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.*

3.75** During the first 25% I thought this might not be my cup of tea, but I ended up enjoying it. Reads a bit like a rom com that’s light on the com and a bit more reflective than you’d expect.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.

Highly recommend the audio version - you really get the sarcasm of Phoebe & the shrill, fake niceness of Lila. Loved it!

When I first began to listen to this book, I thought it might be too depressing. I'm glad I didn't turn it off!

The main character, Phoebe, has had a rather depressing life. Her husband left her for her best friend and her beloved cat has just died. She decides not to go to her job as a college instructor and instead hops a plane to Newport, RI, where she plans one last splurge. Not my idea of a fun read. But, she finds a huge wedding affair going on at the hotel and is told in no uncertain terms by the rather entitled bride that she cannot kill herself and ruin her wedding. The two of them begin a rather unusual friendship and Phoebe becomes enmeshed in the wedding events. Along the way, she meets a very interesting man who seems to relate to her.

All sorts of things could happen from this scenario and you can probably guess that most of them do happen! The story is filled with unique characters: a rebellious teenager who wants to be called Juice, a mother of the bride who is the subject of a nude painting that was unwittingly given to the groom, a bride who has no filter, and many others. Expect lots of humor, self-examination, and opulence. A great story to which I hope there is perhaps a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

When a newly divorced university professor ends up being the only guest at the Cromwell Inn not a part of the wedding slated for the week. Her last-minute booking, gets her mistaken as a part of the wedding crowd, and soon she finds herself accompanying the bride and the rest of the bridal party, as they celebrate the impending nuptials.

Well, this book was nothing I expected and everything I could want. I adored our main characters and their differences - the complex emotions, feelings, and thoughts they all had made them entirely realistic and enchanting. I loved the way Espach tackled tough subjects while also bringing plenty of humor and snark. And the honesty within these pages left me with a whirlwind of emotions.

This character driven story was absolutely wonderful, and I think so many will be able to relate to parts or all of the story. While it can be a heavier read, the story itself was a breath of fresh air and I still find myself missing this story. The audiobook is also excellent and really any way you consume this story will have you hooked.

TW: suicide, infertility


The Wedding People comes out July 30, 2024. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my
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Pheobe Stone’s life is in shambles, and all she has ever wanted to do is see the sea. She’s dreamed about the Cornwall Inn since reading about it once and decides she’s going. With no bags, wearing a fancy green gown she bought on impulse years ago, Phoebe shows up at the same time as several other guests there for a wedding. The wedding people assume she is one of them, and across the span of a week she does indeed join the foldb.

Crashing Lila and Gary’s wedding is the restart Pheobe-in-crisis didn’t realize she needed. While quickly becoming the bride’s person she begins to evaluate her own history and relationships. Working through her depression, infertility, infidelity, and recent divorce surrounded by a cast of characters that force her to gain perspective is both difficult and cathartic.

Pheobe is a character readers won’t soon forget. She is witty, broken, inspiring, and real. It’s no surprise that TriStar pictures has already acquired the film rights. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one—Helen Laser does an excellent job of narrating Phoebe’s whirlwind week.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Alison Espach for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Wedding People is out tomorrow! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved “The Wedding People!” One of the most enjoyable, relatable, introspective, and funny books I’ve read in a long time. This is one of those rare book I will re-read!

The story centers around Phoebe Stone, an adjunct literature professor, who is recently divorced after a long battle with infertility. She comes to a crisis point in life, and decides she wants to die. She books a one way plane ticket a one night in a hotel she’s always dreamed of staying in, so she can end her life in. There she immediately runs into a large wedding party, and a bride who needs a confident…

This book was absolutely captivating; it’s funny, emotional, and pulls you right into the story. In many parts I laughed out loud. The author did a wonder job capturing the complex nature of friendship, marriage, and family dynamics, the family we imagine for ourselves, who we are vs who we want to be, and how our hopes and dreams shape our identity.

I listened to the Audiobook, narrated by Helen Laser, and provided by MacMillan Audio through NetGalley. The narrator did an excellent job; there minor are some issues with sound quality/ consistency, but it doesn’t detract from the book. Many thanks for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Love this book! This isn’t my usual genre I’m more of a mystery thriller person but this kept my interest throughout! There were moments where I was laughing and on the verge of tears. Such an amazing book of finding yourself. Definitely recommend to every reader no matter your preferred genre. I enjoyed this book so much I’m hopeful for a sequel. The characters are so well explained and the narrator did a fantastic job with the voices!

This wasn’t my favorite book - but it could also just be I wasn’t in the mood for some of the darker subject matter at the time of reading. As a mood reader, that can be tough and definitely my own issue. Aside from that, I did enjoy this story.

3.75 stars

Phoebe Stone checks herself into a beautiful hotel to kill herself. She is told once she arrives that a mistake has been made and she is the only one not in the wedding party that is staying at the hotel. When the bride, Lila, meets Phoebe in the elevator and finds out her plans, she refuses to let anything destroy or taint her wedding week. I loved both Phoebe and Lila’s characters. So real and refreshing. Both women were experiencing loss and dealing with it in different ways. This is a beautifully written story with moments of laughter and tears. Heavy topics such as mental health, failed IVF, divorce, and the loss of a parent were present, but the book overall was uplifting and lighthearted. I listened to the audiobook and thought this was one of the best narrators I have heard. I was pulled right in, and the way Helen Laser spoke and read the story was outstanding. This one is a must read!

In Wedding People, Phoebe has hit rock bottom and heads to a fancy hotel to commit suicide. Except there is a wedding party that has taken over the entire hotel - except for Phoebe. After Phoebe is thrown into the wedding festivities, everything starts to change. I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was hilarious, clever, compelling, raw and honest. Phoebe was snarky and biting and it cracked me up. The realness of life in your middle age was absolutely perfect and so spot on. I loved the second chance at life and how human connection can make a world of a difference. It was just beautifully written with the perfect dialogue and most in-depth, multi-dimensional lovable characters. Heartwarming, funny and just so relatable. Be prepared to guffaw out loud and wipe tears from your eyes. All the stars.

The developing—and wildly mismatched—relationship between Lila (the young bride) and Phoebe (the middle-aged wedding crasher) is interesting. Lila doesn't waste too much time before she starts to show some compassion and affection for Phoebe. Phoebe is gifted at listening to others, which is shown in retellings of interactions with her students (she's a college professor) and with the wedding people she meets. I didn't find either woman particularly likeable for the majority of the book. Phoebe is wimpy—allowing people to run roughshod over her. Lila is self-centered and shallow. Each redeems herself to a degree before the conclusion.

I bookmarked a handful of truly funny or thoughtful passages. I wish there had been more of both, to counter the significant negative aspects of the story. Content warnings include infertility, infidelity, and suicidal thoughts.

Helen Laser narrates masterfully, as always.

My above-median rating (3.33⭐)—which is a perfectly respectable rating coming from me—pales in comparison to many early reviewers. I tend to be more measured in my ratings than most—I don't give many extremely low or extremely high ratings. That is to say, if you are drawn to the publisher's description, you should feel confident that this book is worth trying, whether you're considering my rating or the vast number of higher ratings.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. It was far far more depressing than I expected! The audiobook reader was quite good, but some of the edits in were really obvious and they were distracting.

I would recommend to my most mentally stable friends only!

Taking a new lease on life Phoebe gives up on the crap and starts to speak her mind. Boy does that change her life. You never know where your inspiration will come from to carry on.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an amazing audiobook.

When Phoebe arrives at the Cornwall Inn, she's surprised to find herself as the only person there not in attendance for a wedding. Soon she finds herself caught up in the lives and drama of these people she did not expect. The Wedding People blends dark humor (LOVE) and oddball hijinks (a bit much for me at times, but it did not detract) with real heart and it pulls this blend off in a way that does not feel like a gimmick. It's a wise, charming, unique novel perfect for when you want something propulsive with substance. Helen Laser's audiobook narration is absolutely perfect for this book as well.

This was an absolutely fantastic find. I loved everything about the story, from the characters (who were marvelously quirky and real) to the plot (which twisted all over the place) to the narration (which added a depth to the experience by perfectly capturing the snarky pathos of the story). Espach has an uncanny knack for the vagaries of human emotion, shifting her characters through the full spectrum in single conversations that are moving and hilarious and dark and thought-provoking without ever feeling forced or overdone. The dark humor is spot-on perfect, balancing on a knife edge that keeps the reader vacillating through light and dark moments with the precision of a maestro. I loved everything about this one, and am definitely keeping my eye out for more from the author!

Post pandemic, When tragedy bestows Phoebe, she finally decides to do something for herself. She takes a much desired trip to the ritzy Cornwall resort in Newport Rhode Island. But why she is going may not be what it seems. Upon arrival she quickly realizes she is the only guest in the hotel that is not part of “The Wedding.” How did this happen?! The bride asks. 28 year old Lyla who always gets what she wants is appalled and when she discovers Phoebes plans she makes it her mission to not let her ruin the wedding.
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I LOVED this book! The audio was perfection. Leach writes with so much heart. This book has a little something for everyone, heartbreak, tragedy, humor, laugh out loud commentary, witty banter and romance. I’m so excited to see that it was announced a Read With Jenna pick too. This book gave me so many feels and I have never loved a set of characters more. Especially phoebe who completely stole the show. A must read!

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt and co. For an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The juxtaposition of the two somewhat opposing life events had me intrigued from the start. The characters who seemed shallow & superficial were given layers, and the characters who are clearly layered from the outset thoughtfully progressed in sometimes unexpected ways. While Phoebe took some turns that made me want to throw my book at her, her story seemed consistent for her character, and her ending was fantastic. The narration by Helen Laser was wonderful.

Thank you #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the ARC audiobook

“The Wedding People” was such an unexpected fun read. I couldn’t stop listening and loved the different story line. The Rhode Island setting near the ocean was a perfect New England summer read. I loved the friendships and growth themes through this entertaining story