Avis
i deeply, deeply regret not dnfing this book. still, it had some redeeming elements - funny one liners, moments of wisdom. it would've been two stars had the author not included the unnecessary, disgusting car scene.the main character was so utterly unlikeable (throwing plastic into the ocean after being asked not to, to name one of the shitty things she does), and was only suicidal as a plot driver for the author. such an overly simplistic (at best) and harmful take on suicidal ideation and depression; then phoebe literally says several times after her singular attempt that she's just not the 'type' to go through with it. what?don't get me started on the million dollar wedding with zero discussion of class, wealth, inequality. or the resolution of phoebe's story.
Se lit tout seul. Lecture légère sans prise de tête. Très prévisible mais parfois c'est ce qu'on recherche!
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏, 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏.”𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 The Wedding People is a fast-paced, heartwarming story about grief and heartbreak, and rediscovering the will to go on. It follows Phoebe Stone as she enters the grand Cornwall Inn, ready to give up her life—but little did she know that the wedding people there would change her life.To start with, there are a few trigger warnings—grief, death, and an attempt at suicide. Phoebe, the main protagonist, has lost everything, and when her husband cheats on her, she finds herself on the edge of life.This book has a dark, humorous tone which fits the plot perfectly. It was an immersive read that was all about the journey and not the destination. Phoebe’s first meeting with Lila, the bride, was chaotic and poignant, and Lila’s presence turned Phoebe into someone she didn’t think she could be.The bold and invasive Lila was just the saviour Phoebe needed, even if she was a bit entitled. Their characters felt like they were on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Phoebe was mature and gradually became emotionally strong, while Lila was childish yet perceptive in her own way. I really enjoyed their bonding and bitter banter. The idea that, in life, sometimes unexpected bonds can become so deep was portrayed beautifully.Keeping aside the fact that her suicidal thoughts shifted away suddenly, Phoebe was a wonderful character. The way she carried herself—always knowing what to say, wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, really stood out to me. I liked the strong personality she reclaimed because of the wedding people.All the conversations, the wedding chaos—fun and mishaps—and the side characters’ arcs added depth to the plot. The sweet, almost-not-romance was lovely. The bonding moments between Phoebe and Gary felt really comforting, they just felt right together. I was honestly scared they might take a wrong decision, but they handled everything with so much maturity.Also, the bits of Victorian detail and the wedding events added to the wonderful chaos. The woman talking about pandas and their sex life during the bachelorette was epic.But at one point, I found myself skimming through the book as the monologues were getting longer, and my initial connection with Phoebe started fading. Moreover, I felt that the heaviness of suicide was taken a bit lightly, as there was a dramatic overnight shift in her. She suddenly went from needing therapy to almost being a therapist, and that was all I could think about when it came to her character.𝑻𝑳;𝑫𝑹Overall, this was a heartwarming and emotional read about grief and finding the will to go on, with a dark and humorous tone. I enjoyed Phoebe’s journey and her dynamic with Lila. The almost-not-romance was comforting to read, but the long monologues and the sudden shift in her character made me skim through parts of the second half.Also posted on Ruminative Bibliophile.
“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach is a touching and funny story about love, loss, and second chances. Phoebe Stone, recently divorced and struggling, has her plans interrupted when she gets caught up in a bride’s chaotic wedding weekend. Through their unexpected friendship, both women face their challenges and find hope. With emotional depth and humor, Espach creates a heartfelt story about how life’s surprises can lead to new beginnings.
i just don't get the hype, fun easy read but not like im getting a hooked by this book just so - so i fast read at the 70% of this bookn i feels like long read too like cant wait to. finish it so i can go on with another book
It feels like this book is talking to me - about me - and yet, at the same time, it isn't. I was captivated by Phoebe's journey through life, death, depression, and relationships, and her story will stick with me for a long time.This is a slow book, because the journey she takes is not an easy one; it requires time. Time to feel alive again, to find purpose, and to find the courage to be her true self again.I can understand that some people might not get it, but, quoting the book:"you can't explain this kind of darkness to someone who has never felt it."How can you explain the feeling of being at rock bottom and not seeing the light in life? How can you describe the moment you understand that you've lived your whole life pretending to be someone else-what people expected you to be? To lose yourself in this constant act, forgetting what it feels like to enjoy your passions and hobbies, watching without realising as your life becomes smaller and simpler until at some point, it crushes you.It's not easy to let go of the people you love or to let go of your old self. There's a certain comfort in routines and rules, even if they kill us bit by bit every day. But life isn't supposed to be difficult, because as the book concludes, "becoming who you want to be is just like anything else. It takes practice."And so we should practice every day to stay to ourselves and pursue who we are and what we truly want.It's 2am and maybe I am just ranting, but that's how this book unexpectedly made me feel.
4.5⭐Really fun experience, but it did seem a bit artificial at times. I don't know how to explain other than saying that, in my opinion, the book tried a bit too hard, at some points, to be motivational, inspirational, life-is-perfectly-imperfect-and-it-is-worth-living. Which isn't necessarily bad, it just felt a bit forced from time to time.
I know this is a popular 2024 release, and while I found the audiobook entertaining, the story was very mid for me. It did make me laugh several times, and I enjoyed Phoebe's growth, but I don't think I would have liked this if I had read it physically.Though I enjoy character-driven novels, I would have liked to see more growth from other characters along with Phoebe, who feels like the only one who changes.<spoiler>Also, F Matt.</spoiler>