Phoebe Stone has a plan. She is off to the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, wearing her green dress and gold heels. She has no luggage and no husband because, when it comes right down to it, she won't need either one.

But Phoebe did not plan on being the only guest at the hotel who wasn't one of the wedding people invited to the week-long event. Something unexpected happens when the bride, Lila, finds out about Phoebe, and the two meet. Then, things continued to happen, and Phoebe did not plan on any of that either...

"The Wedding People" is not a lightweight story; the topics are seriously hefty, yet the addition of dark humor brightens the load in all the right places. The diverse characters are well supported with interesting backstories and balanced between ones you can love and those you do not.

I love Phoebe; she is intelligent but an emotional mess from her recent divorce. Hands down, I prefer Phoebe in her current state over the bride, Lila, who is fresh out of a Rom-Com novel. I understand the author's intent with this character, and I laughed at what she did and said, but Lily was one I did not love. I was mostly there for Phoebe's journey, though, not Lila's, so enough said.

This was a surprisingly satisfying immersion read. The audiobook was narrated by Helen Laser, whose recounting of the story and voicing was bright and clear and captured the essence of each character. Her delivery of the dark humor was almost perfect and the most memorable part of the audio.

"The Wedding People" is one of my top reads in 2024, and while I read and listened, I could ultimately envision this book being a novel-to-film deal. Now I can't wait to watch it!

4.5⭐

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Alison Espach for the ALC via NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What a fun gorgeous life affirming clever novel. I love something character driven and this had that in spades. I found the narration compelling and enjoyed the narrators voice. Highly recommend this one.

Phoebe has had a rough time the last year after the dissolution of her marriage, and she has checked into a fancy coastal hotel with the purpose to kill herself. Every other guest at the hotel is there for a wedding, and she repeatedly finds herself explaining that she is not there as a wedding guest. While having one last night of enjoyment, she has a chance encounter with the bride that flips her plans to end her life on their side.

I was entertained enough by this book, and the narration of the audio was great. It is a bit tricky for me to pinpoint entirely why it didn’t work for me, but I did feel like the suicidal storyline was treated a bit flippantly. One minute she wanted to die, and then so quickly changed her mind. Phoebe just didn’t read as a severely depressed, suicidal person to me and it all just felt a bit ick. I can also already tell that it won’t be a memorable book for me.

This book was recommended many times to me by my books loving friends, and after finding myself in need of a five-star hopeful, I was so excited to see where I would fall.

THE WEDDING PEOPLE is just one example of why I love to jump in with a book without knowing much about the premise. I fully immersed myself in reading the physical book while listening as an audio, and loved them both!

I was engaged with the story right away, and felt each emotion, and highly recommend!

*many thanks to Henry Holt & Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

People are messy, relationships are messy, life is messy. This book captures those sentiments in the most authentic, humorous way. Personally, I enjoyed the book, but I had friends that were very triggered by the lighthearted mention of suicide -- so my recommendation is to please encourage people to read content triggers.

Overall, very well-developed, good pacing, and entertaining while being reflective. Would make a great book club book (as long as everyone is okay with the triggers)

I really wanted to love this book, and it started out good, but it just really fell flat for me. I don't think I would have finished it if it weren't for the audiobook. I know others who have loved it, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach Although centered on a heavy theme like suicide, the tone felt surprisingly light. While I appreciated the wrap-up, parts of the plot felt a bit contrived, and certain characters were cringey. Glad I read it, but it didn’t fully convince me.

If I could give a book 6 stars, The Wedding People by Alison Espach would definitely get it! I listened to this on audio & read it as well. This story kept me hooked from the very beginning & I loved the narrator on the audio version. Outstanding!!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an ARC copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

5/5
Genre: Literary/Contemporary Fiction
Would reread? Yes
Would recommend? Yes
Over hyped? NOPE. So worth the hype.
Location: Newport, Rhode Island

If you like The Husbands, Anxious People, and Alone with You in the Ether - you'll love this one.

This one caught my attention RIGHT from the start. I was blown away by the beautiful writing and the attention to detail about these characters. I was completely immersed. It was riveting.

Themes:
-Unhinged woman narrator
-Social critisms critic
-Depression
-Divorce
-Infertility
-Found Family
-Wedding crasher finds new purpose in life

CW: IVF/Infertility, Divorce, Depression, Grief for death of parent/spouse, Suicidal attempts and Ideations.

Espach imagines a hotel taken over by a young, entitled, rich bride who’s planned a weeklong wedding celebration. But her perfect plans may be thwarted by an uninvited hotel guest. Lila is astonished that this interloper is at her hotel and is prepared to take action that will detract from the perfection she expects from the week of events. Phoebe, the uninvited guest, booked the swanky hotel out of frustration with her ex-husband who wouldn’t spend the money to go there when they were married. Now, Phoebe is there on her own and determined to follow through on her plan.

The two women start talking and share quite a bit, despite their being wildly different people. Phoebe is an academic, thoughtful and smart while Lila is superficial and self-centered. Somehow the flighty young bride makes an impression on Phoebe and gets her involved in the wedding events. Suddenly, Phoebe becomes a key player in the festivities and she begins to think things are not so depressing and her life is not a dead-end. Lila, on the other hand, reveals how her seemingly “perfect” plans mask some serious concerns.

There’s more than just rom-com romance and fun. The book is perceptive and the writing sparkles. There’s subtle humor that adds to the cleverness of the plot. One can’t help but find Phoebe to be keenly observant and well developed. Lila starts off as obnoxious and shallow but she too has moments that reveal there’s more to her.

Fast paced and also poignant. An uplifting read. The audio was wonderfully narrated by Helen Laser. She adds just the right touch of lightness combined with seriousness to make the book a truly worthwhile listen.

Did I love this book because it's heartbreakingly well written with a beautiful story of self-discovery and frustrating but endearing covers or did I love this book because I had recently gone to a wedding in Rhode Island, visited the Breakers, and had a mini-crisis because of being the single person of my friend group? Probably both.

I do highly recommend the audiobook, which has some of my favorite narration of the year.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach was a profoundly moving experience that masterfully blends humour, heartache, and hope. The novel follows Phoebe Stone, a literature professor in her forties, who arrives at the opulent Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, wearing a green dress and gold heels—but without any luggage. This trip once envisioned as a romantic getaway with her now ex-husband, becomes a solo venture marked by her deep despair and a drastic plan.

Upon arrival, Phoebe is mistaken for a guest attending a lavish wedding taking place at the inn. This case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected and transformative friendship with the bride, Lila. Their candid conversations and shared vulnerabilities provide both women with new perspectives on their lives and choices.

Espach’s writing is both witty and tender, capturing the complexities of human emotions with remarkable authenticity. The novel deftly explores themes of loneliness, the search for meaning, and the serendipitous relationships that can alter our life’s trajectory. Phoebe’s journey from the depths of despair to a renewed sense of purpose is portrayed with sensitivity and insight, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from this book but it was well written and had a good plot. I enjoyed the narration very much and will quite possibly read more from this author in the future.

An almost stream of consciousness of a woman who, after being cheated and left by her husband and falling prey to depression, goes to a hotel to commit suicide only to find out that hotel will host a wedding that weekend and she gets swept up in the bride's drama.

I was not expecting it but wow, I LOVED THIS. Incredible.
The narrator, Helen Laser, was fabulous - outstanding performance.
And I will definitely check out this author's backlist!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio: amazing narration, would recommend.

Review: Wow, it's hard to encompass into a review the things this book will make you feel. I am going to warn you before you read anymore of this review I am going to talk about a triggering element that is not in the synopsis of this book that I believe should be. It is not a spoiler, it is mentioned from page one until the end. You've been warned.

This is the story of Phoebe who has driven herself to a remote, luxurious hotel with the plan to end her life. She is done with life (a lot of dark humor used that takes the edge off of the sadness and is realistic) and plans to end it all here. There is in-depth conversations and planning throughout the whole story. I am unsure why this is not in the synopsis, I think it is something the author should be proud of that she wrote about but I wonder if publishing thought it might scare people off. On that note, if you pick this book up after reading this review please take care of yourself, I wish publishing would have considered that.

While Phoebe is at this hotel, making her plans (yes it's that light hearted but you can feel the serious undertone, this is a very crafty thing the author is able to do) there are guests there for a 6 day wedding event. There is will come to know a cast of realistic, morally grey, annoying, privileged, but also kind and compassionate characters. I don't know how the author did this but she really packed a literary punch here. There is so much substance to this story, I can't begin to wrap it up in a review.

There are many quotes throughout this book that will stick with me. The dark, satirical writing I believe will really resonate with most readers who pick this up. This is a hilarious, heart warming, heart breaking, hopeful story of what it means to be human.

I listened to this one on audio and really enjoyed it. She did a great job of bridging depressing and hopeful. It was a colourful cast of characters, and the back and forth in the timeline really worked.

The Wedding People was an excellent read! It was funny even though dealing with a tough topic- suicide. It was absorbing.

Phoebe went to the Cornwall Inn to take her own life - her husband left her, her cat is dead. She quickly discovers that she is the only one at the Inn who is not a part of the wedding. She meets the bride, who insists Phoebe’s death will ruin the wedding. Phoebe decides not to kill herself and ends up joining the wedding activities for the week.

The beginning of this book had me feeling heartbroken. Phoebe is in such a dark place with so many bad things happening. But she also discovers that she has to find her voice and start asking for what she wants. This book has so much wisdom - about what it looks like to go through hard times, about what it means to be a woman in so many stages of life, about how we navigate love.

*The Wedding People* by Alison Espach is a poignant exploration of love, commitment, and the complexities of relationships set against the backdrop of wedding celebrations. Through a series of interconnected stories, Espach examines the lives of various characters—each grappling with their own romantic dilemmas and personal struggles.

Espach's writing is sharp and insightful, blending humor with emotional depth. The narrative captures the excitement and chaos of weddings while also delving into the underlying tensions that often accompany such milestones. The characters are vividly drawn, portraying a range of perspectives on love and partnership, making them relatable and engaging.

The pacing of the novel flows smoothly, with each story adding layers to the overarching theme of what it means to love and be loved. As the characters confront their fears and desires, readers are left to ponder the intricate dance between expectation and reality in relationships.

Overall, *The Wedding People* is a delightful and thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone who has navigated the complexities of love. Alison Espach crafts a rich tapestry of emotions that captures the essence of human connection, making it a compelling addition to contemporary fiction.

This was a case of the right book at the right time. There was so much I loved about this book. I thought the concept was very original and engaging, I fell in love with Pheobe and Lila and their unusual friendship and I really connected with the idea of taking your life into your own hands. The author did a great job of balancing heavy themes with moments of levity and humor. I recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and evaluate your life. Check the trigger warning first though.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.