A heartfelt debut that delivers real laughs alongside deep emotional moments. Watching Alison come to terms what she wants out of life, including delectable grump Adam, was a journey I won't forget soon.

If you love books with:
☕️ Grumpy + sunshine
☕️Forced Proximity
☕️ Fake Dating with a twist
☕️ Banter

You will love this funny, sweet rom-com with some heavy topics weaved in. There is shared grief and learning that you are enough. I was sucked into the story from first chapter. This had a fake dating plot twist that forces the MC's together. They have to work together for four weekends and by the end of it it’s not enough time.
Adam is a grump with a soft heart and Alison is a people pleaser who is on a journey of self discovery. Watching them fall in love was heartwarming. This is a must read I had such a fun good time reading it.

Palmer has absolutely stunned in her debut novel and has produced a must-read!

The characters are expertly round and developed, featuring very niche quirks that you find in your most interesting friends. The dialogue will feel familiar to fans of sharp-tongued, fast-paced Gilmore Girls banter, with poignant and relevant pop culture references and puns that will make you snort a bit. Four Weekends and a Funeral is a true page turner, and has the audience laughing alongside, and rooting for, the Minnesota cast of Midwesterners.

Audiences will learn (or relate to) the nuance of living with the BRCA1 gene mutation from Alison’s first-person perspective while being utterly absorbed in the unexpected love story. This novel shines as a representation of this condition in literature, and champions the heroine’s nonlinear journey to contentment.

A total triumph

The narrator references her boobs and nipples so much. I understand that the surgery is a major plot point for HER life, but it doesn't feel central to the plot of the actual story being told. If the author wanted to tell that story, she should have.

A 5⭐️ DEBUT!!!

WOW 🤩 I absolutely LOVED everything about this book! Palmer takes on grief in its many forms, and somehow manages to give us a light, romantic and fun book! I adored both Ali and Adam, and appreciated both of their journeys to self discovery. And Adam *swoon* he is an absolute dream guy 😍

Trust me, you do not want to miss this unexpected romance!!

I have been eagerly anticipating this debut and I enjoyed it so much! It's a really fun premise with some heavier topics and the balance was done so well. The writing is fresh and light and really delivers on the banter and humor and tension that I was hoping for. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Alison and Adam and I can even forgive this for being a closed door romance because the slow burn anticipation was so good.

If you like your romances a little more on the complex side or if you're a fan of forced proximity or grumpy/sunshine, this is definitely not one to miss!

i wa intrigued by this title and was captivated immediately. some parts were slow others had me tearing up i enjoyed this book and would recommend to those who are looking for something not so cheesy and romantic because a lot of the times we do find love in the most unconvential places

Alison attends her ex-boyfriend Sam's funeral only to realize his family still thinks they are a couple. To comfort his grieving family, Alison is asked to pretend they are still serious. Things get complicated when she agrees to help clear out Sam’s place, especially when Adam, Sam's grumpy best friend, who doesn't like Alison, insists on helping her.
Alison’s journey as a BRCA 1 carrier post-double-mastectomy is also a big part of the story. The premise was unique and added depth to the story as Alison navigated her emotions around it. The pacing of the story is good for the most part, though it drags a bit in the middle, with some conflicts feeling dragged out. If you’re into Emily Henry, you’ll probably enjoy the mix of humor and serious moments. Overall, it’s a touching read.

"Four Weekends and a Funeral" grabs your attention from the get go with a very interesting plot...the ex girlfriend of Sam (whose funeral Alison attends), pretends to be Sam's current girlfriend for the sake of his family. Specifically, Sam's sister, who convinced Alison that Sam's parents would be devastated in knowing that Alison was another girlfriend that their son wasn't serious about.

Alison sees Adam, Sam's best friend, and sparks fly despite the tension between the two. It would seem Alison and Adam are at odds with each other, even if they have more in common than what meets the eye.

Over the course of four weekends, Alison and Adam clean out Sam's apartment and meet to go through their friend's old things that were left behind. The relationship between Alison and Adam is definitely that of a slow burn but very rewarding once they acknowledge their feelings for each other.

The characters in the story are very genuine and there is plenty of heart packed into Ellie Palmer's debut novel. I also appreciated Alison's point of view in her struggle with preventative measures for breast cancer due to the hereditary effects of this disease on her family.

Overall, I enjoyed the cozy rom com (with a bit of heaviness at times), and found it perfect for a fall read!

Simply adorable. ❤️

This romantic comedy was a heartfelt and charming exploration of love, loss, and the surprising ways life can turn around. It brought together two unlikely characters with the death of Alison's ex-boyfriend and Adam's old best friend. Alison's struggle with her past and the prickly yet irresistible chemistry with Adam create an emotional rollercoaster that will no doubt explode. It's perfect for fans of slow-burn romances with plenty of heart. I appreciate the authenticity it brought to breast cancer awareness.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Five stars

It's taken me a while to get around to this review, but I finally am! And I am so happy I had the opportunity to read this book. I first picked it up because it was said to be for fans of Falon Ballard, and because of that it was a very anticipated read, and it delivered and went beyond my expectations! From the chemistry between the two characters, the banter, and just the whole VIBES. I loved this book in and out and this is one of the only books that I'd want to reread that's how much I loved it.

Ellie Palmer's debut. Four Weekends and a Funeral, gives you everything you want from a rom-com. While at her ex-boyfriend's funeral, Alison is put in the awkward position of being asked to pretend she and her deceased ex were still together. The lie leads to her having to clean out Sam's apartment with his grumpy best friend.

This fun and funny work from Palmer is a quick read guaranteed to leave the reader in a good mood.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness was this the sweetest book. Alison shows up at her ex's funeral only to realize that everyone there thinks they were still together. Instead of breaking their hearts further, she goes along with it and even offers to clean out his apartment so that his grieving parents don't have to. His best friend, Adam, is also set to help and as they work through those four weekends with one another, they go through a grieving process and grow closer.
It feels weird dating her dead ex's best friend, but from the moment she saw Adam she knew there was something there. Adam felt it too, but if only he could get past the fact that everyone still sees her as Sam's. There is a lot of back and forth and feelings of grief and also struggle with the fact that they aren't living their lives the way they should be.
There is a lot of growth in both characters in this book, but the ending really sent me over the swoon edge. I had a feeling that was where it was going the whole book, but I am glad that I was right and it was done in the most beautiful way. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Penguin, Netgalley and Ellie Palmer for an early copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ARC Review

What a stunning and wonderful debut novel. I truly loved and enjoyed this book. It has While you Were Sleeping Vibes and I just love that movie! The biggest trigger warning for this book is breast cancer. There is a lot of mention of breast cancer and the BRCA1 gene. The main character is positive for this gene and is on a journey of prevention. There is survivors guilt and many other struggles associated with this. While this is such a serious topic it was incorporated into the book so well and it truly did nothing but enhance the story.

I loved being a part of Alison’s journey and the insight into her mind and soul. Adam was such a great character too, he brought a different perspective and energy to the book. Alison + Adam was an excellent combo their relationship started in such a humorous/serious way but it was so beautiful and full of charm. Also the storing female friendships in this book were so beautiful and inspiring, and yet they were very humorous. The nicknames and the trivia had me laughing out loud so much! Also the swooniest grand gesture of all was one of my favorite scenes.

QUOTE: "You don't need to prove you deserve your life to me or anyone.
You deserve it, because everyone does.
When they die or get sick or have to get a mastectomy, it's not because they deserve it. It's not fair, and it's random.
There's nothing we can do other than live how we want to live."

Enjoyable content:
🩷 Grumpy/Sunshine
🤍 Memtal health rep
🩷 Forced proximity
🤍 Fun and wittiest banter
🩷 Midwest setting
🤍 Strong female friendships

Thank you to the author Ellie Palmer and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy of the book!

This book had all the ingredients that I need in a romance. It gave me so many feelings! It had the depth of emotion I was craving but the author manages to keep it light-hearted, too. We have a quirky female lead with a serious backstory. I thought it was amazing that the author worked the main character’s elective bilateral mastectomy into the plot. It was fascinating and I think there are a lot of women who will feel very seen. There are many medical conditions that can make dating difficult and I think the author handled it beautifully.
Our male lead is a respectful cinnamon roll and I just loved him.
Kudos to this author for writing a fantastic romance that will make you laugh and cry but, ultimately, close this book feeling satisfied.

The title hooked me, but the story held me captive!

Allison finds herself in a tough spot when her ex-boyfriend, Sam, dies tragically. His parents, unaware of their breakup, treat her as though she’s still part of the family at his funeral. Not wanting to add to their grief, Allison goes along with it. Enter Adam, Sam's best friend, who is also in the dark about the breakup. The two of them are asked to clear out Sam's condo together.

From the start, there's tension between Allison and Adam. He's a bit short and grumpy, and she’s just trying to navigate this awkward situation. Yet, as they spend more time together, they begin to like each other's company. But the question remains: is it okay to develop feelings for your deceased best friend’s ex?

The characters are genuinely likable, and watching Allison and Adam’s friendship grow while they try to suppress their feelings kept me glued to the pages. There were some deeply emotional moments that resonated with me, and the author beautifully captured feelings I’ve struggled to express myself.

I also loved the banter between Allison and her besties—they are the kind of friends every girl needs!

This is a perfect beach read, so with just a few weeks of summer left, dive in—I’m confident you’ll love it!

OKAY so I've been sitting on this book for a couple of days. I finished this book and had so many feelings about it.

First, this was an incredible debut story. I loved all of the Minnesota references, pop culture woven in (had a hilarious discussion about my hubby's fave, Harrison Ford, and how grumpy he is in Working Girl lol), trivia... there was just a lot of fun sprinkled into this really heavy book dealing with grief.

Trigger warnings include... breast cancer. My mom had breast cancer when I was right out of college. She was tested for the BRCA1 gene, and luckily she was negative, which means I was negative. However, this is a story about Alison, who was positive because her mom was positive.

My own grief was brought to the surface while reading this book, but also my empathy. There are so many feelings I didn't consider when my mom went through breast cancer, and feelings that I certainly never considered like those feelings Alison expressed after her double mastectomy. Parts of this book just made me uncomfortable in the best way. At first, I was like, this is heavy and I don't like it. But then I kept reading, and I was grateful for everything that Ellie Palmer shared along this journey. The grief that women face when they're diagnosed with something that takes away part of their womanhood was handled with delicate care. As someone who has been battling infertility since before I was old enough to have kids, this was a warm hug on a cold day.

Then, throw in the complexity (and honestly, hilarity), of Alison being Sam's "girlfriend" at his funeral and then falling for his best friend's girlfriend while also going through his own grief process over losing his best friend and continually being confronted by Sam's parents and facing the reality of his growing feelings of guilt for the way he treated Sam before he died and then going and falling for his girl....

Truthfully, I loved this book. It walked the line with friendship, grief, love, romance, acceptance, denial, and so much more. It handled all kinds of heavy topics with care and yet still arrived at the end with a joy I didn't think was possible.

5 stars. That's all. That's the review. Please read this.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC of this one. These are my honest thoughts!

This is a delightful romance set in the Twin Cities. Alison tried becoming more adventurous after testing positive for the BRCA1 mutation and having an elective double mastectomy to remove the risk of developing breast cancer like her mother. In the end, her short term boyfriend Sam dumped her for not really being adventurous and now she is attending his funeral six weeks later where his parent's think that they were still dating. With her people pleasing nature, she agrees to clean out Sam's place with his friend Adam. I look forward to more books written by Ellie Palmer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for my honest review.

Four Weekends and a Funeral is about Alison, a woman who goes to Sam's, her ex-boyfriend, funeral to find out his family still thinks they are together. Sam's sister convinces her to lie about their relationship status since his mother was happy he was finally settling down. Alison then gets roped into cleaning out his apartment with his grumpy best friend, Adam.

I loved both main characters. Alison recently had a double mastectomy and is trying to live life to the fullest, which is what drew Sam into dating her since he is adventurous. Adam is getting ready to start his woodworking business, but has reservations on moving back to the Twin Cities from the North Shore. Both characters are going through their own grief and figuring out what they want out of life. While this book has a lot of heart, it was laugh out loud funny as well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to future books from this debut author.

Four Weekends and a Funeral was such a delightful debut! A miscommunication that led to Alison pretending to be the grieving girlfriend of her just-deceased ex-boyfriend also has her packing up his apartment with his gruff best friend, Adam, in four weekends. This story was wonderfully layered and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these main characters. Train enthusiast and BRCA 1 carrier Alison with her post-double-mastectomy new lease on life had Ross Gellar from Friends meets Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory vibes, and Adam was a protective cinnamon roll in a wood-working viking package. I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to seeing more from this newer author!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.