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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’d been seeing The Wedding People everywhere, so when a 7-day library hold popped up I grabbed it. I went in blind thinking it was a romance (based on the title), but quickly discovered it’s actually realistic contemporary fiction — which is much more my genre.
The writing has great flow and pace; I never stalled and was always engaged. The main character was incredibly relatable, and the way we got to know each side character felt warm and charming. The tone balanced thoughtful reflection with touches of dark comedy, which made it both deep and very readable.
I loved the life lessons and observations woven throughout, especially about approaching 40 and the beliefs we carry. So many moments had me nodding along and thinking, “I wish I’d had this book in my 20s.” By halfway through, I knew I wanted a physical copy to reread and highlight passages.
The ending had me nervous, but it landed well — satisfying and true. This one goes on my top-recommend list (with the disclaimer: it’s not a romance, ha!).
The writing has great flow and pace; I never stalled and was always engaged. The main character was incredibly relatable, and the way we got to know each side character felt warm and charming. The tone balanced thoughtful reflection with touches of dark comedy, which made it both deep and very readable.
I loved the life lessons and observations woven throughout, especially about approaching 40 and the beliefs we carry. So many moments had me nodding along and thinking, “I wish I’d had this book in my 20s.” By halfway through, I knew I wanted a physical copy to reread and highlight passages.
The ending had me nervous, but it landed well — satisfying and true. This one goes on my top-recommend list (with the disclaimer: it’s not a romance, ha!).
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
I absolutely loved this book. So many of the feelings that Phoebe had were feelings I’ve experienced throughout my own mental health journey, and it was so refreshing to read this and rediscover some of the optimism and joy of just being alive. I really liked how human all of the characters were, and everyone was flawed but in a completely realistic way. The way the book was organized into days of the week instead of chapters really helped with the storytelling. Overall, I’m so happy I read this book and would recommend!!!
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was so ready to love this book and I thought it was amazing from the beginning. But about midway through, I started to worry it would end a certain way, and unfortunately that was exactly how it did end. I was so disappointed and sadly it is kind of colouring my perception of the earlier parts of the book as well.
For someone else, maybe it was exactly the ending they wanted, but for me it just didn't really work.I felt that it turned from the story of Phoebe and Lila into the story of Phoebe and Gary, and I was much more excited about the former than the latter. I also thought Lila was a more interestingly flawed character than Gary, who seemed kind of flat to me.
Still, I really liked the beginning and also the writing style throughout the book, so there was a lot to enjoy. I just wish it had turned out differently, and this would have been a new favourite.
For someone else, maybe it was exactly the ending they wanted, but for me it just didn't really work.
Still, I really liked the beginning and also the writing style throughout the book, so there was a lot to enjoy. I just wish it had turned out differently, and this would have been a new favourite.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
informative
slow-paced
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
I think this was a beautiful depiction of mental health. I loved the narration and the flow. I loved how well the characters interacted. This book was magnificent.