Do you ever get the feeling that you are late to the party? I did with this book. I started hearing about it at the end of last year and immediately wanted to read it, but by that point it had already won the Goodreads Reader's Fiction prize for 2024.
When Phoebe Stone checks into the beautiful Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, she has a plan. She is wearing an emerald silk gown, has no luggage and is alone. Her plan is to have one night of indulgence and then she will kill herself. Phoebe is at rock bottom as she is recently divorced, her cat has died, her work is going nowhere, and she has to still see her ex and his new partner (who used to be Phoebe's friend) at work.
It immediately becomes clear that Phoebe is the only guest in the hotel who is not there for a six day wedding extravaganza. When Lila, the bride, finds out what Phoebe's plan is she is absolutely appalled. Nothing, nothing can ruin the event that she has spent a fortune on so that it will be just perfect.
Soon, despite her best efforts, Phoebe finds herself sharing confidences with various members of the wedding party, and getting more involved in the event than she ever thought possible. Whilst Lila is projecting the image of the perfect happy bride, the reality is different. As they swap stories, it becomes clear that happiness is an illusion. Phoebe looks back over her life, her marriage, her career. Is it possible that Phoebe could find a way out of her own unhappiness?
I am going to put it out there now. I loved this book! It is smart and funny, sad and hopeful, and so many more things. Lila could have come across as a bridezilla, and she possibly is to a degree, but she is also a woman who believes that it is a expected that she will have this perfect life, and she is trying really hard to achieve it, despite everything. Phoebe believes that she has nothing to live for, and finds that despite everything that has led her to this place, she might be wrong.
The book is structured in an interesting way too. Each chapter is one of the days in the lead up to the wedding. This makes for some very long chapters (which I don't necessarily love) but it also gives the events more gravitas as the actual wedding day gets closer and closer.
Someone asked me recently how do I decide if a book is a 5 star read or not, and I have to say that it is very unscientific for me. It all comes down to how I feel when I close the book! A book doesn't have to be technically perfect, but if I close it with a huge sigh and a smile on my face, and I have felt all the emotions when I read it, then it's five stars. Bear in mind, I am very stingy with my 5 star gradings so it is all about that elusive feeling! If I have loved a book but don't quite get that gut feeling then it will be 4.5 stars which is still an excellent grade. This book, gave me all the feelings, and so is a 5 star read. Even though I read it a couple of weeks ago, it still gives me those feelings!
Rating 5/5
Lovely review, thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteI have been on the waiting list for this at the library for months! I didn't realize it was set in Newport, which is less than two hours away from me and which I enjoy visiting. Glad you enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteI THINK this is already on my TBR, but I'm going to add it if it's not. I give a book 5 stars if it's something I would read again. :)
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