The Wedding People

by Alison Espach
The Wedding People cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Contemporary Fiction
Technical
  • ID: 3898
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9781250899569
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
  • Published: 2024-07-30
  • Reviews: 3

Phoebe Stone arrives alone at the grand Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, mistaken for a wedding guest but actually seeking a final indulgence after hitting rock bottom. Her chance encounter with the bride leads to an unlikely friendship and a series of events that reroute her life in unexpected ways. The Wedding People is a poignant exploration of resilience, chance encounters, and the winding paths that lead us to new beginnings. With a blend of humor and tenderness, Alison Espach crafts a story that resonates with the complexities of human connections and the power of starting anew.

Reviews
Book Club Chat · 2025-02-12
heartwarming 4.00

The novel is praised for its engaging exploration of second chances and grief, with a compelling narrative that resonates deeply. The characters and their journeys are highlighted as particularly moving and well-crafted.

This review highlights how The Wedding People beautifully captures themes of second chances and overcoming grief. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to weave together complex emotions and relatable characters, making it a deeply engaging read. They particularly enjoy the way the story unfolds, offering a nuanced look at human connections and personal growth. The reviewer finds the narrative both heartwarming and thought-provoking, making it a standout in contemporary fiction.

Quick quotes

    The Wedding People by Alison Espach is an engaging novel about second chances, overcoming grief, and more.

    The characters and their journeys are highlighted as particularly moving and well-crafted.

    The novel's ability to weave together complex emotions and relatable characters makes it a deeply engaging read.

Read Between the Spines · 2024-09-26
delightful 4.50

The book is noted for its balance of humor and tenderness, offering a nuanced and resonant exploration of human relationships. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to be both absurdly funny and deeply moving.

This reviewer loves how The Wedding People skillfully blends humor and tenderness, creating a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. They find the novel's exploration of human relationships to be particularly resonant, with characters that feel authentic and relatable. The reviewer appreciates the nuanced portrayal of emotions and the way the story captures the complexities of human connections. Overall, they find the book to be a delightful and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach's The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at human relationships.

    The novel's ability to be both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving is a testament to Espach's skill as a writer.

    The characters feel authentic and relatable, making the story's exploration of human connections particularly resonant.

The Guardian · 2024-08-11
sparkling 4.50

The novel is praised for its sharp social observations and deft prose, making it a joy to read. The reviewer appreciates the sparkling wit and insightful characterizations.

This reviewer is impressed by The Wedding People's sparkling social observations and deft prose, which make the novel sharp, funny, and a joy to read. They highlight the author's ability to craft insightful characterizations and deliver sparkling wit throughout the story. The reviewer finds the book to be a delightful exploration of human nature, with a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Overall, they highly recommend it for its wit and depth.

Quick quotes

    Espach's sparkling social observations and deft prose make for a novel that's sharp, funny and a joy to read.

    The author's ability to craft insightful characterizations and deliver sparkling wit throughout the story is commendable.

    The book is a delightful exploration of human nature, with a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

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