I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when I started this book, but I ended up really enjoying it! With unforgettable characters, this charming and heartfelt story takes readers on a journey to Newport, Rhode Island, where a chance encounter at a luxurious inn leads to unexpected friendships and life-changing revelations.

Phoebe Stone, our lovable and relatable protagonist, is the star of this novel. From the moment she steps foot in the Cornwall Inn, it’s clear that she’s not your typical guest. First of all, she is recently divorced, her cat just died, she up and left her teaching job the first week of classes, and she doesn’t care because, after tonight, none of that will matter because she will be dead and this hotel is exactly where she must end her time on earth. What Phoebe doesn’t know is that she wasn’t supposed to even be able to book a room at this hotel because every room had been booked for a week-long wedding.

Despite being mistaken for one of the wedding attendees, Phoebe’s presence soon becomes a defining factor in the lives of those she meets, changing her own outlook in the process. Lila, the meticulous bride who has planned every detail of her wedding weekend, finds herself opening up to Phoebe in ways she never anticipated. Initially, Phoebe’s presence is a minor inconvenience, but their unlikely friendship becomes a source of both laughter and heartfelt moments as the story unfolds.

Espach’s writing style is engaging and immersive, drawing readers into the lives of her characters with every page turn. The dialogue is sharp and witty, flawlessly capturing the essence of each character’s personality. None of the characters in the novel are wasted, and I enjoyed all of them, from Gary (the loveable groom-to-be), Jim (Gary’s friend and ex-brother-in-law), Marla (Gary’s sister), Lila’s best friends Nat and Suz and even Pauline, the hotel manager. They all felt real, and I honestly felt like I’d just spent a week with all of them.

The writing is great, and the author’s sense of place is immersive. I felt as though I was at the hotel. While I enjoyed the setting and the characters, what I loved most about this novel was that it teetered on the edge of becoming a familiar rom-com but, in the end, rose above familiar and expected tropes, focusing more on the unexpected connections we make in life. Phoebe’s journey from a depressed, lonely professor to an outspoken confidante for Lila was fun to experience. The two women came into each other’s lives exactly when they needed each other the most. Phoebe, who initially planned to end her life, found a new purpose in helping Lila. Lila, on the other hand, learned to let go of her need for control and found comfort in Phoebe’s company. I loved watching them both blossom and discover strengths neither knew they had.

While I started the book expecting a familiar rom-com, in the end, I got so much more. I loved that everything wasn’t tied up in a pretty bow, but still managed to end on a hopeful note. The book’s ability to balance humor and heart, its relatable characters, and its exploration of unexpected connections in life all contributed to making this a delightful and heartwarming read that I would definitely recommend.