Book Club - The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Anonymous
Anonymous

This month's book is The Wedding People by Alison Espach:

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It's a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn't here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she's dreamed of coming for years--she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she's here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan--which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can't stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach's The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined--and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.

Feel free to comment on the book in this discussion.
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Our next meeting is on Monday 20th April from 1930-2100.
Happy reading Relaxed
Parents
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 1 month ago

    I think I left my review in the wrong place just now, so apologies if you read this twice!  I found this book entertaining and funny as well as a few heartstrings tugged.  I won't spoil anything but was very worried she might make the wrong decision and the tension mounted each time that happened.  The wedding 'week' did seem very looong and laboured! The characters were clearly stereotypical but they were fun and I could visualise exactly the type of people and their behaviour.  I think I lost some aspects because I don't know America but I don't think that detracted from it very much.  It may not have been the best book I've read but it was a good read - definite swim for me.  I probably won't be there next Monday - off to the Lake District - but hope you have a good get together. 

Reply
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 1 month ago

    I think I left my review in the wrong place just now, so apologies if you read this twice!  I found this book entertaining and funny as well as a few heartstrings tugged.  I won't spoil anything but was very worried she might make the wrong decision and the tension mounted each time that happened.  The wedding 'week' did seem very looong and laboured! The characters were clearly stereotypical but they were fun and I could visualise exactly the type of people and their behaviour.  I think I lost some aspects because I don't know America but I don't think that detracted from it very much.  It may not have been the best book I've read but it was a good read - definite swim for me.  I probably won't be there next Monday - off to the Lake District - but hope you have a good get together. 

Children
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