The Wedding People by Alison Espach (2024): A Review

Title: The Wedding People

Author: Alison Espach

Publication Year: 2024

Pages: 384

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Literary fiction, Humor

Source: Audiobook @everand_us

When I found myself nodding along and chuckling at a character who felt like a long-lost twin—especially since we both share the title of "adjunct English professor"—I knew this book was going to resonate with me. “The Wedding People” felt like a memoir in disguise! I started with the audiobook but quickly hit pause when the main character, Phoebe, jumped off the page and seemed to say, “Look, it’s me!” So, I switched to the ebook, but listening to the audiobook while devouring every word on the screen.

Phoebe and I share the struggles of being English professors, but she faces challenges that make me anxious about my own future, prompting questions like, “Am I really Phoebe?” or “Am I going to become Phoebe?” In many ways, the rest of the book might represent my future. It was uncanny how similar Phoebe’s life, work, and personality are to my own. I almost highlighted the entire book—why not? It felt like I was writing my own therapist’s notes or memoir!

Now, enough about me; let’s discuss the actual writing, which is stunningly crafted and hit me right in the gut! The opening pages contain a plot twist that takes the "surprise party" trophy, setting Phoebe off on a journey of self-discovery and existential unraveling. She’s funny, witty, and empathetic—a combination so powerful that it makes you wonder why she isn’t the go-to therapist in the neighborhood. Seriously, she could be the fairy godmother for all those wedding people, even as she desperately needs her own rescue!

Oh, the wedding people! I almost forgot about them! They are truly interesting characters, and while we follow Phoebe through her journey, we also witness her guiding these people through their journeys, with every single story being worth listening to. Phoebe is that one uninvited, seemingly irrelevant guest who is essential for helping those around her. Isn’t it fascinating that she finds herself being saved by them while also saving or helping them?

I really appreciated her character development, avoiding forced romance and unnecessary spice to engage readers. The story delivers the perfect mix of adventure and romantic tension, perfectly suited to her personality. The ending wrapped everything beautifully—exactly what she needed. The humor was spot-on, causing me to laugh and giggle even in public! Oh, to have literary knowledge as vast as Phoebe’s—that’s definitely on my bucket list! Meanwhile, I'm racing against time to start writing my monograph before I hit a decade milestone, just like our dear friend Phoebe. However, I need to tread carefully to avoid becoming a version of her.

In summary, this is a charming and touching tale of a woman on the brink of losing herself and becoming just a memory. Ultimately, she emerges from the shadows with a revitalized sense of self—becoming instead of just being.