📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 📚
5/5 🌟

Gotta say, at first I didn’t understand the hype. I started reading and thought it featured a MC very similar to that of 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬, another 5🌟read.

And while the two MCs have similarities - both depressed, young women in marriages that aren’t working out, I came to see vast differences in these books and love them both equally.

Pheobe in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 makes her way to an expensive hotel on the east coast, luggage-less (though with plenty of baggage) aside from the glamorous and inappropriate green evening gown she’s wearing, with the sole intention of taking her own life in those beautiful surroundings.

Little does she realizes, she’s the sole visitor of the hotel who is not part of gorgeous Lila and physician Gary’s wedding. And Lila will not allow Phoebe to carry out her plans and ruin her perfectly choreographed six day wedding celebration.

On its surface it’s a lightish dramedy with a bit of romance thrown in, and I can see this being made into a sweet and watchable movie. But deeper, at its core and as the story progresses, it’s about so very much more. It’s about surviving the unthinkable and re-imagining your life when it happens and you’re tossed into a rough sea in only a rowboat. It’s about the effect people - perfect strangers - can have on you. This is particularly resonant, and I value and am always energized and uplifted by tiny but meaningful connections in my own life. It’s about understanding that human beings are so much more complex that the one thing you might think you know about them.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the storyline, the writing - snappy, funny, smart. The ending works well - though I know a filmmaker will end it a bit more concretely - leaving readers to imagine what happens next.

A great summer read, with just enough depth and substance to be more than a simple beach read.

#bibliophile#stephsalwaysreading#tbrlist#whatshouldireadnext #5🌟reads #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookreviews#bookreviewer #alisonespach#theweddingpeople

Wedding People is phenomenal. I fell in love with each character and their individual stories. The growth and perception was astounding. I loves this book.

This was my first Alison Espach book and I enjoyed it. When Phoebe Stone - an adjunct English professor from St. Louis - arrives at the majestic Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, she's the only guest who's not one of "the wedding people". To make things even worse, this was supposed to be a romantic trip with her husband, but she's here all alone. The bride Lila is surprised to meet Phoebe in the elevator on the way to her room because she thought she had booked all the rooms at the inn for her wedding. Lila is a major bridezilla who has planned out her wedding week to the most minute detail, so the unexpected arrival of Phoebe messes with her plans. When Lila finds out what Phoebe has come there for, it sets them both on a trajectory to an unusual friendship with an enormous impact on both of their lives. This is an interesting story with beautifully-developed characters that delves into relationships, how we communicate with each other, and how small events can have big consequences. Thanks to #netgalley and #henryholtandcompany for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. Espach’s previous novel was one of my favorite books of 2022. And this one did not disappoint. Espach has such a gift for writing stories that seem to effortlessly mix serious topics with humor and hope. And, y’all! I don’t think she gets enough recognition for her gift for penning witty banter. Some of these exchanges between characters had me, literally, laughing out loud. This book was absolutely beautiful and just begging for an adaptation. Easily a contender for my favorite read of 2024. Espach has now become an autobuy author for me and I can’t wait for whatever comes next!

This book.. was very real.., very brutally honest. There were times when I was reading and was like ‘5 star’ and other times when I was like ‘ehh 3 stars’, so I went in the middle. Definitely trigger warnings for this book!! It’s honestly kind of a strange book, but in a good way. The characters were imperfect. This book was funny. It had a different humor to it. I liked how this book broke down the image of ‘normalcy’ and a ‘normal life’. Nothing is normal, we’re all imperfect, and trying to cling to an image of ‘normalcy’ .. is not sustainable. It causes hurt. It results in dishonesty to yourself, so seeing Phoebe’s growth and independence and strength in this book..!!! is so incredible. Seeing/reading about her pursuing her truth and being authentic to herself after overcoming so much difficulty is .. truly beautiful in a way. I also loved the ending! So brilliant, so good! This is a heavy book, it’s pretty serious, but it’s also lighthearted and has a sort of gentleness and sense of friendliness to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Henry Holt & Company, for this authentically real and beautifully raw ARC!

I absolutely loved this book, I wanted it to go on forever. I felt so connected to both Lila and Phoebe, in different ways, and thought that this story was so - honest. Reading these characters inner thoughts, however complicated they were, I felt perfectly mirrored the thoughts of everyday people - and even some that we are afraid to think. I wont give spoilers in this review but the ending???? So good. 4.5 stars. This was my first read from this author but I do own another, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, which I am now super eager to jump into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

5/5 - An incredibly impactful, beautifully written and deeply human story about life, living and change. This book is hands down one of my favorite books of the year and of all time.

I didn’t read the description for this and am so glad I didn’t. The premise is slightly upsetting and wildly different than anything I’ve ever read. It made me feel ALL of the feels and I loved how Espach navigated heavy topics with Phoebe’s sharp, insightful and brutally honest narration. This story will hit home for so many - Phoebe’s journey is one of disappointment, failed expectations, self reflection, growth and ultimately, strength. What a brutal, beautiful, heartfelt and thought provoking story written with wit, humor, sensitivity and strength.

Alison Espach’s writing is truly outstanding - I laughed, I cried. I simply cannot wrap my head around all the ways this book shines, so you’ll just have to trust me and crack it open. You won’t regret it!

The Fiancé Dilemma - 3/5 - Armas has been hit or miss for me lately but I enjoyed this story far more than the first in this series! The premise is a bit over the top - as are some of the characters - and I found the world to be a bit cheesy, but I liked the MMC a lot and was rooting for Josie to find happiness. The ending surprised me a bit, too! Thank you to @netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I adored this hilarious, thoughtful and sweet read. It's a perfect book and one of the highlights of my summer! Phoebe, a literary professor, after facing a series of personal crises has decided to put on her best dress and take an impulsive trip to a luxe resort to end it all. She's overwhelmed to find her plan is thwarted by a massive wedding and all its festivities. She is soon is befriended by the bride who is in need of confident. This is a smart book that reels you in and the characters are all so relatable that you want to call them friends. It's a gem of a book! Read it now!

I couldn't have loved this book more! This was such a fun, unique, engaging, and laugh-aloud funny story with the most unique and creative characters I've met in awhile. I quickly read this book during a summer week away, and was asked regularly by family members "what was I reading," as I laughed my way through it.

When our main character finds herself the only non-wedding guest at a high-end resort, her elaborate plans to end her life are quickly changed. While the subject matter had the potential to be heavy at first, the humor and plotline turned things into a positive and uplifting roller-coaster ride. This book is definitely a favorite read this year- don't miss it!

After splitting up with her husband, Phoebe books a night at a luxury inn where she plans to commit suicide. When she arrives, she finds that the entire inn has been booked for a week-long wedding party and she is mistaken for a guest.

This book was so completely enjoyable--sweet, quirky, and often had my laughing out loud. If I could have put my life on hold I would have, but as it was I just couldn't wait until I could carve out time each day to read it.

Maybe I was in the wrong headspace to read about a suicidal woman flying across the country to end her life, and instead getting caught up in the drama of the strangers at a hotel, but I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as other people did.

I saw someone online call this book laugh out loud funny, and I laughed one single time at maybe something Juice or Marla said. I thought this book was a demure look at deciding to live and realizing everything is messy and you don’t always want what you can get again.

Book: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espach
Genre: Fiction, Drama, Self-Discovery/Change, Drama
Places Featured: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)
Review: I’m not quite sure what I expected with this one but it wasn’t this. I was very pleasantly surprised with this heart-warming, yet realistic story about the complexities of life, people, and relationships.

Phoebe has treated herself to a special night at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island (somewhere she has always dreamt of going), but the night goes nothing like she planned when she runs into Lila, a bride who has every detail of her wedding week perfectly planned…though that’s not working out either.

The two become an unlikely set of friends confiding in each other and learning from each other (the wine helps, of course). Everyone else at the Inn (mostly guests of Lila’s wedding since the Inn was supposed to be just for them) contribute to this quirky novel that captures life as it is: sometimes messy, sometimes funny, sometimes fun, sometimes challenging, and sometimes just right.

I often think it’s weird when a book is described as “tender” but this is one of those where it fits perfectly–you’ll be left with a little bit of hope and a warm fuzzy feeling for this thing called life.

Reviews posted on Instagram (@travelbooksandmovies) and some posted on blog (www.travelbooksandmovies.com)

This book was not what I expected, but, instead, so much more. Alison Espach has written a thoughtful novel that covers serious topics in a graceful manner. What exactly is happiness? Can we ever truly come back from grief? Why is it so easy to tell things to strangers when we can't talk to the people we love the most? The book was funny but not in a comedic way, and I'll be thinking about it for a long time.


Bonus—I loved what the author wrote in the acknowledgements about simply treating strangers with kindness. You never know how much a smile, greeting, or kind comment will impact someone. As author Abby Jimenez wrote "Grace costs you nothing."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

After getting over a very dramatic and jarring start to this book (*definitely check content warnings before reading if you need them*) this book definitely turns around and shows up! The beginning gives off a very grief-stricken, bleak, and almost hopeless feeling to start, but this mood soon paves the way for new friendships, new love, and new leases on life. The characters are quirky, flawed, and yet still so loveable. The setting is idyllic and perfect to read during the summer, made extra fun with the element of over-the-top wedding festivities taking place throughout the story. This book is irreverent, funny, and perfect for readers who want to face the dark parts of life with humor and hope. Highly recommend this one for readers who love character-driven books with relatable characters and for readers who appreciate a strong sense of place. Overall, I recommend!

POP THE CHAMPAGNE! This is a great one! If it’s still in your TBR, bump 👏🏻it👏🏻up!
Confession- I may have over highlighted as I read. There were so many good quotes and messages throughout. 🥹
This one is probably more relatable to the over 30-35ish reader, but I think there is something for everyone in this story. A little dark humor, grief journey, romance, self-discovery, family drama, and so much more. Plus we all know how weddings are! They can definitely be memorable in many ways. 🤪🤣

Lila (the bridezilla) + Phoebe (the rando who happened to book a room at Lila’s wedding hotel) + a week of wedding events = a rollercoaster of emotions!! I laughed through the awkward parts (& at the quirky characters), felt sad for their loneliness, and had my heart burst when someone found a little peace.

I loved that these two strangers found each other and became the refreshing safe place they needed where they can be themselves. 💕

Grab! Just go grab this one! 📢

Thank you to Netgalley & Henry Holt and Co. for my #gifted e-arc in exchange for my honest review. 😊

👉🏻Read if you like:
•Female Friendships •Wedding Season •People Watching •Dry/Dark Humor •Grief & Depression Journey •Self-Discovery •East Coast Setting •Witty Banter •Second Chances

⚠️check trigger warnings before reading.
——————————————————————
Review has been posted to IG & Goodreads

The Wedding People" by Alison Espach is a captivating novel that brilliantly balances humor and heart. Phoebe Stone's unexpected arrival at the Cornwall Inn sets the stage for a story that’s both uproariously funny and deeply moving. Espach masterfully weaves together the lives of her characters, exploring how chance encounters can lead to profound connections and unexpected new beginnings. With vivid prose and a keen understanding of human emotions, this novel is a beautiful reminder that even in our most unplanned moments, we can find the clarity and companionship we need to move forward. A must-read! Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

"𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 10 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵."

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 is the August Book Club pick for Read With Jenna, Zibby Owens, Barnes and Noble, and IndieNext (as well as my own Read Spin Repeat bookclub) and yes, it's that good.

"𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨."
I live in Rhode Island and it's rare to read a book set here. Alison Espach captures the quirks of our small state perfectly, and as someone who's frequently in Newport (and got married there), I loved seeing mentions of some of my favorite places like Bowen's Wharf, The White Horse Tavern, The Breakers and The Boom Boom Room. The affluent beach haven is the perfect backdrop for the story of grief, reinvention and the power of connection.

"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 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳."

I cannot wait to discuss this complex and touching novel during our book club chat this week. Grab a copy for your beach bag, people. It's not to be missed.

Thanks to Henry Holt Books & Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

It’s a good sign when I finish reading a book, and I’m smiling. Alison Espach’s new novel, The Wedding People, not only left me smiling at the end; it made me laugh out loud almost from the get-go, and it will do the same for you.

My thanks go to NetGalley, Henry Holt, and Macmillan Audio for the review copies. This book is for sale now.

I’m not usually fond of romances, but a friend mentioned the premise of this one, and I couldn’t resist. In a nutshell: Phoebe, the protagonist, worn down by the pandemic and devastated when her husband leaves her, heads off to the posh hotel where they’d intended to spend their vacation. She takes no luggage or even her phone, because she plans to kill herself once she’s inside that lovely place.

Upon arrival, it’s clear that a mistake has been made. The entire hotel has been reserved for a wedding. But Phoebe’s room hasn’t been double booked, and so she is allowed, with apologies, to proceed to her room. However, the bride—wealthy, entitled, Bridezilla—learns of Phoebe’s presence, goes to her room, and orders her to leave. As they argue, Phoebe discloses her reason for coming, and assures her that she’ll be gone—so to speak—by the time the wedding takes place. But Lila, our bride, is having none of it. How dare Phoebe spoil her wedding! Absolutely not. She isn’t going to have guests gathering just as a corpse is being wheeled out to the morgue, right through the lobby! Phoebe must change her plans.

I won’t share any further developments, but I will tell you this: Espach can write.

Long ago, I decided that five star reviews should not be reserved for the rare gem bound to become a timeless classic. I give five stars to any novel that makes me unusually happy, and that represents the best being published within its genre. This book is one of those.

Helen Laser is the voice actor narrating the audio version, and she makes it even funnier. If you are strictly a visual reader, that’s fine, but if you like both formats, go with the audio this time, or use the audio and print versions together, which is what I did.

Highly recommended to those that enjoy a good romance, a good laugh, or both.

Rating: 4.75

This book was so well done. I finished it a couple of daays ago anad haave been trying to get my thoughts together. It was the perfect amount of cynical, honest, and emotional. The main chaaracter Pheobe is someone who I think that everyone has been at a point in their life. Becauase of this the reader would be aable to relate. Every moment of this book just felt so real and at times I had to put it down becuase I would get overwhelmed, but in the best way. The Wedding People is something that anyone will be able to enjoy. If you are a literary fiction lover you should read this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

When Phoebe arrives alone at the Cornwall Inn, everyone assumes she’s there for the wedding just like all the other hotel guests. But Phoebe isn’t here for the wedding—she’s here because she’d dreamed of visiting with her husband before her life fell into shambles and her mind started taking her to dark places. And while the bride, Lila, has micro-managed every detail of what is supposed to be her perfect wedding week, she did not account for this depressed stranger being in the way.

What follows is the story of a week that is equal parts devastating, hilarious, absurd, and unflinchingly honest. The book cover and description led me to assume I was reading a romantic comedy or lighthearted beach read. Do not be fooled like I was into assuming this book is light. Instead, it is complicated, smart, bold, and hopeful. It’s the story of chance encounters, the impact strangers can have on one another, and what we can learn from being honest with ourselves.

I thought this book was brilliant, and I can’t wait to read more of Espach’s work. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.