The Wedding People: A Novel

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 24,266 ratings

Price: 14.99

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick

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.


From the Publisher

The Wedding People Alison Espach Read with Jenna pick
The Wedding People Alison Espach Jennifer Close quote
The Wedding People Alison Espach Jenny Jackson quote
The Wedding People Alison Espach Catherine Newman quote
The Wedding People Alison Espach Sarah Gelman Pick

Top reviews from the United States

A.A.E.
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most enjoyable, relatable, introspective, and funny books I’ve read in a long time.
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
I absolutely loved “The Wedding People!” One of the most enjoyable, relatable, introspective, and funny books I’ve read in a long time. This is one of those rare book I will re-read!

The story centers around Phoebe Stone, an adjunct literature professor, who is recently divorced after a long battle with infertility. She comes to a crisis point after her cat passes away, and decides she wants to die. She books a one way plane ticket a one night in a hotel she’s always dreamed of staying in, so she can end her life in “her happy place.” There she immediately runs into a large wedding party, and a bride who needs a confident…

This book was absolutely captivating; it’s funny, emotional, and pulls you right into the story. In many parts I laughed out loud. The author did a wonder job capturing the complex nature of friendship, marriage, and family dynamics, the family we imagine for ourselves, who we are vs who we want to be, and how our hopes and dreams shape our identity.

I listened to the Audiobook, narrated by Helen Laser, and provided by MacMillan Audio through NetGalley. The narrator did an excellent job; there minor are some issues with sound quality/ consistency, but it doesn’t detract from the book. Many thanks for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Becoming you,,,what a fun read leading to thoughtful discussion,
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
While perhaps mundane to some I find it interesting to watch, thru reading, people emerging as themsles in fuller bloom. Has me considering the many times I reimerged. Ore fully into myself. Fun beach read w a bonus of offering me some insights.
sharon f. leff
5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Times, Worst of Times!
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
Weddings are indeed, especially the elaborate, mega millions extravaganzas, extremely, grandly wasteful. Costly in ways unimaginable, they are the ceremonies that assemble people, families, relatives, associates, and more. But when one bridezilla encounters an uninvited guest at the hotel, her hotel for her wedding week, a wedding crashes, the conflict transforms both their lives.

Bridezilla Lila has arranged every detail of this wedding, once an idea, a deathbed promise to her father. And Phoebe’s unexpected arrival upsets her, especially when during their confrontation, Phoebe reveals her intent for booking her suite in this expensive hotel. For while Lila’s been planning her future nuptials, Phoebe has been reliving the demise of her own nuptials, planning for an end to futures, planning for an ending.

Suddenly, Lila and Phoebe enter a relationship, an agreement of and on timing. Suddenly, Phoebe discovers herself a part of the wedding party. Suddenly, everything becomes clearer. Each woman discovers a fearless honesty between them that allows them freedoms neither of them have experienced.

Great read, the sort of book worth a second reading.
cometbyhaley
5.0 out of 5 stars Green ???? + ???? + ❤️‍???? + ☠️ = ????????????
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
This story is everything. I just lost two people in my life to death. The main character wears an emerald silk dress and gold heels to a date with death at a 5 ???? hotel by the ????... And becomes the heroine of her life and this story and my past weekend. A tender story of loss/grief/love and how being our naked/weird/honest selves opens up our heart veins to life! ????????????????????
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Weddings
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
I enjoyed that the bride to be became good friends with a stranger. As the story unfolds, truths come out which leave the reader wondering. It's like peeling an onion. Are the bride and groom in love? There is an age difference. Read and find out! I recommend this book to anyone.
P. caires
3.0 out of 5 stars An Ending Can Ruin a Book - and this one did
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2024
Throughout I think I was reading a book like the one the protagonist in the story taught - Victorian with characters depressed and tragic. Well, at least the protagonist was which in turn (to me at least) made her a completely unlikeable character. But then, lo and behold, she gets a Hallmark Movie of the Week ending? No Way. She gets the guy, the family (by way of the daughter), and the freedom to write whatever she wants? Oh, plus the pleasure of rejecting her husband after he rejected her thus getting the closure she needed? Yeah, no way. Others may revel in the ending however I didn't. A very well written book which I really enjoyed till the end.
paula mickish
5.0 out of 5 stars engrossing
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024
Loved this book - and its characters. I hope there’s a movie or a sequel. The emotional shifts were fascinating. It’s the kind of book that makes me want to read her other books if there are any. I’ll miss it tonight when it’s reading time.
Vivrz
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it in a day!
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2024
OMG! Does this author live in my head? I have a commonality with every character in this book. I had similar conversations with myself and others; similar thoughts. I couldn’t wait to see what going to happen next. I hope someone buys the rights to the book for the movie! Throughout the book, I tried to figure out the casting! ????. Great book! Read it!

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