For richer, poorer, sickness, health, and all the rest, what’s not to love about weddings? Often filled with love and romance, or angst and anticipation, sometimes sprinkled with sadness, many times chockablock with drama, nothing gives good story like a great wedding novel. If you’re looking for a little book club inspiration, consider taking things in a bridal direction with one of our vows-adjacent book club themes. Send out the save-the-dates to your reading friends and get hitched to one of our book, food, and drink pairings.
Something classic
The Wedding
by Dorothy West
For decades, weddings in fiction have been touching on themes of companionship, class, and culture, as well as family and friendship. Dorothy West, in her 1950s Martha’s Vineyard-set novel The Wedding, takes all of that and elevates it. In it, Clark and Corinne Coles, a well-to-do African American family on the island, are taken aback when their daughter Shelby announces her marriage to a no-name white jazz singer. As the book explores issues of race and questions of assimilation, two daughters give their parents a run for their money. Indeed, the book is heady — but also a refreshingly rich read.
For your Something Classic book club meeting, might we suggest something classically Martha’s Vineyard? Sure, you can shuck oysters while digging into the book, but perhaps go a bit easier on the hands with these New England-style lobster rolls. If shelling out for lobster for a crowd isn’t reasonable, pare back to mini burger buns and set out as appetizers, or sub the lobster meat for cooked shrimp. For your drink pairing, a Sea Breeze is naturally the right choice. Pull together a batch of these simple and delicious seaside cocktails.
Make it extra: Your perfect soundtrack for this meeting of your book club is this Harlem Renaissance mix from Spotify.
Something new
Lies and Weddings
by Kevin Kwan
Kevin Kwan’s latest novel, Lies and Weddings, comes out May 21, and it promises to be every bit as sensational as his arrival-announcing debut novel Crazy Rich Asians. This one brings us the story of the Gresham family, formerly loaded but now quite broke. As the dollars dwindle, the family matriarch cooks up a scheme for son Rufus to snag the affection and attention of any (any at all, please!) rich, young heiress sure to be present at his sister’s spectacle of a wedding.
In homage to the (quite literal) volcanic elements of Kwan’s new novel, pour this volcano-sourced Tornatore Etna Rosso from Sicily for your book club. It’s medium bodied, which will nicely offset the pure fun of the novel. And in homage to our protagonist’s heritage, consider serving it alongside this Char Siu Pork. It’s a relatively simple recipe for a rollicking good time (not unlike the book).
Make it extra: Nod to the novel’s global nature! Nab a Pinterest DIY luggage tag idea, provide the craft supplies, and walk away from book club with an extra special memento.
Something twisted
I Take You
by Eliza Kennedy
Sometimes the path to what your heart truly desires from a marriage — or any other relationship for that matter — is quite twisty. Such is the case for Lily, engaged to Will, and seemingly incapable of monogamy as the Key West wedding approaches. Indeed, Lily does as she pleases, inspiring some of the funnest fictional sex scenes you’re likely to see in your book club’s picks. This read is not for the prudish among us. So gather up your book crew who are most welcoming of the bawdy and tawdry and get ready to have a fabulous time.
While a margarita or rum runner may feel decidedly Key West, best to opt for a cleaner and clearer drink if you’re keeping pace with Lily. With that, a simple vodka and soda, twist of lime, dear readers. Of course, if you’d rather pop open a bottle of white, we recommend this Joao Portugal Ramos Alvarinho. It’s zippy and a smidge racy, obvi. For nibbles, consider conch fritters. These ones come courtesy of DJ’s Clam Shack, a Key West favorite.
Make it extra: For an alternate and equally salacious spin on matrimony, check out Most Controversial Celebrity Divorce by John Smith. Your inside scoop on the splits of Hollywood’s heavyweights will surely thrill your book pals.
Something true
Save the Date
by Jen Doll
In spite of all the fiction to do with weddings, some of the best stuff is in the nonfiction. Enter Save the Date, the sardonically candid collection of essays by Jen Doll. Here we get a glimpse into the experience of matrimony season from the perspective of the most-invited guests: the female friends of the bride and groom.
For this nonfiction pick, champagne is the only thing you should be pouring out of solidarity with the ladies who will lose count of the toasts by season’s end. For a group, though, this Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Superiore will do just as nicely. And for your nibbles, let’s skip the mass-plated mains and go with a lighter bite to eat. We consider this — Tomato Soup Shooters with Grilled Cheese — the unicorn of passed cocktail apps as it’s got everything a guest could need in terms of sustenance, especially before dancing straight through the seated dinner hour.
Make it extra: Invite book clubbers to arrive in their very best bridesmaid-inspired frock.
Something funny
The Wedding Date
by Jasmine Guillory
The story of the desperately nabbed, not-at-all-romantic wedding date is not a new one. But in the hands of Jasmine Guillory, the trope takes on a brilliant — and brilliantly entertaining — new life. In The Wedding Date, Alexa and Drew meet the night before his ex’s wedding. He’s dateless, she has an opening in her social calendar; they go together and have a great time. On the flip side, Drew heads back to Los Angeles while Alexa remains in San Francisco. Long distance relationships are rarely easy, and for these two it’s no different. This novel is romantic comedy at its best.
Head just north of the Bay Area to Napa County for your book club’s wine, a Pinot Noir from Amici Olema, in honor of the meeting place of this distance-challenged couple. And in honor of their elevator meet-cute? Whip up this baked brie from Ina Garten, inspired, of course, by the cheese Alexa has in her handbag during that fateful mechanical failure.
Make it extra: If you’re also inspired by Alexa’s purse provisions’ bottle selection, feel free to reach for the Veuve.
Something blue
Seating Arrangements
by Maggie Shipstead
Sometimes, what goes on in the sidelines of a big wedding weekend is more fun to watch than what’s happening during the bride and groom’s first dance. Such is the case with Maggie Shipstead’s smart, darkly funny novel, Seating Arrangements. We alight on a fictional island off the coast of New England to celebrate the union of Daphne — resplendent in her seventh month of pregnancy — and beau Greyson. In spite of the salt air-kissed filter held up to the glory of the happenings, old resentments and bad behavior toe the edges of the dance floor. Gin martinis should certainly flow at the family retreat of patriarch Winn Van Meter, and so it’s only right to follow suit for your book club meeting. Go with this classic version, from Food & Wine. Food is an afterthought at cocktail hour in this part of the northeast, so we’re compelled to share something quick on the lips and locally sourced: try these no drama, no fuss New England crab cakes. They’re the perfect fuel for what promises to be a very lively book club discussion.
Make it extra: Treat your reading pals to a little something sweet as you’re winding down with this New England saltwater taffy.