GAHHH there is a good chance I've already read my favorite book of 2024! THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach was an utter delight. I enjoyed every minute living in the world of Rhode Island's Cornwall Inn and with Phoebe Stone -- one of my new favorite literary characters. The book is sad, but joyful, dramatic but hilarious. Espach is for sure a must-read author for me now, especially after I also loved her last year's NOTES ON YOUR SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE.

Along with witty writing and fantastic, realistic characters, the plot to THE WEDDING PEOPLE was so unexpected and it made it so hard to put down. I didn't really know much going in, and I recommend the same to you, but it's a perfect story of a woman who has hit rock bottom and an unexpected group of people (a bride and her wedding attendees staying at the same hotel as her) that bring her back to life. It's swoony, heartfelt, and a total joy to read. I can't wait for you to enjoy it too!

Thank you so much for this eARC. This is my second Alison Espach book and she will now be an auto-buy author for me. I love her humorous, emotional, and realistic characters. Watching the growth and connections these characters made was just perfect. They feel like real people. I actually laughed out loud for some dialogue, I love her humor.
I mostly connected with the character "Juice" even though I am basically the same age as the FMC, Phoebe. I too lost my mother young, and Espach writes this character's grief in such an age appropriate way. I also went through a lot of what this character did.

I highly recommend it! Please see my full review on Instagram @bookish_starry_skies

The ideal book for folks who loved A Man Called Ove. A rollicking story of a woman at the edge or ending her life, roped into the close weirdness of a wedding at the hotel she had tried to pick as her final resting place. I fell in love with the characters in this book and couldn't wait to see how everything would turn out. The dialogue is sharp and funny and the topics are handled sensitively here. The growth of the main character was lovely to watch. I really enjoyed this one. It would make a fantastic movie!

Definitely a dark topic to read about but Alison Espach makes it work! The Wedding People is unlike any book I've read before!

Literary, smart, cheeky and fun.
At the start, you’re pulled into this snarky fun judgement of wedding guests. We all totally observe and judge other people at a weddings. Then you’re jolted by a change of pace. Jolted to the point that I almost stopped reading, questioning if the book was the vibe I wanted to dig deeper into…..
Yes, it was. I’m so glad I stuck with it!

Creative character building. Very good writing. It’s a little slow moving at times, but overall a great book that tackles some .serious and not so serious topics. I’d happily read a follow up!

4.5 stars because it was slow in the middle, but rounded up to 5.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an early read for my honest review.

Wow, I loved this! Phoebe is a divorced academic who, after finding her cat dead in her basement, decides to run off to Newport, Rhode Island to stay at the fancy hotel she and her ex-husband used to fantasize about. She quickly realizes she is the only person at the property who is not there for the wedding of Gary and Lila, and soon inadvertently finds herself enmeshed in the lives of the wedding people. It was a really fun, wry read.

Phoebe Stone leaves her house one morning with just the fancy dress she is wearing and her phone, determined to end her life at her dream vacation spot, only to find that the hotel is fully booked with wedding people. She soon becomes one of them and develops a strong bond with the bride.

Alison Espach's writing is wonderfully addictive; the dialogue and inner monologues were realistic, funny, and, at times, heartbreaking. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, set during just the six days of the wedding, with plenty of flashbacks. Each character was well-drawn and developed; I could picture everyone, from the hotel manager to the groom's daughter to the bride's mother. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a book full of self-discovery, new friendships, and lots of honest conversations.

Thank you Henry Holt and Co. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely love it. Idk why I'm shocked by this lol. I have laughed and cried. It's really sensitive in the way it's handling suicidal ideation and depression. The description doesn’t do it justice, I wouldn’t have picked this up if a friend didn’t recommend. Please do something to make sure people read this!

Except for Phoebe’s depression at the start of the story (which kudos to writer was very depressing) this book was hilarious and wonderful. The characters! The conversations! Put this on your summer 2024 TBR.

i was truly so charmed by this novel about a downtrodden woman who gets looped into an outlandish wedding full of strangers that inevitably alters the path of her life. plus, i loved the commentary on how out-of-pocket weddings have gotten these days. such a unique story that really came together nicely. out in july—you won’t want to miss this one!

When Pheobe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in beautiful Newport Rhode Island, she has decided that this is her last day on Earth, so she has worn her best dress and is ready to indulge in her luxurious suite. Fate has other plans! Lila has planned her magnificent million dollar wedding, and a suicide is not in the plans…..no one messing with the bride on her wedding weekend.

I wasn’t sure when I began that I would love this story, but I quickly became enraptured with Phoebe. This story hits on so many topics that we conjure when hitting middle age. Marriages gone wrong, loss of a spouse, adultery, but more importantly, where did our life make a wrong turn, and how did I become this person. We spend years pleasing others until we wake up and realize that it got us no where and the only way back to happiness is finding out what pleases us. That is what I really loved about Phoebe, her honesty, and the exploration of how she got to the point of ending her life, only to find out that she can build the life she wants, right now.
That honesty not only opens Phoebe up to new possibilities, but sets Lila and Gary, her groom, straight on what is really important when starting a life together.
I would definitely recommend this book to all us middle agers out there that think we can’t start our lives over!!

Overall: ★★★.5 (rounded up)

You'll Love This If You're Into:
* Intricate explorations of human connections
* Insightful narratives about life's unexpected turns
* Sharp and witty dialogue that is both funny and brutally honest
* Stories that blend wisdom with unexpected tenderness

Ratings:
* Characters: ★★★☆☆
* Plot Progression: ★★☆☆☆
* Writing Style: ★★★☆☆
* Memorability: ★★★★☆
* Tear Jerk Moments: 💧💧💧
* Overall: ★★★.5
Thoughts: liked it

Thoughts:
Initially, this book did not grip me whatsoever. I know, not a glowing review, but then, somewhere in the middle, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I read for long sprints in the middle. In the end, it lulled and did not satisfy me personally (or perhaps was too tied up neatly), but I will never forget the story. While the book initially did not engage me, it gradually unfolds into an entertaining and introspective story.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach takes readers on a journey through the intricacies of life, where unanticipated twists and turns are shaped by encounters with others. The dialogue in the book stands out with its sharp wit, humor, and unexpected tenderness. The conversations are not only funny and brutally honest but also filled with great wisdom. The characters, especially Phoebe, are a mix of real, funny, and sad yet witty, making them relatable and lovable…eventually. Additionally, I loved getting to see little snippets into the lives of the secondary characters around Phoebe as she orbited in and out of their lives.

Despite the initial struggle with I had with some characters and general storytelling, the story becomes more enjoyable and captivating.

Overall, The Wedding People offers a thought-provoking exploration of life's uncertainties, sprinkled with humor, wisdom, and unexpected tenderness, making it a compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Alison Espach for providing this ARC in exchange for my review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

"... becoming who you want to be is just like anything else. It takes practice. It requires belief that one day, you'll wake up and be a natural at it."

Sometimes, unexpectedly, you will come across A Book. That book will be unassuming, it will not be to everyone's tastes, but it will Speak to you. You will see yourself reflected back at you in an wonderful, and sometimes painful, new light.

THE WEDDING PEOPLE was my mirror.

It was lovely, heartbreaking, witty, and gorgeous. Phoebe's struggles were somehow my struggles-- and so her victories were also mine to share. Lila and Gary, the bride and groom of the titular wedding, were beautifully complex and woven into Phoebe's own self-discovery journey with their three lives becoming intrinsic to one another. THE WEDDING PEOPLE discusses difficult topics including death, suicide, depression, divorce, spousal cheating, and dissatisfaction with life. However, Espach skillfully accepts and embraces these challenges in her novel, reminding both her characters (and readers) that life is exactly what you're willing to work to make it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book comes out in July 2024 and I know it will quickly become a favorite beach read!

The characters were all so well written and I felt a connection with all of them. I really enjoyed the banter between Phoebe and Lila and reading along as they discovered themselves and what they want in life.

I really loved this book! It's a tale of love, relationships and self-discovery that is both heartwarming and relatable.

Absolutely adored this one. Phoebe was such a funny character and I loved the dialogue that she had with each supporting person in the book. This book made me feel warm, laugh and cry. I think it’s one of my favorites from 2023 that I’ve read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry, Holt, and. Company for an advanced reader copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Alison Espach has crafted a compelling tale of events that take place at a wedding. While no one wants their wedding week ruined by an unexpected guest, this is what happens to Lila when Phoebe shows up at her wedding. Phoebe has a plan and it is not what the reader expects but I will say that it is a heavy topic that readers should be aware of prior to reading the book. A suggestion to the publisher is a trigger warning should be included. Besides this, Espach’s novel is well developed and draws you.

By mistake, Phoebe arrives at the Cornwall Inn for her solo holiday, only to discover that the entire resort has been privately booked for a big wedding. Someone made a mistake, but Phoebe stays. She's obviously not there for the wedding. She has her own complicated reason for booking a solo trip, one that is eventually resolved by the new relationships and experiences she has through the wedding festivities. A great premise, very well executed into a great story.

4.5 ⭐️
I am so grateful that I received this ARC, as I really enjoyed this book. I thought that I was going to dislike Phoebe, but found myself attached to her and how she developed throughout the novel. The way her emotions and view on life evolved steadily was very impactful, and I especially loved how her presence helped others make their peace with their personalities/lives in a similar manner. As someone who isn't necessarily the most empathetic, I was extremely impressed with how the author was able to transcribe Phoebe's feelings so well to the point where I really felt myself experiencing them with her. I certainly will be recommending this book in the future!

“The more wedding you need, the less happy you must be” Phoebe believed this…until she didn’t.
I don’t know where this book has been all my life, but thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Publishers for showing me the way to an excellent book. Both humorous and tender, this book is totally enjoyable. I read it in a day. We need more books like this one. I will be excitingly waiting for Alisan Espach’s next read.

I really enjoyed this book! We meet Phoebe as a very depressed woman who has not been fully participating in her life and has quit living for longer than she thinks. We see her progression to better understand her past, how she responded to events I her life and her commitment to be authentic and learn about others, what makes them tick and to live and communicate like she has nothing to lose. She is committed to living her best life, being true to herself and speaking the hard truths that need to be said.

I enjoyed hearing her humorous insights into other people’s lives… and also learned some about art and Victorian literature!

As this is a book about transformation, we also witnessed the transformation of several other key characters. I recommend this book as a great read! I don’t think these are spoilers, but do share trigger warnings for: depression, infertility, infidelity, miscarriage and losing a parent. The book deals with very real topics in productive ways. I know a book is great when I am sad to come to the end of the story and wonder what all the characters are up to, and I am!