While drunk after the bachelorette party, Lila confesses to Phoebe that she does not want to marry Gary.
Gary is still struggling with the death of his wife.
Because she is drunk, Lila falls asleep in Phoebe's bed. Lila is snoring, and Phoebe can not sleep. Phoebe finds the spare key to Lila’s room. When Phoebe gets there, Gary knocks on the door. Gary is drunk as well after his own bachelor party. He tells Phoebe that he is upset with Jim. Jim threw Gary the same bachelor party as he did for his last wedding, and Gary believes he did it on purpose. He reveals that he is still very much not emotionally past the death of his wife. Gary also adds to the Jim-Lila lore by disclosing that it was Jim’s idea to go to the art gallery that day. For the rest of the conversation, they enjoy each other's company and begin holding hands. However, when Lila wakes up the following day, it is as if the confessions of last night never happened, and the wedding is back on.
Resentment continues to grow between Lila and Phoebe.
Phoebe was initially charmed by Lila’s boldness and her open-armed attitude towards Phoebe, but now she is irritated by her childlike behavior. Lila asks Phoebe to go in her place on a morning surfing activity. Phoebe continues to bond with Gary and his daughter, Juice.
Jim reveals that he has a crush on Lila first and is resentful towards Gary
When Phoebe returns from the surf outing, she and Jim take an edible and get to work on their speeches for the rehearsal dinner. While high, Jim talks to Phoebe about how he met Lila and confesses that he was the one initially interested in her and that Lila was clearly interested in him, as well. However, because Jim felt bad for Gary he let Gary pursue a relationship with Lila, which he now ultimately regrets. Jim also tells Phoebe that Gary isn't himself with Lila, but has been more like himself again now that he is spending time with Phoebe.
A bonding montage ends with a confession from Gary
The next day, Lila asks Phoebe to tag along with Gary before the rehearsal dinner so that Gary can get a haircut and finalize his tux. Inevitably the two continue to bond. They also visit a mansion that Phoebe wants to become the winter caretaker of, positioning herself to live in the same town as Gary in the future. While waiting for a haircut, Gary confesses to Phoebe that he can't stop thinking about Phoebe and that while he knows he is supposed to be getting married tomorrow, he has to let Phoebe know how he feels. Phoebe tells Gary that he isn't crazy, but that what he is saying is scary because he is supposed to be getting married tomorrow. The conversation ends and while Gary tries to resume it, Phoebe decides that there is nothing left to say. She feels beholden to Lila and also to the production of the big wedding day.
The love square continues, as Lila, Jim, Gary, and Phoebe all share moments together at the rehearsal dinner
Phoebe considers hooking up with Jim, but then she watches Lila and the way that she looks at Jim when they are talking to each other. We, the readers, know that Lila and Jim want to be together, and now Phoebe knows as well. Instead, Phoebe considers a guy named Roy. They have a conversation and he is obviously not a good match. Jim begins to give Phoebe attention, laughing overly loud at her jokes and holding her hand, clearly trying to compensate for the pain he feels as Lila marries Gary.
Jim gives his best man speech and reveals to everyone that he was interested in Lila first
In his best man speech, Jim talks about what a good man Gary is to friends and family. Then Jim adds, however, that Gary is a terrible wingman because Jim was supposed to be the one to ask Lila out that fateful day when they went to visit the gallery. While the crowd reads this as a joke, Lila knows that he is actually confessing his love for her as he talks about how amazing she is and discusses how he is amazed by her.
Phoebe confirms to Lila that Jim is in love with her. Jim storms off after confronting Lila.
After the speech, Lila and Phoebe go to the bathroom. Lila seems shocked that Jim would say what he did, but Phoebe tells her that she is not surprised because she knows that Jim is in love with Lila. Lila comes back out and misdirects her anger and confusion to the staff and Jim confronts her explaining that he is frustrated with her for becoming upset over little things, and also with Gary for sitting back and letting her do it. Jim then leaves the rehearsal dinner.
Juice becomes sick after drinking wine at the rehearsal dinner and cries with Lila about missing her mom.
Gary shows up and tells Phoebe that he thinks he is making a mistake. But ultimately, Phoebe does not push him on this point, and unexpectedly...
Phoebe’s ex-husband, Matt, shows up at the hotel
Matt tells Phoebe that he wants to get back together and that he thinks that he has made a mistake. Phoebe spends the night with him but wakes up with the resolve that she does not want to get back together with her ex-husband.
On the day of the wedding, Jim apologizes to Lila and Lila calls off the wedding blaming it on the car
After Jim apologizes to Lila and she is about to head to her wedding, she sees the car that is meant to take her to the wedding and decides it is not fancy enough. Lila decides this is the final straw and calls off the wedding.
Lila runs off to Canada with her mom and the next day Gary and Phoebe reunite
The book concludes with Phoebe deciding to return to St. Louis to sell her and Matt's old house and tie up other loose ends. She is planning to come back in late fall to care for the mansion. The author strongly suggests that Phoebe and Gary will be together afterward, but also leaves the ending open as to how that all unfolds - potentially in a sequel!?
What other twists and turns were you surprised by reading "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach? Did you see the ending coming or were you surprised!? Do you think there will be a sequel and would you read it?Comment down below and let me know!
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