The Wedding People: A Novel

I have never read something like this book before and I a slight loved it. A woman who wants to die confronted with the question "what if I live?" And oh my goodness, have I not been there before. The book dives deep into what it looks like to be drowning and being saved by the most unconventional and unexpected thing and people. And the most beautiful thing about this story, is how the ending is so realistic. It's not a HEA or a HFN, it's a "let's see what life brings me now that I've found it again". It was heartbreaking and heartwarming as well, it was funny and infuriating at times. I believe the author did a wonderful job crafting this story and all of the characters and how they deepened Phoebe's story. 5 stars to this wonderful book!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, endearing, and interesting. The plot was a little predictable, but in the best way. I think everyone should be able to relate to at least one character or life circumstance in this book. A fun, sad, and human story.

The Wedding People was completely unexpected—in the best possible way. When someone at the bookstore recommended it to me as a cute read, I went in expecting something light, sweet, and wedding-focused. I had absolutely no idea what I was actually in for. What I found instead was a funny, emotional, and surprisingly heartfelt story about people whose lives are far messier than they appear on the surface. I loved watching the characters develop throughout the chaotic six-day wedding week, each of them struggling in their own way to figure out who they are, what they want, and what comes next. There is plenty of humor and wedding chaos, but underneath it all is a beautifully written story about loneliness, relationships, unexpected connections, second chances, and finding yourself when life looks nothing like you thought it would. This book completely caught me off guard and ended up being one of my favorite books I've read this year. Definitely not the "cute little wedding read" I thought I was picking up—and I am so glad it wasn't.

I am fully prepared to take the heat for this unpopular opinion as I completely missed the mark on the hype for this book. Going into this read, I was anticipating a breakout experience because of how much praise it received across the book community. While the writing itself was undeniably good and Alison Espach has a beautiful way with words, the actual execution just did not land for me. 😔 To give credit where it's due, the story tackles some heavy topics that deserve recognition and I will give the author her flowers. I connected with the FMC, the supporting cast, and the setting of the book was a nice touch. This story leans heavily into a sad, more melancholy tone and I did not mind it at all, but the narrative felt a bit stagnant. There just wasn't enough happening to propel the story forward, causing the overall arc to fall flat. I finished this book feeling underwhelmed and wishing the pacing had matched the potential of the characters. 💐 The Aftermath 🌷: Ultimately, this settled into a middle-of-the-road, three-star read for me. I liked it well enough to finish, and I respect the depth of the themes, but it stands as a reminder that a well-written book can still miss the mark if the plot doesn't hit. It’s a solid contemporary piece, but it just didn’t deliver the major impact I was expecting based on the rave reviews! 👰🏾‍♀️

The Wedding People was a cute, quirky read that surprised me in the best way. The story follows Phoebe, who, after the death of her beloved cat, decides to finally treat herself to a stay at the Grand Cornwall Inn—a place she’s always dreamed of visiting. She’s hoping for quiet, rest, and a little escape. Instead, she walks straight into a wedding weekend already in full swing. From there, the book unfolds into a charming, slightly offbeat story about how Phoebe becomes entangled with the wedding party and its cast of characters. What starts as an accidental overlap turns into something unexpectedly meaningful, as Phoebe finds herself connecting with people she never planned to meet. While the premise is light and fun, the book also slips in moments of surprising depth. A few quotes really stood out to me: “I just mean a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends, but because of the way it’s written.” “She doesn’t see the point in staying alive only to do all the same things that made her want to die.” “There’s no such thing as a happy place, because when you are happy, everywhere is a happy place. And when you are sad, everywhere is a sad place.” Those lines add emotional weight and reflection beneath the humor and charm. Overall, The Wedding People is an easy, enjoyable read with heart—perfect if you’re looking for something popular, comforting, and just a little bit thoughtful.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how it hits your emotions! I found myself laughing, hopeful, feeling the suspense, and sadness. I would encourage everyone to read this! I loved the character building and the relationships they form! I love how everyone can just be themselves around Phoebe!

I loved this book it grabbed my interest from the first few pages. You become invested in the characters and being from southeast Mass loved the Newport RI scenery in the book! Great story!

This book is so fantastic, at least to me. I have been so moved by this character's story and her process of getting through this situation she was in. It made me laugh out loud and bawl like a baby. I was completely entwined and entranced from the first page. I did not need time to get into it. It is that good. I will always appreciate this book for how it made me think, feel, and just all out blew my mind. I cannot say anymore except I need to purchase this, not only in kindle form, but hardback and paperback. I related so much to her and how she thought about herself and her world and I just, cant say enough. This book surprised me in every way. I loved it.!!

I started off quite disliking this book. At first I scanned a few passages of descriptive as I found them excessive and unnecessary. But gradually as more dialogue developed, it became a real page-turner. And this is where the book shines; the sparkling, witty, amusing dialogue. It's all very middle-upper class New York, highly entertaining, funny, sad and engrossing. A very engaging book, thoroughly recommended.

I ordered this and came the next day.. immediately read it They're all just people trying to get through life, broken, confused, and figuring things out. That's what made this book so relatable. This story resonated with me through its themes of depression, art, books, and loneliness. I also loved how the author balanced humor with heartfelt moments. Phoebe was easily likable. She's observant, witty, and the kind of character who stays with you. I also saw a bit of myself in Patricia's perspective on femininity, womanhood, and vulnerability. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read. It was easy to get immersed in the story, and every character felt like someone you could know in real life. I wouldn't exactly call it a light read, but it's definitely one l'd recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. It manages to balance emotional and heavy topics with humor in a very natural way. The story starts in a way that feels a bit intense and unusual, but the characters quickly pull you in, especially the dynamic between them. I also loved the writing style — it was engaging, easy to read, and emotional without feeling overly dramatic. Overall, it’s one of those books that makes you laugh, reflect, and feel attached to the characters at the same time. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy contemporary fiction with emotional depth and a bit of dark humor

If you are in a reading slump, without a second thought, pick this one up. There was so much hype about this book, yet I somehow didn't believe it. So finally when I decided to read the sample, ahem! Ahem. Rest was history. Phoebe Stone a divorced English Professor, decides one moning to walk out of her home, work - basically life. She flies to Newport, Rhode Islands to stay at this luxurious 19th Century Hotel. Enter bride Lila and her grand six days wedding with her extended family. And boom! Every plan that Phoebe had turns upisde down. What I really loved about the book was Phoebe's character arc - she wore her emotions on her sleeve and was so real and relatable. The story was filled with witty banter, emotional, reflective conversations and so much drama. There wasn't a moment of dullness. The plot was packed with tiny twists and surprises that I thought were going to follow a predictable line of conduct, then it totally twisted. After finishing this book, I found myself smiling and feeling sad that it ended. That's how beautifully written this story is. Everyone needs to read this book, I cannot reiterate that enough!.

This book has sat with with me for a few days and what I can tell you is it’s ALL about feelings, so many feelings 🫶🏼 The Wedding People was full of the most complex , real , raw characters and so heartfelt, and I never have related so much to a character like Phoebe. I did this as a buddy read with @thefictionphysician and I am so glad I did this with Melany because no one should ever feel alone . The crazy thing is I’ve never met Melany but the friendship we’ve made on Bookstagram shows you how you can find connections in the most unlikely places if your willing to open your heart ♥️ and for that I am thankful ! So please go check out her page and show her some love 💕 I am so glad you are Here 🫶🏼 “But it is also true that one day she can be alone in a room preparing to die, and the next, she can be preparing to be on a boat with beautiful strangers .” “Alive,” Gary says “ You struck me as a person who was fully alive . It was inspiring, actually.” This story as my dear friend pointed out is definitely targeted to a more mature audience aka 40 and up 😜 because of the relatable content with the main character Phoebe. This book is heavily weighted on mental illness and suicide but with threads of humour and sensitive touches dusted through out the story and about new beginnings and finding strength in ourselves and others . If your looking for a heartfelt read that is beautifully written then I HIGHLY recommend The Wedding People it’s filled with Unlikeable characters that the author made me feel sorry for them at times and characters you will love and be filled with so many emotions you’ll feel like a yo-yo at times and you’ll be so glad to be here ❤️