Pheobe has been an adjunct college professor for years. She is stuck in a loop, unable to turn her book into a dissertation, unable to start a family, and unable to assert herself in her marriage. Facing a new loss, Phoebe decides to spend a night at a luxury hotel in Rhode Island. Due to a booking fluke, Phoebe is the only person at the hotel not part of an over-the-top wedding and quickly finds herself confiding in the bride. As the days pass and she becomes more involved in the wedding party, she finds herself forming connections to a number of the guests and coming into her own in a way she no longer thought was possible.

This is a hard book to summarize without giving away any spoilers, so regardless of how interesting/not-interesting that summary sounds to you, my advice is read this book asap! This book is the perfect blend of being weighty and involved with complex topics, while reading in a way that is funny and light and true-to-life. Heart-warming but never mawkish, funny but never relying on caricature, and thought-provoking without skipping a beat, this is the must-read book of the summer.

I would recommend this to pretty much anyone, but especially for fans of Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here or Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette?

Wow. This was beautiful. It is deep and hearty and tortured, but hopeful. It really made me pay attention. I felt like I really knew these characters at a visceral level. I will think about this book for a long time; I know I will. I would love to know what happens next for these characters, but I think maybe it’s important that we also don’t. Note: There are a lot of trigger warnings to be aware of if you are sensitive to certain topics. Thank you @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for this ARC. It is happenstance that I finished this book today, the day of its release!

Happy Pub Day Review

“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.”

Well I am adding this to my favorites pile of the year for sure.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this as I went in completely blind and 100 percent because I loved the cover. I highly, highly suggest you do the same because the story completely captivated me, tugged on my heart strings, and made me laugh out loud.

The premise is an interesting one. The characters are endearing, quirky, weird, and some of my favorites now. The writing really makes you feel like you are with the characters with witty and meaningful dialogue.

I will think about this one for a long time and really can’t WAIT for you to meet Phoebe and Lila.

Add this one to another amazing immersive reading experience with another amazing narrator, Helen Laser. She really brought the story to life and I honestly couldn't stop listening.

Thank you so much @henryholtbooks for the early reading copy and @macmillian.audio for the early listening copy

“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. Unit you can no longer see or feel it. And so you start to fixate on something else.”

5 stars

I loved this book so much that I was texting @elizabookworm while reading, saying OMG — the hot tub scene — because I needed to emote. I was cracking up and at the same time, should I really be laughing at this!?! Yes, yes, I should.

I saw Alison Espach at Barnes and Noble Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn last night (in conversation with Jenny Jackson( to celebrate THE WEDDING PEOPLE. Espach funny, which should not be surprising given the book. What I absolutely love about this book are the characters, Phoebe, Lila, Neck Pillow, High Bun, Juice and Marla were my absolute faves who jumped off the page.

The story: Phoebe, an adjunct professor at a Missouri college, gets up one morning and can’t put her teacher clothes on. She leaves her breakfast crumbs on the counter, puts on an emerald evening dress and heads to a fancy hotel in Newport. When she walks in, she sees a crowd of people, the wedding people. She wasn’t expecting them. The bride certainly wasn’t expecting Phoebe who intends to end her life with cat tranquilizers at the hotel.

The Wedding People is deep, funny, lyrical and about our innate yearning to connect with other humans even when we think we do not want to do so. It is a brave book, as well.

I loved Espach’s last novel NOTES ON YOUR SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE. If you haven’t read it, do not miss it. It is so different from The Wedding People, but brilliant.

Thank you @henryholt for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.

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Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows our 2 FMC on an unexpected crashing of a weeding weekend. Filled with humor, charm and relatable feelings, this was such a feel-good read that I truly enjoyed every chapter of. I loved our quirky FMCs and their strange, but relatable friendship. I so enjoyed the setting of this book as well. This has moved up the chain in my favorite comfort reads.

Some readers may appreciate a trigger warning--I was not expecting so much discussion of suicide. But I enjoyed the cast of characters and their very real struggles with life and love.

What happens when random people comile into your life unexpectedly, especially when you are at the lowest point of your life? This story explores that and so much more. It isn't an exciting, thrilling ride, but it is a well written, extremely expressive story about life and everything that goes with it-all the ups and downs. Phoebe is most definitely at her lowest point. She decides to give in to one last dream. A hotel full of wedding people (bride, groom, and guest) throws her plans into a turmoil that finds her completely entrenched in the wedding plans. She soon finds that these interactions may be what she need to save her life and allow her to see clearly what was always missing.

I loved this author's last book Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, so I was so excited to learn she was coming out with another book this summer. The Wedding People did not disappoint!

The story starts with Phoebe booking a trip to a luxury hotel at the beach. When she arrives, she realizes she is the only person who is not a guest of Lila and Gary's wedding that will be occurring at the hotel later in the week. Phoebe then starts interacting with all "the wedding people", who have an impact on her. While this seems like a very simplistic, even soap opera-ish premise, there is so much depth in where this storyline goes. I even appreciated the characters who are over-the-top and annoying because even they are represented skillfully. And I was sorry when the book ended that I had to say goodbye to these characters.

What made this such a fabulous read for me is that Alison Espach writes family dynamics so well. And even when it's about difficult things, it is smart and thoughtful and non-stereotypical. And yet I would still categorize this as an entertaining beach read. Do yourself a favor and read this new summer read which comes out today, July 30th. Heads up on some trigger warnings, so please investigate if you are sensitive to some topics.

Many thanks to #HenryHolt for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

An unexpected, funny, and poignant novel about being so far removed from the world but slowly finding your place back in it. A rumination on change, growth, and what it means to find yourself at rock bottom. This book is special.

I’m not really sure how to explain why I loved this novel as much as I did. Many of the characters were unlikeable and the themes were heavy. The best way to describe it is that this book felt like that first burst of saltwater on your face in a speedboat on the ocean. A little uncomfortable but refreshing and freeing and like the start of something new. I really, really enjoyed this late-in-life coming-of-age story.

Pub Date: 7/30/24
Review Published: 7/29/24
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Weddings bring out the best and worst in people, which is evident throughout Alison Espach’s new novel, The Wedding People. Expectations and the stress that goes with them, whether they’re self-imposed or projected by those around you blend into a unique fog that can surround the participants and guests at a wedding. Sometimes it requires the perspective of an outsider to see through that fog to what’s really going on. But then, the same can be said about our lives even when there isn’t a wedding going on. Exploring the boundaries of truth and façade in The Wedding People, Espach’s novel is both hilarious and insightful, lighthearted and poignant. Touching on darker truths, the novel ultimately lands in place that loses none of its hopefulness for being predictable.

After the pandemic helped convert the cracks in her marriage into shattered pieces, Phoebe reaches rock bottom and decides she’s had enough. She wants to do the things she and her husband always talked about doing and she’s going to use the money they’d set aside for trying to have and raise kids to do it. She’s going to finally book a room at the fancy and incredibly expensive hotel in Newport and she’s going to kill herself while watching the sunset over the ocean. But when she arrives, Phoebe learns that the hotel has been completely booked for an extremely lavish wedding leaving her the only guest who is not one of the wedding people. Since she has nothing to lose, Phoebe is honest with the bride about what she’s there to do and instead finds herself increasingly sucked into the world of the wedding, finding that perhaps she isn’t as done with life as she thought – she’s just done with the way she’s been living it.

There is a lot of humor throughout The Wedding People and a lot of it can appear to be at the expense of specific characters. They can feel like caricatures more than individuals when the reader is first introduced to them and that is because to Phoebe, they initially are caricatures. They are the “wedding people” rather than individuals and so many of them play specific roles – the bride, the groom, the bridesmaids, the best man, etc. But as Phoebe gets drawn further and further into the wedding, those archetypal characters do become fleshed out people. The elements that make them humorous remain but they are fleshed out with a deft hand and Espach is able to demonstrate just how much the characters shift in relation to one another and the existing relationships between the characters as individuals.

The family and friendship dynamics that appear are what truly carry the novel for me. The tension between Lila (the bride) and her future in-laws, her future step-daughter, her mother all makes sense from both sides. Her frustrations with them as well as their frustrations with her and the way that the true roots of those frustrations get brushed aside to keep things moving smoothly for the sake of the wedding, all of that rings so true that it becomes completely plausible that they would pull a stranger like Phoebe in with such ease as a way to further avoid confronting the deeper issues at hand. Because that’s the thing: it shouldn’t make sense for a complete stranger to get so deeply sucked into the wedding festivities and yet, somehow Espach makes it work beyond just requiring the suspension of disbelief necessary simply because it’s the story’s premise.

4.5 stars. In turns heartbreaking and absurdly funny. Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in RI ready to kill herself, She shows up in her fancy green dress and gold heels, during the week that was rented out for a high-end wedding. Phoebe gets mistaken for one of the wedding people and instead of going ahead with her initial plan, she gets bamboozled into joining the wedding party and really finding herself. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for this e-arc.*

What a fantastic book. I couldn't wait to see where the story went, yet I didn't want the book to end. I loved every minute of reading The Wedding People.

It has everything you want. Emotional, poignant moments, laugh out loud moments, quotes you want to highlight, and plenty of material that makes you reflect on what you've read and how parts of it may apply to your own life.

The characters were fantastic. I felt they were all well-fleshed out and realistic. Nothing irritates me more than when characters are made out to be these larger-than-life, almost caricature-like characters, and thankfully, there was none of that here. The characters were flawed but relatable. Even the characters I couldn't relate to on a personal level still felt so realistic and each loveable in their own way.

Phoebe's character arc was absolutely perfect - it was everything I could have wanted it to be. This book tackles several different issues without ever feeling like too much was jammed into one story and without ever feeling preachy or obvious. It's just subtle and beautiful. Even the storylines that I worried about (in terms of how the author would keep things progressing without leaving me disappointed in the characters), left me satisfied, happy, and hopeful.

I don't really want to say much more for those of you that prefer to go in blind. But just know this is a fantastic book. I think it would make a great book club book because there are lots of characters and issues to discuss, but I read it on my own and enjoyed it just the same.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Phoebe is broken, unable to have children, and recently divorced from her husband. To end her life, Phoebe books the Cornwall Inn, the same hotel Lila and Gary do for their wedding.

The Wedding People started off slow for me with what seemed like the longest monologue. Phoebe is filling us in on her life as she shows up to this hotel she dreamed of going to. As I got further into the book and Phoebe met “the wedding people” it got a little more interesting.

I thought this book was going to be a funny and uplifting story but it is far from. This book has mentions of suicide, infertility, infidelity, and death of a parent frequently throughout. If those are topics you don’t want to read about, I would avoid reading it.

I did like the end and the nice bow she wrapped it with. I also enjoyed why the book was called The Wedding People, I thought it was so clever!

Title: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espack
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Wedding People" by Alison Espach

My Perception:

'The Wedding People' was quite a read about Phoebe Stone. A lot had happened to her, including her mom dying at birth, living with a depressed father, failing IVF, a husband who left her for an associate, and losing her cat. When she decides she has had enough of life, she decides to do something about it...having reached her breaking point.

How she did this will keep you reading to see how Phoebe will make it out of it. Phoebe didn't know she was checking into a resort that had been taken over for a million-dollar wedding and had been mistaken for one of these wedding folk. Lila [the bride] befriends Phoebe, learns of what Phoebe had planned, and decides to do something by befriending her, not wanting her wedding ruined by that happening.

It will take a while to get into this good story, but as you continue to read it, you will see how well this author creates a story that will immerse you in a situation that can have you laughing and crying at this emotional read. The characters' lives intertwine, and the story's emotional depth makes for a compelling read. It's always refreshing to find a book that evokes laughter and tears.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC in exchange for my review.

When a newly divorced university professor ends up being the only guest at the Cromwell Inn not a part of the wedding slated for the week. Her last-minute booking, gets her mistaken as a part of the wedding crowd, and soon she finds herself accompanying the bride and the rest of the bridal party, as they celebrate the impending nuptials.

Well, this book was nothing I expected and everything I could want. I adored our main characters and their differences - the complex emotions, feelings, and thoughts they all had made them entirely realistic and enchanting. I loved the way Espach tackled tough subjects while also bringing plenty of humor and snark. And the honesty within these pages left me with a whirlwind of emotions.

This character driven story was absolutely wonderful, and I think so many will be able to relate to parts or all of the story. While it can be a heavier read, the story itself was a breath of fresh air and I still find myself missing this story. The audiobook is also excellent and really any way you consume this story will have you hooked.

TW: suicide, infertility


The Wedding People comes out July 30, 2024. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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Website: SPEAKINGOF.ORG

The Wedding People was witty, with dark humor, and I laughed out loud a few times. However it was also emotional, poignant, and had excellent character development.

I was pulled in from the very beginning. It started sad but transformed into a humorous story of Phoebe ingratiating herself into Lila and Gary’s wedding and their guests. Phoebe’s character arc was wonderful, and her honesty and compassion were inspiring. Lila, though spoiled and, at times, immature, was not annoying, and I enjoyed her confiding in Phoebe. With all that occurred during the wedding week, it shows that people really do come into your life for a reason.

It’s set in Rhode Island, which was so fun for me because I’m from RI!

This is also now a #readwithJenna book club book, so you know it’s gonna be a good one! This would also make an amazing movie.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Please please read the TWs. There are several, but for sure the most prominent is the main character wanting to unalive herself at the beginning with mentions throughout.]

Thank you Henry Holt and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt for an advanced copy of " The Wedding People". I was very intrigued when I read the synopsis of this book and it did not disappoint! Phoebe is a recently divorced professor who has decided to kill herself. Since money isn't an issue since she plans on dying, she decides that she will kill herself at a hotel she and her ex always wanted to stay at but deemed it to be too expensive. When she gets there she is shocked to discover that the hotel is the site of a week long wedding and she is the lone guest not invited. This book surprised me because it makes you think about all the crazy that people bring into your life and how in the end, they are also the reason it shines.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach is everything you’d ever want in a summer read. The second I finished it, I turned back to the beginning. The book starts with Phoebe, existentially tired and ready to make a change, and follows her through an unexpected week spent swept up in someone else’s wedding. I’m hesitant to share much more about the plot; but the punchline is that this is a must-read.

It’s tender, sometimes sad, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Espach will metaphorically punch you in the gut but quickly follow it up with a hug and a joke. The dialogue is irreverent and a masterclass in banter. All of the characters are lovable and messy and flawed, but deeply want to find meaning and significance. It’s such a beautiful story about starting over.

What could have been a super depressing premise in less capable hands is one of my favorite books of the year so far! Every character is so real and will remind you of someone you've met before. The dialogue is hilarious and the plot is so original that I was kept guessing until the end. Bring this along to your next destination wedding and it will get you through all the awkward moments! Highly recommend!