The Wedding People: A Novel Hardcover – July 30, 2024

When reviewing a book I often think of this truism: there is the truth and then there is everyone's perception of the truth. Most if not all of us bring our own experiences and life choices to what we read as well. Hence, divergent opinions from readers about any selected book being reviewed at the time. Fortunately there are thousands upon thousands of authors writing books from which we can choose. So, then, one person may think there is too much descriptive material which slows the narrative down while another will want more. Of course some authors are better than others at writing narratives about places, clothes, food and the like but if they did not include such tangible items then we would all be reading nothing but short stories.Another divergent point is how realistic should the narrative be? In my opinion, an author has done his/her job when some facet of the human condition, whether negative or positive but certainly negative, is turned into a great read as nuanced, as wise and as powerful as THE WEDDING PEOPLE: A NOVEL by Alison Espach. Even though suicide is a serious topic and is not treated lightly in the book, it should be noted that those suffering depression have our concern and our hope for those needing it to seek help. On a positive note however, statistics show that people who were saved or rescued from the final act are grateful that they did not succeed regardless of how the "rescue" happened. Add Phoebe Stone, the MFC, to such a "literary" saved list!I try not to include spoilers but Phoebe's intentions for checking into the exclusive Victorian Hotel have been mentioned several times already so consider that even though she meant it, she did not realize she had checked into the hotel with improper equipment for such a final act. However, regardless of her plan, the contrast is startling between her self-agonizing, self-criticism and constant worry about how others see her compared to the bombastic over-the-top, her-first-concern-is-herself, Lila, the bride. What better way to lift Phoebe up than being put in a position to help others with less weighty concerns than her own--or are they less weighty to each particular individual?Phoebe's upbringing was so quiet and calm that she could not step outside what she assumed others thought of her, even when she was married. Once she met the crew in Lila's wedding party, Phoebe started broadening her outlook for the first time in her life. How all this happens is a serious, laugh out loud, shed a few tears very believable fictional narrative about self discovery and self determination. Each character contributing to Phoebe's evolution is fully presented as being different from one another with each having their own quirks, hangups and personalities. Then there is Clay, the groom, a person Phoebe could look in the eye and be totally honest with about her feelings and opinions. Phoebe's growing relationship with each person is clever. Special note: there is a scene about a vintage car that will have readers laughing for days.Books that have stood the test of time are not compact, quick reads though many of us enjoy those too but rather are about the difficulty we have growing up then living a "normal" life (whatever that is) or that are written about unforgettable subjects i.e. the orphanages of Dickens day and then the "snake-pit" mental hospitals in the early 20th century (and do not forget the future--1984) and so on. One of the reasons so many of those books are still being read today is that they took a terrible situation and turned it into a story most of us could relate to while being grateful the situation(s) were eventually adequately resolved. I believe we will be reading this book for a long time. I loved it, read it in a day and will read it again, something I have only done one other time in all the centuries I have been an avid reader (LOL). With no hype or personal fixations, just simply my truth: the best book of the year.

Wow. I loved this book so much. Phoebe, Lila,Matt,Jim,Gary and the other characters brought so much life into this book. The Wedding People is not basic by any means. The deeper meaning it invokes is “ Keep moving Forward” which is a quote that keeps getting repeated in the movie :Meet The Robinsons. Phoebe wants to die,but who doesn’t when the love of their life leaves and their cat Harry dies? However Phoebe is changed by the bride Lila and finds her will to live again! She even becomes a part of the wedding people. This book is about the complexities of life, whether it’s marriage, being you authentic self and friendship. I wish it was faster paced but other than that it was beautifully written and a great story.

I initially picked this book for a kindle reading challenge. Out of the summer picks, this one seemed the most interesting to me. I’m so glad I picked this one. This book gave me all the feels and made my son give me some serious side-eye wanting to know why I’m crying into my iPad.TW’s for the book: infidelity, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, talks of all three, morbid jokes of both the ideation and attempt.*****Please, please, please check your mental health meter to ensure this will not overfill your cup. There were feels that were hard to feel. There were feels that were extremely relatable. There were so, so many feels. Please know that your mental health is very important. Phoebe’s struggles and realizations can be a hard pill to swallow if you’re currently fighting your demons.The realism of Phoebe’s depression is very relatable. I’m currently battling my demons as we speak. Reading helps me dissociate and allows me to not worry so much. Until I’ve finished the book, at least. I’m not to the extent as Phoebe, but she does make one realize how quickly and smoothly that slope can be once in that frame of mind. I’m glad Phoebe and Lila met. They didn’t realize how much they needed each other until it happened.The relationships that developed between the characters was both a joy to experience and an ache to feel. I loved the humor. I loved the depth of feelings. The realization that we are all actors on a stage; the monotony, the complacency, of being so malleable to force ourselves to fit into cookie cutter versions of ourselves to be who we perceive how others should see us, and yet losing ourselves within that transformation. The dichotomy of who are expected to be vs who we truly are.Also, side note… Jane Eye was the first book I read in its entirety, and the book that truly jumpstarted my love of reading, so this story hit harder and far deeper than I could have ever imagined.

This book was chosen for my book club, so I did read it in its entirety. I would not otherwise have finished it. As someone who struggles with clinical depression and suicidal ideation, I cannot really recommend it. I understand the book is light-hearted and seen as a beach read. It certainly has elements of humor and some insights about marriage or life. I highlighted many quotes that were interesting and worth remembering. However, its treatment of depression is off-base. I resent the idea that a truly suicidally depressed person with that much trauma in her life could suddenly be cured by an an influx of money and attention. Money, drinking, partying, and meeting a new man, especially one with baggage currently in a relationship, is not a cure for depression. To my mind, this book perpetuates a simplied view of depression and promotes the negative stereotype that finding the right person / relationship will fix someone's mental health. I know the book is ficiton and probably not intended to be so deep, but suicide is not a topic that should be treated in such a manner.