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The Wedding People
Book Club Night - Cozy night

The Wedding People

Alison Espach

A sharp, tender novel about a woman who arrives at a Newport hotel intending one thing and instead gets swept into the chaos and warmth of a stranger's wedding week. It's funny, surprisingly moving, and full of heart.

Reading level: Easy Best for: clubs who love character-driven stories with heart, humor, and a good cry

Discussion

Warm-up

  1. 1.What's the coziest spot in your home where you imagined yourself curling up with this book?
  2. 2.Was there a moment early on that made you smile or laugh out loud? Share it with us.

Digging in

  1. 1.Phoebe arrives at the Cornwall expecting one kind of escape and finds another. Has a trip or detour ever surprised you by giving you exactly what you needed?
  2. 2.The hotel becomes a kind of temporary family for Phoebe. Have you ever felt unexpectedly held by strangers during a hard time?
  3. 3.Lila's wedding plans are wonderfully over the top. What's a small ritual or tradition that comforts you, even if it seems silly to others?
  4. 4.This book sits with grief and joy at the same table. Did any passage soften something tender in you, and would you want to share it?

Going deep

  1. 1.Phoebe and Lila form a bond no one would have predicted. Who in your life has been a surprising source of comfort, and how did that friendship find you?
  2. 2.Without giving anything away, how did the book leave you feeling as you closed it, and did it shift the way you're thinking about your own week ahead?

On the table

Mini lobster rolls on buttery brioche
A nod to the Newport coastal setting, served small and shareable for easy passing around the couch
Warm clam chowder in mugs
Classic New England comfort, perfect for sipping while you talk about Phoebe's seaside week
Homemade wedding cookies and a slice of vanilla cake
A cozy wink at the wedding-people themselves, sweet and forgiving

To sip

Hot spiced apple cider (no alcohol)
Warm, soothing, and the kind of drink you wrap both hands around
Champagne with a splash of elderflower
A soft toast to weddings, fresh starts, and the people we meet by accident
Earl Grey with honey and milk
A hotel-lobby kind of tea, calming and a little fancy

Run of show

7:00
Arrive and settle in
Greet guests with cider in hand, soft music playing, blankets within reach
7:15
Warm-up bites and small talk
Pass the lobster rolls and let the warmups break the ice gently
7:35
Chowder and theme questions
Move into the theme questions while everyone's cozy with a mug
8:15
Dessert and deeper share
Bring out cookies and cake, ease into the deep questions when the room feels open
8:50
Trivia and bookmarks
Lighten the mood with quick trivia, hand out bookmarks as keepsakes
9:10
Scorecards and slow goodbyes
Fill out scorecards together, refill tea, let people linger

Host tips

  • Have extra blankets and throw pillows on hand so guests can really nestle in
  • Keep lighting low: lamps and candles only, no overheads
  • Let silences breathe; cozy nights work best when no one feels rushed to fill the air

Playlist

soft, golden-hour acoustic with a gentle oceanside hush

  1. 01The Night We Met - Lord Huron
  2. 02Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
  3. 03Saltwater - Beach House
  4. 04Re: Stacks - Bon Iver
  5. 05First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
  6. 06Vincent - Don McLean
  7. 07Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
  8. 08Harvest Moon - Neil Young

Trivia

  1. 1. Who wrote The Wedding People? (Alison Espach)
  2. 2. In what year was The Wedding People published? (2024)
  3. 3. In what coastal Rhode Island town is much of the story set? (Newport)
  4. 4. What kind of large event is happening at the hotel when Phoebe arrives? (A wedding (a multi-day wedding celebration))
  5. 5. What is the name of the bride whose wedding takes over the hotel? (Lila)
  6. 6. What was Alison Espach's earlier 2022 novel about young love and grief? (Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance)
  7. 7. What broad genre best describes The Wedding People? (Contemporary literary fiction)
  8. 8. What type of setting serves as the main backdrop for the novel? (A grand seaside hotel)

Rate the book

Coziness ☆☆☆☆☆
Heart ☆☆☆☆☆
Humor ☆☆☆☆☆
Comfort Reread Potential ☆☆☆☆☆
Made Me Feel Seen ☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
A scene I want to wrap a blanket around: ______________________
Someone I'd hand this book to next: ______________________
You're invited
Come Be Our Wedding People

Pull on your softest sweater and join us for chowder, cider, and a warm chat about Alison Espach's The Wedding People. Blankets provided, feelings welcome.