Jenna Bush Hager calls this novel "heartwarming and hilarious" -- and we think you will too!
The Wedding People by Alison Espach starts off lightly enough: In a twist of fate, newly divorced Phoebe lands at New England resort, the sole person not there (thanks to an admin error) for the weeklong wedding extravaganza of Lila and Gary, previously utter strangers to our protagonist. What could be a straight shot of humor takes a deeper turn, as we come to learn near immediately that Phoebe is mourning the end of her marriage and planning on executing the end of her life, that evening, in the decadent Roaring Twenties suite of the bride’s perfectly situated wedding venue. Lila quickly learns of the plan and her ensuing response sets Phoebe onto a different path — one that is full of sardonic banter, revealing flashbacks, and a new perspective on the future.
Alison Espach is a marvelous writer, and approaches the topics of suicide, death, infertility and divorce with empathy, while also employing exactly the right kind of humor at exactly the right moments. The result is a story that is so very human, so very gorgeous, and somehow, still, so very funny.
Similar to Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, and Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove, The Wedding People left us thinking about second chances, seismic shifts, and the messy worthwhileness and weirdness of life. It’s a novel you’ll take great delight in, and that will leave you feeling a little bit wiser after having read it.
The Wedding People
by Alison Espach
Much like Lila likes to take a sudden turn into dissecting a moment, a person, a grievance, a desire, we like to take a sudden deep dive into a particularly fascinating or inspiring moment from a book we’ve loved. That’s exactly what we’re recommending you do once you finish Alison Espach’s The Wedding People. With all of the weight that’s tucked in between the incredibly witty and wonderful dialogue and humor, we suspect you’re desperate to start digging into every last aspect of this fabulous novel. Taking a cue from the kickstart to Lila and Phoebe’s relationship, we’re starting off by getting very personal. Be wary, though: Spoilers ahead!
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The meal that Phoebe sets out to have as her last supper at the Cornwall simply doesn’t shake out as planned. While we’re glad so much didn’t go as planned that evening, we did mourn the meal that we think would have been the perfect kickoff to her longer-than-expected New England stint.
Phoebe wanted to have lobster and crab. We’re pulling out all the stops for these crab-stuffed lobster tails, with blender Bearnaise sauce. It is absolutely the decadent type of meal that Phoebe pictured, and one that definitely is deserving of last meal status.
While we wouldn’t recommend you pair this wine with our recipe (for that we’d suggest an oaky Chardonnay), we do recommend you give it a try to stay in lockstep with the novel. Chocolate wine for all, says Lila. While this bottle’s roots aren’t in Germany, it’s still one you should give a chance. After all, you might be surprised!
Get the recipe for crab-stuffed lobster tails.
Looking for a little something to soundtrack your bookclub? Check out this playlist, inspired by the novel, to keep the energy tuned to just the right pitch with your book-loving friends.
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We caught a little peek at author Alison Espach behind-the-scenes at her book publisher's. Care to look? Watch below.
Looking for more from Alison Espach? The author’s previous novel, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, hits all the right notes of a perfect coming-of-age story.
For Sally Holt, moving into her eighth-grade year, there’s uncertainty, precociousness, a crush. There’s a savvy and sought-after older sister, and a few embarrassing moments that would feel perfectly at home in a Judy Blume novel. There’s a devastating loss. And then there’s an evolution, as we accompany Sally well into her adulthood, as she contends with her own choices, her own desires, her own regrets.
There’s not one flawed page in this gorgeous and honest novel. It’s one you’ll devour and then urgently press into the hands of your favorite book-loving friends.
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance
by Alison Espach
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