Not What I Expected

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Phoebe Stone is struggling with her recent divorce. She decides to travel to a fancy hotel in Rhode Island with no belongings, while only wearing an elegant green dress and heels. As she registers at the hotel’s front desk, Phoebe is greeted with the wedding people and everyone assumes she part of the guestlist. On the elevator, heading to her room, the bride joins her but doesn’t recognize her. The bride is adamant that the hotel is only for guests of her wedding. The bride starts asking Phoebe more about the reason she’s here, and is shocked to find out why. The bride doesn’t want Phoebe to ruin her wedding! Will the bride and Phoebe work it out in time?

I kept the summary super vague because I think you need to read this book completely blind, which is what I did. I think it helped not knowing too much of what was going on.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. It was not what I expected; it was much better. The growth from the characters were enjoyable and believable. I mostly wanted to read this because I loved the cover!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review on Fable

Like I mentioned above, I went into this book completely blind. I loved the book cover design (a girl I graduated with created it) so I picked it up. I listened to the audiobook and was hooked from the beginning. You witness the character growth from both women featured in this book. This book is in third-person but you are following Phoebe throughout the entire book on how she navigates the situation she’s brought in.

“Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself. It’s your job to take care of yourself like that.”

This book dealt with a lot of tough issues: grief, suicide, infertility, divorce, death. It’s not what I expected. I was expecting a happy wedding week with some downs but that’s not what this book deals with. The Wedding People is heart-warming and funny as it brings two women who would not have been friends unless certain events took place (again no spoilers). Maybe I can meet my best friend like this; hopefully in better circumstances.

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Character Summary

Are you currently reading this book and confused about who is who? For a list of characters without any spoilers, continue reading:

Phoebe Stone – Dealing with divorce, heads to Rhode Island, ex-wife of Matt
Matt Stone – Ex-husband of Phoebe, terrible partner
Delilah (Lila) Winthrop – Bride, Gary’s fiancee
Gary – Groom, Lila’s fiance
Juice (Melanie) – Gary’s daughter from previous marriage
Jim (Main One) – Gary’s brother-in-law, *there are other Jims in this book BTW*
Mia – works “closely” with Matt and Phoebe
Patricia – Lilah’s mom, widow
Marla – Gary’s sister, Lila’s future sister-in-law
Wendy – Gary’s ex wife, deceased
Pauline – Hotel concierge

There are more characters in this book but they’re more side characters. I think these are the important ones you need to know.