Litsy

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

pick

Finally got around to this one for #TOB25

I assumed this would be total fluff (not that there‘s anything wrong with that) but it was pretty deep albeit in a fluffy way. I liked what it had to say about taking care of yourself, finding the true you as you get older, loneliness, and grief. I loved how the author handled the pandemic. It made me laugh too.

Not my favorite short list title, but I can see why so many people love it.

BarbaraBB Glad you know now what all the buzz is about! 2d

kspenmoll In my TBR -one day…. 2d

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OutAndAbout

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

pick

A suicidal divorcee arrives at a hotel and ends up being the catalyst for a weeklong wedding extravaganza. Recommended for anyone whose ever felt lost in their own life.

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BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

It was to be expected that The Book Censor‘s Library didn‘t stand a chance against The Wedding People. So we‘re left with two very popular books left in the #LitsyToB25: TWP and James (James is a finalist in #ToB25 too).

Please vote one more time for your favorite and I‘ll see you on Monday for the final match! Have a good weekend. https://forms.gle/QksJX14ZcJMmmYij7

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 4d

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 4d

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 4d

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sarahbarnes Two great books indeed. Although not the type of TOB books I hope for! Oh well, it seems like the tournament may never be what it used to be. 🤷🏻‍♀️ At least we still have the longlist every year! 4d

ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes what book(s) from the long list were you rooting for? There were a few I was sad didn't make the shortlist. 4d

ImperfectCJ I appreciate that the judge in today's official ToB decision addresses the challenges of reading fiction in times like these. It can feel indulgent while at the same time feeling essential (at least to readers). Her comments remind me of how blown-away I felt when I read James and how important fiction is (although it doesn't take much to convince me of that). 4d

sarahbarnes @chaoticmissadventures I would‘ve liked to have seen Ghost Roots, Banal Nightmare, and Poor Deer on the shortlist. Which ones were you rooting for? 4d

BkClubCare Today‘s TOB readthru made me glad that I read The Safekeep 4d

BkClubCare @sarahbarnes - Poor Deer is such a great read! (The author admitted that she was relieved to not have it on the short list.) 4d

BkClubCare AND as much as I cheer for and (believe it or not,) continue to learn more to appreciate of James, I am choosing The Wedding People as it was my favorite read of 2024! 💒🍾 🌊 (edited) 4d

AmyG Thanks for the book rec of Poor Deer. 4d

Bookwormjillk I‘m torn about who to vote for. I have to think about this. (About 1/3 through Wedding People.) I loved Help Wanted from the long list and thought it should have taken George‘s place. 4d

Hooked_on_books Boo!!!! I loved TWP, but BCL is such a special book! I‘m not surprised, of course, but very disappointed more people didn‘t see in it what I did. 4d

ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes so many of us liked Poor Deer, it is sad it didn't make it in. I also really enjoyed I Cheerfully Refuse. There are a few on the longlist I still want to read eventually Cahokia Jazz and Small Rain look great. 3d

sarahbarnes @ChaoticMissAdventures yes! I want to read all three of those. Good to hear you enjoyed I Cheerfully Refuse. 3d

kwmg40 Two excellent books for the final! 3d

GatheringBooks Woohoo!! Voted!!! Thank you for the opportunity of participating. I have yet to finish around three books or so but this has been a fantastic experience. Til next year! 💕💕💕 3d

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare How cool that the author was glad Poor Deer wasn‘t shortlisted! And I totally agree @sarahbarnes , none of my longlisted favorites ended up on the shortlist 3d

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Very happy you enjoyed it and to have you participating ❤️ 3d

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I voted for it because I think it deserves more audience but it didn‘t stand a chance 3d

BkClubCare @Bookwormjillk - g2k, will stack Help Wanted. I need to glance again through the long list. 3d

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Suet624 @Kristy_K @kspenmoll Voting for the winner is a draw so far. Your vote can make the difference. If you want, please do so! Thanks!! 😘 1d

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB thank you for the reminder!! I got distracted yesterday 💃 1d

Suet624 Oops - thought I had done this. Thanks for the reminder. 1d

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks!! 1d

Kristy_K @BarbaraBB Thanks for the reminder! Just voted. 🙂 1d

56 likes26 comments

BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

Happy birthday Jen 🎈!

Another very hard choice in the #LitsyToB25: The History of Sound vs The Wedding People, two absolute favorites. An almost equal score, but The Wedding People has won in the end.
It's not the end though, for The History of Sound. It will return as a zombie!
I'll annouce both 🧟 🧟‍♀️ shortly - along with another GForm for you to vote.
In the #ToB25 we were facing Irena vs Margo and again Irena wins. What‘s happening?

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 6d

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 6d

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 6d

See All 17 Comments

Bookwormjillk I can't believe I still haven't read Wedding People! 6d

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk You obviously should. It‘s very popular among the #LitsyToB25 participants! 6d

AmyG Happy Birthday @Jas16 🥳🎂🎉 6d

Jas16 Thanks for the birthday wishes @BarbaraBB @AmyG I honestly thought History of Sound would be our winner today so I am surprised and pleased by today‘s results. Not so much the other tournament. 6d

cariashley I said “ugh” out loud when I reached the end of the official judgment today, though I fully expected it. Margo is great but I knew it was just too flighty to go any further with the judges (same with Wedding People). 6d

squirrelbrain Happy Birthday @jas16 - glad you got your birthday wishes with our results! 🥳 Let‘s just ignore the main tournament shall we?! 🤣 6d

Deblovestoread Happy birthday @jas16! 🎂🎈📚🎉 6d

BarbaraBB @cariashley I agree. I expected the judges to find Margo and The Wedding People not ToB‘ish enough! 6d

Bookwormjillk Happy birthday @jas16 🍰 🍰 🍰 6d

Hooked_on_books This was a hard choice for me, as I really liked both these books. I‘m not surprised the official tourney chose Irena. It‘s what they do. 6d

Jas16 @squirrelbrain Thank you! And agreed. Another reason to be thankful for the Litsy tournament which I agree with more often than not and when I do disagree I can appreciate why. 5d

Jas16 @Bookwormjillk @Deblovestoread Thank you both so much! 5d

CarolynM I read about 20 pages of Irena before my irritation with it became too great to continue. This is the sort of writing the ToB likes? Sheesh! 5d

BkClubCare Yay Wedding People! 5d

63 likes17 comments

BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

Today we had another obvious winner: The Wedding People. It is remarkable popular on Litsy and it's the #LitsyToB25 favorite of Myra, Care & Theresa. However, many will be sad to see Margo go (Chelsea & Carolyn's favorite book).
Fortunately, Margo advances in the #ToB25 where it knocked-out Liars.

🚨It is time to vote for the Semi Finals! 🚨Please fill in the form today as the tournament continues tomorrow! https://forms.gle/crtE6SZcqVW1fkid9

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @Lesliereadsalot 1w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 1w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 1w

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Bookwormjillk It says I need access to vote 1w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I changed the settings and the url above. Does it work now? 1w

Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB yes, thank you! 1w

Suet624 Both books surprised me. I went in assuming they would be fluff and they weren't. Sorry to say goodbye to Margo but happy for Wedding People. 1w

AmyG Awesome. I loved this book. I bailed on Margo. 1w

ImperfectCJ I like both, but I'm sad to see Margo go. The official decision today was interesting to read. Sometimes I get to the end and have no idea which the judge will pick, but Judge Hughes was not subtle in her preference between Margo and Liars. I think there's more going on in Liars than she gives it credit for, but I get where she's coming from. 1w

Jas16 I am happy with both of today‘s outcomes but would not have been overly upset if either of them went the other way. 1w

cariashley Both are great in their ways, but I just loved Wedding People so much so am happy it continues to advance here. I thought for sure Liars would win this round in the regular tournament and I‘d be annoyed, so am pleased! As noted in the official commentary, Liars was a massive metaphor and those kinds of books always leave me cold. 1w

Lesliereadsalot I liked both of these books, but Wedding People got my vote for how surprisingly good it turned out to be. 1w

CoffeeAndABook Ha!!! I‘ve just recently read & absolutely enjoyed both books. But Wedding People just knocks any book out of the park, it just does 😁 1w

GatheringBooks Yay! Just voted! Will get to Margo soonest but Wedding People really captured my heart. 1w

Well-ReadNeck This was maybe the hardest decision for me so far. I would highly recommend both of these. 1w

Hooked_on_books This was my hardest vote of this round because I really liked both books. I would have been happy for either to win. I was sure Liars would prevail in the official tourney, as I think it‘s the better book, so I‘m curious to read the judgement and see how the judge got there. 1w

BarbaraBB @CoffeeAndABook So many people loved it! It now goes on to our semi finals! 1w

BarbaraBB Like many I was surprised by The Wedding People and while I liked Margo too it didn‘t make such an impression. 1w

BarbaraBB @cariashley I had no idea it was a metaphor. So interesting! 1w

sarahbarnes I loved both of these, but I agree with you that Wedding People won out with me so I‘m happy for this outcome. 1w

squirrelbrain Like most of us, I loved both books, but preferred Wedding People. I‘m surprised by the ‘official‘ judgement though. 1w

CarolynM Although I voted for Margo I liked Wedding People a lot too. I also liked Liars a lot. I‘d have been happy for any of them to win. 1w

kwmg40 I liked both books, so I'm happy with the outcomes in the ToB and our tournament. 1w

BkClubCare And CHEERS for books that can be “fluffy” AND LITERARY !!! Book reviews reveal so much bias? I liked Margo, was more worried that my mom was also reading and not sure what she would think… and that I also thought Liars was such rage. . . Which is “better”? It depends on! (edited) 1w

BkClubCare But I so enjoyed TWP and think it the easier recommendation. Yikes 1w

62 likes25 comments

Leftcoastzen

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

pick

Definitely my favorite read this year so far . Imagine your life couldn‘t get much worse , husband gone, nothing going right , can‘t imagine moving forward.Phoebe is feeling she should end it all, go out in style, visit an elegant inn she always hoped to visit under happier circumstances. Come to find out everyone there is for a wedding, when Lila discovers Phoebe, who is this person who might ruin the wedding? Dark ,smart,funny & wise,grt story!

sarahbarnes Yes! I loved this one too! 2w

73 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

Thanks to @Bookwormjillk George got a vote, the rest of us, without knowing which book it would be, all voted for the winner of the Play In round. Three strong containers and yes, many of us despised George. So we‘ll see The Wedding People again in the next round of the #LitsyToB25. George leaves our tournament because he didn't get any Zombie votes.
In the #ToB25 too the play-in winner advances, which means Liars in their case!

⬇️read further⬇️

BarbaraBB 🚨 Tomorrow is the last match in the Opening Round. With the results of that bracket I‘ll share a link to a new GoogleForm so you can vote for your favorites in the Quarter Finals. Please check in tomorrow and do vote because the next day the Quarter Finals will already start! 🚨 (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM @Kristy_K @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks @AnneCecilie @fredthemoose @Well-ReadNeck 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_Books @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures @kwmg40 @GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread @Jas16 @BkClubCare @sarahbarnes 2w

See All 19 Comments

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @Suet624 @cariashley @Soscha @AmyG @squirrelbrain @Butterfinger @kspenmoll @lesliereadsalot 2w

Lesliereadsalot Way to go Wedding People!! 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures So happy! I see enough Georges in real life, I don't need to be mad about them here 😂 2w

ImperfectCJ I'm happy with both results. In the official ToB decision, I worried that the judge was going to side with George because he related to the characters more, and I was pleasantly surprised by what felt like a pivot. Although I like B of G, I like Wedding People (and Liars) more. I also enjoyed the commentary about the purpose of reading fiction. 2w

Suet624 I'm delighted with the result. 2w

Bookwormjillk Haha it‘s for the best for all the reasons listed here. Still haven‘t read The Wedding People yet though. 2w

Jas16 I ended up skipping George after all the Litsy reviews and am so happy I did. 2w

Deblovestoread Like @Jas16 the reviews put me off George but I loved The Wedding People. 2w

Megabooks So happy with the results in both tournaments!!! Steph (reviewsbylola on insta) loved the book of George, and I‘m like…did we read the same book? Yeah, not a fan!!! 2w

Hooked_on_books Good riddance to George! I‘m very happy to see both play in books knock him out in their respective places. 2w

GatheringBooks Yay for wedding people! I super enjoyed it! 2w

GatheringBooks @Jas16 same! I skipped george too since it seemed to be universally hated by litsy folks. :) (edited) 2w

Well-ReadNeck Yay, Litsy! In the actual ToB, I was rooting for both books to lose, so, natch I was disappointed. Was interested in the judgment especially since the judge is male. I may have leaned the same way, although both of those books made my blood boil, but I think my preference may be generational comfort (I‘m gen X) 2w

AmyG Great choice! Loved this books so much. 2w

sarahbarnes Yay! I skipped George because it sounded insufferable. But I loved WP! 😀 2w

CarolynM Good choices in both tournaments 🙂 2w

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CoffeeAndABook

The Wedding People: A Novel | Alison Espach

pick

Loved loved LOVED this one!! It just all came together for me. The premise was unusual but never went too depressing & the storytelling was superb! I found it extremely funny, not LOL funny but I chuckled & enjoyed it a lot. And the serious bits were good and even wise. Loved the characters despite their flaws. I found the style of writing unique, not in an annoying pretentious way but enough to notice. Just a great book that I‘m sad to see end 🥲

50 likes