The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker (story reading txt) 📕

other without having to think through the consequences. By the time I finished the final manuscript in 2020, a holiday like the one in its pages had become logistically impossible and in some countries actually illegal.

Sometimes I can’t believe how much I used to take for granted. But The Wedding Night is a novel about the things we assume will always be there—our friends, our loved ones, our privacy—and how close we can come to losing them. I hope its message resonates, despite curtailed horizons, almost as much as I hope we can have group holidays (and hangovers) again soon.

There are so many people to thank for getting this book out into the world during unprecedented times. My brilliant agent, Laura Macdougall—with love to Thea. My editors at Ballantine and Hodder, Hilary Teeman and Kimberley Atkins—your ideas and enthusiasm were a driving force—and to Caroline Weishuhn: Your dating insights brought me into the digital era! To Denise Cronin and the Random House rights department: Thank you for repping me far and wide. There are so many others at PRH and Hodder who have polished my words and put them out there—Colleen and Debbie, Vero and Alice in particular. To Kate Miciak, who gave me the chance to do something I love—I am forever grateful and always learning.

To Alex—tops pal—for providing the time, space, and happiness to write, and then listening to endless anxieties on the subject. To Freda and Dougie for keeping my heart full. To my parents, first readers again and always the most important, and my sisters: my champions; my Dooms.

To Anna and Nicola, who have taught me confidence and made me strong. To the Mexico gals, my Loose Women, and The Times fashion desk, who all toasted and Zoomed The New Girl into existence in a closed world last year—and, of course, to the amazingly kind community it found out there. Thank you so much for reading.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

As the novel opens, we see Effie and Anna reminiscing on how their friendships have changed since their university days, as they’ve all grown older and their lives have changed. Have you ever had similar thoughts about old friendships? Were you able to maintain those friendships, or did they fall away?

One of the things Anna struggles with throughout the novel are her feelings about becoming a mother, and how becoming a mother has affected how she sees herself, her husband, her friends, and even her career. Have you ever found yourself in a similar position, where a dramatic life change has affected how you view your life, and how others in your life view you?

Throughout the novel, we see Effie struggle to find a healthy way to cope with her recent breakup, even as her friends try to help as much as they can. Have you ever felt similarly, or have you ever helped a friend who was feeling similarly? What effect, if any, do you think societal pressures have on Effie’s coping mechanisms?

Lizzie, too, is struggling with the dissolution of her relationship and calling off her wedding. What do you think of her friends’ decision to take her mind off things by going to the château anyway? Do you think it would help or hurt?

As the novel progresses, we see Lizzie’s ex continue to psychologically torment her, even though she’s ended things. Why do you think that is? What do you think motivates her ex to treat her this way—is it embarrassment, or pride, or something else altogether?

As secrets begin to come out, we learn to what lengths Effie has gone to for Lizzie, and in turn, what lengths Lizzie has gone to for Effie. Would you go to similar lengths for your best friend? Why, or why not?

At the beginning of the novel, Effie and Anna are quite intimidated by Iso and find it hard to warm up to her, but despite not growing close with the women, Iso stands up for Effie and Lizzie and is a key part of the novel’s resolution. How did you feel as you watched the women band together? What do you make of the fact that society often pits women against one another instead of teaching them to band together?

By Harriet Walker

The Wedding Night

The New Girl

PHOTO: ©CLAIRE PEPPER

Harriet Walker is the fashion editor of The Times (UK) and author of The New Girl. Born in Glasgow and raised in Sheffield, Walker studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and lives in South London with her husband and two young children.

harrietwalker.com

Twitter: @harrywalker1

Instagram: @_harrywalker1

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