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dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't wait to discuss this book with my book club. It was a real page turner and I enjoyed the messiness of all of the relationships along with exploration of some very hard hitting topics. It is often uncomfortable but still enjoyable and definitely one I will remember.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Vomit, Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Alcohol
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Vomit, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism
In vitro fertilization, affair, cheating, divorce, wedding
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book surprised me. It deals with some pretty heavy stuff (suicidal thoughts, cheating, infertility) but somehow it still feels calm. The pacing is steady, and even when emotions run high, it never feels chaotic or over-the-top. It’s more introspective than dramatic.
Phoebe frustrated me at times, especially when we get glimpses of who she used to be. But the version of her that takes up most of the story? I liked her a lot. She’s flawed but self-aware, and her growth feels genuine. The men in the story were fine, entertaining even, but none of them really stood out. Phoebe and Lila are the real focus here.
Lila, especially, could’ve been unbearable in the hands of a different writer. But here, she’s handled with a lot of care. She’s not always easy to like, but I got her, and by the end, I found her genuinely endearing.
The strongest parts of the book are the relationships: Phoebe’s with herself, with Lila, and with Juice (yep, that’s actually hes nickname). Those dynamics are where the story really shines. I also appreciated how real everything felt. The way people reacted to things, the way situations played out etc. Nothing felt forced or overly neat.
Thinking back, it is kind of a dark story, and it’s definitely not a comfort read. But still, I’d describe it as calm. It sits with you quietly, in a way that feels honest and real.
Phoebe frustrated me at times, especially when we get glimpses of who she used to be. But the version of her that takes up most of the story? I liked her a lot. She’s flawed but self-aware, and her growth feels genuine. The men in the story were fine, entertaining even, but none of them really stood out. Phoebe and Lila are the real focus here.
Lila, especially, could’ve been unbearable in the hands of a different writer. But here, she’s handled with a lot of care. She’s not always easy to like, but I got her, and by the end, I found her genuinely endearing.
The strongest parts of the book are the relationships: Phoebe’s with herself, with Lila, and with Juice (yep, that’s actually hes nickname). Those dynamics are where the story really shines. I also appreciated how real everything felt. The way people reacted to things, the way situations played out etc. Nothing felt forced or overly neat.
Thinking back, it is kind of a dark story, and it’s definitely not a comfort read. But still, I’d describe it as calm. It sits with you quietly, in a way that feels honest and real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh! So many feelings after finishing this book!
Firstly, I really did not expect it to start where it did or go where it did (well, maybe a bit but not entirely).
A suicidal woman in her 40’s and a bride-to-be in her 20’s helping each other through their respective lives and loves was the most unlikely, hilarious and poignant relationship I’ve read in a book for a long time.
I love 19th century literature so loved those references and how it all tied in to the overall plot and morals of the novel.
You really back Phoebe the whole time(I mean I was really sad at the start and struggled to read through her depressive thoughts - but that’s the point right!!) and the open ending was a glorious and thoughtful way of sending the character off on this new chapter of self-love and self-worth. So happy I read this book!
Firstly, I really did not expect it to start where it did or go where it did (well, maybe a bit but not entirely).
I love 19th century literature so loved those references and how it all tied in to the overall plot and morals of the novel.
You really back Phoebe the whole time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Vomit
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I didn’t pay too much attention to this book when it was first published. I’m not one who gravitates toward wedding stories and, for whatever reason, I thought this was a murder mystery, and I had already read a book with this presumed premise I envisioned. When it was chosen as a group read and it coincided with Book of the Month’s Book of the Year release, I figured I’d give it a shot. Obviously, I quickly realized that this was not a murder mystery. I was so pleased that this was a blend of literary fiction and humor.
The final years of Pheobe and Matt’s marriage were rocky, even though Pheobe didn’t fully realize it until it was too late. Paired with the pandemic and lockdown, Phoebe is thrust into a deep depression. No longer caring about her carefully cultivated life, Pheobe runs off to Newport, RI for the splurge of a lifetime. There, she stumbles into a wedding party, where she is mistaken for a guest.
To her initial annoyance, Pheobe is bombarded by attention, including the bride who has no issues sharing what’s on her mind and barging into a stranger’s room and demanding her wants. Try as she might to fight it, Pheobe and the bride, Lila, form a connection. With nothing more to lose, Phoebe decides it’s time to stop conforming to everyone’s wishes and start living.
The plot of this book is nuanced and fluid, so it’s difficult to discuss it without tumbling into the realm of spoilers. What I can say is that it’s a beautiful work that explores a diverse range of personalities while also tackling difficult topics. I implore readers to look up the content warnings if needed. I loved the setting as well as the dynamics between the web of characters. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this as a romance, however. It’s there in the background, but not at all the main focus.
If not for some cruder moments, this book would have been an easy five stars for me. There were parts I felt were there only to add crassness and, for me, came across as skeevy. This, along with some jokes of poor taste toward religion as well as a couple of questionable statements regarding mental health, I couldn’t fully embrace it. However, I undoubtedly had a profound reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Vomit, Death of parent
Minor: Medical content, Religious bigotry
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of those books where you’re not entirely sure what it’s building toward—but by the end, you realize the journey was the point. The Wedding People is quietly powerful, funny in unexpected ways, and deeply introspective. At 363 pages, it definitely meanders, and I do think it could’ve been shorter without losing any of its heart. But despite the length, I was invested in Phoebe’s voice—her inner dialogue feels like a conversation with an old friend you didn’t know you missed.
Told entirely through Phoebe’s perspective, the storytelling leans heavily into her internal monologue and conversations with others. It’s a unique structure that made the whole thing feel intimate and personal. I especially loved that this wasn’t a romance disguised as self-discovery. The men around Phoebe—Matt, Gary, Jim—aren’t there to save or claim her. They’re part of her story, but not the destination.
Juice, though? Their friendship was one of the sweetest, most natural parts of the book. I could’ve read an entire spin-off just of those quiet, comforting scenes between them.
Lila was a harder character to like. Self-indulgent and boundary-pushing, she often treated Phoebe like an emotional support person rather than a friend. I didn’t mind that Phoebe stayed connected to her, but I was definitely cheering for more of that boundary-setting by the end.
I closed the book feeling hopeful for Phoebe—for her winter caretaker plans, her writing, her love of books, and the possibility of friendships that aren’t built on obligation, but on joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infertility, Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is wild and weird but not necessarily in a bad way. The book is over 300 pages with frankly very little plot but you aren’t even mad about it because you find yourself wanting to keep turning the page. Weirdly, this book reads almost like a continuous stream of consciousness. It felt like jumping from one thought to another to dialogue and back to internal monologue. It was messy and entertaining with an abrupt ending. I loved all the references to Rhode Island, it was fun seeing spots nearby listed in a book. I recommend this for fans of messy relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Blood, Vomit
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Vomit, Suicide attempt