Phoebe’s life is falling apart. Her husband left her for an other professor at the university they both teach at, she’s stuck on her dissertation, and to top it all off her beloved cat Frank dies. So she checks into the Cornwall Hotel in Rhode Island, a gorgeous resort that she’s dreamed of staying at for years, and plans to kill herself. But as it turns out, the entire hotel was booked for a wedding. And as Phoebe gets swept into the wedding week and comes to know the wedding people, she sees her life anew through her new unsuspecting friends. 

Thank you @netgalley, @alison.espach, and @henryholtbooks for the ARC! This was a really genius and moving book that had so many profound things to say about life, expectations, relationships, and grief. It was somehow heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time and I loved that so much. Phoebe’s character was so richly developed and so layered. I loved her realness and how raw and honestly her emotions were depicted, but that the reader also got to see her come into her new self as the book progressed. All of the characters worked so deliciously together, even those that were more ostentatious and outlandish, because Espach did a wonderful job of humanizing each character and creating characters that were multifaceted. I loved the unsuspecting friendship that developed between Lila and Phoebe, and how they were both able to help each other find their voices. I also really enjoyed Gary and Phoebe’s relationship and how they were able to have so many candid conversations. And I loved that the book showed that even in the hard, messy times of life, there can still be love, growth, and hope. Great dialog, themes, and characters make this a must-read book in 2024! The Wedding People comes out July 30!