THE WEDDING PEOPLE

Release Date : 2024-07-30

Duration : 11 Hours 37 Mins

Publisher : Macmillan Audio

SYNOPSIS

The Wedding People is the 2024 book release from writer Alison Espach. She is also the author of Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, an Indie Next Pick and Amazon Editors’ Pick for 2022, and The Adults, a New York Times Editor’s Choice pick. She teaches creative writing at Providence College in Rhode Island.

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 dreamt of coming here for years with her husband to shuck oysters and take sunset sails. Only now her IVF treatments have all failed; her husband’s left her another woman; her beloved cat suddenly died; and she’s at the end of her rope and planning her own death.

Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe, who discloses to the bride that she’s here to end her life. Instead of sounding alarm bells, the bride begins confiding in Phoebe. In turn, Phoebe begins to open up and confide back. Then, after a pathetic suicide attempt fails, Phoebe wakes up with a different perspective of her situation and decides to venture into the hotel for some relaxation.

Before she knows it, she finds herself in the hot tub with a handsome man who strikes up meaningful conversation with her. The man turns out to be the groom, and in the days that follow, Phoebe gets well acquainted with the wedding party and immersed in all the wedding chaos. As Phoebe is suddenly thrust onto a path she never imagined, her new chance encounters give her an opportunity to reroute her life.

REVIEW

The Wedding People is a book that encompasses a wide range of emotions and subject matter. The book starts off quite heavy, as the protagonist, Phoebe, is a depressed woman planning her suicide. There are several triggers that readers should be aware of, including infertility, miscarriage, infidelity, divorce, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and loss. Despite all this darkness at the onset of the book, the main themes of the novel are much brighter, so be patient for the real story to get underway. The book ultimately becomes a story of human connection, finding joy in dark times, and personal growth. The most profound growth often happens through the darkest times, and Pheobe’s journey is a testament to this.

The characters in the story are quirky and flawed but also mostly loveable. Pheobe is a highly intelligent, intuitive woman who is not afraid to speak her truths. As the story progresses, she comes to realize how small her life was and how it led her down a spiralling path of self-destruction. Once she starts fully engaging with the wedding people, her entire focus shifts, making her rethink her entire life. There’s an abundance of dark humour and witty banter in much of the dialogue of this book, making for a very captivating and hilarious read. Pheobe and Lilah, who share the most dialogue, are also the most polar opposite characters. Lilah is depicted as an abnoxious bridezilla, often overreacting to the extreme when things don’t go her way. She’s inflexible, insensitive, and irritating, and under normal circumstances, the two would never become friends. But the extraordinary circumstances that lead them to confide in one another become the precedent that leads them both on paths of new beginnings.

One notable criticism in this book is that the relationship between Lilah and Gary is completely implausible. Not only do they lack any chemistry, but their personalities and outlooks are unaligned. Clearly, the author is attempting to show how far someone will drift from their true selves after tragedy strikes. Gary comes across as a real pushover incapable of speaking his truths. He clearly needs a lot of healing before he can even think of having a serious relationship with anyone, let alone Pheobe, who has a lot to figure out. The author’s open-ended conclusion was definitely the right move for these particular characters.

Narrator Helen Laser, known for her exceptional work on acclaimed audiobooks such as Yellowface and Husbands & Lovers, delivers another standout performance here. From the very first line, Laser fully embodies Pheobe’s character, bringing out all the emotions and dark humour with great attention to detail. As the story progresses, Laser transitions her performance to match the growth of the character, using a lighter tone while maintaining an undertone of sarcasm, making for a very compelling listen. Laser also does an excellent job providing distinct and accurate voices for the large cast of characters in the story, giving the audiobook the feel of a multicast production. Largely because of Laser’s exceptional performance, this audiobook has received rave reviews and has consistently been featured on Audible’s Top Audiobooks Chart list since its release!

Overall, The Wedding People is the perfect blend of drama and humor. If you enjoy stories of personal growth with lots of dark humour and witty banter, then definitely give this book serious consideration! The audiobook, wonderfully narrated by award-winning narrator Helen Laser, has received rave reviews and is highly recommended for enjoying this one!