Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for making this audiobook available to me. As someone who has continuously recommended books to my patrons I would like to see a trigger warning on this title. The book had was a little slow to start to me but I quickly became invested in the main character's journey. The cover of the book makes you think you are in for a lighthearted time. That very much was not the case. I really enjoyed the narrator, she did a fantastic job!

4 Stars

This is my kind of book! Beautiful writing that brings you into the story and sucks you in. it was sad, funny and real. This was such an interesting story of life and how sometimes life knocks you down but you get back up. The Narrator brought the characters to life in such a great way.

Thank you to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio book.

this is a lovely tale about living, self-honesty, happiness, and how life can suddenly change course and alter your life forever. One of my favorite books of 2024 is this one, and I can't wait for it to be adapted for the big screen.

I loved this audiobook. I would highly recommend the audio verses just reading the book. It was sad, funny, and overall a masterpiece. So relatable and a definite tearjerker.

I don’t know when I’ve been more pleasantly surprised by an audiobook.

“The Wedding People” is set in Newport, and from the title you might guess that it would be a silly romance. But you would be so wrong.

It’s the story of Phoebe Stone, who arrives at a 19th-century Newport hotel from St. Louis in 2022 with one thing in mind: killing herself.

Her husband has left her for her best friend, she’s just found her beloved cat dead in the basement, and her college teaching job is a dead end. So when she remembers seeing an ad in a travel magazine for the hotel, a place she had wanted to go with her ex, she decides that an $896-a-night room there would be the perfect spot to end things.

But as she stands on her balcony with a cigarette, gazing out at the ocean and noticing a group that has gathered for a wedding later in the week, her world is upended by the bride, an amazingly entitled woman who walks in to demand that she stop smoking.

From this odd encounter follows a string of unlikely but logical connections and events that involve a lot of human emotion and wisdom. And while there’s romance, too, it’s anything but silly.

For Rhode Islanders, this book by an associate professor of creative writing at Providence College is enhanced by lots of local references. Espach name-checks the Breakers, the Vanderbilts, Portsmouth Abbey, the Cliff Walk and Flo’s, among several other things. There’s also a joke about how very far Cranston is from Newport.

And during a traffic jam in downtown Newport, where several characters are stuck in a car a tenth of a mile from Bowen’s Wharf but still 20 minutes away, one says that's what you get with a destination wedding.

But the bride and groom both live in Rhode Island, another objects.

“Anywhere farther than 30 minutes in Rhode Island is a destination wedding,” the first one explains.

Laser’s reading sometimes makes it a bit difficult during dialogue to know who’s speaking, and she muffs a couple of local pronunciations: “Tems” Street instead of “Thames,” “PAW-tuck-it” instead of “p’-TUCK-it.” But there’s a warmth here, too, and enough differentiation that in key moments we can tell exactly what’s going on.

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book is absolutely brilliant.
It's beautifully written, and the character work is incredible. The author covers many heavy topics with such grace and in delicate way, yet makes the overall situation so relatable and humorous.
Phoebe hits rock bottom, She always wanted to travel to Newport, Rhode Island, so she decides to go and she rents a room in an expensive hotel, but when she gets there she realizes she just crashed a wedding weekend.
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.

I loved this book. The characters were well written, I really liked the plot. The character of Phoebe was written very well to portray how someone dealing with depression and then having so many major life changes could react to them all piling up on her. I enjoyed Lila coming in and sort of taking over for Phoebe and forcing her to live her life.

I had to deduct a star for Phoebe's behavior when her ex-husband Matt showed up. I felt like her character growth just disappeared and the whole thing felt like a major ick.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. She gets 5 stars.

What happens when you show up to your hotel for a special trip and everyone else is there for a wedding? What happens when you just want to mind your business, but the bride is convinced you're going to ruin her big event?

An unusual take on found family and the trajectory life, I loved this story. The characters and setting were great, as well as the narration.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for a free copy of #TheWeddingPeople by Alison Espach. All opinions are my own.

When Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn, she is the only person in the hotel who is not there for the wedding. She’s there to commit suicide after her marriage ends and she feels she has nothing else to live for.

Lila, the bride, has thought of every detail but did not account for Phoebe being at the hotel. She figures out what Phoebe is there to do and Lila will NOT let it happen. Soon, Phoebe is joining in on the weeklong festivities and readers get to learn about Lila’s motivations too. This funny, poignant novel about the people we meet along the path of life is sure to be a hit.

Trigger Warnings
Suicide Attempt, Infertility

Why Kirsten loves it
I love it handled anxiety, depression, and the ending of a relationship. It reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians because of the over-the-top wedding vibes. There is so much to discuss in this one that I think it’s perfect for book clubs.

I loved this premise so much! Phoebe gets caught up in the festivities of the extravagant wedding that is taking place when she visits the Cornwall. The events and connections after that are fantastic.

What worked for me:
- A main character that I absolutely loved! I loved Phoebe's snark and brutal honesty about what was going on in her life and her observations of what's going on in other's lives. I loved how she spoke her mind and how she connected with the wedding people.
- Side characters - although the side characters weren't always as lovable as Phoebe, I still liked them and appreciated their perspectives on life.
- This plot was amazing and it was so different from anything I've read before. I truly enjoyed it all the way through. It moved along at a reasonable pace and it was believable and real.
- Writing that made me both laugh and sometimes tear up.

What didn't work for me:
-Nothing

5 Fantastic Stars! Will probably be one of my Top 10 favorites of the year.

I was excited to start this since I noticed this title being the August 2024 read for many book clubs, including Read With Jenna. I love Helen Laser’s narration and Alison Espach’s writing. Espach tells this story beautifully in such a way that is so relatable and humorous to readers. I don’t think it matters who you are, there’s at least one character you can relate to in this novel. I became so invested, it’s hard for me to believe the characters aren’t real. The setting at the Cornwall Inn is so miraculous and so magical, I wish I could go and visit myself.

This is such an enjoyable summer/ warm holiday read. I highly recommend you squeeze this one in before the fall (you still have until September 22th). This is a beautiful story about life, being honest with oneself, what it means to be happy and how life can sometimes take a turn and change your life forever. This is one of my favourite reads for 2024 and I’m looking forward to when this one comes to screen.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this ALC.

This book was fantastic. It addressed mental health, love, relationships, loss, family, and felt so real. I was swept up into the idea of falling in love with someone forbidden but also realizing that maybe that was the love that was supposed to happen. There were parts that seemed exactly like I thought it would happen and others that were a true surprise. The characters were dynamic and lovable.

What an unexpected surprise!

A few weeks ago, this book was completely off my radar, but after seeing glowing reviews and its selection as a #ReadWithJenna pick, I knew I had to get it. What I didn’t realize, though, was just how much I truly needed it.

This story was beautifully brilliant.

The unapologetic rawness of this book, combined with its hilariously heartfelt moments, will deeply resonate with and touch everyone.

Espach delves into how finding purpose at just the right moment and experiencing chance encounters emphasize that timing truly is everything.

Words can’t do it justice and I encourage you to go in as blind as possible. This is one you don’t want to miss!

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads

I don’t really get the hype on this one. The story was overall fake and forced to me. I wanted to know more about phone and less about the rich bride. Her narrative took away from the story and I had no sympathy for her.

I read this book in the middle of a reading slump, and I still loved it. It was literally the only thing I could read for days. I loved the characters in this book, and I loved the setting. While the beginning was a bit dark, I quickly became so invested in Phoebe's journey. I loved how everything played out in this book - it felt exactly right. Excellently narrated on audio by Helen Laser.

The Wedding People was a surprise! While I expected a light, quick read I got a heartfelt and thought provoking story. Phoebe Stone is in New England to finally stay at the hotel she’s been waiting years for but her plans are changed when she realizes she’s the only guest at the hotel that isn’t there for the wedding of Lila and Gary. This book is about life, expectations, feeling seen and understood, and finding the people who love you.

A surprise and a delight! Don’t miss this one - thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

After reading Allison Espach’s debut I was looking forward to what would be next. This totally held up to my expectations. I loved the plot, the friendships, the emotion. Perfection!
The narration was exactly what this book needed, too. Her intonations were immaculate and depth of emotion really came through.
Looking forward to her next one!

I was SUPER excited to read/listen to this book and I must say, it missed the mark for me. First of all, I need to start by saying that this book should have a major trigger warning on it and it didn’t. I finally found warnings in friend’s reviews. Anyways, take caution before picking this one up. Overall, the plot had a lot of promise but I personally did not feel very connected to the characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook!

I loved this book! It was clever and sweet and had brilliant character development. I was hooked right away and it never lost me.

Yeah, so, I kind of loved that. Netgally has a character minimum so here I am meeting that, having already said everything i wished to.