The Wedding People

by Alison Espach · 2024

Phoebe Stone, a literature professor whose marriage, career, and hopes for motherhood have collapsed, arrives alone at the luxurious Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. Mistaken for a wedding guest, she discovers she is the only person there not connected to the impending celebration of Lila Rossi‑Winthrop and Gary. While Phoebe initially plans to end her life at the hotel, Lila’s unexpected kindness and the chaotic wedding week draw her into a series of absurd, tender, and often painful conversations. Through grief, suicide attempts, and surprising moments of humor, Phoebe begins to make choices one day at a time, finding connection and a fragile path toward healing amid the glittering bubble of a stranger’s wedding.