This was such a cute feel good story about happiness, love, friendship, and family. I love the character development between Phoebe and Lila. The overall story felt new and fresh to me, and it was a joy to read.

Book Review
The Wedding People
By Alison Espach
Pub Date: July 29, 2024
Thank you to @netgalley @henryholtbooks and @alison.espach for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Phoebe took a plane from Missouri to Rhode Island and crossed the Cornwall Inn off her bucket list. She had always wanted to go, but Matt, her husband, had said it was too expensive. They were both professors and didn’t take vacations like this ever. Once at the hotel she realized everyone checking in seemed to all know each other and they were there to attend or be part of a wedding.
The bride had thought everyone at the hotel was there for her. So, who was this strange woman? After meeting Phoebe, the bride finds herself drawn to her. It seems Phoebe is the only one she can talk with honestly. During the weeklong stay at the Inn, Phoebe discovers a renewed energy to live differently and to try new things like surfing.
My thoughts: This book has a little bit of everything. It is sad, funny, hopeful, there’s some twists and turns and what ifs. I like Phoebe, she feels like a real person with real struggles. She did her best to get up and go to work as a professor even when her depression seemed to want to swallow her whole. The way she doesn’t let everyone at the Inn bother her and the way she puts herself out there to help wherever she can, is so unlike her. Something changes in her while in Rhode Island and for once she may be happy.

Brilliant! The Wedding People resonated with me on every level, I'm so glad I read it. For anyone who's had an existential crisis, this book is for you.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Company as well as Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Phoebe Stone has had her entire life turned upside down. Her husband had an affair with a colleague and left her, she's had major fertility issues, and she feels her work as a professor is in a holding pattern. She's always wanted to stay at the grand Cornwall Inn, and she walks away from everything, planning to need only one night stay. She soon finds out a million-dollar wedding is planned, but she feels that won't interfere with her. She's mistaken for one of the wedding party, When the bride figures out that she's been mistaken for a guess, and what Phoebe has planned, she sets out to ensure nothing ruins her big day. It turns out the bride and Phoebe both might need each other. I highly recommend this. Touching, humorous, uplifting.

Phoebe Stone ends up in the lobby of the Cornwall Inn, wearing a gorgeous green dress and no bag in sight...this is how the story begins.
Once there, everyone mistakes her for being there for the wedding that "booked out" the Inn, even the bride. What happens next is an unlucky friendship, and what happens when Phoebe finally stops overthinking and realizes that she cares a lot more about herself, and about other people then she has let on.
Alison Espach's wonderfully told story is packed with funny moments- which helps ease the original thought of the plot. When the reader is first introduced to Phoebe, and the reason why she goes to the Inn, the humor is so stark against the reasoning that one is immediately drawn in to see the conclusion.
Each character you meet is fully developed, which gives the reader the opportunity to be present for the storyline and become fully immersed in seeing that each character fairs well at the end. Wholly addicting, real life story, that still leaves the reader thinking about the story long after it's done!

I feel like words cannot express how perfectly unperfect this novel was. Phoebe is one of the best well written characters that I've encountered this year. When a character truly leaps off the pages and speaks to your mind, humor and heart, you buckle in no matter what the outcome and I'm glad I read this. Families are hard, people are hard, but soldiering on everyday to try this thing called life and maybe make some friends along the way is what keeps us going. No notes, this book was PERFECT.

The emotional rollercoaster I experience over the last few hours of reading this book is real. The blurb does not prepare the reader for the first chapter of the novel, and I really think a trigger warning is necessary. That being said, the storytelling is beautiful and the scenes were written in such a way that even the most hated character--and who that is really will vary based on the reader--is someone you can connect with.

I found Phoebe to be a fascinating character; she was at the lowest point of her adult life and yet a random and slight wacky bride changed the trajectory of her future in so many ways.

I would say that you need to be in an open and/or positive mindset when starting this book as otherwise you might find yourself dwelling in some sadness.

"The Wedding People" was a delightful surprise that instantly catapulted itself onto my list of top reads for the year. Prior to picking up this book, I was unfamiliar with the author, but her writing had me captivated from the first page.
Espach's novel masterfully weaves a tale of love, relationships, and self-discovery that is both heartwarming and relatable. The characters feel like old friends, and their struggles and triumphs resonate on a deeply personal level. What truly sets "The Wedding People" apart is its ability to convey the intricacies of human emotions and relationships with raw authenticity.
I devoured this book in one sitting, unable to tear myself away from the beautifully crafted narrative. It's a remarkable gem that I can't recommend enough. If you're seeking a touching, well-written story that will stay with you, "The Wedding People" should be at the top of your list.
Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for this ARC.

A Wedding Story like no other!
Welcome to Newport, Rhode Island. Phoebe Stone books a suite at the Grand Cornwall Inn planning to end her life. Instead she finds she had grabbed the only non-wedding guest room in the luxurious hotel and is immediately swept up in a million dollar wedding. As she grows closer to Lilah and her entourage she cannot help but think that at least one person this week is making a mistake - maybe it is her!

There is no way to explain how hilarious, how touching and how real this story is. Pick it up because you love weddings, you love gossip about family, and finally you love an underdog story. You will not be disappointed, one of my favorite books of the year! w#Henryholt #TheWeddingPeople #AlisonEspach

Five stars! More stars! Loved this book so much. The story had rich characters and witty dialogue and I was invested immediately. The story was meaningful and I loved the exploration of family, friends, finding yourself and recognizing what you want from your life. The setting was also fantastic! I have a feeling this book will be well received. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Phoebe has always wanted to go to the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. She is a literature professor at a college in St. Louis, depressed and unable to continue her writing. Phoebe is divorced from her husband who left her for her best friend, and sees no real way out of her bland life. Therefore, one day she flies to the Cornwall Inn with only her shiny green dress. At her arrival, she encounters a bride and the families; the Inn was reserved for six days exclusively and in error Phoebe was given a room. Phoebe and Lila connect and their lives intertwine. They help each other through the days, and Phoebe discovers that she is a much more capable and important person than she thought. This book is sad, funny, beautifully written and entertaining. The author has an uncanny ability to make the reader connect with the characters’ feelings. It’s about happiness and love. I highly recommend it. With thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for this ARC. My opinions are my own. susanh_bookreviews

I'm so glad that I took a chance on reading this novel by an author who is new to me. I ended up loving this book and its many twists and turns. It covered many subjects from academia to infertility to the wedding industry and more. There was humor, suspense and unexpected relationships, despite a depressing beginning to the book. I'm glad I stuck with it. Once I was past that, I couldn't put the book down wanting to know what would happen. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I want to read the author's previous books and look forward to her next one. I highly recommend this book, and I think it would be a great choice for book discussion groups.