I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I’m struggling to understand the rave reviews. I give credit to the author for solid character work and dark humor. However, I found that this book contained fairly dark subject matters that were glossed over in an insensitive way. Nor did I connect with any of the characters - I found them extremely unrelatable.

The Wedding People was an excellent read! It was funny even though dealing with a tough topic- suicide. It was absorbing.

I really enjoyed this book! Phoebe did not expect to walk out of the hotel when when first arrived. Her plan was to end her life. But, in walks Lila, the bridegizlla of the hour! Well written, flawed characters, and both deep and lighthearted. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favorite book of the year! Funny, in a subtle way. Heartfelt. Honest. A call to check the why behind what we do.

The first third was difficult to get into, but I kept going and was rewarded. The last 2/3 was incredible and I was sad to leave this world and these characters.

This was a case of the right book at the right time. There was so much I loved about this book. I thought the concept was very original and engaging, I fell in love with Pheobe and Lila and their unusual friendship and I really connected with the idea of taking your life into your own hands. The author did a great job of balancing heavy themes with moments of levity and humor. I recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and evaluate your life. Check the trigger warning first though.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I found this book to be really interesting. The prose was a lot of "telling" rather than "showing", however I think that made sense with the themes of the book. I enjoyed the aspects of friendship and how mental health and depression were portrayed in a way that was so /real/. The thing that is holding me back from truly enjoying this novel is some of the characters. Lila could be really annoying at times, so I'm glad the book stayed in Phoebe's POV.

Thank you, Netgalley! (I'm rating this a 3.5 stars)

This story was really interesting. I didn't really know where it was going or how it was going to play out, and it didn't go as expected. The relationship between the bride and the "mystery guest" was fascinating. The character development was very good.

4.5 stars. the kind of book that is extremely enjoyable to read, AND that I still think about months later. I loved the characters, even when they were being obtuse or annoying. just a really great read that seems to be resonating with a lot of people.

3.5/5 -- I enjoyed this one! Lots of laughs and quirky characters. I started it in the summer and took a break until the fakk, so maybe that’s why I didn’t rate it higher! I’ll def read this author’s other books and love when MCs are middle aged women!

I have recommended this book to so many people since finishing it. It’s sweet and heartwarming (usually I run away from this sort of book!!!) but also deep and dark and existential. But also frothy and romantic???!! I fell in love with the characters. The ending is hopeful but realistic—life is HARD but you CAN change and you do deserve to have good things and make it mean something. I don’t know. I just adored this book so so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Wedding People by Alison Espach. This novel offers a witty and sometimes bittersweet look into the world of weddings, relationships, and the messy dynamics that come with them. Espach’s writing is sharp and observant, filled with moments of humor and emotional insight. The characters are relatable, though at times their development felt a bit uneven. The plot meanders in places, and while it’s an enjoyable read, it occasionally loses its momentum. Overall, The Wedding People is a charming, thought-provoking story about love, expectations, and the complicated nature of human connections, making it a pleasant, if not unforgettable, read.

This book was not what I expected from the title. When I see the word "wedding," I expect love and happiness, and this book is far from that. This went to some very dark places (trigger warning for suicide). The many different shifts the main character went through in such a short time and some of the things that happened I found completely unbelievable. Everything was just a bit over-the-top for me.

Alison Espach's The Wedding People starts with the encounter of a suicidal woman with a wedding party: what follows is a lovely story of two women coming together and forming a very strong bond. The characters are wonderfully complex, and my favorite aspect of this books was the dialogue of the characters. At some point, one of the characters asks another "Have you ever talked to another person?" which is a question I often ask myself when reading a less-well written book. In this case, the characters have certainly spoken to other people and act as real people. Even the ending, which is a bit predictable and cheesy, was satisfying.

The Wedding People is a suprisingly funny 'chick lit' read, in spite of some of the most serious subject matter (suicidal ideation, divorce, etc.). While the ending is somewhat predictable, the unique narrator and spot-on observations about 'wedding people' makes this an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE WEDDING PEOPLE was so different than I expected, but in the very best way. Allison Espach broaches heavy topics like loneliness, grief, and depression but handles them with a light yet sensitive touch. There is so much to adore about this story, especially if you can’t get enough of the found family trope.

This was a perfect summer read that struck the perfect balance between humor and heart. The characters were memorable and I enjoyed the direction that Espach took each character. I’ll be eager to read what Espach writes next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved loved loved everything about this novel. The dialogue is so beautifully written and witty. I cried, I laughed, and I got a warm fuzzy feeling after reading this one.

I LOVED this book and couldn’t put it down! I loved how this book married depth with humor so seamlessly (pun intended)! One of my favorite books of the year!

This was excellent; I’m surprised and a little bit disappointed that I ended up giving this a 4 (as opposed to a 5). This started out so strong for me! The writing was incredible, it leaned literary and a took itself just a little bit too seriously, but in a way I seriously vibed with. The characters were do human and flawed, but likable and for the most part, you could understand their motivations. This really rugged in my heartstrings. I cried a couple of times, and underlined passages to read and discuss with my husband. The deterioration of her own relationship with her husband was impeccably portrayed, I thought.

Where this lost me a little bit was the romance element. For such a deep book, I couldn’t believe where this ended up! It felt a little flat to me. Like, when I pick up a rom-com, I expect it to be predictable. It follows a general formula. It’s part of the appeal of that genre. This was decidedly not a rom-com, or a romance. So why did it feel so tropey and simple at the end? I thought it made no sense that her ex-husband wanted her back, and that also felt cringeworthy and tropey. Like oh this is just what happens! The ex always comes crawling back! …no! They don’t! And I think her growth was clear enough without having her ex-husband show up as a litmus test for whether she’d really moved on. I also thought, given the parallel of her falling in love with someone completely off limits and who is with someone she considers a friend (similar to what her husband did, obviously) that there wasn’t more internal monologue of her struggling with guilt/realizing how these feelings can sometimes grow even against your better judgment. For someone who ruminates A LOTTTTTT, it was borderline unbelievable to me that we didn’t get more of her inner thoughts about this experience/parallel.

So due to some of the issues I had, I’m docking this down to a 4.5. But this was exceptional! It was very different from anything I’ve ever read, and given the somewhat pretentiousness of the writing, I’m actually surprised (but happy!) that this is getting such great reviews from the general public!

I wasn't sure how Espach could possibly top how much I loved Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, but she did. Told in her trademark, witty and sardonic tone and full of complex characters you can't help but care for, The Wedding People is a 5-star read! It's skillful handling of emotionally deep but relatable topics of depression, love, and life's chance encounters make it one heck of a memorable read.

4.5/5 ⭐️ - Thank you to NetGalley & Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC!

Goodness gracious, this book packed such an unexpected emotional punch! Be warned, there is definitely dark subject matter (see trigger warnings), but also such lovely emotional connection, dark humor, and what I feel is a really beautifully written description of the human experience through good and bad. The Wedding People is a heavily character-driven story, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with each character.