A Wedding in December is the first of Anita Shreve‘s many books that I have read. It tells of school friends reuniting for a weekend in the Berkshires for a wedding. It is the wedding of their friends who were high school sweethearts and are now together again after 27 years.

The story brings to mind the movie The Big Chill. Although in the book, they are not gathered for a funeral, there is the long ago death of their most charismatic friend Stephen, who is on everyone’s mind.

Shreve explores the territory of roads not taken, regrets, longing, and secrets uncovered as these friends get to know each other again after so many years apart. It is set in post 9/11 America and this is very much on everyone’s mind as well. I didn’t find the book remarkable, but I enjoyed it.