly narrated by Helen Laser who made the characters and this story come to life. I couldn’t recommend the audiobook enough!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 30, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏
Instagram ✏
My Blog ✏
The StoryGraph -
I loved this book!! ❤️ Thank you sooo much to @henryholtbooks for this absolutely gorgeous gifted copy
Sooo you know when a book ends.. and you miss your new book friends?!! 🥹You know the fictional ones you just made?? THIS was that book for me. I miss you Phoebe girl!! 😘 Call me! 😂😂 Pub date is July 30th!! 🥳🥳
There’s a wedding 💍 this week at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island..😍 Phoebe has dreamed forever of staying there….so here she finally is… for one last night… of glitz.. glamour.. luxury… before… WELL… I will let Phoebe tell you.. since this is her story..😉… However she arrived with NOTHING other than her dress 👗… hmm 🤔
Guys… I loved this book!! The gang was all there.. well the wedding party gang… 🥂🥂although.. Phoebe doesn’t know a single person… 😳…she had no idea that the entire place was booked up for a week long wedding… 🤷♀️… apparently a glich in the system let Phoebe in too.. 🤔… but she rolled with it….Hot tub and all…🤭
This vast array of characters checked every box. ✅.. Even our spoiled and sassy bride 👰♀️ to be… Lila… sweet as can be… if and ONLY if… she gets her way! 😂
This book tackles some deep subjects and it’s really true to life. The pressures… the up’s and downs… and what it’s like to be a survivor and come out on the other side. ❤️Sprinkled with snarky humor… this made for a perfect read. Five wonderful stars. ⭐️ There are some TW so lmk if you want to know. I feel it is a potential spoiler so am not including it.
🥂🥂🥂 Is this on your list?? How about this amazing cover?? -
Phoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore
* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.
Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.
Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she can’t even get room service for a final meal.
Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.
Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.
I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.
The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.
Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.
* I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own -
Why I Love It
Regina Montoya
Stories that find hope in life’s cracks and imperfect places are some of my favorites, and Alison Espach’s The Wedding People demonstrates every reason why.
After years of wanting to go to the grand Cornwall Inn, Phoebe finally decides to book a stay for herself. She arrives at the expensive seaside hotel on a beautiful day, luggage-less. Divorced, depressed, and grieving her cat’s death, Phoebe has booked the hotel room to end her life, but her plan is derailed by a bubbly (and delusionally out-of-touch) bride-to-be, Lila, who talks her out of suicide and into being her maid of honor.
As Phoebe becomes increasingly involved with Lila’s friends, family, and groom-to-be, she reflects on the trajectory her own life has taken. This unlikely and wonderfully ridiculous weekend might just remind her of all the good, amidst the disappointing and the painful, life has to offer.
Alison Espach has written a deeply relatable, painfully honest, and ultimately hopeful story of self-realization and personhood—and I cannot recommend it enough. The Wedding People and its cast of flawed and lovable characters took me on an emotional journey I did not anticipate, but am happy I experienced. Earnest, moving, and hilarious, this book and its surprising bits of wisdom will stick with me for a long time. -
4 solid stars for the "Wedding People". I enjoyed this story about Phoebe, a divorced & childless cat lady professor who wants to end it all & instead gets swept up into a week-long Newport wedding extravaganza, becoming a part of it and growing in the process along with her new "found family". Lots of charm, humor and warmth, but also much insight along the way. Really loved the endings, my only quibble was it was a bit slow in the middle third.
-
What do we do when we’ve lost our way and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? The Wedding People answers this question in a lovely, touching, heartwarming way while also being humorous and witty. This is one of my favorite reads in a long while and I believe it will be a grand success!
Dealing with life (infidelity, infertility, unfulfilling job, divorce) has left Phobe depressed and ending it all seems the best option. She flies to Newport, RI to a luxiorious inn to spend her last night in a beautiful place. That’s when she meets Lila, bride to be and sheer force of nature. Phoebe is sucked into Lila’s life and bridal party before she knows it! It’s not what Phoebe expected but “if the last few years have taught her anything, it’s that you can’t ever know who you are going to end up becoming.”
We then get to follow Phoebe as she becomes herself! The characters are wonderfully drawn and so real as they engage in the wedding events amidst the messiness of life. I had all the feels as my heart ached for Phoebe and then cheered her on. I wanted to shake some sense into Lila, but also tuck her into bed and tell her she would be alright! Both Phoebe and Lila make brave choices to live their lives and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The Wedding People is a endearing read and a testament to the notion that life really can be what we choose to make of it. Look for it July 30, 2024. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the chance to read this arc and this is my honest review. -
Phew, it was hard to live inside Phoebe’s head for this book and I’m pretty shocked I actually liked it. 😂
The beginning was pretty depressing (she goes to a hotel to kill herself), but as the story progressed, so did Phoebe’s outlook on life and reflection on her future.
Didnt love it, but I did like it! -
Phoebe Stone has been disappointed a lot in her life. After suffering through multiple failed IVF attempts to have a child, her husband Matt tells her he's in love with one of her friends and then leaves. Phoebe's an adjunct college professor who never quite lived up to her potential, and certainly never finished that novel she was hoping to write. So she books the most expensive room in a pricey hotel, dressed up to the nines with a plan to end it all. There's a wedding party that has taken over the whole hotel, and she winds up getting swept into the festivities and interacting with the bride, her family, friends, and groom.
As the story evolves, we see Phoebe transform from a depressed and constricted individual to a disarmingly honest personality that touches people. This was an enjoyable character study covering themes such as suicide, infertility, abandonment, life goals, sexuality, and relationships. The setting of a wedding is a favorite trope of mine, so this was a pleasant read.
Thank you to the publisher Henry Holt & Company for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley. -
This book has everything you could want and more - from deep themes of trauma and grief to an uplifting and hopeful love story. I guarantee you will find yourself hard-pressed to put this book down and even harder-pressed not to adore it. With quirky characters who meddle, a hotel bookcase filled with the classics (placed in an aesthetically pleasing manner), and a story that will have you both laughing and crying, this book was made for us book lovers!
On a final note, this book resonated with me in a profound way. Having walked at least partially in our MC’s shoes, I felt connected to her in a way no other literary character has made me feel. Espach doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics - handling them with nuance and tenderness, while also allowing many readers (I am sure) to feel seen.
🎧 If we are keeping lists of top audiobooks, add this to the top of the list. Helen Laser narrates this already stunning book, with all the humor and grace needed to make this an emotional showstopper.
Read if you like:
• uplifting stories
• found family
• friendship fiction
• emotional reads
• quirky characters
• second chances
• Midnight Library
CW: Thoughts of suicide, late term miscarriage, and other heavy topics. Take care while reading if you are sensitive to these triggers.
‼️Please know that no matter what, you are never alone. If you find yourself struggling, do not hesitate to dial 9-8-8 and talk to someone who can help. -
I was happy I said "I DO!" to "The Wedding People".
❤️👍😍👨❤️💋👨
From start to finish, I was instantly engaged.
(No pun intended!)
Yes, I was captivated by this heartfelt and refreshingly different wedding rom-com.
The book's premise was brilliant:
Two deeply flawed women meet for the first time at the grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island.
One woman is a meticulous bride who has assiduously planned every detail of her $1M wedding.
The other woman is a depressed and infertile divorcee who has traveled to the Inn to kill herself.
WHAT'S THERE NOT TO LIKE???
The author's characterizations were strong and the dialogue was ultra-compelling with just the right dose of humor.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
Some of the book's "deep winding conversations" were too "winding".
(Full disclosure: I am a fan of brevity whenever possible!)
I listened to the audiobook, expertly read by narrator Helen Laser.
Overall, my confetti and sparklers were out!!!
🎊🥳🎉
Get ready to pop the champagne. This book was a winner!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars -
5 very strong stars! The Wedding People was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Alison Espach. I had read Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance several years ago and enjoyed it, so when I saw that Alison Espach had written a new book and that it was getting a lot of good reviews I jumped on the bandwagon, too. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised how fast I was able to immerse myself in the plot. It was primarily set in Newport, Rhode Island with its posh mansions, spectacular beaches and a full service inn called the Cornwall Inn. I listened to the audiobook that was brilliantly narrated by Helen Laser. She was able to capture the individual nuances of each of the many characters in this most sweet yet humorous book.
Phoebe Stone had just received the most devastating and unexpected news of her life. She knew that she wanted to get as far away from previous life as possible. Phoebe knew exactly where she wanted to go. Years ago, Phoebe had found a charming inn in Newport, Rhode Island that she wanted to go to with her husband. Phoebe and her husband never got there but Phoebe would go now. It was the perfect spot for what Phoebe was contemplating. Phoebe arrived with only the clothes she was wearing. She had no luggage or anything of impotence with her. When Phoebe checked in, she learned that the whole inn had been reserved for a wedding. The person who had checked Phoebe in just assumed that Phoebe was a guest that was attending the wedding. Little did they know but Phoebe had other plans for herself. She wanted nothing to do with a wedding. As luck would have it, or maybe it was fate, Phoebe found herself face to face with the bride to be, Lila, in the elevator as she was on her way to the room that had been assigned to her. Lila started a conversation with Phoebe and soon learned about the plans Phoebe was intending on carrying out. This admission led to a very unconventional friendship of sorts. After that, Phoebe became more involved in the wedding plans and decisions than she ever would have expected or imagined.
The Wedding People was clever, humorous and touching. I really enjoyed all the characters and missed them when I finished the audiobook. They were authentic and made me feel like I was right there by their sides. I enjoyed the setting very much. It is a place that I would love to see and explore. The ending was perfect and quite satisfying. I can’t say enough good things about The Wedding People except read it or listen to the audiobook of it. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Wedding People in exchange for an unbiased review. -
...becoming who you want to be is just like anything else. It takes practice. It requires belief that one day, you'll wake up and be a natural at it.
Every once in a while, I read a book that so perfectly captures what it means to be human -- the vulnerability, the messiness, the mistakes and contradictions, the joys and heartbreaks, the moments you get it all so right and so spectacularly wrong -- that it takes my breath away. The Wedding People was one of those books for me.
Phoebe thought she'd be visiting the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island with her husband, but, well, things didn't work out that way. Instead she arrives by herself, in a fancy green dress with no luggage. She plans to spend one night at the Cornwall -- and has no plans for her life after that. When she checks in, she realizes she's the only guest at the hotel who isn't there for a week-long wedding celebration. Phoebe is determined to stay away from the wedding people...but a chance encounter with the bride changes everything.
Alison Espach accomplishes quite the balancing act with The Wedding People. The book deals overtly with suicidal ideation and depression; many characters struggle with dark thoughts and bleak feelings, and the narrative doesn't shy away from any of that. But at the same time, it's one of the most life-affirming novels I've ever read. I don't think I would call it "heartwarming," which implies a purity that I don't think it has. It's irreverent and wry, unflinchingly honest and so incredibly genuine. The character development is phenomenal, and so is the dialogue; there are lots of conversations in this book, and they felt so authentic.
I love how Espach explores the idea that a random encounter with a stranger can prompt genuine connection, how we can sometimes be more vulnerable with strangers than with our loved ones, because who cares what a stranger thinks of us, right? Espach answers that question in The Wedding People, when the strangers Phoebe encounters become so much more than that, when the truths that are shared become the building blocks for real relationships.
I listened to the audiobook read by
Helen Laser, who did a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to life. The Wedding People is so smart and hopeful, and is a book I'll be recommending and gifting to all the readers I know. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary reading opportunity. -
I did not think I was going to like this book when I saw reviews declaring it "heartwarming." Heartwarming is not my thing. But then I read it in 24 hours. I am not saying it's not heartwarming, but I think what made me enjoy it so much was how willing it was to give time and space to depression, grief, and all the other dark feelings its characters struggle with. It moves from darkness to light as a broader trajectory, but it isn't in any hurry to push aside the dark stuff. It lets us struggle, and that is something I do really enjoy.
It's important to note that this is a novel where suicidal ideation is a major plot element, it's depicted in great detail on the page. This, also, had me nervous that this book was not for me. I don't like this kind of thing as gimmick, and that is, essentially what the book is doing. But that's also when it started to surprise me. It lets the reader start to really understand Phoebe's sadness, and then Lila barges in and takes over. Just the barging in and taking over would have had me annoyed, but Lila also spills her guts in the way that sometimes you can only share your biggest worries with a total stranger. I am, truly, a sucker for people spilling their guts.
Turns out this is a very talky book. Over and over, Phoebe manages to find people in this wedding party who share their secrets and worries and troubles with her. And for me that was more than enough to overcome the gimmick. I like seeing people share and talk and grow and change. Even if the whole thing feels a little forced and artificial, I did not mind it. It's a balancing act. But bringing in a reader like me who prefers things dark and twisty while also appealing to readers who want a fluffy romantic beach read is a balancing act, and I think this book manages to pull it off and have pretty wide appeal.
Espach's prose is quite nice, the character development quite deep, and all sorts of things that could be surface level details (and probably will be in the movie version) we get to dive into more deeply. I really appreciated that. Got to have just a real lovely experience with this book and that is its own pleasure. -
that feeling when you close a book and know that it’s going to be your favorite book of all time
-
"Every wedding, even a successful wedding, is a waste."
There are some books that you just forget, even if they were "good", and some like The Wedding People, where you simply wished never ended.
Phoebe decides to book the most expensive room at a Victorian Hotel in Rhode Island for the night, not to vacay, but to commit suicide. After a failed marriage, she decides she wants to end her life by taking all of her cat's medicine, that smells like tuna. She has a chance encounter with Lily in the elevator, who has booked a wedding WEEK, and they quickly become friends, much to Phoebe's dismay. Soon, they become the "best" of friends, all to heartwarming and hilarious results.
Despite the topics of suicide, failed marriages, IVF, and death, The Wedding People is still a humerus read and excelled in so many ways. Often hilarious, but still touching, the characters just bounced off the page. The characters were completely relatable, never were annoying, and even though there are a handful of characters, you were never lost or confused by back storylines.
The impatient bride - Lily while completely self absorbed with her overpriced affair, was hilarious. A daughter of a former waste management company owner, who was given an inheritance - to spend on a wedding, and this wedding did not hold back. I loved the Rhode Island setting.
"But how many times do I have to explain that I'm godless? That I can't get married at a church, because what church?"
Insert Gary, Lily's soon to be husband, who is introducded in the most surprising of ways. Wedding People is all one big surprise. While you think you know what is going to happen, it never does, and the banter between this virtual stranger Phoebe and the wedding people was never completely unrealistic.
The blended families were fun, witty, and hard to dislike. Gary's daughter named "Juice", while is only 11, is smart beyond her years. The staff at the hotel reminded me of some of the employees on White Lotus.
Phoebe, was one of the smartest characters I've encountered in awhile. Espach wrote her knowing we had to take her wisdom seriously. She's a professor specializing in 19th century literature and she definitely proved her worth.
"You have to pluralize the head noun, not the modifier."
"Blond and dazzling in the way that suggests she's never bough a loaf of bread at the store. And Gary, so handsome and sturdy, a man who is always bringing bread home from the store."
"I mean, I never think of historical figures as hot. They're just these bodiless, dusty, sepia-toned entities."
"She devoted her career to these books because she needed them. She didn't care that most of the other graduate students thought this was boring. These stories were like little bibles to her, teaching how to be normal, how to dream, how to believe that happiness and a new family would arrive in a single moment, on a single page, like the sudden crescendo of a symphony."
By the end of the book, I did not expect it to turn full circle the way it did. There is plenty of humor to be had, a few tears to be shed, and you will root for everyone in this book.
"A story can be beautiful, not because of the eay it ends. But because of the way it's written." This sums up the Espach's book when she wrote The Wedding People. Can't wait for her next one, and the inevitable movie just picked up with Nicole Holofcener adapting. -
4.5 stars.
I never thought a book opening with a woman contemplating suicide could be so fun, witty, and moving. At first, I thought Phoebe would be another doormat of a character. At first, she was. But then, she encounters a lonely and rather neurotic bride and is pulled into her orbit. The women are polar opposites, but as Phoebe sheds her inhibitions and finds the courage to speak her truth, I found myself rooting not only for her but for all the characters whose lives had somehow gone astray.
At times funny, at times deeply sad, this book had many levels. I especially loved the literary references, especially since they included some of my favorite female authors like Bronte, Wharton, Austen, and Wolfe. The subtle comparisons between Phoebe's life and weddings, marriages, and women's roles in these classics was very well done. -
4.5 stars. A delight!
Phoebe Stone shows up at a hotel and mistakenly gets swept up into wedding festivities right when she is at her lowest. This book is so engaging, heartwarming, and hilarious. I loved everything about it - the characters, the plot, the intergenerational friendship, and the book’s resolution. For fans of well-written books with a lot of humor and heart.
This is one of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide Preview selections. Check out the preview for more great summer reads:
https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/blo.... -
A woman deciding to commit suicide, a bride not sure of becoming a wife, a fancy hotel with a slew of wedding guests and of course bridesmaids adds up to be a fun trip to the altar (maybe!).
When Phoebe (the would be suicide) and Lila (the would be bride) meet up at the hotel in Rhode Island, there becomes a link between them. Both seem to be on a path to save one another from disastrous results. However, all the razzmatazz that accompanies weddings puts both ladies in a mostly fun and snarky situations. However there are some serious themes going on and although the language was often offsetting, ( and not especially needed), I did enjoy the story of how decisions can change and make things definitely better.
Thanks to Allison Espach, Macmillan Audio for the ability to listen to this story.
Jan and I had fun with this one! -
Wedding People is a breath of fresh air. Phoebe goes to a fancy hotel with plans to end her life - she’s tired and can no longer feel passion for her adjunct English professor work, her husband Matt had an affair and has divorced her, and her cat Harry has passed away. She is ready to end it all.
But instead, Phoebe gets tangled up in the week-long wedding that’s being held at the hotel. All the wedding people - bride, groom, bridesmaids, the guests - are such vibrant characters. I loved seeing Phoebe get roped into getting to know these people on a deeper level, and I loved seeing Phoebe become known to others as well. It was a deep look into the hardships of being human in a world that can be depressing, turbulent, confusing, beautiful, awful, hilarious, and (even though Phoebe doesn’t like this word!) fun.
I loved seeing Phoebe and all the other characters, Lila and Gary especially, get to know themselves better and reach deeper into themselves about what they truly want in life. The dialogue is so natural between them all and the quick wit doesn’t go unnoticed - It’s a brilliant idea that leaves you with food for thought. I’d highly recommend this book!! Thanks so much to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion. This comes out 7/30/24 and I know a lot of people will love it. -
5 HUGE stars for this wonderful read!!!
This book, these characters, the storyline. I loved absolutely everything about The Wedding People!
I'm so sad my time with this incredible cast is over. I enjoyed the ending but selfishly wished for another 100 pages. I would like to submit my application to be Phoebe Stones best friend :)
My thanks to Henry Holt & Co for this gifted copy! -
CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!!!!
Huge thanks to #partner @macmillan.audio for my #gifted audiobook. #macaudio2024
The Wedding People
By Allison Epoch
Narrated by Helen Laser
Available now
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A surprising, touching, and humorous novel about an unexpected wedding guest, and the people who bring her back to herself. This book is a gem and worth every ounce of hype it's receiving. The audiobook is performed by Helen Laser, who captures the tone of heartbreak and humor just brilliantly! -
"I think we talk about happiness all wrong. As if it’s this fixed state we’re going to reach. Like we’ll just be able to live there, forever."
My notebook is full of quotes from this book now, but the one above sticks the hardest.
Professor Phoebe Stone has just walked away from her life in St. Louis to take a trip to the Cornwall Inn, a grandiose 5 star hotel in Rhode Island. It wasn’t a difficult decision– her life has been in shambles for years. Things are so bad in fact, that she has arrived at this beautiful hotel with one goal in mind – she plans to end her life.
But as spontaneous as this decision was, Phoebe wanted to make an event of it, to come to this hotel she’s dreamt of since before her divorce, and wear a beautiful dress that she never would have been caught alive in. Awkwardly for her, when Phoebe enters the reception area she encounters a sea of people also in green. They are here for a wedding, and Phoebe has accidentally snuck in wearing the party’s color.
Regardless, Phoebe has come to this hotel with a plan, and when she runs into the bride Phoebe is not afraid to be honest with the woman. The bride, Lila, is not impressed with this plan and demands Phoebe reschedule. A dead woman at her wedding is unacceptable, so if she could just wait til the wedding is over that would be great, thanks.
The original meeting between Phoebe and Lila has that magical ‘say anything’ vibe that conversations with total strangers has. They are both at the end of their rope, Phoebe from depression and Lila from stress, and their interactions with each other are shockingly honest after a long period of what feels like fake socialization.
One thing I loved about this book is that is takes place in our world, where Covid lockdowns happened and destroyed the waning sanity we all had. The effect the pandemic had on the characters is actually incorporated and for that reason it makes the story feel so much more real, like these are people that I could run into at a hotel.
Lila is a young woman in her late 20s, Phoebe is 12 years older and approaching middle age. The differences between them in age and personality is initially so striking but as we progress through the story we get to see how similar everyone really is to each other, and how all people are just trying to do their best to be happy, even if they have not yet figured out what that means. Especially when they do not know what their happiness looks like.
This is truly a beautiful story and the type that will stick with me for a long time. It is a story of loss, grief, and new beginnings. It’s about the power of wanting, and asking for what you want. In a world that makes us feel like we have everything, it is hard to actually desire anything. - Thanks for the lesson Sex Woman!
But seriously, this book made me cry and it made me laugh out loud. The humor was so perfectly timed and the characters were so real they popped right out of the page. (In this case, out of my phone). Truly this is one for the ages and I know I’ll be coming back to it again. -
Another great Read with Jenna Book club pick! This book centres around Phoebe, a deeply depressed middle aged divorced adjunct English lit professor who finds herself caught up in an extravagant over the top wedding at the same hotel where she's staying.
Told with equal parts humor and bracing honesty, I loved how the author juxtaposes important mental health issues (depression, suicidal ideation, grief and loneliness) against what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of a couples' lives.
Taking place over the course of six days leading up to this wedding, Phoebe manages to befriend the bride, get appointed maid of honor, fall for the groom and discover a new lease on life and love. Great on audio narrated by Helen Laser and highly recommended for fans of books like Social engagement by Avery Carpenter Forrey or Never been better by Leanne Toshiko Simpson.
Many thanks to Libro.fm and the publisher for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book turned into a standout read for me this summer and its main character really grew on me to the point where I was rooting for Phoebe to get her own happily ever after by the end.
⚠️CW: attempted suicide, depression, miscarriage, infertility, death of a loved one from cancer
