The Wedding People

Bookseller recommendation

“This book was one of my favorites this year. It has wonderful characters, mixed with heartbreak, laugh out loud humor, found friendship, and a classic comeback story to boot. I loved it! ”

— Avery • Duck's Cottage

Bookseller recommendation

“Alison Espach's newest novel hits pretty hard pretty fast, with suicidal ideation attempted suicide (but make it "let's not take ourselves too seriously.") I wasn't sure how to take this cavalier attitude toward such a heavy topic but I'm happy I stuck with it. At first glance, the titular "Wedding People" appear self-absorbed and typical of a certain sect of entitled Northeasterners (i.e., the target market for preppy coastal shops like Brooks Brothers and IZOD). Once exposed to main character Phoebe Stone's jarringly laissez faire energy, however, "The Wedding People" soon find that life will never be quite the same. I feel the same. ”

— Mary G-B • River Bend Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“The Wedding People hits the absolute sweet spot of compulsively fun to read while asking serious questions about life, love, and a lavish destination wedding. Alison Espach’s mix of light and dark makes for deeply authentic characters.”

— Nina Barrett • Bookends & Beginnings

Bookseller recommendation

“I love a book that defies expectations from the start. Espach has a distinct ability to paint every character with a depth that is both darkly funny and full of empathy. Or, perhaps Phoebe has this unique insight. Either way, it makes for a compelling tale of two women trying to find and make sense of themselves at the most unlikely of places, a destination wedding. ”

— Rebecca • Volumes Bookcafe

Bookseller recommendation

“This book took me on an unexpected journey. It is both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud FUNNY. The protagonist Phoebe is intelligent, witty, and realistically flawed. A layered woman that you will fall in love with and root for. Narrator Helen Laser knocks it out of the park voicing a wide cast of diverse and humorous 'wedding people'. A five star book for me! ”

— Amy • Copperfield's Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A moving story about two women who find themselves entwined at a wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. Phoebe has come to Newport to end her life, while Lila is there to have the most perfect wedding. Over the course of the week, both discover what true friendship and love looks like. I know I will thinking about this book for a long time. ”

— Claire • River & Hill Books

Bookseller recommendation

“An AMAZING book. One of my favorites of the year. It starts off sad but then it’s funny, funny, funny. I can’t recommend it enough. The story is lovely. You can’t help falling in love with the characters and how they evolve. You root for both women and hope they make the right choices so they can be happy… and oh do they deliver!!! ”

— Andrea • Molly's Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“I just finished this audiobook and want to start it all over again! Despite the heavy topics (depression, suicidal ideation, infertility), the raw honesty and empathy between the characters adds a surprising light to the dark humor. Bold, engaging, and memorable - this one easily moves up the list of best books I’ve read this year!”

— Chelsea • Bromley's Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A unforgettable and moving read. We bear witness to the main character’s deep pain as she struggles with pregnancy loss, depression, loneliness, and divorce. She checks in to a fancy Newport hotel to kill herself. But instead, she crosses paths with the attendants of a week-long wedding celebration, and everyone’s lives are changed. What comes next is a story of connection. A celebration of the ways that we can reach out to other people, the ways that we can drop the artifice, be ourselves, and communicate honestly and meaningfully. Espach writes with raunchy humor at times, and I laughed out loud more than once. But mostly she writes with incredible insight and empathy about the human journey, a journey that will inevitably contain grief and loss but can also be full of joy and love. This book will be one of my top books of the year. Despite its tough content, I believe it is a celebration of human resilience and a reminder that the choice to love is always one we can make. ”

— Colleen • Read Between The Lynes

Bookseller recommendation

“This was a fun family drama that had very likable characters. I didn’t want to stop listening! Funny too! ”

— Jana • Inscribe Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Whenever I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. The discussion of heavy topics was done so beautifully and realistically and I loved every second of it. It truly felt like the characters were real people and I was rooting for them the whole book. 10/10 read. this. book. immediately. ”

— Ava • Blacksburg Books

Bookseller recommendation

“I read this before a Newport vacation, not knowing that it would end up as a 2024 favorite for me! The book’s content is heavy. The reader bears witness to the main character’s deep pain as she checks in to a fancy Newport hotel to kill herself. Instead, she crosses paths with the attendants of a wedding, and everyone’s lives are changed. What comes next is a story of connection. A celebration of the ways that we can reach out to other people, the ways that we can drop the artifice, be ourselves, and communicate honestly and meaningfully. Espach writes with raunchy humor at times, and I laughed out loud more than once. But mostly she writes with incredible insight and empathy about the human journey, a journey that will inevitably contain grief and loss but can also be full of joy and love. ”

— Colleen • Read Between The Lynes