Book Review | The Wedding People by Alison Espach

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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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For the Reading Challenge(s):
N/A

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The Reason

I’ve heard a lot of praise for this book and I was curious.

The Quotes

“There is no such thing as a happy place. Because when you are happy, everywhere is a happy place. And when you are sad, everywhere is a sad place.”

“And maybe that’s it: You do things in the moment for the person you hope you might be two years from now.”

“Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself. It’s your job to take care of yourself like that.”

“She is so good at predicting what will happen in books, so bad at predicting what will happen in life. That is why she has always preferred books – because to be alive is so much harder.”

The Narrator(s)

Helen Laser. She’s really good! Her narration reminds me a little of Julia Whelan’s narration and I’m a huge fan.

My Thoughts

I’m not sure what I was expecting with this book; I initially thought perhaps something along the vibes of Fredrik Backman’s books, something depressing turned heartwarming, and it was a little like that but also more complicated and a lot less clear-cut. There was a lot of tension throughout the book, and I love how the author juggled that along with telling the story. I loved the characters, the fact that there is more to each of them than initial impressions. They make mistakes, do stupid things, behave badly, want things they shouldn’t, but they can still be good people who mean well.

I also love how chance encounters can change your life and how random people can turn into important relationships. I met a random woman once when I was a young teenage girl, who gave me some life advice that I’ve remembered and tried to stick to ever since. I don’t even know her name and wouldn’t recognize her if I saw her again but I’ve never forgotten her and what she said to me. I love that Lila changed Phoebe’s life without even meaning to, and for purely selfish reasons. You just never know the impact you have on someone.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?