Published by PUBLISHER on DATE
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, without luggage, alone. Everyone in the lobby mistakes her for one of the wedding people at an impending wedding on the site, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t there for the big event.
Phoebe is there because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is a nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
Her plan was simple - rent a room and end her life. Fortunately, Phoebe's plans were thwarted by a bridezilla who was not allowing that to happen during her wedding week.
This book was quite funny at times considering Phoebe's intention was to kill herself. Good thing Lila wasn't having it. The star of this book for me was the very unexpected friendship that developed between Phoebe and Lila. They shared some really meaningful moments and one towards the end that may have made me squeezing out a few tears. Though this book did that literary thing where they are vulgar just to be vulgar, I let it go because I was rooting for Phoebe and happy to see her cloud of depression lift as she healed.
Overall: An interesting and entertaining wedding celebration.
Published by Berkley on DATE
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.
Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.
The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.
Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.
In Every Possible Way is hard to talk about without giving away major plot points. So, please excuse me if I am being vague.
This book starts with a bit of magic. After a very bad date, Jess is mugged in the parking lot and wakes up in IRELAND! Not only was she in Ireland, but she was with her terrible date's brother.
After that, the book gave off a Before Sunrise vibe. Jess and Eamonn spent the next forty-eight hours roaming around Ireland, seeing the sights, and sharing deep thoughts. This book was quieter than I expected, but I was still interested in finding out how Jess got there, and if what she and Eamonn shared was the real thing. The ending left a HUGE impression on me, too. It was better than what I thought would happen and left me totally elated.
Overall: A character-driven story with a touch of magic.
Let us know in the comments!
Great reviews! I've had my eye on both of these and although I've seen a lot of people talk about The Wedding People (with very mixed reviews), I've not seen many speak about In Every Possible Way. Just reading the premise does give Before Sunrise vibes, and those movies always tug massively on my heartstrings and gives me all the feels, so I'm hoping this one does too!
ReplyDeleteI did like The Wedding People. The concept and friendship was wonderful. For me, personally, it did those literary fiction things but not enough to really spoil it for me.
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