The Wedding People: A Novel

Thought it would be an easy beach read, but so much more profound!

This book was very interesting Simple honesty love and happiness Its the kind of book that grabs your attention and kept you wanting to know more. I loved it.

“Good writing is driven by a question.” And the novel is the author’s best attempt at answering that question. “Why are these two people perfect for each other? What do these two bring out in each other that is special, unique? That nobody else in the world can bring out?...And how did weddings get like this? How did they get so big, come to be so important, that a woman couldn’t see her way out of it? That a woman would sacrifice her entire life for it?” “I’m Phoebe…I was asked to be a body on a boat.” “Phoebe has never been a maid of honor. It has always been a mark of shame for her, that no woman in this world was willing to claim her.” Until now. The eve of what Phoebe has determined to be her last day on earth is the first night of Lila’s wedding week. “I’m the bride…It’s like being the president of your very own country.” Determined that nothing spoil her perfect day, Lila inveigles Phoebe in her wedding party. “Phoebe remembers her first responsibility to the bride. To always be honest. To say what nobody else at this wedding will say…Phoebe is starting to wonder if this is why she is here, to fill the silences between the wedding people that they don’t know how to fill, to ask the questions nobody can bring themselves to ask. Phoebe has nothing to lose here. She is not part of this family. She is not part of anything anymore. She is free in a way none of them are.” “Bridesmaids need the same kinds of stories soldiers do, stories that justify why they do what they do. They are willing to sacrifice who they are and a good night’s sleep for the noble cause of defending democracy and…love.” Grab a Vacation(s?) in a Cup(s?) and get ready to say, “I do, I do, I do!” to Alison Espach’s newest novel. If “art is the magnificence wrung from the ugly dish towel of existence,” The Wedding People is a masterpiece.

Very similar to Backman’s Ove, but from the POV of a middle aged woman. Phoebe is not as boring as she presents, she’s very witty and I love her. Heavy content, but many comedic moments that make it an easy read. Book #100 in 2024

4.5⭐️
This book was not what I expected in the BEST way. Such a good read