Phoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore

* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.

Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.

Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she can’t even get room service for a final meal.

Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.

Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.

I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.

The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.

Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.

This was my first book by this author; she did a fantastic job drawing me in. The synopsis intrigued me, and once I started, I couldn't stop. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job bringing each character to life. The book is filled with a diverse cast of characters.

Phoebe arrives in Newport, Rhode Island, intending to end her life. She's at a low point—her husband has divorced her, her cat has died, and her career is stagnant. She checks into a beautiful hotel for what she plans to be her final night. Coincidentally, a wedding week is beginning at the hotel, and everyone assumes she's part of the wedding party. Phoebe wants nothing to do with anyone, but she soon meets the spoiled bride-to-be, Lila, who refuses to let her go.

The interactions and conversations between Phoebe and Lila are captivating. Lila pulls Phoebe into her world, and their lives become increasingly intertwined as the week progresses. The story flows beautifully, and I loved watching their relationship develop.

Both the audiobook and the book itself were incredibly entertaining!

Funny, emotional, thought provoking, dark, and inspirational.

This is my first book by Alizon Espach, but it won’t be my last. The Wedding People by Alison Espach follows Phoebe Stone as she turns up at the Cornwall Inn with only the clothes on her back. Everyone else present at the Inn is a guest of a lavish wedding, and Phoebe is initially mistaken as a guest of the wedding by the staff and those present for the wedding, including the bride and groom. Phoebe forms an unexpected bond with the bride, and then they find they can’t stop confiding in each other. The story takes place over a week at the inn and covers many light and heavy topics. The characters have flaws but are also redeemable. I was invested in their lives and cared about their futures. The story gripped me from the beginning, and in the end, I will be thinking about this story for the foreseeable future.

I listened to the audio book, narrated by Helen Laser. She did an excellent job reading the various characters voices and distinguishing between the many different characters. As someone who listens to audiobooks sped up, I had no trouble understanding the narrator at 2x speed.

4.5/5, rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I LOVED this book; it far exceeded my expectations! I originally rated this a 4/5 but I have not stopped thinking about it since finishing it last week, so I'm bumping it up to 4.5. I really enjoyed how blunt and straightforward this was, even teetering on harsh at times. It was honest, and kind of gave me ELENOR OLIPHANT vibes, which I loved. Phoebe was a great main character. Watching her character development and progression throughout the week in which the book takes place was so powerful. Her mindset shift was beautiful to read. I saw some of myself in her anxieties, and watching her conquer these empowered me to re-evaluate some of my own thought processes. Plus, Lila was a hilarious addition to the story, adding some levity and necessary comedy throughout. Not to mention, this book was simply entertaining! Helen Laser is one of my favorite narrators; I could listen to her tell stories all day, and this book was no different. I devoured this book and didn't want it to end, though I think it wrapped up really well and exactly as I wanted it to. There were lots of surprises throughout, including just how much I loved this book.

SYNOPSIS -- Phoebe Stone has wanted to go to the Cornwall Inn for years, and she's finally doing it. Dressed to the nine's as her last act, Phoebe is quickly mistaken for one of the "wedding people" showing up to the hotel for rich-girl Lila's week-long wedding. When the two find themselves speaking, they realize that honesty may only be possible with each other. Phoebe's "rock bottom" suddenly looks a lot different when Lila gets in the way of her plans, sweeping Phoebe up into wedding chaos. Will these two change each other forever? Or will this be a temporary solution to a few really big problems?

I don’t generally love infidelity as plot point and I lost someone very important to suicide IRL, so in theory The Wedding People should have been a hard sell for me, but I LOVED it. My goodness, this book in genuinely perfect. Espach so perfect depicts the “wedding weekend,” “the bride,” the “wedding people” - I could see it al so clearly and feel myself in that beachside hotel for the festivities. The tough underlying topics of infidelity & suicidal ideations are paired flawlessly with quick whit and a stream-of-consciousness story-telling. I was immediately sucked in and didn’t want to stop listening. The audio narration is seriously excellent. There’s some twists and turns and genuine laughs and I truly think this is one of my favorite books of the year!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. The Wedding People is available now!

When I started this book, I expected a lighthearted, beachy romp with wedding bells galore. And that’s all in there! But my reading experience took a surprising turn when I realized it's also a tender reflection on new beginnings and finding fulfillment through honest connections.

I’m so glad that I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook, which was excellent. Helen Laser brought a beautiful balance to her narration, leaning into the lighter moments (I LOL’d so many times!) while hitting those deeper points in a way that never got too heavy.

And there were some HEAVY topics present, including suicidal ideation, death of a loved one, terminal illness, adultery, divorce, and infertility. But the writing was so crisp, and the characters so relatable, I ultimately felt a sense of well-being as I listened. It’s always a gift when you can explore tough topics in such a safe way.

This is primarily a book about how people connect, so there’s a lot of dialogue, and I applaud Alison Espach for creating such nuanced and engaging characters. Certain points even felt like a Gilmore Girls episode, especially when Phoebe, our MC, and Gary, the groom, were chatting. Their banter was so entertaining!

The only things that kept this book from getting all 5 of my stars (and it got REALLY close!) were a couple of wedding shenanigans that felt absurd to the point of distraction. Luckily, those moments were minor and I’d say 95% of this novel was perfection.

Excuse me while I go out to grab a physical copy...it's always a good sign when you wish you could annotate an audiobook!

4.5 Stars! This book was a gem! I thought it was a romcom going into it and it IS NOT. The Wedding People is a novel of Contemporary Fiction with a touch of laugh out loud humor. And when I say "laugh out loud" I mean it. I was cackling at some parts.

Phoebe's life is a mess. She escapes it on a trip to Newport, Rhode Island at the Cornwall Inn. Upon her arrival she is mistaken as a guest of the wedding taking place over the course of the next week at the Inn. What happens next is a series of getting to know one self, discovering self worth, making friendships you didn't anticipate and celebrating life(living) as one always should.

This book was so raw, it really had me reevaluating my own life and whether to hold onto or let go of things that have been plaguing me. I started this book thinking it would be a satirical romance and was surprised to find out it was more aligned with literary fiction. There are quite a few content warnings which normally worry me, but the themes of depression, suicide, miscarriage, and betrayal were all so well thawed out and thoughtfully written that it felt more like listening to a friend detail her life than it did a traumatic or cautionary tale. I do wish there had been more romance, this was more of a breakup story than a love story, but it was also almost a love story of the main character learning to love herself again. I really enjoyed this book and the narration; it was unexpected in the best way.

"The Wedding People" is a delightful summer read about finding yourself and living happily after a depressive episode. I really loved the main character and found her relatable and engaging. The other characters were interesting but a little less developed. The story was fun and bittersweet at times, and the author did a great job with the setting.

Happy pub day to The Wedding People by Alison Espach!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been eyeing this one up ever since the cover reveal, and am so thankful to have been gifted an advanced audiobook copy from Macmillan Audio!

If you are going into this book hoping for an easy breezy beach story, this is not that. It navigates heavy themes including thoughts of suicide, self-discovery, grief, infidelity, and starting over. HOWEVER, it’s all worth it. This is an amazing story and I highly recommend it!

Phoebe, whose marriage has just gone up in flames, among other earth-shattering developments, books an extravagant suite at her dream vacation destination in Newport, RI with a plan to end her life. However, when she arrives at The Cornwall Inn, she realizes she is the only person there who is not a part of a huge six-day wedding week. She accepts her death at this point, and because of this, surrounded by the drama of “the wedding people,” she is finally being honest, saying how she feels, and realizing there may be much more to live for. When Lyla, the bride, finds out that Phoebe is unexpectedly staying at the hotel, she confronts her, and the two forge a snarky, hysterical unlikely friendship in which the two women bond over their problems.

Alison Espach handles suicidal ideation and what comes after in the most graceful way possible, with just the right about of dark humor sprinkled throughout the story. You will fall in love with these characters, along with all of their flaws, and come out on the other end a better person for having read this.

The Wedding People was a great audiobook experience. Helen Laser’s narration was a perfect fit for Alison Espach’s writing, including all of the sarcasm and unique voices for all of the wedding people, making it a must-listen for any audiobook lover!


The Wedding People released today!

Read if you like…
-unlikely friendships
-books that tackle grief and loss
-dry/dark humor
-wedding weekend settings
-heavy but ultimately hopeful stories

Phoebe, following a divorce and general dissatisfaction in life, travels to the historic Cornwall Inn in Newport, RI to quietly commit suicide. When she arrives, she find herself smack-dab in the middle of Lila and Gary's wedding with all of their friends and relatives and is quickly swept up into the wedding craziness. When Phoebe realizes that Lila is as lost as she it, the two quickly form a bond. All of the characters seem so real with their good and bad parts. .The book moves really quickly and it was fascinating to see the characters grow and change. One small complaint, I really wish authors would do the age-math when writing a book. The book is set post-pandemic and Lila's mother is around 60. No way would she have been of age to feel like she was missing out on Woodstock; she would have been around 5 - 6 years old. Still, I can forgive this, because the story and characters were so great.

"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴?"

I see everyone talking about this book and it's for good reason! I loved it so much. It starts out pretty bleak as main character Phoebe checks into a fancy hotel suite with plans to kill herself. She's the only guest on the premises not involved in a week-long wedding celebration. After a chance encounter with the bride, Phoebe's plans unexpectedly change in many ways as she becomes involved with the 'wedding people.'

I loved both Phoebe and rich bride Lila. By the end I was really rooting for both of their happiness and I loved their scenes together. Their opposing personalities were entertaining but they also complimented each other well. I thought the ending was semi-predictable but perfect. I loved the lack of an epilogue so we could imagine ourselves what Phoebe's future would look like.

I started this on audio and enjoyed the narration so much that I never switched to my physical copy. So I do highly recommend as an audiobook if you enjoy listening 🎧 Overall, it wasn't what I was expecting but it ended up exceeding my expectations. Perfect book for Summer! ☀️

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝:
💍 wedding celebrations with bridezella moments
👰‍♀️ dark humor
💍 East Coast Summer vibes
👰‍♀️ mental health representation
💍 making new friends

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC of THE WEDDING PEOPLE!

I impulse requested this title on Netgalley because the cover looked fun and I am so freaking happy they approved me. The audio of this book is hilarious. Phoebe’s snarky and dry humor comes off so perfectly with the narration. I was constantly smirking as I listened.

THE WEDDING PEOPLE deals with some incredibly difficult topics (cheating, infertility, death of a spouse, depression, divorce, and suicidal thoughts just to name a few) but it is done in such a raw and honest way that it doesn’t make the book emotionally challenging to read.

This book is about hope and joy. And how messy people can make the wrong decisions but in the end things might just turn out okay. It’s witty and full of heart.

I don’t often jump on the celebrity book club picks but THE WEDDING PEOPLE is not one you are going to want to miss!

THE WEDDING PEOPLE is out today!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6675443770
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-DW6FdJ2ne/

A top read of 2024 for sure!!

I had no idea what to expect when I picked this up, but had seen a few social media posts about loving it. I was a little bit unsure when Phoebe arrived and Newport and I discovered why she was there, but knew there was a lot of story left to be told. As I learned about what drove Phoebe to be in the position she was in, I grew to love her character and really sympathize with her. Then I realized a loved all of the characters more, the more I learned about them; Lila the demanding bride that constantly found ways to let Phoebe know she cared, Juice the moody teenager that was still morning the loss of her mom, even Gary and Jim worked their ways into my heart. Still not sure about Matt, though!

But what I loved most about this story was the way it made me feel. Everyone can relate to having days where they feel sad, but Espach focused on the ways the relationships we have (even with people we don’t know yet!) can pick us up and put us back on our feet. Phoebe found friends that became family and put her back together, which left me with warm fuzzy feelings!

THE WEDDING PEOPLE review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🍾Happy pub day to my latest five star read!! This book has so many raaaave reviews, that I knew I needed to prioritize it on my tbr! Having just been in Newport, Rhode Island a couple weeks ago, this book felt like the epitome of summer and I loved every second of it!

🍾Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
At 38, Phoebe’s life isn’t going the way she planned. She decides to switch things up and book a vacation at a luxury hotel in Newport. But when she checks in, she realizes all the other guests are there to attend a wedding. And the bride is less than thrilled that a non-wedding guest will be at the hotel too. Phoebe wants to leave well enough alone, but she finds herself wrapped up in the drama of the wedding weekend.

🍾I laughed out loud so many times while reading this book! Omg Alison Espach’s writing style is hilarious and I highly recommend the audiobook! The themes of this one were so dang good too! There isn’t anything I would change about this book! Please do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

🍾Huge thank you to MacMillan Audio for my advanced digital copy!

Wow! I absolutely adored this audiobook. It is perfect--I wouldn't change a thing. At turns hilarious, poignant and wise.

I loved Phoebe; she was so relatable, so vulnerable and real. Some of the subject matter was a bit tough, but it was handled with compassion and humor.

I absolutely will recommend this book, and will purchase for my library. I think it would make an excellent book club pick!

This was such a surprising read! I figured it would be sharp and witty- commenting on the types of people who are “wedding people” in glamorous Newport. Yeah, I was flat wrong, and honestly, I’m so happy about that!
The story is endearing, reflective and so full of heart- it’s like watching a Hallmark movie that actually has depth and relatability. I can’t imagine anyone reading this fully and not feeling uplifted.

We follow Phoebe, who feels like she has nothing left to give. She’s treating herself to one last hurrah at a fancy inn by the sea that she has always wanted to visit. She has a plan for her future……but- plans change when the universe throws her a curveball, and she is mistaken for a wedding guest. Pretty soon she finds herself in the center of all the wedding week festivities, and finds out a lot more about herself than she ever knew before.

This book is reading magic. It didn’t drown me in trauma, but it made me cry. It wasn’t a romcom, but it gave me those flutters. It wasn’t political, but it had depth and insight that was on the nose. The story has stuck with me all week since finishing it, and I’m certain it will have been the best book I read this summer, and top likely five all year. 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook, in exchange for my unbiased review!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach was a fabulous audiobook read. The narrator did such a great job at giving each character life.

This book was not so much a romcom as it was a coming-of-older-age story. It was deep, and dark; it actually caught me off guard with how dark it was. There was so much love in this novel, and it was mostly from the main character beginning to love herself. I love that message and thought it was a really great read. I loved the setting in Newport, RI, and how Espach detailed the characters outfits, food, and drink. The banter and dark humor were great.

This is not my typical read but I really enjoyed it.
This is a story about re-finding yourself once the life you built falls apart. A great reminder you can start over at any age and change the direction of your life.

Mostly contemporary with a dash of comedy, romance and found family.

Phoebe is the only guest at an expensive exclusive hotel not part of the week's weeding. At first she is content with her interest in people watching then she quickly is pulled into the gravity of the weading people. She may even find new reasons to live.

I would definitely read more from Alison Espach.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audiobook for review.

4.5 stars. In turns heartbreaking and absurdly funny. Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in RI ready to kill herself, She shows up in her fancy green dress and gold heels, during the week that was rented out for a high-end wedding. Phoebe gets mistaken for one of the wedding people and instead of going ahead with her initial plan, she gets bamboozled into joining the wedding party and really finding herself. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*