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kaitlinrm_'s review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Infertility, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
atreegrowsinbooks's review
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
The Wedding People by Alison Espach (#gifted, thanks Henry Holt)
CW: suicide attempt, depression
Note: While this book has a wholesome meaning, please don’t proceed if the above warnings are triggering.
Have you ever felt like you were in the right place at the right time? That you were meant to meet someone or have a certain conversation, experience, or moment?
Well, that feeling is this book. We follow Phoebe, who is extremely depressed to the point of attempting to take her life, as she arrives at a hotel just in time for the kickoff of a week long wedding. Phoebe and the wedding people meet and ultimately impact each other’s lives in different ways. You’ll have to read the book to see how those interactions impact everyone.
Espach’s writing is full of humor, and that humor is essential for the main point of the book to permeate the pages: THERE IS A REASON FOR YOU TO BE ALIVE.
I would suggest this book with a warning, if you aren’t ready to read about a character making an attempt on her life (which is then referenced several times) please don’t read this. Please be kind to yourself. And if you’re having suicidal thoughts and/or struggling please know that’s it’s okay to reach out to someone and that you’re not alone. Some resources are the 988 lifeline 988lifeline.org and The Trevor Project thetrevorproject.org
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Infertility
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rachelisreading91's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
cassidy_rain's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Lila, every day this week, you gave me a reason to get up in the morning, to put on a beautiful dress and be part of something, and for that I will always be grateful.”
This was truly delightful and I loved every minute of it. I was drawn to this right away by the beautiful cover! The Wedding People is raw and emotional and funny. It follows two women from completely different walks of life and their unlikely friendship that grows over the span of a week. The women are complete opposites to one another, yet complement each other perfectly.
I don’t always love character- driven books but I think the characters are written really well; they feel very realistic and human. Phoebe is very raw and you get a really good sense of how she feels and thinks. Lila is somewhat unlikable as a character, but also perfect for the story. You do find yourself rooting for her. Both of these main characters grow a lot throughout the story. The overall story is quite predictable, but there were a few things that left me surprised! I love the friendship, the healing, the self discovery. There’s even the right amount of romance. I absolutely vibed with the author’s writing style. Heavy topics are expressed, but the overall tone is quite light-hearted. I found myself laughing at the banter between characters. I was left feeling extremely satisfied.
“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”
I would definitely recommend this one! Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was truly delightful and I loved every minute of it. I was drawn to this right away by the beautiful cover! The Wedding People is raw and emotional and funny. It follows two women from completely different walks of life and their unlikely friendship that grows over the span of a week. The women are complete opposites to one another, yet complement each other perfectly.
I don’t always love character- driven books but I think the characters are written really well; they feel very realistic and human. Phoebe is very raw and you get a really good sense of how she feels and thinks. Lila is somewhat unlikable as a character, but also perfect for the story. You do find yourself rooting for her. Both of these main characters grow a lot throughout the story. The overall story is quite predictable, but there were a few things that left me surprised! I love the friendship, the healing, the self discovery. There’s even the right amount of romance. I absolutely vibed with the author’s writing style. Heavy topics are expressed, but the overall tone is quite light-hearted. I found myself laughing at the banter between characters. I was left feeling extremely satisfied.
“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”
I would definitely recommend this one! Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Cancer, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage
sophieinbookworld's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
awahle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When the weight of everything – her divorce, dead end job, cat’s death – gets to be too much, Phoebe checks in to the Cornwall Inn to kill herself. She is the only one at the inn that week who is not there for Lila and Gary’s 6 days of wedding festivities. Honestly I expected something different. I thought this was going to be a great big comedy of errors. I couldn’t have more wrong and I am delighted I was. This book made me laugh, but it also made me think. At one point Phoebe muses that she likes books more than real life because she can predict what will happen in a book. To be alive is much harder.
When the bride finds out Phoebe’s plan (not a spoiler – this is the first chapter) she insinuates herself into Phoebe’s life to stop her from ruining her perfect wedding. In fact, Phoebe becomes Lila’s only confidante – the person she shares her worries and troubles with. I love that Covid in not ignored and some of Phoebe’s struggles result from her husband leaving her 5 months into the pandemic and her eventual return to the university where she is an adjunct English professor.
This book explores our relationships and the ways we change to please others. It was fascinating to hear different characters views on events in the past and how that affected their relationships. As the week goes on, Phoebe becomes more and more involved in the wedding and the lives of the bride and groom and their closest family. I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in return for an honest review. I will be buying a copy for my library when it is released. Definitely a 5 star read.
Content warning: Miscarriage, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicidal thoughts
wendygothard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Dark but humorous. Serious but witty. Sanguine but also…not? It’s hard to capture the tone of this novel because it’s unexpected and so many things at the same time. While parts of it dragged, the later half had me wondering how this was all going to end because I truly did not know. Basically the MC, Phoebe is going through some stuff, plans her suicide, and happens to get swept up in an elaborate wedding that derails her plans.
I wouldn’t call this a HEA but it wasn’t sad either. Maybe just realistic? With a capital R. The dry, deadpan humor had me cackling.
**thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt publishing for the ARC
I wouldn’t call this a HEA but it wasn’t sad either. Maybe just realistic? With a capital R. The dry, deadpan humor had me cackling.
**thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt publishing for the ARC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cursing, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Infidelity
taylorelizabeth248's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
rachelisathomas22's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a read! I was intrigued by the title and cover of the book, and immediately hooked by the beginning. The subject of depression, suicide, and mental health can be tricky, and author Alison Espach handled the subject matter with care and grace crafting a funny and thought-provoking novel. It’s interesting how Espach takes us through Phoebe’s time at the wedding; it unravels almost like a mystery getting the different perspectives of the different people at the wedding and keeps you on your toes to see what will happen at the end of the week for Phoebe. The main characters growth and slowly gaining confidence feels earned and never feels rushed. The writing style Espach uses lends to the kind of inner monologue Phoebe has, highly intelligent and a classic overthinker.
This is a good read for readers who like a story of character growth and unraveling the relationships between people.
This review was in exchange for a free advanced reader copy through NetGalley.
This is a good read for readers who like a story of character growth and unraveling the relationships between people.
This review was in exchange for a free advanced reader copy through NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, and Mental illness
hilareads's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts