DNFd at 20%. Flat one dimensional characters. I couldn’t find myself being interested in or caring at all what was happening to them or where the story was going. It’s not engaging the reader at all and reads like someone talking at you instead of to you. Too much telling you the story and not enough showing you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Ok, so where do I begin?

If you are a lover of the following tropes, add this book to your TBR:


✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ “Fake” Dating
✨ Enemies to Lovers



Four Weekends and a Funeral starts off with FMC - Alison who is diagnosed with a BRCA-1 gene mutation after her mom developed cancer. As a result, Alison undergoes a preventative double mastectomy and throughout the book we learn about her struggles in dealing with this diagnosis. Alison arrives at her ex boyfriend, Sam’s funeral and is surprised to find out that Sam did not tell anyone about their breakup 6 weeks earlier. Sam’s sister, Rachael ask Alison if she can continue to play the part of girlfriend for the sake of the family and their friends. Alison volunteers to clean out Sam’s condo with his best friend Adam, the grump and the story goes from there. Will the grump continue to “dislike” Alison, or will there be a happy ending?



I honestly enjoyed the development of the characters throughout as it felt realistic instead of something that was rushed. Four Weekends and a Funeral is not simply a rom-com, it also portrays grief, people-pleasing tendencies from the FMC and a journey to find oneself. Alison’s friend group is also so supportive, which is something I enjoyed seeing.



In efforts to not spoil it for anyone I will end this review right here.



Thank you NetGalley, Putnam and Ellie Palmer for the opportunity at obtaining an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4
Thanks Netgalley for the early review copy!!
There's a lot going on in this book The characters do a lot of growing and figuring things out. I loved the MMC,
There was a good amount of drama, but not romantic drama, more like personal-growth drama.
I would still categorize it as a RomCom, but a bit more emotional (survivor's guilt, grief, cancer....)

First, thanks to Penguin for this ARC! It's always a pleasure to read a debut novel, and especially cool to get to read it before most of the world does.

I'll start with my first gripe with this book - which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it - which is that there are ... no weddings??? I thought the title was a nod to "Four WEDDINGS and a Funeral" - no? Though it was fun to experience a sort of "ohhhh" moment as I neared page 200 and began to realize there would not, indeed, be a wedding, I do feel somewhat cheated as a reader? But I guess I just assumed incorrectly.

My second big gripe is that it does lean a bit on the Hallmark-y side of romance. I, for some reason, wasn't expecting that. I mean ... it goes full Christmas. That's not really my jam most of the time, but if that's what you're looking for, this definitely has the emotional, cozy, warm fuzzy, chai-tea-by-the-fireplace feels you could ever want in a rom-com book.

In spite of the Hallmark-ness, there's definitely a depth and sense of drive in this book that I found compelling. I never *really* worried how things would end up, but there are some unexpectedly satisfying resolutions to conflict. Obviously, this book deals with heavier themes. Sometimes, it grapples with them in depth, but I did long for a bit more closure and exploration on certain things. But, from a plot and storyline POV, things mostly happen in a believable way.

The characters are memorable enough, though they do very much overtly resemble the Grumpy / Sunshine trope. Notably, the main character has a BRCA1 and has had a double mastectomy. Her experience is portrayed in a way that is more than just to check a representation box and truly adds to the story.

So, all in all... not my favorite read. But, a bit out of the box of what I normally pick up and I'm content to have spent time reading it. It comes out in August, I believe ... would recommend it to the right audience (anyone seeking a Hallmark-y Christmas-y book).

Bonus points for a creative and Swiftie-friendly Taylor Swift reference.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an ARC of Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the witty banter and the individual character foibles! I loved Alison's growth and self-realization, and that she has such amazing and supportive friends. This book was also quite informative about breast cancer without being overwhelming.

I definitely recommend it and look forward to reading more by Ellie Palmer.

I thought I was going to like this book... I don't know what to rate it because I liked it in the beginning but it got a little slow later on. I don't know if it's because I'm only a teenager and I'm not the right audience for this. I requested it because I thought the synopsis was more of a romance and while there was a romance, I felt like it was more centered across grief and other things.

I didn't feel much of the chemistry between the two characters. I felt like it was a little rushed but maybe that was just me. I don't really know who I would recommend this book to but I personally didn't like it because I did not relate to it since I am still a teenager.

2.5 stars, thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons.

...sigh

first half of this was so good and enjoyable (banter, fun writing, great character dynamics), and then the third act conflict hit and ruined everything. this book just really loses momentum once the two characters get together, and then it's like treading water until we hit the dreaded third act conflict, which really strained credulity. the problem in this case is that the characters' conflicts are so discreet and obvious, like something written down in a novel outline (Alison's conflict will be that she's Forcing Herself to Be Adventurous, and Adam's will be that he's Not Bold Enough to Progress in His Life). and you can tell that these conflicts lack complexity because they become increasingly repetitive throughout the story, with characters just saying the same things in slightly different ways. the last third of this was such a disappointment for me--it's like the book built me up in the beginning just to sorely let me down in the end 😔

a good romance needs to not just be able to build tension effectively, but also to resolve tension effectively. this novel did the first well and the second poorly, the result being a super promising and enjoyable story feeling, by its end, lackluster and disappointing.

thank you to GP Putnam for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Perfect book to start off the month of June. The juiciest of rom-coms…sweet, and just a touch spicy. You will eat it up in one sitting, I promise!

3.5 ⭐

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I found that it got a little slow at about the 60% mark. It was worth staying on for that ending though!!!

I really enjoyed this book! I felt like the book could have gone either way based on description alone, so I was so happy about how well done it was! It was respectful of the death of Alison's ex-boyfriend while still keeping the charm of a rom-com. I really enjoyed our main couples chemistry and conversations, as well as how you could see their relationship building the more time they spent together. I also feel like I learned a lot from Alison's health and healing journey, and learning more about BRCA and the mastectomy process and the feelings she had set this book apart from other romances I read. It was an excellent balance of serious and light, and an overall great read!

i was sold on this book just from the description, i though it was a really fun premise. i think it was executed fairly well. our two main characters had such good chemistry, i was rooting for them the whole time. i think maybe because i read a lot of this genre, i picked up fairly early on what the exact ending was going to be so i was sort of annoyed with the constant miscommunications, but again, thats inherently part of the foundation of a story like this so i can't say i wasn't expecting it. i kind of wish there had been more of sam throughout the story. he's sort of the elephant in the room for a decent chunk of the book but you dont really feel it solidly in the text. i would've enjoyed a bit more of his calendar messages sprinkled throughout. overall it was a pretty enjoyable read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️From the publisher Penguin Group Putnam: When thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to find that no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family and pack up Sam’s apartment with his prickly best friend, Adam Berg. After all, it’ll only take four weekends . . . 
Forced to spend long hours with the grump, and his monosyllabic demeanor, Alison decides she must put her people-pleasing abilities to the test. She will make him like her. And after awkward family affairs and packing up dilemmas, the two form a tenuous friendship . . . if “friendship” means incredible chemistry and tension between them. Can Alison come clean and finally embrace the life and love she's always wanted? Or will her little white lie get in the way of her new, unexpected romance?
*********************
My review: The fake girlfriend trope is a little different when it's with a deceased "boyfriend". But Alison plays along because she cares what people think. Adam is the quintessential embodiment of still waters run deep. When he finally starts talking it's worth it!
I love how the characters TALK in this rom com. They don't assume and stew and ignore. They discuss. So refreshing! The third act break up is sad and I worried (I know I know, needless) that it was for real. Learning to talk and think about the future, and accept who you really are are the lessons for Alison and Adam. I loved their happily ever after.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Publisher for an advance digital copy in exchange for my review.

I couldn't have been more obsessed with this book if I tried and have already recommended it to multiple people! I loved the mix of fun and flirty banter and how it intersected with more serious topics. It was such a fun read — and the pop culture references were amazing as well.

I love debut novels because you go in fresh with no expectations. This book exceeded all of my no expectations. The plot contained all the rom-com tropes readers love (fake dating, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity) but it was done in a new, witty and interesting way. Ali and Adam are great main characters and I love that this book focuses on really doing what you love and not being ashamed of it. I grew a bit tired of Ali at some points, wanting her to stop being so ridiculous about certain things but I think that was the point. Solid 4.5 stars. Cannot wait to see what else this author has brewing because I’m totally on board.

I really appreciated receiving this ARC. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Multiple times throughout the book, I felt like people should just be honest and the dishonesty/miscommunication to further the plot is not my cup of tea. I also felt like there were a lot of diff and characters and I struggled to finish.

I thought this was going to be similar to Four Weddings and a Funeral but actually it was so much better!!

The first thing I appreciated about this book was how grief was portrayed. I loved that it showcased in so many different ways, because that’s how it is in real life. It felt like it was a character in the story itself, but in a well done way.

Next, THE BANTER!!! I was giggling and kicking my feet so much. I understood the dynamics and why there needed to be so much conflict, but of course loved when there wasn’t.

Definitely will be recommending this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC <3

This rom-com is funny and brought some serious chemistry between its main characters Alison and Adam. They are brought together by the unfortunate passing of a friend/ex whose apartment and possessions they help pack up and sort through. What was really unique is how Alison is also dealing with her recovery from a double mastectomy due to a BRAC genetic mutation. Reading about this experience really set this apart from other books in this genre. Otherwise I found the romance, while well written, to be incredibly predictable and somewhat implausible.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the funeral of her ex-boyfriend Sam, Alison Mullally finds out that he didn’t tell anyone that they were broken up. And she goes along with the role of Girlfriend for the sake of his grieving family. This then leads to Ali offering to help pack up all of Sam’s things at his apartment with his best friend, Adam Berg. Only thing is: Adam doesn’t want Ali around. It’s only for four weekends though, so it shouldn’t be too bad…

We love forced proximity!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The premise is so different from anything I’ve read, which made me so excited to read it. Ali and Adam were extremely likeable, and the banter was SO good! I found myself smiling and laughing throughout the story.

However, aside from the fun, witty parts of the book, there are also some heavier topics addressed, which I thought was done so well. Ali is a BRCA 1 carrier and chose to have a mastectomy because of that. Throughout the book, you really get to witness all of the emotions that Ali experiences and struggles with daily due to that knowledge and procedure. It really helped me as a reader to try to empathize with what she was feeling at times as she tried to navigate through multiple situations.

I really think you should add this one to your TBR!! It’s one of my favorites that I’ve read this year so far!

Ellie Palmer, you have a new fan!

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

“Guilt demands action”. As a person who struggled for years with immense feelings of guilt over every perceived mistake or error I found in myself, this book was a heavy hitter for me. As I am typing this review, I am holding back tears over the feelings it unlocked in me. Books that change you or help you don’t always have to be designed to do so, there is much to be found in ‘silly’ little fiction books, perhaps more so than the ones intending to change your life. I love this book, it’s as much about self-discovery and growth as it is about love and romance. 5 stars. !!!! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I will be purchasing a physical copy.

Great rom-com! It was silly, romantic, fun. While packing up her dead ex-boyfriend apartment (when family thinks they’re still TOGETHER) she bumps heads with his best friend - bumps heads over and over - irritation - yet… chemistry? A super fun read!