I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this audiobook for review from NetGalley. I’ve been eagerly anticipating this read because it was both a Read with Jenna pick and the #1 Indie Next pick for August. This book was so interesting and refreshing I dove right in! Brimming with dark humor and wit, this book begins with the collision of an suicidal divorcée and a high-maintenance bride. As Phoebe prepares for her own demise she finds herself interloping on Lila’s million-dollar wedding week and developing an unexpected connection with the young bride and a host of other characters. This book was honest, delightful, appropriately paced with nicely interwoven plot points. I didn’t just enjoy the book, I wanted to join in on the elaborate wedding festivities at the scenic Newport resort. Helen Laser’s narration was excellent.

This was such a charming and captivating novel. Frankly, the only part I disliked was the flirtation between the protagonist and the man she becomes enamored with. Literally every other piece of dialogue is realistic, touching, and funny in parts, but the flirtation just made me cringe. So it goes.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I listened to the audiobook version of the book.

Phoebe, still reeling from the loss of her marriage, decides to treat herself to a night at an overpriced inn. But when she arrives at the inn,
her plans to spend one last night in this world are quickly thwarted by it being overrun by only wedding guests and finds herself in the middle of all the wedding hoopla.

A surprisingly deep and satisfying story, I enjoyed thoroughly.

The narration was also well done.

this novel masterfully balances humor and heartache in a character-driven story that tackles sensitive topics with grace and sensitivity. I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply it resonated.

The protagonist, Phoebe, is a 40-year-old woman grappling with the aftermath of a pandemic-induced divorce. Feeling lost and depressed, she retreats to the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, hoping to find solace. There, she encounters Lila, a radiant bride whose dream wedding has taken over the inn. As Phoebe becomes entangled with Lila and her entourage of “wedding people,” the narrative unfolds with a blend of dark humor and poignant moments.

Phoebe’s journey is both heartwarming and humorous, marked by her interactions with the quirky characters around her. The novel’s exploration of honesty and connection among strangers offers a refreshing and unexpectedly funny perspective on personal reinvention and healing. The balance between the novel’s comedic and more somber elements is skillfully maintained, ensuring that the reader is both entertained and moved.

Listening to the audio version enhanced the experience, thanks to Helen Laser’s stellar narration. Her ability to differentiate and bring to life a diverse cast of characters added depth and authenticity to the story. Laser’s performance effectively captured the novel’s humor and tenderness, making it a memorable listen.

Overall, this novel is a testament to the power of friendship and love in the face of life's challenges. Its mix of absurdity and sincerity creates a unique and compelling reading experience, leaving a lasting impression of hope and warmth.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the advanced audio edition in exchange for my honest opinion!

5⭐️

Reading the blurb, I expected The Wedding People to be a girlie wedding comedy about two strangers who become friends. That’s not quite what I got..

Yes, two strangers become friends during a wedding week, but the circumstances that brought them together take this from buddy comedy to dark comedy. The Wedding People deals with (Triggers/Spoilers) infertility, infidelity, suicide, and the weight of having to live up to everyone else’s expectations.

I honestly don’t think the blurb sells the story. Maybe it was an intentional marketing ploy because if it mentioned the dark sides of the story, I wouldn’t have picked it up.

Phoebe has lost everything, her husband, her last round of IVF, even her cat. As a final hurrah, Phoebe books a room at a bougie Newport, RI hotel, one of her bucket list destinations, to end her life. Once there, she realizes she’s the only non-wedding guest staying at the hotel and the bride is not very happy about the idea of a suicide ruining her wedding week. Phoebe and Lila, the bride, strike up an unexpected friendship through brutal honesty - a trait neither of them share with me

Using third-person narration, The Wedding People moves seamlessly between present day (2022) and pre/during the pandemic. As the story progresses, the reader gets a glimpse back into Phoebe’s history. This not only helps us to understand what events brought her to rock bottom, but also builds a relatable, three-dimensional character.

The audiobook was a great addition to the story. The voice actor portrayed each character perfectly, to the point I often forgot it was only one voice actress! A few sections were spotty with obvious splicing of lines/takes. This can be a bit jarring, taking me out of the flow and reminding me that I am, in fact, listening to an audiobook.

The Wedding People is a beautiful second chance story — not a second chance at romance, but a second chance at life.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed here are my own.

Did I just read my favorite book of the year? I think I might have.

I immediately ran to purchase the hardback for my bookshelf after finishing this audio ARC.

I very rarely have a strong desire to re-read a book, but when I tell you I was *this close* to starting the audiobook over from the beginning immediately after I finished, I am not even exaggerating. I LOVED IT.

I'm always hesitent to rave about a book since reading is so subjective and I also don't want to overhype and then have anyone feel let down, but this book was absolute perfection to me. I loved the characters. I loved the humor. It does touch on some tough life situations, but it does it so beautifully.

The book ended exactly how I wanted it to and I was left in tears (happy).

I have not read any of this author's previous work, but I definitely plan to now.

This book is a gem. I went into this book without knowing much of the premise and it was a true delight. Phoebe, alone and broken, arrives to a famous Newport hotel that happens to be nearly full of wedding celebrants of Gary and Lila. By accident, Phoebe and Lila form an unlikely alliance in support of each other. This newfound friendship helps Phoebe begin to mend her past and also introduces her to those in Lila’s life, including her fiancé Gary. Gary, like Phoebe, is recovering from a painful past and they connect instantly. There is a fun range of wedding people cast in the plot and they seemed real and hysterical in their own ways. Also, the bachelorette party is unforgettable. This book is the best of 2024.

Thank you for the ARC, I will be recommending Wedding People to everyone.

Not knowing anything about this book before I opened it made the reading of it even more fun. What a great read!
The story had all the elements of a homerun. There was humor, sorrowfulness, insight, love and its opposite. What I found especially compelling was the humanness of the plot. Between the jokes and frivolity, many of the characters were hurting and damaged. Yet, their pain was sensitively examined and unraveled.
The narration was terrific and added an exceptional tone to the story. Loved it!

Solid three stars for this book. I Was originally going to give this book 2 stars because I was not a fan of the amount of language or sexual references. I did find the narration of the story and the cast of crazy characters quite enjoyable, so I did continue the story, even though I wasn't immediately drawn in. I wanted to give this book Four stars so much by the end! Alas, itnis not meant to since the language and sexual content was much more than I personally choose to read, and found that it detracted from what I loved
about this story. I did end up loving the main character and her journey along with the friends she made along the way and how they evolved through connecting with her. This book had a lot more depth than I originally thought it would, and that was an unexpected but welcomed surprise. The Wedding People made me laugh many times and cry a few too. Thank you, NetGalley McMillan audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

The Wedding People was a very literary audiobook! I feel like everyone will be talking about this one!

Went in completely blind and I'm so glad I did. This has to be one of the realest books I've read in a very long time. The characters are so relatable, all with very unique personalities. I loved the way their stories all intertwined with such ease. They say what everyone is thinking which makes it even funnier. I laughed out loud more than once.

But what truly sets this book apart is its depth. Amidst the humor, Espach tackles serious themes with grace and sensitivity. She explores the complexities of love, commitment, and the pressures that come with planning the “perfect” wedding. It’s a poignant reminder that behind every celebration, there are real people with real struggles.

True page turner that I wasn't ready to end! This is one of those books that you wish you could read again for the first time! If you get a chance to listen to the audio you wont regret it! Loved every minute! Highly recommended one of the Best 2024 Books by far!

The Wedding People, by Alison Espach, is an audiobook I went into blind. (or, since it's an audiobook, is more appropriate to say deaf?) I knew it had been chosen as a featured monthly book club pick by Jenna, Barnes & Noble, Book of the Month, etc. So, I knew I would probably like it. But this summer has been so busy that I honestly had no idea what it was about (besides "wedding people" which could mean just about anything) before pressing play as I got in my car for yet another road trip. Helen Laser is one of my favorite narrators and within minutes, I was absolutely hooked. The premise is both simple and unconventional. The authors voice, as well as the story itself felt completely fresh. It was funny and emotional and irreverent and deeply intuitive. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend!!!

I highly recommend "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach!! It is classified as women's fiction, and it concerns many issues women may go through in relationships. Trigger warnings include infertility, miscarriage, cheating, and divorce. Other topics include weddings, being honest, and knowing who your person is or isn't.

Phoebe is in a very low place, and she goes away to a place she thought would be a happy place for her. She has plans to end her life, but she meets Lilah, who is getting married and needs a friend to be honest with.

The transformation Phoebe goes through as she lets go of her ex-husband and learns to love herself again is remarkable. I found it very uplifting.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 5/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 37/8 = 4 5/8 rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and Alison Espach for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach is one of my favorite books of summer 2024! It’s equally funny and complex as it helps us examine the characters’ lives (and reflect on our own).

The novel is so well-written; it grabs you from the very beginning, and then when the story sets one women character up against another, I was hooked!

I listened to the audiobook of this one, and I just have to say, the narrator did a stellar job.

I loved it so much that I went out and bought a copy! Can’t wait for me from this author.

I was surprised at some of the twists and turns of there realizations of the bride and groom for sure. I also did not expect Phoebe's husband making a reappearance, but it was all a part of the character development. It was a great story of the FMC finding herself and realizing what it is that she needs to make herself happy and not other people. Although I do wish more had come of Gary and Phoebe in the end, but I know it's open to interpretation. Overall, it's a pretty great book and perfect for a summer read!

Really REALLY enjoyed this very complex but heartwarming book. I haven't had a cast of characters that sucked me in like this for a while. Each character was so nuanced and complex, but also endearing that it made this a fantastic book! I found the story to be full of some dark humor. Phoebe as the main character was great, especially when her tone was brought out by the narrator. She did such a good job of bringing this story to life. I enjoyed Phoebe's character arc so much, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. There were so many important themes in this book that ensured this is one of those that I am going to be thinking about for a long time. I can't wait to see how they adapt this as a film! Highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

A woman checks into a small inn. Her mission - to commit suicide. Meanwhile, a wedding has taken over the entire inn. The woman meets the flighty bride in an elevator. The bride is taken aback by hearing that the woman has the best room at the inn. The woman tells her that she is there for one reason - to end her life. Later, just as the woman is about to take care of business, the bride enters the room like a windstorm. She tells the woman everything that is going on in the wedding. Before we know it, the woman ditches her mission and becomes the Matron of Honor. There is an even bigger surprise at the end, which I will keep to myself. Take it from me; it's a good one. I loved this book - it was so fun and a refreshing Summertime read! The narration was outstanding.

4.5⭐

Revolving around themes of friendship, family, personal growth, self-acceptance and human connection, The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a beautifully written novel that will strike a chord in your heart.

As the story begins, we meet Phoebe Stone, an adjunct professor in literature in her forties, as she arrives alone at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, with a heavy heart. This was a place that she had hoped to visit with her now ex-husband, but here she was, in a green dress and heels with no luggage. Phoebe’s room is the only one not booked for the wedding of twenty-eight-year-old Lila, who has meticulously planned a week-long sequence of pre-wedding activities leading up to the day of her nuptials. Initially mistaken to be one of the wedding people, the misunderstanding is soon cleared up, but much to Lila’s dismay, she realizes that Phoebe’s plans for her own stay would surely ruin her wedding. The narrative follows as Phobe and Lila strike up an unlikely friendship as Phoebe soon becomes one of the wedding people – an experience that might just be the nudge she needs to rethink her own priorities.

There is a lot about this book that is praiseworthy and the glowing reviews are more than justified. The description of the book suggests that this might be a light-hearted read, but this novel proved to be much more than I had expected. The author writes with heart, wisdom and humor. The narrative does suffer from minor pacing issues, but overall, the story flows well. Each of the characters was well thought out - authentic, relatable and endearing. I adored Phoebe and loved how she bonded with a complete group of strangers showing kindness and empathy to those who needed the same but also being strong and forceful in situations that demanded attention. Lila did strike me as a tad immature at times, but I could understand her motivations and why she behaved in certain ways. I loved the coverage of the pre-wedding activities – the chaos, confusion and unforeseen complications – which result in situations both humorous and heartwarming. The author’s strength lies in her characterizations and depiction of complex human emotions and I enjoyed following both Lila's and Phoebe's individual journeys over the course of the events described in this story. The author addresses several sensitive topics such as infidelity, bereavement, infertility, mental health, depression and suicidal ideation with insight and compassion. The story emphasizes the importance of being kind – to one another and oneself – the latter being something many of us forget.

Overall, I found this to be an evocative and thought-provoking read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction.

I listened to the audiobook brilliantly narrated by Helen Laser who made the characters and this story come to life. I couldn’t recommend the audiobook enough!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The main plot was a little predictable but this book is all about the journey. The main character is experiencing the end of her marriage in a traumatic way. It is enough to cause her to drive to a fancy hotel to end her life. Pure luck brings her to a life changing week where she decides she needs to be here. The story came together so well, with so much insight along the way. Infertility, parent death, grief, infidelity, suicide, panda sex, this book has it all. Truly enjoyable and highly recommend.

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I loved the dark humor - it had wonderful engaging characters that kept me turning the page until the very end.