The Wedding People by Alison EspachMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Content Warnings: infidelity, suicidal ideation and attempt, dark humor surrounding both.
Before diving in, please check in with yourself. The Wedding People touches on some raw, weighty themes that may hit close to home. Phoebe’s story doesn’t shy away from mental health struggles—at times, it’s uncomfortably honest. But that’s part of what makes it so powerful.
Phoebe, a recently divorced adjunct professor, arrives at the Cornwall Hotel with one quiet, final plan. The hotel, however, is booked solid for a wedding, and Phoebe finds herself the odd one out—until she meets the bride, Lila. Spoiled, unfiltered, and wildly unaware, Lila barrels into Phoebe’s life and, in a strange twist of fate, might just be the one who saves her.
This book is not a neat little romance. It’s literary fiction masquerading in tulle and champagne flutes. Yes, it’s dark—there’s death and depression—but it’s also hilarious, biting, and full of life. Phoebe’s depression is portrayed with striking realism, and her slow rediscovery of connection and purpose is subtle but deeply moving. Her insights into identity, marriage, and self-deception are sharp and poignant.
Lila and Phoebe’s dynamic is a standout: chaotic, often funny, unexpectedly tender. Phoebe becomes a quiet observer at the wedding, and her knack for listening, honed through years of teaching, makes her an accidental therapist to everyone around her. She’s no longer pretending, and that honesty makes her magnetic.
This is a story about how messy and absurd, and beautiful life can be. It’s about seeing through the performative gloss of weddings and finding real, flawed humanity underneath. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
If you're in the right headspace, The Wedding People is a touching, witty, and unexpected reminder that even in the darkest places, something or someone can pull you back toward the light.
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