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We Are Gathered Here Today
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26The Wedding People meets The Celebrants in this hilarious and profound novel about a recently engaged gay man second guessing marriage, and his cousin’s chaotic Texas wedding weekend with old friends and unexpected strangers that will help guide him to the truth, from the beloved author of The Old Place.
At 36, Finlay Hightower has attended countless incredible, cringe-worthy, and disastrous wedding celebrations with his best friends. Their secret to surviving wedding chaos? The Hour of Disrespect—a pact to reserve judgement to one hour after the couple’s Big Day, protecting the wedding glow and leaving only with the good memories.
But this next wedding will test their decade-old tradition in more ways than one. Now, one of their own is getting married—Fin’s beloved cousin, Elaine—at a Wild West-themed venue in the sweltering Texas summer heat that is as meticulously itineraried as it is kitchy. Reserving opinions won’t be easy, and on top of that Fin has a secret that threatens his officiant he’s just gotten engaged to the man of his dreams, and a sense of unease has him questioning if he believes in the institution of marriage at all.
As Fin joins the rambunctious and increasingly unhinged “queer table”, old friendships are tested and new relationships are formed. Will each guest hold back their particular views on love, commitment, and the wedding before Elaine can say “I do”? And if not, could those confessions ultimately give Fin the courage to uncover his truth?
Like any good wedding, We Are Gathered Here Today is funny, heartfelt, and full of surprises. Like any terrible wedding, it’s something you’ll never forget.
At 36, Finlay Hightower has attended countless incredible, cringe-worthy, and disastrous wedding celebrations with his best friends. Their secret to surviving wedding chaos? The Hour of Disrespect—a pact to reserve judgement to one hour after the couple’s Big Day, protecting the wedding glow and leaving only with the good memories.
But this next wedding will test their decade-old tradition in more ways than one. Now, one of their own is getting married—Fin’s beloved cousin, Elaine—at a Wild West-themed venue in the sweltering Texas summer heat that is as meticulously itineraried as it is kitchy. Reserving opinions won’t be easy, and on top of that Fin has a secret that threatens his officiant he’s just gotten engaged to the man of his dreams, and a sense of unease has him questioning if he believes in the institution of marriage at all.
As Fin joins the rambunctious and increasingly unhinged “queer table”, old friendships are tested and new relationships are formed. Will each guest hold back their particular views on love, commitment, and the wedding before Elaine can say “I do”? And if not, could those confessions ultimately give Fin the courage to uncover his truth?
Like any good wedding, We Are Gathered Here Today is funny, heartfelt, and full of surprises. Like any terrible wedding, it’s something you’ll never forget.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 16, 2026
1063 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bobby Finger, known for weaving intricate stories from seemingly simple narratives, delivers another captivating tale in this upcoming novel.
Fans of The Wedding People or any Steven Rowley novel will find this one particularly enjoyable, as it revolves around a weekend-long wedding celebration. The protagonist, Fin, is asked to officiate his cousin’s wedding in the Hill Country in Texas and leaves behind a few secrets and baggage behind in New York City that gradually unfold throughout the story.
This was my third novel by Finger, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I’ll admit that it didn’t quite reach the same level of strength as his previous works. There were instances where the narrative became overly detailed and deviated from the main plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. It’s scheduled to be released on June 16, 2026.
Fans of The Wedding People or any Steven Rowley novel will find this one particularly enjoyable, as it revolves around a weekend-long wedding celebration. The protagonist, Fin, is asked to officiate his cousin’s wedding in the Hill Country in Texas and leaves behind a few secrets and baggage behind in New York City that gradually unfold throughout the story.
This was my third novel by Finger, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I’ll admit that it didn’t quite reach the same level of strength as his previous works. There were instances where the narrative became overly detailed and deviated from the main plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. It’s scheduled to be released on June 16, 2026.
February 15, 2026
We Are Gathered Here Today raises a variety of fresh perspectives on relationships, marriage, and love that I found compelling. While I appreciated the premise, the pacing was slower than I would have liked.
This book would appeal to readers interested in LGBTQ+ relationship stories and character-driven fiction that prioritizes reflection—particularly how lived experience shapes personal values and perceptions of others.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book would appeal to readers interested in LGBTQ+ relationship stories and character-driven fiction that prioritizes reflection—particularly how lived experience shapes personal values and perceptions of others.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF We Are Gathered Here Today by Bobby Finger.
I made it about a third of the way in and realized… nothing had happened that felt exciting, urgent, or even particularly interesting. I didn’t feel invested in what any of the characters were doing, and that’s usually my sign to let a book go.
Maybe it clicks later, but it didn’t for me. 📚
I made it about a third of the way in and realized… nothing had happened that felt exciting, urgent, or even particularly interesting. I didn’t feel invested in what any of the characters were doing, and that’s usually my sign to let a book go.
Maybe it clicks later, but it didn’t for me. 📚
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews