THE WEDDING PEOPLE

by Alison Espach

Thanks to non-stop social media recommendations and the book’s silly cover design, I didn’t expect The Wedding People to have so much emotional depth or narrative finesse. However, it ended up being my favorite read over the winter holidays. So if you’re like me and get skeptical when a book is ‘too’ popular, don’t let that stop you from reading Alison Espach’s delightful novel.

The Wedding People centers around Phoebe, who leaves behind her '“ordinary,” but quickly disintegrating, life and visits a famous coastal resort. When she arrives, she realizes she is the only resort guest not part of a wedding and that the bride is furious that the resort is hosting an uninvited guest. Phoebe isn’t fazed because she came to the resort for one specific reason: to kill herself. At this point, The Wedding People becomes less of a silly  romance, as the author exposes the protagonist’s unhappiness and, ultimately, that of the bride and groom, as well.

Somehow, between the bride’s self-centred chatter and the beauty of her surroundings, Phoebe makes it through her dark night and begins to get more involved with the wedding people. Espach manages to make even the darkest moments humorous and the funny ones tinged with regret or longing. She also captures the rollercoaster of societal expectations that women are forced to ride between their early 20s and mid-life. The Wedding People has its share of romantic entanglements and changes of heart. But at its core, this fantastic novel is about female friendship and what constitutes a meaningful and happy life. (Lily)