Introduction:
In an effort to step outside my usual reading preferences, I decided to dive into The Wedding People by Alison Espach, after it won Best Fiction at the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards 🏆. Romance isn’t typically my genre, but the buzz around this book had me curious. As someone who rarely reads romance novels 💔, I figured it was time to give this one a fair shot.
Now, here’s my honest review of The Wedding People—a romance novel that, while cute and engaging, didn’t quite win me over. But maybe that’s just me! Let’s dive in. 💕
Blurb:
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
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 is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, relationship struggles, divorce, cancer, death
What Worked for Me:
1. Writing ✍️: Alison Espach’s writing is sharp, easy to follow, and enjoyable. She does a great job of creating a flowing narrative that’s accessible to readers who aren’t necessarily romance fans. I was able to get through the book without feeling bogged down by complicated prose. The descriptions of the settings were vivid enough to paint a clear picture, which helped immerse me in the world of wedding planning and romantic drama. 💐
2. Characters 👩❤️👨: I found the characters in The Wedding People to be one of the strongest aspects of the book. They were well-developed and realistic, with relatable motivations and struggles. While the romance angle didn’t quite click with me, I could still understand why the characters’ journeys would resonate with romance fans. They felt like real people, and I appreciated their depth and personal growth throughout the story. 🌱
3. Setting 🌍: Espach’s ability to bring the setting to life also stood out. The details of the environments were rich and gave me a clear sense of place. Whether it was the wedding venues or the intimate moments between characters, the settings helped ground the story and added to its charm. 💒
What Didn’t Work for Me:
1. Predictable Plot 📚: This is where The Wedding People lost me a little. As much as I wanted to love it, the plot felt very predictable. As a reader who doesn’t always enjoy romance novels, the storyline followed a familiar formula that I’ve seen before in other books of the genre. While I’m sure it’s comforting for romance lovers to know how the plot will unfold, I found it a bit too formulaic for my taste. 🥱
2. Romance Elements 💘: I’ll admit it—romance novels aren’t really my thing, and that could be why I didn’t fully connect with the romantic aspects of this book. Maybe if I were in a different stage of life or more inclined toward love stories, I’d have been more invested. But I struggled to feel emotionally engaged with the romance, which is the core of the novel. 😅
Final Thoughts:
Would I recommend The Wedding People? If you love romance novels and enjoy a story with well-drawn characters, engaging writing, and predictable romantic plots, then absolutely! It’s a charming read that will likely appeal to fans of romantic fiction. 💕
But if you’re like me and struggle to connect with romance as a genre, this book might not be the one for you. While it’s a solid, well-crafted story, it didn’t move me the way I expected. 😬
Ratings:
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Writing ✍️ | 4/5 ⭐ |
| Setting 🌍 | 4/5 ⭐ |
| Characters 👩❤️👨 | 4/5 ⭐ |
| Plot 📚 | 2.5/5 ⭐ |
| Overall ⭐ | 3.5/5 ⭐ |
What Did You Think of The Wedding People?
Have you read The Wedding People? What did you think of the characters and the romance? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 😁
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