March 2025 · Literary Fiction
The Wedding People
Alison Espach
March brought us Alison Espach's The Wedding People — a novel that surprised us with its warmth, wit, and emotional depth. What begins as a story about a woman checking into a hotel to end her life becomes something entirely different.
Lila arrives at a grand hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, only to find it overtaken by a wedding party. What follows is a week of unexpected connection, absurd comedy, and genuine tenderness as she's drawn into the lives of strangers.
We talked extensively about how Espach handles depression — not with heavy-handedness, but with a lightness that never trivialises. The humour is earned, and the moments of hope feel real rather than forced.
The setting — a beautiful, crumbling hotel by the sea — became a character in itself. Several members said they could smell the salt air while reading.
From the discussion
"I laughed and cried in the same chapter. Multiple times."
"Espach writes loneliness with such precision it took my breath away."
"The ending was perfect — hopeful without being saccharine."
Club rating
★★★★★