A good book, a nice read. The story is interesting, and the author writes beautifully. I wanted to know what was going to happen, and I loved what occurred at the end. 4/5

I loved everything about this story. I laughed a lot, cried, got philosophical and thoroughly enjoyed all the characters. Without giving anything away, this story will hook you from the first chapter. I loved the ambiguity of the ending but also how you know it’s going to work out the way it should for all of them. This book was so much more than I expected and a complete pleasure to read. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC. When this book is released, do not hesitate. This is a story that will stick with you for a long time.

Phoebe Stone arrives in beautiful Newport, Rhodesia Island to escape from life. Her life is in shambles but a huge wedding is happening. They think she is part of the party. She ends up becoming friends with the bride and one thing after other occurs. This was a fun read that had many twists and turns. This book will be a great book club discussion book on so many levels.

Phoebe decides that she is done. Post pandemic her husband abruptly announces that he is in love with another woman (their friend) and leaves her. She struggles to return to face to face teaching as an English adjunct. She can’t write - she has been trying and failing to convert her PhD thesis into a book for years, and so she can’t land a full professorship. After a long and discouraging day she returns home to find her cat dead. Phoebe books an outrageously expensive room in the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Isand and intends to end her life there. Instead she finds the rest of the Inn booked for Lila’s wedding. Lila is appalled at her presence there and her plans for suicide - how that would ruin her perfect wedding! What follows is touching and funny.

I have all kinds of reasons to love this book. Like Phoebe I was an English teacher. All the literary references, metaphors, etc. were spot on for me and added another level to my reading. But note - if you are not a lover of the classics, the book would read just as well, and who knows, Espach might just lure you into some additional reading. I love a good wedding, reading about them, seeing them on TV, and so on. Quite honestly I am fascinated with the setting. I have long been fascinated by the Vanderbilts and the gilded age, so much here to read and wonder about. I have never really stayed at such a swanky place and the depiction of it is just so funny…someday. I love character driven novels, and Phoebe is just so incredibly illustrated here. The author does a remarkable job of showing not telling. I find Phoebe’s journey 100% believable. Espach creates a lovely cast of wedding people to surround her. Lila is so annoying, but hard not to love. Her family and friends are well drawn. We even get to know the inn staff just a bit. She juggles a number of people with ease, and I began to feel like I knew them all by the time I was done. I also appreciated the incredible tightline Espach walked on between sorrowful angst and humorous ironies.

Phoebe’s journey just absolutely touched something in me. While my marriage is intact, I can relate to much of what Phoebe struggles with in the sense that she has lost her way. She has been a people pleaser and is just exhausted with it and finding that such behavior has not really brought her to her goals or to a sense of happiness. Anybody who has made big changes will appreciate her sadness and rejoice in the changes her experience at the inn and with these people bring. I am in the middle of big changes. Sometimes I feel so stuck in my patterns and the place where my choices brought me…not unhappy, just a bit unsettled. As I work to change, the example of Phoebe’s growth is a gift. And for me - her analyses in light of the literature that she loved (used to love? still loves in a different way?) was a delightful bonus for me. And certainly the idea that the literature we love can shape our point of view resonates with me. I have to explore that further in my own life to be sure. If you are in a place of change - forced or needed - give The Wedding People by Alison Espach a read. You will appreciate the insight and the hope. If you just love a good book that will make you chuckle and introduce you to some fine fictional folks, give it a read too!

A fabulous tale and a perfect beach read! Memorable, fascinating characters. Humorous. Well plotted. Thought provoking and insightful. And transportive to its appealing setting at a luxury resort by the ocean in Newport, Rhode Island. This beautifully crafted novel will surely be one of the hottest books of Summer ‘24.

Many thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was really relatable and utterly sweet.

I loved the underlying themes of loss and life not going to plan, and then finding new friends/purpose and somehow learning to enjoy the ride.

Not usually a fan of the "so-and-so decides to kill themselves but then a series of events or meeting a particular person helps them to realize the beauty in their unique life" genre, but I requested the arc because I kept hearing buzz about The Wedding People. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the characters - even those beyond the main characters - and the unique plot. Some parts, particularly at the beginning, were not the easiest read. Espach captured the unique experience of being human and navigating various types of relationships. I particularly liked the way the ending was handled.

Woah. Woah. Woah. That’s all I can really say what with how stunning and sad and bright this book was. I was not expecting why she decided to come here h it the story was gorgeous

I could not finish this book. I found the topics of infertility, depression, suicide and loss of a pet triggering. I understand that Phoebe’s life would likely turn around, but it put me in a weird headspace that kept me from continuing. There were humorous parts in the beginning, but it just got to be too much for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC - this is an intriguing book with a unique premise. The main character starts in MO and finishes the story in RI. She is dealing with problems with her marriage, an unfulfilling job, and failed IVF tries. Ultimately she takes herself to a hotel on the ocean with dire intentions; she happens across a week-long work up to a posh wedding and finds herself ingratiated with the entire wedding party. The bride (by design) was a typical overwrought and annoying rich bride but the fiancée was unexpected and enjoyable. Overall, the book kept my interest mainly due to the rather unorthodox storyline and realistic ending.

Really enjoyed reading “The Wedding People..” It was great seeing Phoebe’s development and growth over the course of the wedding week. I was not thrilled with the bride, Lila, as a person. I was very proud of her choice at the end. She also grew as a person. I was rooting for Gary and Phoebe.
Excellent writing by author, Alison Espach. I am looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
This book is definitely Bookclub worthy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed every moment of this book. Literally. This rarely happens, but I kept saying out loud, “I’m loving this book!.”

Phoebe has hit an all time low and can’t see her way out of her depression. It’s not until she’s mistaken as a wedding guest, that’s she’s pulled into the orbit of the “wedding people” on holiday for a week long celebration before the big event. I love stories about a motley crew in forced proximity, that result in friendship, self discovery, and growth. Although many serious topics are explored, they are done with both care and humor.

This was a rare gem and just what I needed!

TW: infertility, death, divorce, infidelity, depression, suicide ideation.

In her latest work, "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach, the narrative unfolds seamlessly over 6 intense days in a Newport, RI hotel during the week of Lila and Gary's wedding. Espach crafts a darkly humorous and sincere story where every character, no matter how minor, is intricately formed, contributing to Phoebe's profound experience.

Phoebe's journey is universally relatable, touching on themes of failed relationships, existential aimlessness, loss, self-discovery, and authenticity. The characters feel authentically real, resonating with readers on a personal level. The setting, against the backdrop of Newport, is the perfect place for Phoebe to find herself again.

The emotional connection with Phoebe is akin to a genuine friendship, and as the book concludes, tears are shed not for a sad ending but for bidding farewell to a beloved character and a perfectly crafted novel. A poignant moment is encapsulated in Phoebe's speech to Lila, "This wedding will never be a waste, because I came here to die. And now look at me." This line, among others, evokes a cascade of emotions.

Alison Espach's artistry shines, much like in "Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance." The anticipation was met with satisfaction, surpassing already elevated expectations. The gratitude expressed for the opportunity to read this masterpiece resonates, eagerly anticipating Espach's next literary endeavor.

Thank you NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and of course the talented Alison Espach for gifting me the privilege of reading The Wedding People. It was a perfect story and one that will stay with me.

A surprise. Coming fresh to this author, I found my self hooked by her wit. Less so the making over theme, but it didn’t matter given the charm of the narration and the comfy familiarity of the set up. This is superior comfort food, easy and consumable, but not in an insulting fashion. Highly enjoyable.

This was a fun read. When I selected it I thought it would be a beach read. It was but it is also much more. I loved watching Phoebe discover herself. I loved all of the crazy family members and friends at the wedding. The characters were crazy yet they felt real. The author got so many things right about people and our insecurities and our idiosyncrasies.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A very engrossing look at the many ways people’s lives and outlooks morph over one week of wedding activities. One woman intent on suicide interacts with the wedding party members and guests, impacting everyone and herself. Lost love and found love, secret feelings, and family woes pepper the pages, giving insight to the characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinionAre my own.

4/5
A beautiful story, told with depth and humor and witty banter not typically found in a novel. I loved everything from the setting to the characters to the rawness. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

What an absolutely beautiful story. Without hesitation, this is a five star read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Wedding People by @alison.espach is sort of like if the dialogue and quirkiness of an Emily Henry novel met up with A Man Called Ove. The protagonist has fallen into a depression since the end of her marriage and takes a trip with the intention to end her life in a glamorous hotel. Her plans are detailed by a bride who is hosting her wedding week at the same hotel and needs everything to be perfect. Perfect weddings don't include the suicide of a hotel guest. Complications continue to arise as our main character finds a connection with a man who turns out to be the groom.

It's been a long time since I felt so connected to an author's writing style. I would highly recommend this one when it hits bookshelves this summer.

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced reader copy. 📚

My favorite quote:

"There are some people in this world who remind you of exactly how you like to speak"

On the surface you may guess that The Wedding People would be a slap-stick-kind of rom-com romp but it proved to be so much more. Phoebe's story is sad! Really sad and honest and uncomfortable. So much so that she wants to end her life. But life has other plans for her. Namely, The Wedding People. Through a series of nearly unbelievable interactions, Phoebe finds herself and becoming the maid of honor of someone she barely knows - someone who needs her just as much.
The themes of love, friendship, family, etc., were never undermined in silly scenarios. I appreciated that the story remained as serious as the characters demanded.

I admit I arrived at this 2024 release for its cool cover (thank you NetGalley for the ARC), but I devoured it for all the richness its pages offered. Phoebe is as real a character as you can encounter: so well drawn, flaws and all, that I already miss my time with her. It is really difficult to successfully create an entire narrative arc out of a narrow period of time, but Espach does it so deftly you hardly notice that not much is "happening"—it's the depth of the characters that drives the plot as their layers are peeled back. You end up rooting for all of them, even as you cringe while they continue to get in their own way.

In between, Espach's sharp turns of phrase jump off the pages and absolutely grab you; she somehow weaves the hilarity of life with keen and tender observations about its heartbreaks. At times I got notes of Philip Roth, at others I heard nods to Nora Ephron. To wit: "Lila's question surprised Phoebe, and she's not sure if that's because she didn't expect insightful questions from someone wearing so much self-tanner or if it's because she spent the last few years overwhelmed by all the things she could not do, the papers she could not grade, the conversations she could not bear to have, the baby she could not create, the awards she'd never win, the marriage she could not fix."

I should mention that there is an infertility/pregnancy loss theme underpinning the protagonist's experience. As someone who experienced both of these challenges over the course of 10 years in building my family, I can share that Espach handles the theme with honesty and sensitivity. Those in the thick of IVF seeking sheer escapism may want to hold off on this title, though I did not find anything particularly "triggering" to note.

Overall, I am so happy I stumbled on this title and discovered this author, and look forward to encountering her voice again!