"But you have the Hermit card. Your card. That's you."
"That doesn't sound good."
"That's a great sign, actually. I am really happy to see that, because that means that no matter what happens, you will always be here."


I feel very fortunate to live in the state this book takes place in, and to have attended a release week event at the luxury hotel that the one in the novel is based on. Hearing the author's insights and inspirations was so interesting, and helped me understand the concept of being a "wedding person", a stranger in a crowd who is welcoming and easy to talk to, due to them being a complete stranger.

This novel is one of those that touches on this feeling that is difficult to put into words. Phoebe, our main character, feels dejected and depressed, and now finds herself an outsider amongst a group of seemingly happy, go-lucky wedding people. But people aren't just what's on the surface - this wedding isn't as happy as it may seem, and Phoebe has more to offer the wedding party than she first believes. The result is a beautifully genuine portrayal of humanity and our messy emotions. I related to Phoebe a lot, and this quote in particular hit me reeeeally hard:

She wants to be a part of it. It's okay, the therapist said, to want to be a part of it.


This is one of those books where I finish reading it and weep because someone gets it, and if the above quote relates to you too, you should read this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinions.

I truly loved this book. I wasn't expecting to but it took me by surprise. I loved how it didn't have much of a plot but it was more about the characters and the journey's we all have. All of these characters are flawed but all have redeeming qualities.

I had a hard time making it through the first part of this book. The details of planning a suicide were a bit much. But after Phoebe becomes acquainted with the bride of the wedding party the book takes a turn. This is a highly emotional and quirky tale. There are adult topics and language so beware. I wanted the ending to be further in the future than it was, I felt a little like I was left hanging. But it did fit this story.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

At the start of this novel, divorced and depressed professor Phoebe has spontaneously booked herself a trip from Missouri to Newport, Rhode Island to stay in a fancy hotel there she had wanted to go to with her husband but never did. But when she arrives, she discovers that the entire rest of the hotel has been booked for a wedding week and demanding bride Lila is not happy to have her there. But a surprising friendship develops between them that just might change both of their lives.

I went into this one totally blind so it was not quite what I was expecting - but I LOVED it! It’s so funny but emotional too, with characters that are flawed and quirky but also seem like real people. I love a book that can make me laugh out loud but also cry. One of those books where I was sad for the book to end because I want to know what’s going to happen to the characters afterwards. It reminded me of the writing of Catherine Newman and Laurie Frankel, and if you know how much I love their books, you know that’s a huge compliment! This is the first book I’ve read by Alison Espach but I now look forward to going back and reading her first two books. And this book was also just announced as the Read With Jenna selection for August 2024!

4.5 stars

A compelling and sharply insightful novel about a surprise wedding guest and the extraordinary people who assist us as we reinvent ourselves.

Phoebe Stone arrives at the fancy Cornwall Inn, the other guests assume she must be part of the wedding party. But Phoebe is there for an entirely different reason: after struggling with infertility, her husband has left her for a fellow professor and former friends and Phoebe has gone on the vacation of a lifetime with the intent to kill herself. But can an optimistic bride on the precipice of marriage save a women for whom marriage has meant so much pain? While the premise of the novel is quite serious, Espach does an amazing job balancing so much humor in this emotionally satisfying novel. It was so entertaining and I loved every second of it. Looking forward to her next book. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and to Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

I love the title and how Phoebe refers to everyone as the “The Wedding People.” The plot is interesting and engaging. I was drawn in when Phoebe checked in to the hotel only to be confused as a guest by the bride.

Pretty much that was where my enjoyment or curiosity to the story ended. Vulgar, crass, and highly insensitive are the main descriptors that come to mind as we move forward in this story.

I was appalled at the language, lightness of serious mental issues, and the characters interactions with one another.

I think that plot had huge potential and you can tell the author is well versed in her talent of writing, but this fell so short of what a good novel should be.

Really enjoyed this book. Very engaging writing. I loved the serious topics mixed in with the sometimes dark/absurd situations and dialogue. Each character was interesting and had enough details and backstory to add to the story. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary fiction, comedy, female main characters, even some romance elements to it.

5⭐️ I didn’t want this to end! What a special, poignant story. This one covers some heavy topics, yet it is heartwarming — it’s about a woman who travels to an ocean-front Rhode Island hotel to end her life, but she is swept up in a wedding party that has taken over the hotel for the week.
• Yes, can confirm this has A Man Called Ove vibes.
• Content warnings re: infertility, attempted suicide, depression, infidelity
• I absolutely loved our main character (named the same as one of my daughters, Phoebe!). She has dimensions, and I rooted for her from start to finish.
• My one gripe was that I didn’t entirely buy the friendship between nerdy, depressed, 40-something Phoebe and the bride, who’s in her 20s, self-absorbed, frivolous, and a difficult character to feel sympathy for IMO.
• I would love if this was adapted as a movie or TV show!

Highly, highly recommend this one 🩷

📚 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 📚
5/5 🌟

Gotta say, at first I didn’t understand the hype. I started reading and thought it featured a MC very similar to that of 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬, another 5🌟read.

And while the two MCs have similarities - both depressed, young women in marriages that aren’t working out, I came to see vast differences in these books and love them both equally.

Pheobe in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 makes her way to an expensive hotel on the east coast, luggage-less (though with plenty of baggage) aside from the glamorous and inappropriate green evening gown she’s wearing, with the sole intention of taking her own life in those beautiful surroundings.

Little does she realizes, she’s the sole visitor of the hotel who is not part of gorgeous Lila and physician Gary’s wedding. And Lila will not allow Phoebe to carry out her plans and ruin her perfectly choreographed six day wedding celebration.

On its surface it’s a lightish dramedy with a bit of romance thrown in, and I can see this being made into a sweet and watchable movie. But deeper, at its core and as the story progresses, it’s about so very much more. It’s about surviving the unthinkable and re-imagining your life when it happens and you’re tossed into a rough sea in only a rowboat. It’s about the effect people - perfect strangers - can have on you. This is particularly resonant, and I value and am always energized and uplifted by tiny but meaningful connections in my own life. It’s about understanding that human beings are so much more complex that the one thing you might think you know about them.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the storyline, the writing - snappy, funny, smart. The ending works well - though I know a filmmaker will end it a bit more concretely - leaving readers to imagine what happens next.

A great summer read, with just enough depth and substance to be more than a simple beach read.

#bibliophile#stephsalwaysreading#tbrlist#whatshouldireadnext #5🌟reads #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookreviews#bookreviewer #alisonespach#theweddingpeople

Wedding People is phenomenal. I fell in love with each character and their individual stories. The growth and perception was astounding. I loves this book.

This was my first Alison Espach book and I enjoyed it. When Phoebe Stone - an adjunct English professor from St. Louis - arrives at the majestic Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, she's the only guest who's not one of "the wedding people". To make things even worse, this was supposed to be a romantic trip with her husband, but she's here all alone. The bride Lila is surprised to meet Phoebe in the elevator on the way to her room because she thought she had booked all the rooms at the inn for her wedding. Lila is a major bridezilla who has planned out her wedding week to the most minute detail, so the unexpected arrival of Phoebe messes with her plans. When Lila finds out what Phoebe has come there for, it sets them both on a trajectory to an unusual friendship with an enormous impact on both of their lives. This is an interesting story with beautifully-developed characters that delves into relationships, how we communicate with each other, and how small events can have big consequences. Thanks to #netgalley and #henryholtandcompany for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. Espach’s previous novel was one of my favorite books of 2022. And this one did not disappoint. Espach has such a gift for writing stories that seem to effortlessly mix serious topics with humor and hope. And, y’all! I don’t think she gets enough recognition for her gift for penning witty banter. Some of these exchanges between characters had me, literally, laughing out loud. This book was absolutely beautiful and just begging for an adaptation. Easily a contender for my favorite read of 2024. Espach has now become an autobuy author for me and I can’t wait for whatever comes next!

This book.. was very real.., very brutally honest. There were times when I was reading and was like ‘5 star’ and other times when I was like ‘ehh 3 stars’, so I went in the middle. Definitely trigger warnings for this book!! It’s honestly kind of a strange book, but in a good way. The characters were imperfect. This book was funny. It had a different humor to it. I liked how this book broke down the image of ‘normalcy’ and a ‘normal life’. Nothing is normal, we’re all imperfect, and trying to cling to an image of ‘normalcy’ .. is not sustainable. It causes hurt. It results in dishonesty to yourself, so seeing Phoebe’s growth and independence and strength in this book..!!! is so incredible. Seeing/reading about her pursuing her truth and being authentic to herself after overcoming so much difficulty is .. truly beautiful in a way. I also loved the ending! So brilliant, so good! This is a heavy book, it’s pretty serious, but it’s also lighthearted and has a sort of gentleness and sense of friendliness to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Henry Holt & Company, for this authentically real and beautifully raw ARC!

I absolutely loved this book, I wanted it to go on forever. I felt so connected to both Lila and Phoebe, in different ways, and thought that this story was so - honest. Reading these characters inner thoughts, however complicated they were, I felt perfectly mirrored the thoughts of everyday people - and even some that we are afraid to think. I wont give spoilers in this review but the ending???? So good. 4.5 stars. This was my first read from this author but I do own another, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, which I am now super eager to jump into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

5/5 - An incredibly impactful, beautifully written and deeply human story about life, living and change. This book is hands down one of my favorite books of the year and of all time.

I didn’t read the description for this and am so glad I didn’t. The premise is slightly upsetting and wildly different than anything I’ve ever read. It made me feel ALL of the feels and I loved how Espach navigated heavy topics with Phoebe’s sharp, insightful and brutally honest narration. This story will hit home for so many - Phoebe’s journey is one of disappointment, failed expectations, self reflection, growth and ultimately, strength. What a brutal, beautiful, heartfelt and thought provoking story written with wit, humor, sensitivity and strength.

Alison Espach’s writing is truly outstanding - I laughed, I cried. I simply cannot wrap my head around all the ways this book shines, so you’ll just have to trust me and crack it open. You won’t regret it!

The Fiancé Dilemma - 3/5 - Armas has been hit or miss for me lately but I enjoyed this story far more than the first in this series! The premise is a bit over the top - as are some of the characters - and I found the world to be a bit cheesy, but I liked the MMC a lot and was rooting for Josie to find happiness. The ending surprised me a bit, too! Thank you to @netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I adored this hilarious, thoughtful and sweet read. It's a perfect book and one of the highlights of my summer! Phoebe, a literary professor, after facing a series of personal crises has decided to put on her best dress and take an impulsive trip to a luxe resort to end it all. She's overwhelmed to find her plan is thwarted by a massive wedding and all its festivities. She is soon is befriended by the bride who is in need of confident. This is a smart book that reels you in and the characters are all so relatable that you want to call them friends. It's a gem of a book! Read it now!

I couldn't have loved this book more! This was such a fun, unique, engaging, and laugh-aloud funny story with the most unique and creative characters I've met in awhile. I quickly read this book during a summer week away, and was asked regularly by family members "what was I reading," as I laughed my way through it.

When our main character finds herself the only non-wedding guest at a high-end resort, her elaborate plans to end her life are quickly changed. While the subject matter had the potential to be heavy at first, the humor and plotline turned things into a positive and uplifting roller-coaster ride. This book is definitely a favorite read this year- don't miss it!

After splitting up with her husband, Phoebe books a night at a luxury inn where she plans to commit suicide. When she arrives, she finds that the entire inn has been booked for a week-long wedding party and she is mistaken for a guest.

This book was so completely enjoyable--sweet, quirky, and often had my laughing out loud. If I could have put my life on hold I would have, but as it was I just couldn't wait until I could carve out time each day to read it.

Maybe I was in the wrong headspace to read about a suicidal woman flying across the country to end her life, and instead getting caught up in the drama of the strangers at a hotel, but I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as other people did.

I saw someone online call this book laugh out loud funny, and I laughed one single time at maybe something Juice or Marla said. I thought this book was a demure look at deciding to live and realizing everything is messy and you don’t always want what you can get again.