The Wedding People by Alison Espach [Book Review]

The Wedding People is a charming tale about a woman, who accidentally gets roped into a stranger’s wedding while on a solo getaway. Read my review.

If you’ve ever found yourself dodging the dreaded “wedding people” while staying in the same hotel, you’ll relate to The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Our heroine, Phoebe Stone, ends up way more entangled in a stranger’s wedding than she ever signed up for—sexy hot tub chats and all. But as she navigates this chaotic weekend, Phoebe’s journey turns into something unexpectedly heartwarming, and you’ll be rooting for her every step of the way. Find out why I gave this book four out of five stars.

What is the book about?

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 dreamt of coming for years―she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe―which makes it that much more surprising when the women can’t stop confiding in each other. [Goodreads.com]

My thoughts:

The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a charming read that I thoroughly enjoyed, thanks mainly to the main character, Phoebe Stone. When Phoebe realizes she’s the only guest at a boutique hotel in Rhode Island who isn’t part of an upcoming wedding, she’s determined to avoid the “wedding people” at all costs. But, of course, things don’t go quite as planned.

From the moment she arrives, Phoebe gets pulled into the life of Lila, the bride, and suddenly, she’s way more involved in this wedding than she ever intended—complete with unexpected connections, including a certain man in the hot tub.

@macmillanpublishers Alison Espach tells us a little bit about her novel THE WEDDING PEOPLE. This book has a little bit of everything: laughter, sadness, universal truths about weddings, and many, many relatives named Jim. #theweddingpeople #readwithjenna #summerreads #alisonespach #BookTok#womensfiction ♬ original sound – Macmillan

Espach does a fantastic job of transforming Phoebe from someone who’s struggling through a tough time into a woman who’s slowly but surely finding her way again. Her journey is uplifting and relatable, showing that life doesn’t have to end when a marriage does—it’s just the beginning of something new.

The characters in The Wedding People are all wonderfully written, each adding something unique to the story. Espach’s writing makes it easy to connect with them and the situations they find themselves in. It’s a story filled with hope, humor, and a lot of heart, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

After finishing The Wedding People, I’m looking forward to reading more from Alison Espach in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

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