Editorial note: I received a copy of The Wedding People in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a story about a woman with nothing to lose, a chaotic wedding and much more.
This novel is one of the most popular ones published in 2024. It is constantly making all the bestseller’s lists, and finding new readers each day. It’s always interesting which novels take off, and why some fail to generate huge buzz.
I find with books like The Wedding People, it’s all about timing. It came out in the summer when many people are in full wedding mode. So of course, the title and fun cover are both going to attract a huge interest. Coupled with being selected as a Read with Jenna pick, it certainly gathered a ton of attention.
I’m sure more than half the readers anticipated a lighter, beach read type story. But The Wedding People is actually quite heavy, and covers grief, depression and more. However, the heavier topics are balanced with situational humor.
What’s the Story About
Phoebe arrives to a fancy hotel in Newport, Rhode Island with no bag and one goal in mind. However, her plans alter when she is mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, even though she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t attending 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.
Phoebe’s Journey
At the beginning of the novel, Phoebe is broken and completely alone. In many ways, she is similar to the protagonist in The Midnight Library. In fact, there are several similarities to the start of both novels, but then the novels become quite different in tone.
Phoebe has one goal in mind but a wedding held at the hotel is completely derailing it. It’s one of those grand, big expensive weddings that last for a week. And the bride Lila wants perfection, and Phoebe throws a giant curve ball into her plans.
We really get to know Phoebe who she was before, and see her big growth journey. She’s a college professor focused on literature, but she seems to be simply existing and not really living her life. When her ex-husband cheats on her, and ends the marriage, she is devastated and all alone.
But coming to the hotel and meeting Lila will change everything forever for Phoebe. I found Phoebe to be interesting, and I liked the introspective nature of the novel. However, I did feel sometimes it went too much into the past with her ex.
Her bonding with many of the wedding party was engaging. However, there is a plot point I didn’t especially love, hinting at potential infidelity. I don’t know if it quite worked, especially with Phoebe’s past.
Colorful Cast of Characters
There are many characters in this novel. We have Lila who is the spoiled bride, but her honesty is actually quite refreshing for Phoebe. Lila is a little too stereotypical, and I would have liked a bit more nuance but I believe that was kind of the purpose, she really is exactly how she seems, despite people hoping she’ll change and grow.
We have Gary, the groom. This is his second marriage after his first wife passed away from cancer. His teenager daughter who goes by Juice is not at all happy he’s marrying Lila. And he doesn’t seem quite relaxed either, except with Phoebe.
And there’s Lila’s mother, friends, future sister-in-law, and more to follow. I think these kind of books really thrive on having a unique group of people around the protagonist.
Verdict
While the cover and title seems like a light read, this is quite heavy at times, and deals with several serious topics. This is certainly not a romance, but not literary fiction either. It’s commercial fiction that really deeps dive into the characters.
I was so drawn in at the beginning, however, one too many flashbacks took my interest away for a bit. But it features a very intriguing climax and a good ending too. All in all this is a solid read that does generate quite a bit of discussion for book clubs.
For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.
