A review by toniatigre
The Wedding People by Alison Espach

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad 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

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quietly beautiful and unexpectedly moving.

The Wedding People starts in a place of deep grief and discomfort — so much so that I wasn’t sure I would stay with it. But I’m glad I did. What begins as a somber, almost disorienting narrative slowly unfolds into a layered exploration of loneliness, human connection, and the strange in-between spaces we sometimes find ourselves in.

The characters feel real in their contradictions and uncertainties. I appreciated how the story resisted easy resolutions — instead, it invited us to sit with discomfort and allowed emotional truths to emerge at their own pace. The literary references and internal reflections gave the book depth without feeling heavy-handed.

One of my favorite elements was the hotel itself — moody, timeless, almost sentient. It felt like a character, or maybe a mirror, reflecting the guests’ inner turmoil and quiet hopes.

This isn’t a traditional love story, and it’s not always an easy read, but it’s an honest one — and that’s what stayed with me.
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