The Wedding People

A Novel

By: Alison Espach

Narrated by: Helen Laser

Long-listed, Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2024

Winner, Goodreads Choice Awards, 2024

Long-listed, Time Magazine Best Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Audible.com Best of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best, 2024

Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024

"As narrator, the terrific Laser, an actress and puppeteer, only enhances the swoon-worthy quirks and romance."—Vulture

A Today show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick, A Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 Winner, and long-listed in many Best of the Year 2024 picks!

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

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 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.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

©2024 Alison Espach (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
The #1 Indie Next Pick for August 2024
One of The Washington Post’s 10 Noteworthy Books for July and August
Named a Best Book of Summer 2024 by People Magazine, Bustle, Star Tribune, Goodreads, and LitHub

“The Wedding People is the perfect book to wrap up your summer reading. . . . heartwarming [and] hilarious.”
—Jenna Bush Hager, The Today Show's #ReadwithJenna

“The Wedding People is so much more than a funny story (though it is very funny). Espach has penned a keenly observed novel about depression, love, the ways women make themselves small, and how one woman got over it. Fully realized and completely memorable.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“Espach’s wit and warmth deliver a gratifying story about how people who have given up might find a reason to start caring again.”
—Becky Meloan, The Washington Post

Fun rom-com with just enough depth

Really enjoyed the story and characters but audio was strange. There were frequent nasally voice overs which were disruptive and annoying. The original narrator is fantastic, such a shame.

I love Wedding People

The Wedding People is such a good read! I loved every second of it. This will be one that stays with me and will most definitely be a re-read. The storyline and characters were amazing. I couldn’t put this book down.

Humor

It was a good book and it was funny at times but I didn’t like the ending. I am an epilogue type of person. Even though you surmise what may happen I like to known what happened. Also where was Mia’s husband? No mention of that, other than what I thought what missing from the ending it’s definitely worth the read

Great listen

I wanted something light but not trashy. I’m glad the author chose characters with enough depth and complexity to make them human. The story and the banter was clever and entertaining. I was enjoying it so much I imagined a sequel. Great summer read!

Cute story

This started very slow for me, however, I did get into the story as it went on. Performance was good, edits were poor and frequent.

Enjoyable

Loved the plot and the characters. Well written and developed. Narrator is great. She made the characters come alive with her voice and tone.

One of my favorite books of 2024

Life happens and in an instant your life can change. I loved everything about this story. How many of us get stuck in our life because we are living it the way others tell us it should be lived. What do we do when it doesn't go the way we have planned? I just loved how this story is so relatable. Great story of a women who deals with the all of the above. Makes plans and decides she's a failure at it all and will end her life. Why not go out looking fabulous at a very fancy hotel. Then she meets the wedding people...amazing how meeting strangers can changes one's path. Just a fabulous read! Enjoy it...

Darkness turned into comedic light

I loved the way Phoebe was able to transport her seemingly disastrous suicidal ending by being open to an alternate way to think and live. Phoebe’s depression could have been a trigger for me but instead it became a comedic pathway to an open honest revelation for myself.
I also loved how Phoebe unintentionally and unselfishly transformed herself into being true friend and help for Lila. Just as Lila’s in her unconscious selfishness saved Phoebe from an untimely death.
I loved this book and I did not want it to end.

Clever All the Way Around

The book had a clever premise, with interesting characters. It's chuck full of insights, which usually bugs me, but she expressed them well. The narrator isn't my favorite, but she was a good choice for the main character and plot and premise.

The writing style!

Love it! I felt identify in this book. All of us wants the same thing to love and be loved, find our on journey!