Summary

The novel takes place over the course of a week at a luxury hotel called the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. The first chapter takes place on Tuesday and coincides with the opening reception of a wedding taking place at the hotel. The protagonist, Phoebe, arrives at the hotel. She is visiting alone in the aftermath of her divorce from her husband Matt. Phoebe has brought no luggage with her and no clothes other than the emerald color evening dress she is wearing. Inside the hotel, she joins a long line of people waiting to check-in and realizes there is a wedding happening during her stay. She eavesdrops on the conversation of the two women in front of her, friends of the bride who are later revealed to be named Nat and Suz.

The bride, Lila, exits the elevator and begins handing out...