Monday, August 12, 2024

Book Review: "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach

It’s so hard at times to remember that you can’t tell what a person is struggling with just by looking at them. That’s certainly the case in Alison Espach’s newest book.

Phoebe arrives to check into the exclusive Cornwall Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island. She’s dressed to the nines but has no luggage with her. She’s surprised by the crowd at check-in but quickly discovers there’s a wedding at the hotel, so nearly every guest is attending the festivities. In fact, she’s even mistaken for a wedding guest given how she’s dressed.

The truth is, Phoebe is the furthest away from a celebratory mood. She’s actually hit rock bottom, as everything in her life has gone wrong. Her plan is to have a sumptuous meal, smoke a cigarette, and then end her life.

The last thing she expects is to run into the bride, Lila. Lila has painstakingly planned six days of pre-wedding and wedding festivities, and she’s taken everything into account. Everything, that is, except a hotel guest planning to commit suicide. Imagine what that will do to all of Lila’s plans! She does everything she can to keep Phoebe from taking her own life, even involving her in different events.

Despite the fact that these two women are strangers, both find it easy to confide in each other. Phoebe, much to her surprise, becomes enamored of Lila and the self-assurance she has, and before she realizes it, she’s being helped by people she doesn’t know, and helping them in return.

This is a beautifully told story, of those who come to the aid of people who need it most, and they might not even know it. While there are sad parts of the book, others are quite humorous, as some of the characters are just hysterically funny.

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