Book Review: The Wedding People
Title: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espach
Length: 384 pages
Genre: Romance
Plot Summary: Professor Phoebe Stone, recently divorced and struggling with depression, arrives at the luxurious Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. Unexpectedly, she’s mistaken for a guest at an elaborate six-day wedding celebration. As Phoebe becomes entangled in the wedding festivities, she forms unlikely connections with the bride, Lila, and other guests. These new relationships challenge her perspective and offer her a chance at rediscovering hope and purpose in her life.
Review: Espach demonstrates remarkable creativity in developing an expansive world while confined within the hotel walls and its vicinity over the span of one week. The novel explores how six days can change a life, marking new beginnings and extraordinary transformations.
What’s truly impressive about “The Wedding People” is its perfect balance between realism and the utterly unrealistic. This delicate equilibrium is nothing short of genius. Phoebe’s character is entirely relatable, even when she’s at her lowest point — a situation I’m fortunate to have never experienced personally. Yet, her struggles and emotions over a failed marriage resonate deeply, making her fascinatingly authentic.
This book is an escape anchored in realism. Espach’s writing is skillful, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. She manages to craft a story that feels both familiar and fantastical, allowing readers to lose themselves in the world of the Cornwall Inn while still reflecting on real-life themes of depression, connection, and renewal.
Rating: 4/5
