I found this hardcover in my Little Free Library in Nashua NH. Thanks to whoever left it! (It's set in Newport, Rhode Island, so maybe I'll release it on a day-trip down that way.)

The setup: Phoebe, whose marriage has fallen apart during the pandemic and whose beloved old cat has just died, decides to take a room in a luxury hotel in Newport - where she plans to end her life. But when she arrives, she finds that the place has been booked for an elaborate wedding, and she's the only person in the hotel who isn't part of it. While waiting in line to check in, she overhears lots of tidbits about the wedding couple and their friends - and then the bride comes out, distributing welcome gifts to one and all, including Phoebe. Cue the beginnings of - well, what exactly? A wacky misunderstanding? A beautiful friendship?

I liked this a lot more than I expected to, despite the many plot-coincidences and rather unlikely friendships/romances. Phoebe herself I liked; she had been through a lot, and while she did have that low point she rebounded well. Her pithy "what have I got to lose" honesty helps a lot of people, including herself.

I also enjoyed the settings, from the luxury hotel with its maddening yet entertaining bridezilla Lila to the scenes on the Rhode Island shore. And while I wouldn't have been able to tolerate that level of crowd, never mind the multi-day wedding events, I very much liked reading about them.

Phoebe does stumble across some lovely new opportunities, and given the tone of the book I choose to believe that they'll all work out (however unlikely that would be in real life {wry grin}.

I'm sending this to BCer BookBirds as a RABCK. Enjoy!

Released for:

** 2025 Valentine challenge **

Thanks a ton for this RABCK, GoryDetails! I need to read it for the Morning News Tournament of Books. Very appreciate it AND the variety of stamps that were on the package. :D Happy reading!