WOW. I was not expecting this to sweep me up as much as it did. Ellie Palmer is now an insta-read author for me. Good plotting PLUS good dialogue PLUS Midwest setting PLUS public transit nerd? Be still my heart.

There were a handful of moments where I went “ah yes, this is a fresh author,” but they were few and far between. Can’t wait to see how she continues to grow in her craft!

I really enjoyed this book—it had a great balance of compelling characters and an engaging plot that kept me hooked. The writing was clear and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the story. Overall, it left me thinking about its themes long after I finished the last page.

I really loved the character arcs in this book. Both were afraid of change and to chase after what they wanted. I love that they found courage to go after those things together.

Imagine showing up to your ex-boyfriend’s funeral only to realize no one knows you broke up—and now you’re the grieving girlfriend. That’s the gloriously awkward premise of Four Weekends and a Funeral, where Alison Mullally agrees to fake her way through mourning while packing up his apartment with his grumpy (and annoyingly attractive) best friend. It’s like While You Were Sleeping met The Big Sick and decided to throw in a BRCA1 mutation, a double mastectomy, and a whole lot of emotional depth. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is slow-burn perfection, and the Midwestern charm is strong enough to make you crave Culver’s.

Pros? Hilarious premise, messy lovable heroine, and a romance that simmers like a Minnesota summer. Cons? You’ll want to hug Alison, slap Adam (at first), and possibly text your ex just to make sure he’s still alive. Ellie Palmer balances grief, identity, and second chances with heart and humor, making this debut feel like a warm hug wrapped in a slightly inappropriate eulogy. Highly recommend for fans of rom-coms with real stakes and characters who feel like your weird, wonderful friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!

First half was great but it slowed down a lot for me in the second half! I really wanted to like it more especially because I enjoyed exploring the themes around grief and loss.

A heartfelt and steamy romance that hits all the right notes. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and the emotional depth of their journey makes their love story feel both raw and real. With a perfect mix of passion and personal growth, this book is a quick, enjoyable escape. Highly recommend for anyone who loves swoon-worthy, emotional romances!

wow, wow, wow. This is a DEBUT? This will go down as one of my favorite reads this year. The writing was impeccable, with well developed characters, a unique and heartfelt plot, charming side characters, and the perfect ending. SO WELL DONE.

Four Weekends and a Funeral took me on a whirlwind.

Alison and Adam were two people living a facade to make others feel better at the expense of themselves. Alison was going through her own life crisis, dealing with her mother's insistency to discuss cancer risks vs just having regular mother and daughter relationship, while also playing "girlfriend" to her dead ex just help the family "feel better". And Sam, the "bestie" who had distanced himself from Sam and had his own thoughts and feelings that plagued him during the process of helping Alison fix up and clean out Sam's condo.

Now, this entire book, was so interesting, Watching them get to know each other. Understanding both perspectives and their vulnerabilities shared with each other. It was beautiful. Sam's messages from the future & my goodness. Everything that came from that.

The end had me in tears,

I just wrapped up Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer, and it was such a fun, heartfelt read. The story follows two people who have a complicated past and find themselves thrown together again under unexpected circumstances. It’s got all the feels—romance, friendship, and some really touching moments.

What really stood out to me was how well the book balances humor with emotional depth. The characters felt real, and their journey toward healing and maybe finding love again kept me hooked. Plus, the writing is super easy to get into, which made it hard to put down.

If you’re into stories about reconnecting with your past and figuring out what matters most, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

The premise of this book is what drew me in. A woman pretending she and her dead ex had never broken up, then getting stuck packing up his apartment with his best friend? It sounded wild and that’s what romcoms are all about. Four Weekends and a Funeral follows Allison, a BRCA1 carrier recovering from a double mastectomy, who pretends to be the grieving girlfriend of her late ex, Sam. Sam’s best friend, Adam, is textbook grumpy, but their banter is sharp, and they share amazing chemistry, at least to an extent. It eventually felt like the story kept going in circles and never quite reached its destination. This book explores grief, self-acceptance, and emotional healing. It doesn’t shy away from its heavy themes, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy romcoms with emotional depth.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Not much to say about this one. It was just okay for me, honestly. The first half was pretty good, but the second half lost steam (pacing and plot wise).

Speaking of steam, I'm not a huge fan of fade to black romances, so I think if it was even a little more open door, I would have liked it more. I think it would have made the chemistry between Adam and Alison more believable for me.

I liked the premise of Alison dealing with the aftermath of a preventative mastectomy, and all of the emotional parts that go with it. She feels like she cheated death so she needs to be more adventurous in her life even though that's not really her personality. I'm glad the author wrote in about her going to therapy, because she needs it badly for several reasons.

Anyway, this wasn't my favorite, but I think it will definitely have its audience. There are some fun tropes (grumpy sunshine, ex's best friend, forced proximity).

I found Four Weekends and a Funeral to be a touching and engaging read.
The dynamic between Alison and Adam is compelling. Their initial awkwardness evolves into a genuine connection, filled with moments of humor, tension, and heartfelt conversations. Alison’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance is portrayed with sensitivity, making her a relatable and inspiring
This book balances themes of grief, love, and personal. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance that delves deeper into the complexities of love and life.

This book was better than I was expecting. Could feel the chemistry between the love interests and could root for them, even if they met under weird circumstances. The book was very well-written and got me excited to read more from this author.it was truly an excellent book!

This was really cute and a quick read. Lived the character development and how layered the main character was.

Four Weekends and a Funeral mixes humor and banter with character depth in a perfect blend. I really enjoyed following Alison's health journey and the emotional impact of what she went through/worries about. I did find portions predictable, but I enjoyed the book along the way.

I received an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I’ve only known you four weeks, and you’ve completely corrupted me.” “I reverse grinched you.”

“Welcome to the Sad and Lonely Club. Thrilled to have you.”

Alison shows up at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral, only to find out his family thinks they were still together. Caught off guard, she goes along with it and ends up spending four weekends packing up his apartment with his grumpy best friend, Adam. What starts as an awkward arrangement turns into something more, filled with witty banter and unexpected chemistry.

This book is a delightful mix of humor and heart. Alison's journey of self-discovery, especially after her double mastectomy, adds depth to the story. The slow-burn romance with Adam is both sweet and satisfying. It's a story about grief, healing, and finding love in the most unexpected places.

This book was written for you if:
1. You enjoy grumpy-sunshine romances.
2. You're a fan of stories that balance humor with emotional depth.
3. You appreciate narratives about personal growth and second chances.

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘮𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵."


Continuing on my "catch up on my books" sprint, and we're on to this beauty by Ellie Palmer!

I'll be the first to admit that the idea of pretending to be a dead guy's girlfriend (instead of admitting that you broke up) was a weird concept to me at first. BUT, I ended up really, REALLY falling in love with these two.

And as much as I wanted to be annoyed with Alison's INSISTANT need to get into all the outdoorsy stuff, I can't say that I wouldn't 100% be the same way if I was in the same boat.

More than anything, this book hit an extremely close space in my life. My mom had breast cancer twice, and had a double mastectomy on the second time. She took the genetic tests and lucky for me, they came back negative, but I spent a good portion of this thinking about how I could have very easily been in the same exact place as Alison.

🩷 Opposites Attract
🗓 Grumpy x Sunshine
🩷 (Deceased) Ex-Boyfriend's Best Friend
🗓 Forced Proximity
🩷 ALL the Harrison Ford References
🗓 Breast Cancer/Prevention
🩷 Navigating Guilt and Grief
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I thought this was a cute read and thought that the characters were fantastic! I love the grumpy x sunshine trope and this one was done brilliantly! The story did feel like it moved slow through the middle but overall I liked it!

My heart is all warm and fuzzy after "Four Weekends and a Funeral" by Ellie Palmer -. what a beautiful and unlikely romance. When Allison's ex-BF unexpectedly dies, she realizes at the funeral that he told no one that they broke up. When his sister, Rachel says to Allison, “It’s one day. You guys only dated for a minute, and when the grief fog lifts, they’ll forget all about you. I— we just need you to be ‘the girlfriend’ today. Please.” I would have broken too. Allison now has to pretend they were still together, to his grieving family and best friend (who she may or may not have some insane chemistry with).

I absolutely need Mara's story ASAP!