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The Wedding People
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Readers' Favorite Fiction (2024)11 hours, 37 minutes
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, without luggage, alone. Everyone in the lobby mistakes her for one of the wedding people at an impending wedding on the site, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t there for the big event.
Phoebe is there because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is a nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
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, without luggage, alone. Everyone in the lobby mistakes her for one of the wedding people at an impending wedding on the site, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t there for the big event.
Phoebe is there because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is a nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published July 30, 2024
76957 people are currently reading
1047294 people want to read
About the author
Alison Espach
10 books6,010 followersAlison Espach grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, where she lived for most of her life. She earned her BA from Providence College and her Masters in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney's, Five Chapters, Glamour, Salon, The Daily Beast, Writer's Digest, and other journals.
She is currently teaching in New York City.
She is currently teaching in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117,443 reviews
February 23, 2026
Words cannot do justice to how brilliant this book is. The author left me speechless, a blubbering machine like those waving cat statues you see in Eastern places, with the exception that I kept repeating, "I love it! I love it! I love it!"
Phoebe is real! She's not an ordinary book character. You can easily see parts of her that are similar to you: resonating, bluntly honest, depressingly expressive, a woman who finally dares to say enough is enough, leaving her old life with only a dress and uncomfortable shoes, without looking back, just aiming to cut away the pain like a rotted piece.
She's smart, sarcastic, depressed, exhausted, trapped in her unhappiness like a hamster stuck in a treadmill going nowhere, counting her steps as she keeps counting the days passing without hope, plans, or desires.
Have any of you turned into Phoebe, who stopped seeing her value, drawn into self-suffocation as if you have full of options, have so many talents you didn't explore, a brain that holds encyclopedic knowledge but still seeing yourself from a cracked mirror perspective, dulling your motivations? This book is for all women who are stuck in the routine of life, preferring not to talk about their honest opinions, putting others' needs first!
When Phoebe Stone, in her mid-forties, is dumped by her husband of two decades, having gone through IVF treatments, miscarriages, losing the charm of her job as a literary (Victorian era) professor to interact with students, and her unfinished thesis about Jane Eyre, a tragedy pushes her to the limit. She leaves her house wearing only a green dress she bought for a special occasion but never had a chance to wear, and gold heels that probably create blisters on her feet. Without a bag in sight, she finds herself at Cornwall Inn, a luxurious hotel with nightly costs around $800, located in Newport, Rhode Island. She has a secret that she blurts out in the elevator to Lila, who has paid to close the entire hotel for wedding festivities: Phoebe is going to kill herself with pills she's carried to her ocean-view expensive room.
Of course, Lila the bridezilla, at age 27, has her own problems besides organizing her dreamy wedding without hiring a wedding planner because she cannot trust anyone not to ruin things on her special day. She misses her father who recently died from cancer, and his dying wish was to see his daughter as a happy bride. But now she's dealing with her eccentric, daily-drinking artist mother who keeps telling her she's making a mistake marrying the older Gary, choosing an incompatible guy just as she did with Lila's father. Gary's sister Marla, who was involved in a sex scandal, cheating on her husband, keeps nagging her with inappropriate, grumpy comments. Her teenage stepdaughter Juice/Melanie acts like she hates her guts. Her mother-in-law thinks if they don't marry in a real church, her wedding will be ineffective. On top of that, there's a wedding crasher in the hotel called Phoebe who plans to take her own life, adding more tragedy to her perfect day! How dare she!
Interestingly, Lila keeps knocking on Phoebe's hotel room door to get advice because this stranger might be the only honest person who can tell her the truth, including if there's a piece of food stuck in her teeth.
Phoebe also realizes that talking with Lila and finding herself involved in the wedding drama helps her get out of her dark space. She finds herself fraternizing with the guests, turning into a priest who listens to anyone's confessions without being stuck in a booth, including the bride's mother, sister-in-law, Gary's ex-brother-in-law Jim (who might have feelings for the bride), and of course Gary, the groom, with whom she becomes friendlier than she could ever imagine.
What if she can have other chances to grab in life, leaving her old self hanging on the coat racks of her closet and jumping into a new life? What if Lila is also rushing into the wedding to realize her late father's wishes without thinking it through? What if there are other paths to follow which will force them to face what they really want to do with their one precious life?
This humorous satire balances drama and humor perfectly, just like life itself! Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the top ten books of the year you shouldn't miss! The characters, the plot progression, the blossoming friendship of two polar opposite women (smart, snarky, self-reliant Phoebe and controlling, perfectionist, slightly superficial white privileged princess Lila), the promising romance parts, the irony, the heartfelt moments, self-awareness about mental health, learning to let go, and being brave enough to start over messages are perfectly developed!
This is a MUST-READ that you shouldn't dare to skip!
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Phoebe is real! She's not an ordinary book character. You can easily see parts of her that are similar to you: resonating, bluntly honest, depressingly expressive, a woman who finally dares to say enough is enough, leaving her old life with only a dress and uncomfortable shoes, without looking back, just aiming to cut away the pain like a rotted piece.
She's smart, sarcastic, depressed, exhausted, trapped in her unhappiness like a hamster stuck in a treadmill going nowhere, counting her steps as she keeps counting the days passing without hope, plans, or desires.
Have any of you turned into Phoebe, who stopped seeing her value, drawn into self-suffocation as if you have full of options, have so many talents you didn't explore, a brain that holds encyclopedic knowledge but still seeing yourself from a cracked mirror perspective, dulling your motivations? This book is for all women who are stuck in the routine of life, preferring not to talk about their honest opinions, putting others' needs first!
When Phoebe Stone, in her mid-forties, is dumped by her husband of two decades, having gone through IVF treatments, miscarriages, losing the charm of her job as a literary (Victorian era) professor to interact with students, and her unfinished thesis about Jane Eyre, a tragedy pushes her to the limit. She leaves her house wearing only a green dress she bought for a special occasion but never had a chance to wear, and gold heels that probably create blisters on her feet. Without a bag in sight, she finds herself at Cornwall Inn, a luxurious hotel with nightly costs around $800, located in Newport, Rhode Island. She has a secret that she blurts out in the elevator to Lila, who has paid to close the entire hotel for wedding festivities: Phoebe is going to kill herself with pills she's carried to her ocean-view expensive room.
Of course, Lila the bridezilla, at age 27, has her own problems besides organizing her dreamy wedding without hiring a wedding planner because she cannot trust anyone not to ruin things on her special day. She misses her father who recently died from cancer, and his dying wish was to see his daughter as a happy bride. But now she's dealing with her eccentric, daily-drinking artist mother who keeps telling her she's making a mistake marrying the older Gary, choosing an incompatible guy just as she did with Lila's father. Gary's sister Marla, who was involved in a sex scandal, cheating on her husband, keeps nagging her with inappropriate, grumpy comments. Her teenage stepdaughter Juice/Melanie acts like she hates her guts. Her mother-in-law thinks if they don't marry in a real church, her wedding will be ineffective. On top of that, there's a wedding crasher in the hotel called Phoebe who plans to take her own life, adding more tragedy to her perfect day! How dare she!
Interestingly, Lila keeps knocking on Phoebe's hotel room door to get advice because this stranger might be the only honest person who can tell her the truth, including if there's a piece of food stuck in her teeth.
Phoebe also realizes that talking with Lila and finding herself involved in the wedding drama helps her get out of her dark space. She finds herself fraternizing with the guests, turning into a priest who listens to anyone's confessions without being stuck in a booth, including the bride's mother, sister-in-law, Gary's ex-brother-in-law Jim (who might have feelings for the bride), and of course Gary, the groom, with whom she becomes friendlier than she could ever imagine.
What if she can have other chances to grab in life, leaving her old self hanging on the coat racks of her closet and jumping into a new life? What if Lila is also rushing into the wedding to realize her late father's wishes without thinking it through? What if there are other paths to follow which will force them to face what they really want to do with their one precious life?
This humorous satire balances drama and humor perfectly, just like life itself! Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the top ten books of the year you shouldn't miss! The characters, the plot progression, the blossoming friendship of two polar opposite women (smart, snarky, self-reliant Phoebe and controlling, perfectionist, slightly superficial white privileged princess Lila), the promising romance parts, the irony, the heartfelt moments, self-awareness about mental health, learning to let go, and being brave enough to start over messages are perfectly developed!
This is a MUST-READ that you shouldn't dare to skip!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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October 18, 2024
Confession: I skimmed most of this novel and you wouldn’t be able to convince me that I missed anything.
One thing about me is that I love sad novels. I love books that deal with grief, depression, suicide, mental health, flaws, complex relationships, and overall the diverse and range emotions of human struggles. It’s realistic, poignant and gives a thorough feeling. It makes the reading a fictional escape but still resonates with tough realities that make the reading experience all the more realistic and relatable. And The Wedding People should’ve been that. Instead, it falls as a cliché tale of a girl who overcomes her suicidal ideation in pretty much one day to less than a week with absolutely no struggles whatsoever. And I’m not about that bullshit.
I’m all for using humor as a coping mechanism. I do it, too. I’m all for using humor as a way to deal with the harsh realities of life; of using it to paint a more raw portrayal of the struggles of mental health; of using humor to combat the physical and mental struggles of suicide thoughts and depression. But what I’m not for is using suicide as a plot device to bring in the attention of readers only to throw it out the window and add in a loose tale of a woman finding herself giving life a second chance because she…made some friends and ended up crushing on the groom/husband to be. It’s weak, ignorant, and disappointing.
There’s absolutely no feeling and emotion in this novel. The writing was a bit robotic from the start, and while it did start making sense after 40 pages or so due to how the main character, Phoebe, is feeling, it doesn’t add any more emotion as the story progresses. Phoebe doesn’t change much throughout the novel besides admitting to herself she was never going to actually kill herself to begin with because *GASP* she isn’t that type of person. How surprising. This was probably one of the weakest stories I have ever read regarding suicide and suicide attempt. The attempt was actually there. The entire execution of feelings was not, however. Adding on to that, Phoebe remains the same almost the entire way. It feels as if her character development is non existent because all there really is to her character development is the literal fact that she doesn’t want to end her life anymore. There’s no growth or even remorse. The concept of suicide in this “laugh out loud” novel is entirely shortened. We just end up in a boring, character driven story of a woman as she proceeds in life for that whole week.
Lila’s character is absurdly immature. I could not believe this grown woman was actually getting married. If she’s getting married, does that mean there’s hope for some of us out there? Just kidding! I don’t wanna get married! And honestly this novel has reaffirmed my decision on that. You cannot trust anyone. And as much as I didn’t like Lila, her relationship with Gary is definitely hanging on my a thread, with absolutely no going back and saving it because it was never loyal to begin with. This novel doesn’t show anything good for love. It just shows the negative sides of marriage, in my opinion. There’s no love and loyalty throughout anyone.
I don’t know what I was supposed to feel, but humor and emotion are not words I’d use to describe this weak voice at all. Apparently this was dark for some readers but not for me. It was weak, boring, and so underdeveloped. The tenses change between the past and present in a way, showing how and why Phoebe gets to where she is. And honestly, the concept of this is original and I don’t think it had been done before, but the issue is that the way the author started it isn’t how she follows through. I wish she had kept it going the sarcastic lit fic way, where we follow a mentally unwell woman who is multilayered and complex. Instead we continue learning more and more about her life, her failing marriage and ex-husband, what he did. There is absolutely nothing else that adds to Phoebe’s feelings and sadness besides her broken relationship with her ex-husband and how he cheated on her. Literally. That’s it. That’s what made her book the hotel room so she can kill herself. And some may say there’s more to it, but is there really? Even as we’re learning about her past and sad life, it all circles back to her husband—how they haven’t had sex, how he hasn’t complimented her, how he cheated on her, how they haven’t gone out together, how he hasn’t looked at her, etc, etc,. I mean, sure sure, there’s more to it, but that way *I* saw it, it’s mostly tied into her failing marriage. So many of Phoebe’s thoughts just circle back to her ex-husband. It’s so miserable and pathetic. If I’m reading a story about these heavy themes, I expect more heavy emotions.
Overall, disappointed but not surprised that I didn’t enjoy this. Mostly everyone does, and seeing the hype it has been receiving, I wanted to give it a chance. Clearly that didn’t work for the best. On to the next!
One thing about me is that I love sad novels. I love books that deal with grief, depression, suicide, mental health, flaws, complex relationships, and overall the diverse and range emotions of human struggles. It’s realistic, poignant and gives a thorough feeling. It makes the reading a fictional escape but still resonates with tough realities that make the reading experience all the more realistic and relatable. And The Wedding People should’ve been that. Instead, it falls as a cliché tale of a girl who overcomes her suicidal ideation in pretty much one day to less than a week with absolutely no struggles whatsoever. And I’m not about that bullshit.
I’m all for using humor as a coping mechanism. I do it, too. I’m all for using humor as a way to deal with the harsh realities of life; of using it to paint a more raw portrayal of the struggles of mental health; of using humor to combat the physical and mental struggles of suicide thoughts and depression. But what I’m not for is using suicide as a plot device to bring in the attention of readers only to throw it out the window and add in a loose tale of a woman finding herself giving life a second chance because she…made some friends and ended up crushing on the groom/husband to be. It’s weak, ignorant, and disappointing.
There’s absolutely no feeling and emotion in this novel. The writing was a bit robotic from the start, and while it did start making sense after 40 pages or so due to how the main character, Phoebe, is feeling, it doesn’t add any more emotion as the story progresses. Phoebe doesn’t change much throughout the novel besides admitting to herself she was never going to actually kill herself to begin with because *GASP* she isn’t that type of person. How surprising. This was probably one of the weakest stories I have ever read regarding suicide and suicide attempt. The attempt was actually there. The entire execution of feelings was not, however. Adding on to that, Phoebe remains the same almost the entire way. It feels as if her character development is non existent because all there really is to her character development is the literal fact that she doesn’t want to end her life anymore. There’s no growth or even remorse. The concept of suicide in this “laugh out loud” novel is entirely shortened. We just end up in a boring, character driven story of a woman as she proceeds in life for that whole week.
Lila’s character is absurdly immature. I could not believe this grown woman was actually getting married. If she’s getting married, does that mean there’s hope for some of us out there? Just kidding! I don’t wanna get married! And honestly this novel has reaffirmed my decision on that. You cannot trust anyone. And as much as I didn’t like Lila, her relationship with Gary is definitely hanging on my a thread, with absolutely no going back and saving it because it was never loyal to begin with. This novel doesn’t show anything good for love. It just shows the negative sides of marriage, in my opinion. There’s no love and loyalty throughout anyone.
I don’t know what I was supposed to feel, but humor and emotion are not words I’d use to describe this weak voice at all. Apparently this was dark for some readers but not for me. It was weak, boring, and so underdeveloped. The tenses change between the past and present in a way, showing how and why Phoebe gets to where she is. And honestly, the concept of this is original and I don’t think it had been done before, but the issue is that the way the author started it isn’t how she follows through. I wish she had kept it going the sarcastic lit fic way, where we follow a mentally unwell woman who is multilayered and complex. Instead we continue learning more and more about her life, her failing marriage and ex-husband, what he did. There is absolutely nothing else that adds to Phoebe’s feelings and sadness besides her broken relationship with her ex-husband and how he cheated on her. Literally. That’s it. That’s what made her book the hotel room so she can kill herself. And some may say there’s more to it, but is there really? Even as we’re learning about her past and sad life, it all circles back to her husband—how they haven’t had sex, how he hasn’t complimented her, how he cheated on her, how they haven’t gone out together, how he hasn’t looked at her, etc, etc,. I mean, sure sure, there’s more to it, but that way *I* saw it, it’s mostly tied into her failing marriage. So many of Phoebe’s thoughts just circle back to her ex-husband. It’s so miserable and pathetic. If I’m reading a story about these heavy themes, I expect more heavy emotions.
Overall, disappointed but not surprised that I didn’t enjoy this. Mostly everyone does, and seeing the hype it has been receiving, I wanted to give it a chance. Clearly that didn’t work for the best. On to the next!
July 22, 2025
She wonders how terrifying it felt . . . looking at the sea, feeling like she was at the very end of it all. She wonders what it was that made her realize there was somewhere else to go.
While The Wedding People wasn't a perfect read for me, it certainly was a darn special one.
Phoebe has always wanted to go to the grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, and now she is finally here. But it isn't at all the vacation she spent years dreaming of. For one, she isn't going with her husband because he is no longer her husband. For another, she didn't bring any luggage because, well, you'll have to read the book for that. And just as she has resigned herself to her decision, she unexpectedly meets the wedding people, all there to attend a week-long celebration. Soon she is swept up in their exuberance and drama, and just maybe this is the vacation she was meant to take after all.
This is definitely one of those books you read for the journey, not for the outcome. It's pretty clear right from the beginning where this story is going to go, because how else would you have a story at all? To follow Phoebe as she meets these strangers, see how they touch her life at exactly the moment she needs it, while she in turn touches theirs, brings a lump to my throat and a flutter to my heart.
There is something so inherently loveable and relatable about Phoebe, even if we have not all suffered the exact same terrible setbacks in life that she has. Her candidness and vulnerability seems like a breath of fresh air, inviting the reader into her heart and her mind, and we have no choice but to follow along.
No doubt Phoebe has been through a lot, more than anyone can be expected to endure. And yet, there is a quiet bravery and courage in how she approaches her life and in how the author chose to portray her. I can see how at the hands of a lesser wordsmith, this story could've easily turned maudlin or preachy, but no such fears here. For a story about such sad topics, I felt remarkably buoyant and hopeful while reading this.
There was so much heart and humor in here, I was often nodding and laughing along, surprised at all the little nuggets of wisdom and joy to be gleamed from these pages. If I were someone who marked up books (which I would never, the sacrilege!), I suspect I would've used up an entire highlighter trying to capture all the worthy lines.
I mentioned this wasn't a perfect read for me because while I particularly loved the beginning and the end, I did feel the middle sagged a bit. At times, it was a little overly long and meandering, with dialogue that was a bit too clever and may be verging on glib. And yet, the story continued to draw me in, even if the pacing wasn't quite even throughout.
I will say, I think this is a story best enjoyed with a reader's full and undivided attention. Often it feels like there were a multitude of things going on at the same time—the rapid-fire dialogue on the surface, the emotions underneath, and the wisdom to be sussed out if looked carefully. Unfortunately, it's hard for me to find solid chunks of uninterrupted reading time nowadays, so the book did lose some of its potency for me read in bits and pieces, a few lines at a time, especially in the middle there. But that's really my bad and not the story's fault.
I feel like the most resonant books are always the ones that address the human spirit—its unfailing desire to endure, to belong, to love and be loved, and to find meaning. And if you can sprinkle in a dash of humor along the way, all the better. Well, if that's the case, then one cannot ask for a better story than this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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April 22, 2025
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!
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!
October 2, 2025
if i'm not supposed to judge books by their covers, why do they have such beautiful ones?
and i have to call this installment of picking reads based on visual aesthetic a success. what a damn good time!
there is no medicine quite like the subgenre of book club fiction in which everything starts out completely terribly and then is incontrovertibly solved within a few hundred pages. it's restorative, like a good haircut, or a well-toasted bagel. keeps ya going.
this is a great example of that especially, because it's funny. books are rarely funny. i'm a really big fan of them (and i have the serial killer-adjacent level of meticulous goodreads history to prove it) but even i have to admit it. not exactly the go-to location to laugh any harder than when you kind of puff air out of your nose.
but this was funny, and soul-healing, and (although predictable in its plot points and its half-twists) pretty unique.
bottom line: a pretty big win for judging by covers, i have to say.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
and i have to call this installment of picking reads based on visual aesthetic a success. what a damn good time!
there is no medicine quite like the subgenre of book club fiction in which everything starts out completely terribly and then is incontrovertibly solved within a few hundred pages. it's restorative, like a good haircut, or a well-toasted bagel. keeps ya going.
this is a great example of that especially, because it's funny. books are rarely funny. i'm a really big fan of them (and i have the serial killer-adjacent level of meticulous goodreads history to prove it) but even i have to admit it. not exactly the go-to location to laugh any harder than when you kind of puff air out of your nose.
but this was funny, and soul-healing, and (although predictable in its plot points and its half-twists) pretty unique.
bottom line: a pretty big win for judging by covers, i have to say.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
July 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️!
I read this where it took place in Newport which really enhanced my reading experience SO MUCH! We did a few touristy things that were mentioned + saw a few places the characters went which was so cool it felt like we could’ve ran into the wedding people at any moment
Sometimes general fiction books for me can get a bit boring & feel too slow, but this one held my attention the entire time! I think every character (even side ones) were fleshed out & the dark humor was sooo good (especially in the beginning)
I read this where it took place in Newport which really enhanced my reading experience SO MUCH! We did a few touristy things that were mentioned + saw a few places the characters went which was so cool it felt like we could’ve ran into the wedding people at any moment
Sometimes general fiction books for me can get a bit boring & feel too slow, but this one held my attention the entire time! I think every character (even side ones) were fleshed out & the dark humor was sooo good (especially in the beginning)
September 5, 2024
Ok so it took me a minuteeee to get into this one and I was so afraid I wouldn’t like it, but I LOVED it!!! I don’t know how a book with such heavy subject matter also happens to be laugh out loud funny, but I just adored every second of this and didn’t want it to end 😭
June 22, 2025
This book was so human. I loved every single character, and the dialogue felt so authentic and genuinely FUNNY. All of the depictions of depression were so spot on, and I especially appreciated the way that no two characters experienced it in the same way. Such a solidly great read all around.
August 31, 2024
“when the pandemic” immediately no
March 19, 2025
Delightful. The hype is real.
August 28, 2024
Welp I’ve done great this summer loving all the new releases that have been so well-received by the masses so I should have known my wrongreading gene would rear its ugly head eventually. And here it is. This new Read With Jenna selection has been ALLLLL OVER The ‘Gram with everyone and their brother touting “the hype is real!!!” Then there’s me . . . .
So I’m just going to “spoil” something that comes out instantly, but apparently has peeved certain readers off about not being disclosed. Phoebe arrives at her vacay destination the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island because it was always her dream to go there with her husband – but said husband left her for another woman so now Phoebe is there to end her life. Little does she know the entire hotel was supposed to have been rented out for a real shin-dig of a wedding. The blurb says Phoebe and the bride (Lila) “keep confiding in each other” – which I guess is true, but only because Lila literally keeps letting herself into Phoebe’s room with a master key she acquired from the hotel when she booked the whole place.
This one did not work for me whatsoever. From the “lighthearted” suicide attempt (Really? You’re going to off yourself with your cat’s pain medicine??? Did you bring eleventy pills to get the job done???) – to Phoebe accidentally crushing on the groom . . . but then absolutely NOT stopping communicating with him (Really? You want to kill yourself because of your husband’s affair and now are 100% developing some sort of emotional affair with a taken man on your own? Yuck.) – to Lila being a self-centered turd (Really? You have the nerve to complain about your mother nonstop when obviously the apple did not fall far from the tree.) – to SO. MUCH. NAVEL. GAZING.
Thank you, next.
So I’m just going to “spoil” something that comes out instantly, but apparently has peeved certain readers off about not being disclosed. Phoebe arrives at her vacay destination the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island because it was always her dream to go there with her husband – but said husband left her for another woman so now Phoebe is there to end her life. Little does she know the entire hotel was supposed to have been rented out for a real shin-dig of a wedding. The blurb says Phoebe and the bride (Lila) “keep confiding in each other” – which I guess is true, but only because Lila literally keeps letting herself into Phoebe’s room with a master key she acquired from the hotel when she booked the whole place.
This one did not work for me whatsoever. From the “lighthearted” suicide attempt (Really? You’re going to off yourself with your cat’s pain medicine??? Did you bring eleventy pills to get the job done???) – to Phoebe accidentally crushing on the groom . . . but then absolutely NOT stopping communicating with him (Really? You want to kill yourself because of your husband’s affair and now are 100% developing some sort of emotional affair with a taken man on your own? Yuck.) – to Lila being a self-centered turd (Really? You have the nerve to complain about your mother nonstop when obviously the apple did not fall far from the tree.) – to SO. MUCH. NAVEL. GAZING.
Thank you, next.
March 19, 2025
I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK. I really can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I just loved how much I cared about this story 🤍
August 31, 2025
8/31/25
Still a 5 star read for me 💖💖💖
8/25/25
The First time I read this, I was utterly obsessed. I received the e-arc and raved about it nonstop leading up to the release date , and long after. Now I'm diving back in with a physical copy and I couldn't be more excited to buddy read with Misty. This time around, I"ll be highlighting everything and filling the pages with notes.
4/30/24
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. Like, new favorite-book-level obsessed. The Wedding People by Alison Espach has officially entered my comfort read hall of fame. The moment I finished it, I pre-ordered a copy because I need this gem on my shelf forever.
The Plot:
Phoebe has officially hit rock bottom. With nothing left to lose, she books a stay at a fancy hotel in Newport, Rhode Island a place she’s always dreamed of visiting. But when she arrives, she accidentally crashes a wedding weekend… and that’s where the magic begins.
“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”
What to Expect (and Content Warnings):
🍾 Mental Health Representation
🍾 Dark Humor
🍾 Wedding Weekend Shenanigans
🍾 Infidelity
🍾 Depression
🍾 Death of a Spouse/Parent
🍾 Suicidal Ideation
My Thoughts:
This book is everything. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply human. I couldn’t stop reading. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, striking that perfect balance between wit and emotional depth. It would make an incredible movie, I’m talking take-my-money levels of cinematic potential.
The author’s writing style truly stood out to me. I felt like I was walking right alongside Phoebe, living each awkward, hilarious, and heart-wrenching moment of that wedding week. The dialogue sparkled it was filled with charm, dark humor, and surprisingly meaningful conversations. Some readers mentioned being confused about where one chapter ended and another began, but honestly? That didn’t bother me at all. The narrative flowed so organically that I stayed emotionally tethered the entire time.
At its core, this is a story about human connection the weird, beautiful, accidental ways we find each other when we need it most. Every character felt real and important. I found myself emotionally invested in all of them, flaws and all. There’s this beautiful honesty about how so many of us are quietly struggling while pretending everything’s fine. It hit me hard.
“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” 🥹😭🥹😭
Let’s talk about the two fabulous FMCs:
✨ Phoebe – My sassy, sarcastic black-cat queen. I adore her. She’s complex, painfully relatable, and so vividly written that I wanted to wrap her in a blanket and tell her everything’s going to be okay. Her growth throughout the book? Chef’s kiss.
✨ Lila – The rich bride-to-be who is equal parts delusional and delightful. I loved her. She had me laughing and rooting for her every step of the way. There’s something so charming about her chaos.
Together, Phoebe and Lila are opposites in the best way. Their unlikely, offbeat friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book—it’s messy, real, and surprisingly healing.
Final Verdict:
This is easily one of my top reads of the year. I could sit and break down this book chapter by chapter and rave about every moment, but I truly think it’s a story best experienced for yourself. I really hope it gets the hype it deserves. It’s the kind of book that will resonate deeply with so many people and I’ll be recommending it to everyone
“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”
“There is no such thing as a happy place. Because when you are happy, everywhere is a happy place. And when you are sad, everywhere is a sad place.”
“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”
“Having a mother helps you believe that everybody wants to hear every little thing you think. Having a mother helps you speak without thinking. It allows you to trust in your most awful self, to yell and scream and cry, knowing that your mother will still love you by the end of it.”
“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 so much harder.”
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 ✨
Still a 5 star read for me 💖💖💖
8/25/25
The First time I read this, I was utterly obsessed. I received the e-arc and raved about it nonstop leading up to the release date , and long after. Now I'm diving back in with a physical copy and I couldn't be more excited to buddy read with Misty. This time around, I"ll be highlighting everything and filling the pages with notes.
4/30/24
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. Like, new favorite-book-level obsessed. The Wedding People by Alison Espach has officially entered my comfort read hall of fame. The moment I finished it, I pre-ordered a copy because I need this gem on my shelf forever.
The Plot:
Phoebe has officially hit rock bottom. With nothing left to lose, she books a stay at a fancy hotel in Newport, Rhode Island a place she’s always dreamed of visiting. But when she arrives, she accidentally crashes a wedding weekend… and that’s where the magic begins.
“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”
What to Expect (and Content Warnings):
🍾 Mental Health Representation
🍾 Dark Humor
🍾 Wedding Weekend Shenanigans
🍾 Infidelity
🍾 Depression
🍾 Death of a Spouse/Parent
🍾 Suicidal Ideation
My Thoughts:
This book is everything. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply human. I couldn’t stop reading. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, striking that perfect balance between wit and emotional depth. It would make an incredible movie, I’m talking take-my-money levels of cinematic potential.
The author’s writing style truly stood out to me. I felt like I was walking right alongside Phoebe, living each awkward, hilarious, and heart-wrenching moment of that wedding week. The dialogue sparkled it was filled with charm, dark humor, and surprisingly meaningful conversations. Some readers mentioned being confused about where one chapter ended and another began, but honestly? That didn’t bother me at all. The narrative flowed so organically that I stayed emotionally tethered the entire time.
At its core, this is a story about human connection the weird, beautiful, accidental ways we find each other when we need it most. Every character felt real and important. I found myself emotionally invested in all of them, flaws and all. There’s this beautiful honesty about how so many of us are quietly struggling while pretending everything’s fine. It hit me hard.
“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” 🥹😭🥹😭
Let’s talk about the two fabulous FMCs:
✨ Phoebe – My sassy, sarcastic black-cat queen. I adore her. She’s complex, painfully relatable, and so vividly written that I wanted to wrap her in a blanket and tell her everything’s going to be okay. Her growth throughout the book? Chef’s kiss.
✨ Lila – The rich bride-to-be who is equal parts delusional and delightful. I loved her. She had me laughing and rooting for her every step of the way. There’s something so charming about her chaos.
Together, Phoebe and Lila are opposites in the best way. Their unlikely, offbeat friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book—it’s messy, real, and surprisingly healing.
Final Verdict:
This is easily one of my top reads of the year. I could sit and break down this book chapter by chapter and rave about every moment, but I truly think it’s a story best experienced for yourself. I really hope it gets the hype it deserves. It’s the kind of book that will resonate deeply with so many people and I’ll be recommending it to everyone
“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”
“There is no such thing as a happy place. Because when you are happy, everywhere is a happy place. And when you are sad, everywhere is a sad place.”
“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”
“Having a mother helps you believe that everybody wants to hear every little thing you think. Having a mother helps you speak without thinking. It allows you to trust in your most awful self, to yell and scream and cry, knowing that your mother will still love you by the end of it.”
“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 so much harder.”
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 ✨
December 5, 2024
Edit (5/12/24) : This TRASH of a book has won Goodreads Choice Award as the Best Fiction of 2024!! I really can't believe my eyes. Just goes to show how ridiculous this award system is...
Another super-hyped book that I *really* didn’t like. The plot? Beyond cliché. Woman gets cheated on by her husband, gets a divorce, thinks her life is over, and even contemplates suicide. Then, out of absolutely nowhere, she magically finds some kind of motivation and embarks on this oh-so-predictable journey of self-discovery.
The main character, Phoebe, was unbearable. She had no personality whatsoever. And the bride—forgot her name—just screamed all the time.
The audiobook? Don’t even get me started. It was atrocious. Every second of it deepened my misery, making an already awful book even worse.
And the way the author handled sensitive topics like suicide and depression so nonchalantly...I felt offended personally.
Another super-hyped book that I *really* didn’t like. The plot? Beyond cliché. Woman gets cheated on by her husband, gets a divorce, thinks her life is over, and even contemplates suicide. Then, out of absolutely nowhere, she magically finds some kind of motivation and embarks on this oh-so-predictable journey of self-discovery.
The main character, Phoebe, was unbearable. She had no personality whatsoever. And the bride—forgot her name—just screamed all the time.
The audiobook? Don’t even get me started. It was atrocious. Every second of it deepened my misery, making an already awful book even worse.
And the way the author handled sensitive topics like suicide and depression so nonchalantly...I felt offended personally.
April 5, 2025
shockingly good
February 11, 2025
Having finished Alison Espadh's bestselling book The Wedding People, I found it quite ordinary and unremarkable. It's a very 21st-century, slice-of-life story without any deeply compelling themes.
I could empathize with Phoebe, and the reflections on marriage resonated with me. If I'd read this book 5 years ago, I might have found it pointless and insignificant. But now, it feels like the right book at the right time for me. Despite its melancholic tone, the book is quite healing. It explores topics such as marriage, aging, parent-child relationships, and depression, interspersed with humor and touching moments.
Adult life is often filled with facades. Phoebe, in her utter despair, finds herself among strangers and realizes she can be unreserved, free, and open. She starts to enjoy life, and people around her naturally open up to her. Phoebe's life begins to brighten and become more colorful, reminding me of A Man Called Ove.
I wasn't fond of the part where Phoebe's ex-husband shows up at the hotel. It felt idealized and unrealistic.
The book is heavy on dialogue, the plot is reasonably tight, and the language is easy to understand. I'm quite looking forward to the movie adaptation, which is apparently in the works. I think the internal stories would be more effectively conveyed through the characters' emotions on screen. I think...
2.8 / 5 stars
I could empathize with Phoebe, and the reflections on marriage resonated with me. If I'd read this book 5 years ago, I might have found it pointless and insignificant. But now, it feels like the right book at the right time for me. Despite its melancholic tone, the book is quite healing. It explores topics such as marriage, aging, parent-child relationships, and depression, interspersed with humor and touching moments.
Adult life is often filled with facades. Phoebe, in her utter despair, finds herself among strangers and realizes she can be unreserved, free, and open. She starts to enjoy life, and people around her naturally open up to her. Phoebe's life begins to brighten and become more colorful, reminding me of A Man Called Ove.
I wasn't fond of the part where Phoebe's ex-husband shows up at the hotel. It felt idealized and unrealistic.
The book is heavy on dialogue, the plot is reasonably tight, and the language is easy to understand. I'm quite looking forward to the movie adaptation, which is apparently in the works. I think the internal stories would be more effectively conveyed through the characters' emotions on screen. I think...
2.8 / 5 stars
August 1, 2024
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.
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.
September 23, 2024
Although I haven't had much time to post reviews, I wanted to take a moment to share how original, impactful, and inspiring this read was.
I highly recommend this one.
I highly recommend this one.
July 17, 2024
It’s hard for me to believe that the same author who wrote Notes On Your Sudden Disappearance wrote this book. Although I can recognize a writer’s talent in embracing different tones in different novels, it wasn’t the more comical approach that upset me with The Wedding People. It was that this felt like an extremely callous and inauthentic exploration of important and delicate themes.
I struggled with the narrative’s rather flippant attitude regarding suicide. I can handle a humorous framing, as this was executed well in books like A Man Called Ove. In that, we witness true character growth that takes place over time. This simply used a suicidal person as a vehicle for what was ultimately more of a romantic comedy. I found it quite tacky. But I did not realize this would be so initially. In fact, when the idea of suicide was bluntly introduced, I cried. I was struck by its stark hopelessness. I thought this story was going to shake and touch my core.
But it didn’t. It rolled into a tidy and predictable tale. Even though the author inserted a claim to understand that depression isn’t cured overnight, she did not actually provide any supporting evidence of this understanding. Her suicidal character is, essentially, changed in less than an entire night’s sleep. Once it becomes a story of self-discovery, all that discovery is ridiculously easy. I was infuriated.
Lilah (I’m assuming the spelling since I listened to the audio and her full name is Delilah) was not remotely enjoyable, either. She did not seem to grow at all. The author wanted the readers to believe she was a multi-faceted character, and I know she wanted that because she kept telling us Lilah was more than this, but it was all talk and no show. Actions speak louder than words. Lilah was incredibly shallow, and I felt nothing beyond annoyance for her.
Phoebe’s growth, on the other hand, was quicker than the gestation period of a possum. No one is fully formed that quickly (not even those infant possums). I want a novel of healing that spans through years of trial and triumph, not a convenient cliche that fails to deliver life lessons in a meaningful way.
I am terribly disappointed in the choices Espach made in her creation of The Wedding People. There wasn’t anything cute or touching about it and, despite enjoying her previous novel, this was enough to turn me off from her writing for good. I think this was an irresponsible story.
I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio for my copy. All opinions are my own.
I struggled with the narrative’s rather flippant attitude regarding suicide. I can handle a humorous framing, as this was executed well in books like A Man Called Ove. In that, we witness true character growth that takes place over time. This simply used a suicidal person as a vehicle for what was ultimately more of a romantic comedy. I found it quite tacky. But I did not realize this would be so initially. In fact, when the idea of suicide was bluntly introduced, I cried. I was struck by its stark hopelessness. I thought this story was going to shake and touch my core.
But it didn’t. It rolled into a tidy and predictable tale. Even though the author inserted a claim to understand that depression isn’t cured overnight, she did not actually provide any supporting evidence of this understanding. Her suicidal character is, essentially, changed in less than an entire night’s sleep. Once it becomes a story of self-discovery, all that discovery is ridiculously easy. I was infuriated.
Lilah (I’m assuming the spelling since I listened to the audio and her full name is Delilah) was not remotely enjoyable, either. She did not seem to grow at all. The author wanted the readers to believe she was a multi-faceted character, and I know she wanted that because she kept telling us Lilah was more than this, but it was all talk and no show. Actions speak louder than words. Lilah was incredibly shallow, and I felt nothing beyond annoyance for her.
Phoebe’s growth, on the other hand, was quicker than the gestation period of a possum. No one is fully formed that quickly (not even those infant possums). I want a novel of healing that spans through years of trial and triumph, not a convenient cliche that fails to deliver life lessons in a meaningful way.
I am terribly disappointed in the choices Espach made in her creation of The Wedding People. There wasn’t anything cute or touching about it and, despite enjoying her previous novel, this was enough to turn me off from her writing for good. I think this was an irresponsible story.
I am immensely grateful to Macmillan Audio for my copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2024
5 Stars
Being the quintessential dumbass that I am, I decided to start this at 7:30PM last night...and proceeded to stay up until close to 1AM to finish it in one sitting. Never mind my 4:30 wakeup today.
And thus my dumbassery. Because I know I have a tendency to do this, I try to avoid starting new books right before bed on work nights. So I'm super tired today.
But?
I loved everything about this book. And I felt so unbelievably connected to Phoebe. And Lila. And the setting. And all things. My favorite book I've read this year thus far, for sure.
Being the quintessential dumbass that I am, I decided to start this at 7:30PM last night...and proceeded to stay up until close to 1AM to finish it in one sitting. Never mind my 4:30 wakeup today.
And thus my dumbassery. Because I know I have a tendency to do this, I try to avoid starting new books right before bed on work nights. So I'm super tired today.
But?
I loved everything about this book. And I felt so unbelievably connected to Phoebe. And Lila. And the setting. And all things. My favorite book I've read this year thus far, for sure.
August 21, 2025
4.5* I loved loved loved this!
September 4, 2024
3.5*.
Last 20% was a drag for me and cost the rating a precious star.
Last 20% was a drag for me and cost the rating a precious star.
August 15, 2024
If this is ever a movie, I’ll watch it on an airplane.
November 12, 2024
"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. 💐
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. 💐
July 30, 2024
***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.
***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.
October 10, 2024
This was satisfaction served up on a silver platter. Phoebe is on a mission to end her life at a hotel comprised of wedding people! Such irony for a joyous occasion contrasting with that of a darker one.
This was charming and clever, With characters like High Bun and Neck Pillow. Unlikely friendships develop in an unlikely setting. What started off as the end was actually the beginning.
It made me laugh; made me somber but most of all, made me sad when it was over.♥️
5⭐️ Well played Espach. Well played
This was charming and clever, With characters like High Bun and Neck Pillow. Unlikely friendships develop in an unlikely setting. What started off as the end was actually the beginning.
It made me laugh; made me somber but most of all, made me sad when it was over.♥️
5⭐️ Well played Espach. Well played
August 13, 2024
Phoebe checks into a luxury hotel without luggage, intending to end her life, and quickly realizes upon arrival that the rest of The Cornwall Inn has been booked out for a wedding. When Lila, the bride, discovers Phoebe, the one thing she hasn’t accounted for in her meticulous planning, Phoebe’s plans begin to change.
I wanted to love The Wedding People after all its recent hype but I just did not. While I liked Phoebe, and Gary, as well as some of the secondary characters, I did not find the story “absurdly funny” as the blurb notes. This story does deal with some difficult subjects and it’s best to know that heading into the book.
I enjoyed some aspects, including the Newport, Rhode Island setting, but I was expecting more humor and as a character-driven, literary fiction lover, to like the story more overall. The Wedding People is well-liked by many other readers so don’t let my more of a miss deter you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love The Wedding People after all its recent hype but I just did not. While I liked Phoebe, and Gary, as well as some of the secondary characters, I did not find the story “absurdly funny” as the blurb notes. This story does deal with some difficult subjects and it’s best to know that heading into the book.
I enjoyed some aspects, including the Newport, Rhode Island setting, but I was expecting more humor and as a character-driven, literary fiction lover, to like the story more overall. The Wedding People is well-liked by many other readers so don’t let my more of a miss deter you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2024
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.
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.
January 4, 2024
A better name for this book would be: The Unbearably Annoying and Boring Wedding People
I thought this book was going to be a light and funny romcom.
It was not, to my surprise it was pretty dark, which I wasn’t mad about.
Unfortunately, at about 30% mark I started scanning the pages for any bit of information that I could find, hoping something would peak my interest. Nothing did.
1 star from me.
I thought this book was going to be a light and funny romcom.
It was not, to my surprise it was pretty dark, which I wasn’t mad about.
Unfortunately, at about 30% mark I started scanning the pages for any bit of information that I could find, hoping something would peak my interest. Nothing did.
1 star from me.
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