The Wedding People: A Novel
The runaway New York Times bestseller
A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick, New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and a #1 Indie Next Pick
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Guardian, Time, Chicago Tribune Biblioracle, HuffPost, US Magazine, Elle, Real Simple, and Glamour
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
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Community Reviews
Spoiler: the fuss is warranted. This book is fantastic. From the very first chapter, I was all in.
Phoebe, the protagonist, felt so real to meâlike the kind of friend you want to call just to check in or give a big hug. I rooted for her every step of the way. And then thereâs Lila. At first, I had her pegged as a vain, materialistic princess. And, okay, part of that is true. But as the story unfolded, I found myself unexpectedly loving her too. Espach has a way of taking flawed, messy characters and making you cheer for them like theyâre your home team.
I wasnât expecting romance to be part of the story, but the spark between Phoebe and Gary was impossible to ignore. Their chemistry is magnetic, and their banter is top-tier. Espach nails their dynamic so well that you can almost hear their conversations crackling off the page.
That said, this book isnât all fun and games. It dives into some heavy, sensitive topics, so checking out trigger warnings is definitely a good idea. But Espach handles these moments with a deft touch, adding just enough levity to keep you afloat while still respecting the gravity of the issues.
In the end, The Wedding People delivered on every bit of its hype and then some. Itâs smart, heartfelt, and unputdownable. Highly recommend.
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