“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach was a true gem!  It had everything — comedy, drama, romance, relatable characters, and clever dialogue. Phoebe Stone has long wanted to stay at Rhode Island’s Cornwall Inn.

She pictured staying with her husband, shucking oysters and taking sunset sails.  Only when she arrives she is alone, “wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight.” Phoebe came to this beautiful hotel to escape her own heartbreak. 

Phoebe soon realizes that she is the only guest who is not there for a six-day, million dollar wedding extravaganza. The bride also realizes this and is not at all happy with Phoebe’s plan for her stay. Nobody will ruin her perfect week culminating in her perfect wedding!

The author portrays each character in such a way that I found myself caring about all of them, even the minor ones.  Phoebe is lovable and relatable.  She and the bride, Lila, couldn’t be more different.

This makes it that much more surprising when Phoebe and Lila start confiding in one another.  The other characters also have intriguing and relevant backstories. 

Espach’s novel includes heavy topics that are nicely balanced with laugh-out-loud dialogue. Although the novel begins in a dark place, you need to keep reading! The plot encompasses divorce, weddings, motherhood, relationships and how we grow together and grow apart.

It explores finding unexpected connections amidst life’s challenges and personal losses, and the potential for healing and self-discovery. It captures the complexities of love, marriage, and the unplanned connections that change our lives.

This is a book that reminds us how the most unplanned encounters can lead us to exactly where we need to be. There is so much heart and humor that I will be thinking about this book for a long time. 

“The Wedding People” was a Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick, as well as a 2024 Goodreads Choice winner for Readers’ Favorite Fiction. This title can be found in Alpine, Kemmerer, and Thayne, and it is also available as an ebook or eaudiobook in Libby.