THE WEDDING PEOPLE - Alison Espach

This is a bittersweet, humorous, and tender exploration of life’s unexpected turns. The novel centers around Phoebe Stone, who arrives at a grand Newport inn on what should have been a romantic getaway with her husband, only to find herself alone and inadvertently crashing a wedding weekend. In her striking green dress and gold heels, Phoebe is mistaken as one of the wedding guests, and the weekend begins to unravel in surprising ways.

The heart of the story lies in the unlikely connection between Phoebe and the bride, who’s meticulously planned her wedding weekend down to every detail—except for Phoebe’s presence. Their relationship unfolds organically, with moments of absurd humor and raw vulnerability as they begin to confide in one another. Espach weaves a narrative that’s both witty and deeply emotional, capturing the chaos and beauty of chance encounters and how they can shift the course of our lives.

Espach’s writing shines with its mix of sharp dialogue, vivid scenes, and poignant reflections on love, loss, and the unpredictability of human connection. The Wedding People is a charming and insightful story about finding new directions when life doesn’t go as planned, and how sometimes the people we meet in the most unexpected circumstances can help us rediscover ourselves.