The Wedding People
Alison Espach, Phoenix
Books as fun as this one are few and far between. Every room in a luxury American hotel is booked out for a ludicrously OTT wedding – except for one. Phoebe Stone is preparing for something quite different: she is going to end her life in the most expensive suite. When spoilt Lila, the bride to be, realises that someone is getting in the way of her perfect day, mayhem breaks loose – but not in the way you might expect. This novel is unexpected and delightful, funny but never cruel, and loving and tender towards all its characters, even the villainous sister-in-law. If you feel your romcoms are getting a little too predictable, this is the book for you: pure enjoyment, and an excellent gift for almost anyone.
Say You’ll Be My Jaan
Naina Kumar, Penguin
“Think of it like Tinder,” we’re told of arranged marriage. “Except your parents are the algorithm.” Fake-relationship romances are nothing new, but this one is particularly lovely. Karthik is work-focused and trying to placate his mother; Meghna is still in love with The One Who Got Away and needs a plus-one for his wedding, so they agree to an arranged engagement – and guess what? Kumar jumps perspectives easily and keeps things moving in a novel that’s so warm and funny, and particularly good on food and cultural expectations, that’s it’s incredibly impressive that it’s a debut.
